couple in a genteel station of life are seated at the breakfast-table;
to them enters a simple country maiden, with a pretty and innocent
face, her arms modestly folded, as an applicant for a place. 'What
situation in my family would you wish to undertake, young woman?'
enquires the lady of the house. 'Ma'am,' replies the unsophisticated
maiden, 'I should like to be under your man-cook by way of
improvement.' This _naïf_ remark is misconstrued, to the manifest
delight of the fat _chef_, who is rolling about and rubbing his round
sides with amusement.
1811 (?). _Anglers of 1611._ Designed by H. Bunbury, and etched by
T. Rowlandson.--A pretty group, founded on the piscatorial pastoral
of Izaak Walton. Venator is seated with his arm round the waist of the
pretty milkmaid. Maudlin, her mother, a quaint old dame, is discoursing
wisdom. Piscator is, with folded arms, leaning on his fishing-rod; at
his feet are two fine trout. Peter is whipping a stream in the rear.
The scenery is pretty, and the figures are neatly and expressively
filled in. The design, which is by Bunbury, it is easy to recognise has
gained considerable force from the spirited execution his contemporary
has brought to bear on the etching. Companion to _Anglers of 1811_.