John James Audubon

Originally Aired: March 23, 1938 In Cavalcade of America #127, "John James Audubon," the famous naturalist and artist struggles to balance his passion for studying and painting America's birds with his desire to build a life with Lucy Bakewell. When the young Frenchman first arrives at Mill Grove, Pennsylvania in 1804, he meets the spirited English girl Lucy, and their shared love of nature quickly blossoms into romance. Despite their initial wariness over their different nationalities, they bond over a wounded nuthatch John rescues, discovering their common appreciation for the vibrant American wilderness. Years later, John returns from running a frontier store in Kentucky, hoping he has finally earned enough money to marry Lucy. However, Lucy expresses doubts about whether a man of his artistic talent should be burdened with supporting a wife, and whether his devotion to his bird studies can coexist with domestic responsibilities. John insists his work and future will always be bound to those he loves, painting a romantic picture of a honeymoon journey down the Ohio River surrounded by the birds he cherishes.