Memoirs of a London Doll
March 9, 2009
Chapter Synopsis
Memoirs of a London Doll
March 9, 2009
Chapter 11: The Portrait Painter
Upon finding and picking up Maria in the alley, thinking she was a broiled bone, the Newfoundland dog found the smell of burnt clothes and scorched skin was not the same as a broiled bone; however, he took Maria to his young mistress who happened to be having a portrait done of herself and her aunt by J. C. Johnson, Portrait Painter.
The big dog dropped Maria at her feet. Mr. Johnson declared Maria to be an “Indian idol” of ebony, much defaced by time. The little girl said that “it looks very like a wooden doll, with a burnt frock and scorched face.” Mr. Johnson examined Maria again and declared the little girl correct. Mr. Johnson kindly offered to repaint the doll and said that when she returned for another sitting for her portrait, the doll would be ready.
Mr. Johnson’s son started the cleaning process and washed Maria well with soap and water. Mr. Johnson then painted Maria from head to foot. When she was dry, he gave her another coat of a warmer flesh color. He painted cheeks, lips and eyebrows and then applied a delicate varnish. Maria had no hair and Mr. Johnson was at a loss to know what to do about that, but his son suggested a doll’s wig shop nearby, and Maria received a lovely dark auburn wig with long ringlets. When all was done, Maria was hung up in a safe place to dry. This reminded her of her days at the Spratt home when she dangled from the beam and looked around at all her fellow dolls which were also dangling from the beams. The recollection was pleasing to her. She felt she had lived a long time since that day and recalled the doll shop in Holborn and little Emmy who read so many books in the back room; the master of the shop with his brown paper cock’d hat; Thomas Plummy and the cake; Ellen Plummy and Twelfth-night in the pastry cook’s shop; the different scenes witnessed among the little milliners; the making of her first frock and trousers under the tent upon Ellen Plummy’s bed; her life in Hanover square, during which she saw so many places in London; having been taught to write by Lady Flora’s governess; falling headlong into a gentleman’s hat at the Opera; after having beautiful ball-dresses made, she and Lady Flora having their dresses catch fire; then being tossed from a window, tumbling over a wall and taken by a great Newfoundland dog to his master, a little girl by the name of Mary Hope; and finally being cleaned and repainted by a portrait painter. Such a biography to recollect while, for the second time in her life, she was hanging up and waiting for her paint and varnish to dry.
DISCUSSION:
How fortunate Maria wound up at the portrait painter’s studio after being picked up by the dog and how kind of him to take Maria in hand to see what he could do about fixing her deplorable condition.
I also like the way Maria, as she was hanging, freshly painted and drying, started recalling her life. She, on the whole, is quite pleased with all that she has seen and done in her life thus far. I’m glad she can look back on some happy memories and interesting memories rather than focusing on the bad things that have happened.