Dickens' Little Joke

Calarles Dickens bought pictures now mi thcn, paying them tbc sum the rítete asked. But he once boiighi a rictune which he pereuaded the )aintcr to charge him a liigh pvice. nie story, which Illustraties both DickGns' géneros! ty and his lovc of Jim, s told in the moniolr of Richarg Kedgrave, tho artist. Maclisc, intending to paint a subject or -vhich he wajited a lady as molel, skvd Miss Hograth, Dickens' sisteru law, to eit. Wtoen the work was iuiíilH'd tlic figure wae thought vevy be.a,utiful and very like the model. A itew days aJterwarcl a gentlenan calted 011 Macliae, and said that n oíd gemtlemaii in the country wishng to poeses onc oï the painter's picures, liad deputod liini to see what e had on the eaale. This one for vhich Miss Hograth had sat was aduired by the visitoa-, who said he was ui-f It woiutd please his fi-iend, to. vhom he Avo-uld write and describe t. In a few days a letter carne to lacliee, written in a feeble hand. The writer, tn a delightíully garrulous Btrain, expreseed has admiratlon oí Beveral piel mes oí Macllse which he uní seen, and aeked the price of the jiie described by his friead, as he was sure he woald be pleased wlth n. Maclise, deligtoted with the letter, huiTied away to show it to Dickens. "The letter is almowt worth the picuin-, and I am so pleased with it tliat I shall name a lorw price," said toe artist. "Oh, by no jiieans," replied Dicluiu.; "you are wrong; for it is evidenfly froan sorae rieh old eothusiaet who eau aftord to pay well." Maelise argued t; the point and talked oí putting a handaome frame to the picture without charge, but was iinally persuaded to name a good priee tor painting. ín a d;iy or two, the gent loman who ii-U'd as the agent ealled again, paid M&cliee bis priee, asked to have the picture paeked and said a ' porter woiüd cali lor it. At Oliristmas, two weeks later, Dickcns Invitcd a largo party to dinner, Macliee among tbe rest. But alas foc tlie unraveiin;!? of the plot. Just as they were sittiiig down, a, note carne from he paintcr pleading illness as tui excuse for nis absence. Dickens - íor he was the sarrulous oíd gentleinan- luul to miveil tlie picture without the pleasure of seeing Maclise's