The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-02-23
WESTERLY, R. l., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 90, 1854

lance Of their faces, at prices varying
from nine shillings to three dollars a
head, depending on the value of the
case.
All the people of the town had been
dagucrrcotyped, and the omnibus man
was the most popular person in the Will
age. All the danes and maidens had
been taken, and every Jonathan and
Jehicl who could boast of Susan or a
Sally, was taken with her by his side in
the picture, his arm thrown lovingly
around her neck, and looking unuttera-
bly, affectionate.
But Mrs. Scroggins was not senti-
mental she had got over all that long
before Jim took to drinking She pro-
posed to put the skill of the Daguerrco-
typist to more practical use than that
of getting the good will of lover.
She entered the saloon, and though
her heart did teat little at the degrad-
alton of exposing her domestic matters
to an entire stranger, she demeaned her.
self with all the firmness becoming the
trying occasion.
Fortunately for her all the people in
the town had " been taken," aud it was
dry time with the artist. In as few
words as possible she stated the case to
him, and the young gentleman readily
promised cooperation.
Taking the apparatus under his arm,
he accompanied Mrs. Scroggins to the
cottage where Jim was sleeping off the
effects Of the vilainous New England
Rum.
The inebriate sat in precisely the
same position in which his wife left him.
He was asleep in high backed chair,
which kept his head up so that every
thing was favorable to the sitting.
In trice Jim Scroggins' old hat,
ragged cloths, long beard, doing drunk
en- expression and all, was transferred
to the plate
But the picture did not suit the art
ist he thought one taken when the sit
ter was awake would be more correct
representation. Mrs. Scroggins thought
so too, and when the Daguerreotypist
had put in a new plate she walked him
up.
What do you want ?" asked Jim
with yawn.
"Wake up !" and the lady gave him
a smart pinch, which opened his eyes,
giving out the true expression of the
drunkard.
The artist was prompt, and in an in
slant second edition Of Jim Scroggins
was on the plate.
The original not being required for
further use, was suffered to sink away
and complete his nap
The pictures were put into frame
and Mrs. Scroggins produced her mon
ey.
" Nothing, ma'am, shall not charge
you anything"
" But, sir, am able 10 pay"
The artist shook his head, resolutcly
refusing to touch her money. Ofcourse
Mrs. Scroggins was grateful, and gave
the artist an invitation to take tea with
her, which he accepted. In the course
Of the meal the Dagurcotypist told the
story of his own life ; how he had been
brought up in the midst of intemperance,
and knew al about it. His father had
died druukard, and leaving his mother
penniless, he had supported her from
the profits Of his portable saloon. Mrs.
Scroggins Of course sympathized with
the young man, and readily understood
why he would not take pay for the pic
lures.
But what was better than all, the
young artist took quite fancy to Jim's
only daughter, girl of eighteen I; and
after tea, insisted upon taking her Da-
guerreotype. And the sly rogue pre-
tended that the first was not good one,
and took another--one of which he took
away with him.
The tea things wcrc cleared away,
aud when he did go, the poor girls
heart followed him half the night she
laid awake to think Of him.
Jim Scroggins recovered from bis de-
bauch, and the FIRST thing be saw when
he came into the kitchen in the morn