The widow Bedott papers

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 Excerpt: ... "Well, well, I want to hear about them daggertypcs--how they make 'em, and all in relation tew it. It's a wonderful art--beats all I ever heerd of. How is it they take 'em in so little while?" "Well, I 'll tell ye. Ther's a pole stuck up in the middle o' the floor, with a machine atop on't--kind of an uplong shaped consarn--looks for all the world like the old cannon they haul out on Independence and training days, about so wide and so long. In the little eend on't ther's a hole, and into that hole the daggerotyper slips the steel plate that the picter's to be made on, and kivers it up. Then ye have to set down in a cheer about as fur from the machine as from here to that stove, on an average. Then he fastens yer head in an iron consarn to keep it still--for ye've got to set as onmovable as a wax-work, and as stiff as stillyards, or the picter 'll be spiled. Then ye must look strait at the machine that stans there a pint in' right at yer face--" "Grammany! I should think't would be an awful sittiwation. I should be frightend out o' my wits." "Lawful sakes! I wa'n't a bit skairt. Well, ther's a winder right aside o' ye, and a white sheet fastened up all round ye, and when ye've got fixt, he takes the kiver off o' the machine, and the light reflects into the winder and onto yer face, and from yer face it refragerates onto the steel plate, and executes the picter in a minit." "Well, I don't understand now a bit better 'n I did afore." "I never! how dumb you be? it's as clear as day light to me. I seen right through it at fist." "Well, what do they call them daggertypes for?" "O, I s'pose that's on account o' the dagger they use to polish off the plates aforehand. Seems to me that was w...