Viewing page 40 of 56

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The sitting finished the young gentleman departed to bring the young lady. Who arrived & was duly seated in the sitters chair - a little bashful as was customary then perhaps - and occasionally withdrew her face a little from the professional ordeal. The lover asked in sympathetic lover's tone - "What is the matter Susie-" The strong light affects my eyes" - she replied - I found just the same trouble myself this morning when I took my sitting!! the lover innocently replied - of course a roaring laugh all round came off just then - and long in after life as I knew the concerned couple it never ceased to be the subject of a joke, on how well he could keep a secret. Tho his wife admitted he had she thought much improved. This was over 45 years ago. I saw the widower some 5 years back - but alas he too has gone now. Outlived about all my early sitters I believe tho' I or my children frequently hear of [[strikethrough]] those with [[/strikethrough]] hear from their married children remarking that of their possessing a miniature of their father or mother by Cummings - (vide Brooks family, the last at Mrs Hartshornes) - and asked if that Cummings was any relation of theirs - but even if so supposes he must be dead now but he is'nt" *

In the Early part of the present half century The Seventh Ward of the City of NY was a ward. An Aristocratic Ward - The Ward of Wards, and the City's pride- Every 7th warder knew every other 7th warder - who was anybody - and almost every 7th warder was a somebody- It was only non 7th warders who were not - or filled the nobody' place- The Announcement thereof was the 7th warders protection every where - and as potent in its effect as "I am a Roman Citizen" in days of old and nothing approached or was supposed to approach it but the occasional presentations to the Western Continent Court of Third Brigade - where there was an occasional approach to the 7 warders tremendous bearing - tho but the favored few had an opportunity of witnessing it - of a rotund Ball like form somewhat resembling - a childs nursery scarlet worsted ball, with one of the gum elastic faces so often seen in pedlars hand, in BWay stuck on its north Axis and a pace of hickory nuts on its lower & opposite pole. 

Which on being asked its reason for non attendance at annual Inspection & review of said Third Brigade