The worse my drawings were, the more beautiful did the originals appear.

I can scarcely manage to scribble a tolerable English letter. I know that I am not a scholar, but meantime I am aware that no man living knows better than I do the habits of our birds.

If only the bird with the loveliest song sang, the forest would be a lonely place.

I wish I had eight pairs of hands, and another body to shoot the specimens.

I purchased excellent and beautiful horses, visited all such neighbors as I found in congenial spirits, and was as happy as happy could be.

My drawings at first were made altogether in watercolors, but they wanted softness and a great deal of finish.

Mathematics was hard, dull work, I thought; geography pleased me more. For my other studies, as well as for dancing, I was quite enthusiastic.