REPAIRING THE DRAWING-FRAMES. 153 



not later than seven o'clock on -the following morning 

 in order to fulfil another engagement, and would con- 

 stantly write articles, &c., while in the train, it may 

 well be imagined that these prolonged tours were a great 

 strain upon him, and must have told not inconsiderably 

 upon his general health. 



While at home he was constantly going over his 

 frames (for he had three in all) in order to provide 

 against accidents. Perhaps a new canvas had to be 

 made, or a few rings fastened on more securely ; or part 

 of the woodwork needed repair, owing to rough treat- 

 ment received upon the railway ; or some of the screws 

 would be "stripped," and so would have to be replaced 

 by others. Perhaps, too, some new improvement had 

 to be made, involving a visit to the blacksmith, or the 

 purchase of a new set of screws. This was commonly 

 the case ; and when, a few weeks after my father's death, 

 I had to put up the frame for a lecture of my own, I 

 found that it had changed iu several respects during 

 the year that had passed since I had seen it. 



And even if nothing in the way of repairs or im- 

 provements happened to be necessary, still almost my 

 father's first proceeding upon reaching home was to put 

 up one of his frames in a large lumber-room, either for 

 the purpose of fitting a new canvas, in readiness for 

 future necessities, or else that he might practise some of 

 his drawings. For all those wonderful sketches, pro- 

 duced so rapidly before the eyes of the audience, and 

 seemingly without a moment's consideration, were the 

 outcome of long and careful prior preparation. First he 



