“Yes, I have done about all I shall do to it—I am getting a little sick of it,” replied Jessie.
“Suppose you pass it around, then, for the entertainment of the company,” said Marcus.
“I’m almost ashamed to show it,” continued Jessie, going to a drawer in the secretary. “There are so many figures that I did not have time to take much pains with them. I think you’ll be puzzled to tell what some of them represent.”
“So much the better for that,” replied Marcus.
Jessie had a taste for drawing, and had taken a few lessons in this art. Her interest in it had been rekindled, since removing to her new home, by the offer of Miss Lee to give her further instruction in the use of the pencil. Miss Lee was an accomplished sketcher and painter, and had formerly taught these branches in the academy, for several terms. The “gallery of literary portraits,” alluded to by Marcus, was undertaken by Jessie to furnish amusement to the younger members of the family, rather than as an exercise in drawing. It consisted of a series of names of literary characters, enigmatically expressed. She handed the sheets to Marcus, who passed them round the circle. Some of the portraits were recognized by all at first sight; but others proved quite puzzling to the younger folks, and there were several which no one could solve, until Jessie gave a clue to them. On the next two pages we give a transcript of this Gallery of Literary Portraits.
Key to the Gallery of Literary Portraits.
1. Swift.
2. Locke.