at it is a
characteristic; and may give you that in expression which does not belong
to you, while he may miss "your sweet expression about your eyes." He may
purse up your large and generous mouth, because you may screw it for a
moment to keep some ill-timed conceit from bolting out, and, besides
missing that noble feature, may give you an expression of a caution that
is not yours. A painter the other day, as I am assured, in a country
town, made a great mistake in a characteristic, and it was discovered by
a country farmer. It was the portrait of a lawyer--an attorney, who, from
humble pretensions, had made a good deal of money, and enlarged thereby
his pretensions, but somehow or other not very much enlarged his
respectability. To his pretensions was added that of having his portrait
put up in the parlour, as large as life. There it is, very flashy and
very true--one hand in his breast, the other in his small-clothes'
pocket. It is market-day--the country clients are called in--opinions are
passed--the family present, and all complimentary--such as, "Never saw
such a likeness in the course of all my born days. As like 'un as he can
stare." "Well, sure enough, there he is." But at last--there is one
dissentient! "'Tain't like--not very--no, 'tain't," said a heavy
middle-aged farmer, with rather a dry look, too, about his mouth, and a
moist one at the corner of his eye, and who knew the attorney well. All
were upon him. "Not like!--How not like? Say where is it not like?" "Why,
don't you see," said the man, "he's got his hand in his breeches' pocket.
It would be as like again if he had his hand in any other body's pocket."
The family portrait was removed, especially as, after this, many came on
purpose to see it; and so the attorney was lowered a peg, and the farmer
obtained the reputation of a connoisseur.

But it is high time, Eusebius, that I should dismiss you and
portrait-painting, or you will think your thus sitting to me worse than
sitting for your picture; which picture, if it be of my Eusebius as I know
him and love him, will ever be a living speaking likeness, but if it be
one but of outward feature and resemblance, it will soon pass off to make
up the accumulation of dead lumber--while do you, Eusebius, as you are,
_vive valeque_.

* * * * *

MY FRIEND.

Wouldst thou be friend of mine?--
Thou must be quick and bold
When the right is to be done,
And the