“How so?” asked Mrs. M.
The story was soon told. He was one of the seventy-five who had that day purchased the flaxseed. He had left the ground before the selling was through, and hence was ignorant as to the fate of the calf. But now the whole was unraveled. And while husband and wife both experienced some mortification of feeling, the joke was too good to allow any protracted disturbance of their composure.
Mrs. M. procured another cup, as her husband declared that the matter of the clock shouldn’t deprive him of his usual allowance of tea, especially after a day of such fatigue.
The meal was at length finished; but before that, both had recovered their equanimity, and even smiled at the strange events of the day. The pedler didn’t escape some little malediction for the part he had acted; but Mr. M. declared that a man deserved some credit who could carry his purposes despite of such obstacles; but after all, he thought his wife the better salesman, who could dispose of a bushel of old flaxseed for three dollars, and a calf as good as dead for ten dollars.
EFFIE DEANS.
[SEE ENGRAVING.]
Among the delightful creations of the fancy of the great “Wizard of the North,” his story entitled “The Heart of Mid-Lothian” stands conspicuous, and perhaps maintains a higher degree of popularity than any other of the numerous productions of his pen. Of course, every reader is familiar with the narrative, and we think all will be gratified by an examination of the beautiful picture of the unfortunate Effie Deans, which graces the present number of our Magazine. It is from the burin of Mr. T. B. Welch, and is executed in the most finished style of that very superior engraver. The point of time chosen by the artist for the delineation of his subject, is that at which the procurator Sharpitlaw causes himself to be conveyed to the cell of the miserable girl, for the purpose of eliciting information respecting the haunts of Robertson. The great novelist tells us that “the poor girl was seated on her little flock-bed, plunged in a deep reverie. Some food stood on the table, of a quality better than is usually supplied to prisoners, but it was untouched. The person under whose care she was more particularly placed said, ‘that sometimes she tasted naething from the tae end of the four and twenty hours to the t’other, except a drink of water.’ ”
PAINTED BY S. BENDIXEN.
EFFIE DEANS.
ENGRAVED BY T. B. WELCH FOR GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE.