The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-11-28

SnOaiu never come within her doors
she would expose the artist-in short,
in one of her paroxysms of rage, she
was about to take up brush and rub
out the face. A handy leg, too, lit up
her anger most dreadfully and she said
that although Mr.. Lovegain had little
protuberance on his shin bone, and a
small deviation from right line in his
limb, yet there was no need for putting
it in the picture, and it was the height
of impertinence thus to magnify his lit
tie defects.
Mr.. Varnish promised to give him a
new pair OF very well proportional legs,
and TO bestow on his features smile of
humanity, "a thing quite unknown to
this money-maker, and suggested that
the hair powdered would throw light
on the subject. All would moi do. Miss
Lovegain opened a torrent of abuse on
the artist; and declared I" she should
hate Pa if he was like that picture,n
and that he must begin it all over again.
In this the Alderman conceded, saying
blufily, that I" he knew he was no beau
ty, but he'd be hanged if he was half
SO ugly as that ere.''
The humbled artist began all de moro,
and gave the citizen pair of as goodly
legs as ever an Irish fortune-hulter
sported at the rooms at Bath. He hui
manized the countenance as much as he
could, without losing sight of all resem.
blance. The Brutus wig, however, be-
ing still insisted upon by the Alderman's
lady, it was adopted the second time,
and the picture, although still that of
very ugly man, was highly finished in
point of execution. The Alderman
looked surly, and shook his bead, at
The conclusion of the last sitting, and
observed that $ as for himself he did
not much csFc, but that he feared Mrs.
l.ovegain would not let the picture go
10 his house," The artist expostulated,
and humbly represented, that he had
done two portraits for the price of one;
that he had bestowed uncommon pains,
attention and time on them, and that
they had been universally deemed
striking ikenesses. He mentioned
very long list of persons, amongst whom
were capital artists, who had pronounc-
ed them to be so, and offered to give
the picture for nothing, if Mr.. Loyegain
would bring any dispassionate Judge
with him who should decide otherwise.
The experiment was tried, and sue
ceeded to the satisfaction Of all but Mrs.
Lovegain and her daughters, the former
of whom asked the painter ssif he
thought she would marry such an ugly
monster as that ?'' and the latter vocii-
Grated all at once, that they had no
patience with MIR. Varnish's imperti-
hence, and that they should be ashamed
of their Pa, if he were the mean look
ing wretch which that picture repre-
sented."
Driven to despair, the poor artist
thought of an expedient, and he told
the irritated ladies that he would exc
cute third portrait, and claim nothing
if they were dissatisfied with it. He
thought of stratagem, to which the
sitter agreed, in consequence of the loss
Of the artists time. The figure of the
second picture was cut out but the
back ground, in which stood the Alder
mans villa, and the favourite dog, was
preserved. Mr.. Lovegain was put into
the hollow space, and placed opposite
a large mirror in the other corner, the
view of which was commanded the mo-
ment the folding-doors of the painting
room opened. Mrs. Loyegain and her
daughters were invited up stairs, and
the artist considered his victory over
prejudice as certain. What was his as
constituent at Mrs. Lovegain's fury,
when on opening the door she exClaim-
ed, {" Worse and worse There is no
bearing thisJ;" and throwing her parasol
at the mirror, which she broke int
numberless pieces, ran out Of the room
in hystericks. The Alderman, howev-
er, paid the damage, and the artists
cause was avenged.
The idea of being painted that year
was now given up On the following,
however, a flattering artist at Tun-
bridge Wells, on trading trip, hit off
the Alderman to the entire satisfaction
of his whole family, giving him three
inches in stature, planning off the rotun-
dity of his stomach, Strengthening bis
legs, and throwing such a gooanatured
smile into his countcnance, that he be-
came quite an amiable character. His