invested his earnings in a patent buckle, and for a brief period he
had dreams of wealth. But the buckle project failed, the dreams
vanished, and he began to read medicine, and resumed his teaching.

From 1859 to 1862 he was writing much, on philosophical subjects
mainly. It was in 1863 that he first became interested in the
birds.--C. B.]


Ever since the time when in my boyhood I saw the strange bird
in the woods of which I have told you, the thought had frequently
occurred to me, "I shall know the birds some day." But nothing came
of the thought and wish till the spring of '63, when I was teaching
school near West Point. In the library of the Military Academy,
which I frequently visited of a Saturday, I chanced upon the works
of Audubon. I took fire at once. It was like bringing together
fire and powder! I was ripe for the adventure; I had leisure, I
was in a good bird country, and I had Audubon to stimulate me, as
well as a collection of mounted birds belonging to the Academy
for reference. How eagerly and joyously I took up the study! It
fitted in so well with my country tastes and breeding; it turned my
enthusiasm as a sportsman into a new channel; it gave to my walks a
new delight; it made me look upon every grove and wood as a new
storehouse of possible treasures. I could go fishing or camping
or picknicking now with my resources for enjoyment doubled. That
first hooded warbler that I discovered and identified in a near-by
bushy field one Sunday morning--shall I ever forget the thrill of
delight it gave me? And when in August I went with three friends
into the Adirondacks, no day or place or detention came amiss to
me; new birds were calling and flitting on every hand; a new world