German composition

Section 172 Audubon⁠, the American Ornithologist, Relates How Nearly⁠ a Thousand of His Original Drawings Were Destroyed12

I left the village of Henderson, in Kentucky, situated⁠3 on the banks of the Ohio, where I⁠4 resided for several years, to proceed⁠5 to Philadelphia on business. I (S. 115, N. 1) looked⁠6 to my drawings before my departure, placed them carefully in a wooden box, and gave⁠7 them in charge of a relative, with⁠8 injunctions to see that no injury should happen to them. My absence was of (= lasted) several months; and when I returned, after⁠9 having enjoyed the pleasures of home for a few days, I inquired⁠10 after my box, and⁠11 what I was pleased to call my treasure. The box was produced⁠12 and opened; but⁠13, reader, feel for me—a pair of Norway rats had taken possession of the whole, and reared a young family among the gnawed⁠14 bits of paper, which, but⁠15 a month previous, had represented nearly a thousand inhabitants of⁠16 the air! The burning heat which⁠17 instantly rushed through my brain was too great without⁠18 affecting my whole nervous system. I slept for (S. 166, N. 10) several nights, and the days passed like⁠19 days of oblivion—until⁠20 the animal powers being recalled into action, through the strength of my constitution, I⁠21 took up my gun, my note-book and my pencils, and went forth to the woods as gaily as if nothing had happened. I⁠22 felt pleased that I might now make better drawings than before; and, ere a period not exceeding three years had elapsed, my portfolio was again filled.—John Audubon.

Notes

1 John James Audubon, der berühmte amerikanische Ornithologe (oder Vogelkundige), geboren den 4. Mai 1780 in Louisiana, gestorben den 27. Januar 1851 zu New-York, befuhr die Ströme und Flüsse des Westens, um die Vögel zu beobachten und zu zeichnen.

2 nearly a thousand, nahe an tausend.

3 Use the attributive constr., and see S. 7, N. 3, and S. 48, N. 6.

4 = I had resided for (seit).

5 reisen; on business, in Geschäften.

6 to look to a thing, nach etwas sehen.

7 to give a thing in charge to a person, einem etwas überge´ben.

8 = with the express command to protect (bewahren) them from (vor) any (jeder) injury.

9 = and had enjoyed. The pleasures of home, die Freuden der Häuslichkeit.

10 to inquire after a thing, nach etwas fragen.

11 = and after (nach) my treasure, as I was pleased to call its contents (wie ich dessen Inhalt gerne zu bezeichnen pflegte).

12 = brought.

13 = but have pity on (mit) me, O reader!

14 zernagt; bits of paper, Papierfetzen.

15 noch vor einem Monat.

16 der Lüfte, which is the poetic form.

17 = which instantly took possession of my brain (Gehirn, n.). To take possession of a thing, sich einer Sache bemächtigen.

18 um nicht auch mein ganzes Nervensystem zu erschüttern.

19 like — oblivion, im gänzlichen Vergessen alles Geschehenen.

20 = till my vital powers (Lebenskräfte) were reanimated (wieder angeregt waren, App. § 17) through the strength of my constitution (Natur, f.).

21 Say ’and I was able (imstande sein) to take up (ergreifen) my gun (Büchse, f.), my sketch-book and my pencils to (S. 19, N. 7) go therewith again as (so) cheerfully into the woods as if nothing had happened (als ob nichts vorgefallen wäre)’.

22 Say ‘It gave me pleasure to think that I would now perhaps produce better drawings than ever (je) before; and even before (noch ehe) three years had passed away, my portfolio was again filled with drawings.