New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-10-30
DEALINGS WITH THE FIRM OF
DOMBEY AND son,
WHOLESALE, RETAIL and FOR IMPORTATION.
RX CHARLES nICEE
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III
j., rii1a 4r Doss c- 1zaa and jaaJ l. ss7 al he
lead Of tie homo department..
THE funeral OF me deceased lady having been
performed 20 the entire satisfaction of the under
taker as well as OF the neiehborhood at large
which IS generally disposed 10 be captous on such
point and IS prone to take offence any omissions
or short coE.ings in the ceremonies the various
members Of Mr. Dombev's household subsidized into
their several places IN the domestic system. That
small world, ike the great ont Of doors had the
capacity of easily forgetting IT'S dead. and when
the cook had SAID she quiet tempered lady.
and the house-keeper lad said it was the common
lot and the butler had said who have thought 1t.
and the fcotynan had said i seemed exactly like
dream they had quite worn the subject ont. and be-
gan 10 think their mourning vas wearing rusty too.
On Richards. who was established upstairs IN
state OF honorable captivity the dawn OF her new
life seemed 70 break cold and gray Mr.. Dombeys
house was q large one. on the shady side OF tail,
dark .dTeadfuy genteel street in the region between
Portland place and Bryanstone square. Il was
corner house with great wide containing eel
lars frowned upon b. barred windows. and leered
at by crooked-eyed doors leading 20 dustbins. Il
was house OF dismal state with circular back to
IT, containing whole suit OF drawingroOns looking
upon graveled yard, where two ceun: trees, with
blackened trunks and branches, ratified rather than
rustled, their leaves were so smoke-dHed- The
summer sun was never on the street, but in the
the water carts aad the old clothesme and the
people with geraniums, and the umbrella mender.
and the man who thrilled the little bell Of the Dutch
clock as he went along. 1t was soon gone again TO
return that day and the bands OF music and
the Struggling Punchs shows going after 1t. left 1t
prey 20 the most dismal of organs and white mice;
with now and then porcupine, 70 vary the enter
tainments until the buffers whose families were
dining ont, began to stand at the house doors in
the twilight and the lamp-ghter made his nightly
failure in attempting to brighten up the street with
gas.
1t was as blank house inside as outside When
the funeral Mr.. Dombey ordered the fur
Iture to be covered up-perhaPs 70 preserve it for
the son with whom his plans Were all associated
aud the rooms to be uDgarnished, saving such as be
retained for himself on the ground ioor. Accord
inclv mysterious shapes We're made OF tables and
chairs heaped together in the middle OF rooms and
covered over with great winding sheets Bell-han-
dies window blinds, and looking glasses being pa-
pered up in journals, daily and weekly obtruded
tragmentary accounts of deaths and dreadful nur
ders. Every chandelier or lustre, muiied In boil
land looked like n monstrous tear depending from
the ceilings eve. Odors. as from vaults and damp
places came out of the chimneys. The dead and
buried lady was awful in a picture-irame OF ghast
~ bandaces Every gust Of wind that rose, brought
eddying round the corner from the nelshborm5
news, some fragments OF the straw that had been
strewn before the house when she was Ill, mildew-
ed remains OF which were still cleavins to TIE
neighborl,ood: and these, being always drawn by
some invisible attraction 20 the threshold oil the
dirty house to let Immediately opposite, addressed
dismal eIoguencc to Mr.. Domhey's windows
The apartments which Mr.. Dombey reserved for
his own inhabitinr, were attainable from the hall
and consisted OF a sittinC.room; n library. which
was IN fact dressing. ROOM so that the smell OF
hot pressed paper vellum. morocco and Russia
leather contended in 1t with smell Of divers pairs
OF boots and kind Of conservatory or little glass
breakfast room hey ond, commanding prospect OF
the trees before mentioned, and, generally speak
ing. OF n few prowling cats These three rooms
opened uspn one another. In the morning, when Mr..
Dom5rv was his breakfast IN one or other OF tie
two FIRST mentioned OF them as well rs III the alter
noon when he came home to dinner, bell was rung
for Richards IL repair 10 this glass chamber, and
there walk TO and fro with her young charge. From
the glimpseS she caught OF Mr. Dombey at these
times sitting in the dark distance, looking Out to
ward the iniant from among the dark. heavy turni-
ture-the house had been inhabited for years BY his
father, and in many OF It's appointments was old
fashioned and grim-She began to entertain Ideas
81 him in his solitary state rs ii he were lone pms
oner in cell strange appariion that was not
To he accosted or understood.
Little Paul Dombey os,er-mother had led this
life herself aud had carried little Paul through it for
some weeks and had returned up stairs one day
from a melancholy saunter through tine dreary
rooms of state iShe never went ont without Mrs
Chick, who called ON fine mornings, usually accom-.
panied by Miss Tox 10 take her and baby for an
airing-or, III other words to march them gravely up
and down the pavement. like walking funeral)
when. as she was sitting in her own room. the door
was slowly and quietly opened and dark-eyed
little girl looked in
It's Miss Florence come home from her aunts
no doubt thought Richards, who had never seen
the child before Hope see You well, Miss.
:. Is that my brother 2" asked the child. pointing
TO the baby.
Yes, my pretty, answered Richards "c Come
But the child, instead OF advancing, looked her
earnestly in the face, and said;
What haze You done with my Mama
Lord bless the little creeter cried Richards,
what sad question done ? Nothing, Miss,
What have they done with my Mama inquir,
ed the child.
Il never saw such melting thing in allmy life
said Richards, who naturally substituted for this
child one Of her own. inquiring for herself III III
circumstances. Come nearer here, my a. MISS
DON'T be afraid OF me.
- am not afraid OF You, sand the child, drawing
nearer . Blu; want to know what they have
done with my Mama.
Ny darling, said Richards, you wear that
pretty black trcok in remembrance of your Mama.
u can remember my Mama, returned the child,
with tears springng to her eyes, IN any trock.
But people put on black to remember people
when they re gone
Where gone e asked the child.
Come and sit down by me said Richards and
II tell YOU q story.
With quick perception that 1t was intended to
relate what she had asked little Florence laid aside
the bonnet she had held in her hand until now and
sat down on stool at the nurses feet. looking up
Once upon time, said R ichards. there was
a lady-a very good lady, and her little daughter
dearly loved her.
a very good lady, and her little daughter dear
" loved her" repeated the child.
WHO. when God thought It right that it should
be SO, was taken Ill and died.
The child shuddered-
:. Died never to be seen again by any one on
earth, and was buried in the ground where the
trees grow.
again.
ing her advantage. where the ugly little seeds
turn into beautiful lowers. and into grass and corn
and do Mt know what all besides. Where good
people turn into bright angels, and ay away 70
The child. who had dropped her head, raised il
again and sa, looking at her intently.