Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-08-27

PICTURE FROM g BLEAK HOUSE,

he met with every day in large cites-yes in cities
not large These details must be regarded as
faithful recital of incidents which the author has
either seen personally, or which he knows to be
true.
In another chapter ofihis number, Dickens draws
a portrait of Mrs. Jellaby, who, surrounded by
scenes such as these is found absent from her home
when called upon. to attend q tea-drinking. where
speecbes we're to be made and letters written "on
the general merits of the cultivation of coffee con-
Jointly with the natives, at the settlement of Boori
boola Ghan The same person was absent another
time on the Booriboolian business, arising out of
a society called the East London Branch Aid Rami-
fcation.'
applied the key on hearing this and opened the
door In poor with sloping ceiling and
containing very little furniture, was mite of boy,
some five or six years old, nursing and hushng a
heavy child of eighteen months: There was no fire.
though the weather was cold both children were
wrapped in some poor shawls and tippets a sub
stitute Their clothing was not so warm, however,
but that their looked red and pnched and their
small figures shrunken, as the boy walked up and
down, nursing and hushing the child with its head
on his shoulder.
"Who has locked you up here alone ~ natur-
ally asked: -. ~ o.ou,:n ..;u - nouo 81
"Is Charley your brother o.
| No. She's my sister, Charlotte. Father called
her Charley
"Are there any more of you besides Charley!"
Me-" said the boy, and Emma" patting the
limp bonnet of the child he was nursing and Char
| ley"
.sWhere is Charley now 81
"Out a-washing," said the boy. beginning to walk
up and down again, and taking the nankeen bonnet
much too near the bedsead, by trying to gaze at US
at the same time.
We were looking at one another, and at these two
children, when there came into the room very lit
tie girl childish in figure but shrewd and older look
ing in the face-pretty faced, too-wearing Wo-
manly sort of bonnet much too large for her, and
drying her bare arms a womanly sort OF apron.
Her fingers were white and wrnkled with washing,
and the soap-suds yet smoking which she wiped
off her arms. But for this, she might have been
child. playing at washing, and initiating poor
working woman with quick observation OF the
| truth.
! She had come running from place in the
neighborhood, and had made all the haste she could.
Consequently, though, she very light, she was
out of breath and could not speak at first, she
stood painting and wping her arms, and looking quiz
city at u.s.
The child he nursing stretched forth its arms,
and cried out to be taken by Charley. The little
girl took it, in womanly sort of manner belonging
to the apron and the bonnet and stood looking over
the burden that chung to her most afectionately.
as it possible" whispered my Guardian. as we
put chair for the little creature and got her to sit
down with her oad-the boy keeping close to her,
holding her apron THAT this child works for the
rest? Look at this For Gods sake, look at this t.
1t was a thing to look at The three children close
: together, and two of them relying solely on the
third, and the third young, and yet with an air
of age and seadiness that sat strangely on the
childish figure.
"Charley! Charley! p said my Guardian.
How old you y
I 'Over thirteen. sir" replied the child.
'Oh what great age" said my Guardian
- What great age, Charley!'
cannot describe the tenderness with which he
spoke to her half playfuy, yet all the more COM
;. passonately and mournfully.
"And do you live alone here with these babies
s Charley o. said my Guardian.
Yes, SIR" returned the child looking up into his
face with perfect confidence, since father died"
land how do you live, Charley o. Charley"
said my Guardian turning his face away for mo-
: ment, how do you live ~
e {" Since father died, sir, I've gone out to work
q I'm out washing to-day"
: God help you, Charley said my Guardian.
j. 'Youre not tall enough to reach the tub!'
g. In pattens am, SIR she said quickly, I've got
e high pair as belonged to MOTHER
c "And when did mother die? Poor mother!"
n {" Mother died. just after Emma was born" said
: the child, glancing at the face upon her BOSOM
6 her as could And so tried. And so l worked
e al home, and did cleaning and nursing and washing,
: for long time before began to 90 out. And that's
i how know w don't You see, sir?;'
l. "And do you often go out =
l. 'As often as | CAM said Charly. opening her
# eyes and smiling, because Of earning sx-pence and
shillings !"
: ''And do you always lock the babies up when
y you go out?'
To keep em safe, sir, don't you see % said Char
;. ley Mrs. Binder comes up now and them and
5, MIR. Gridley up, sometimes, and perhaps I
e can run in sometimes and they play, you know,
e and Tom amt afraid of being locked up-are you,
: Tom !'
> "No-o" said Tom, stoutly.
r "Nhen it comes on dark, the lamps are lighed
l. down in the court, and they show up here quite
l. bright-almost quite bright. Don't they, Tom %
e EYES, Charley" said Tom, ''amost quite bright"
re " Then he's as good as gold" said the little crea-
ture-oh in such motherly, womanly way !"-
''And when Emmas tired, he puts her to bed And
= when he's tired he goes to bed himself. And when
r. come home and light the candle, and has bit of
>, supper, he sits up again and has it with Don't
= you, Tom 2"
/ 80 yes, Charley said Tom. That do !" And
either in this glimpse of the great pleasure of his life
or in gratitude and love for Charley. who was all in
all him. he laid his face among the scanty folds Of
- - her frock, and passed from langushng into cry
, ing
!. It the first time since entry, that tear
had been shed among these children The little
= phan girl had spoken of their father and their moth
u err as if all that sorrow were subdued by the
~ sity of taking courage, and by her childish impor
lance of being able to work, and by her busting
II sat quite tranquil. looking quietly at us, and did
either of her little charges two silent tears fal
- down her face.
l. Two persons were conversing together concern
ID ing one of their neighbors, named Brown, the pro
Sc prietor of a grocery hard by. Says of them
D.. = IL IL /