Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-08
CHARLES DICKENS.
BY THACKERAY


As for the charities of Mr.. Dickens, multi
piled kindnesses which he has conferred upon
us all; upon our children; upon people edu-
Gated and uneducated; upon the myriads here
and at home, who speak our common tongue;
have not you, have not |, all of us reason to
be thankful to this kind friend, who soothcd
and charmed so many hours, brought pleasure
and sweet language to so many homes; made
such multitudes of children happy; endowed
us with such sweet store of gracious thoughts,
fair fancies, soft sympathes, hearty enjoy
ments. There creations of Mr.. Dickens
which seem to me to rank as personal benefits;
figures so delightful, that one feels happier
and better for knowing them, as one does for
being brought into the society of very good
men and women. The atmosphere in which
these people live is wholesome to breathe in;
you feel that to be allowed to speak to them is
personal kindness; you come away better
for your contact with them; your hands seem
cleaner from having the privilege of shaking
theirs. Was there ever better charity ser
mon preached in the world than Dickens
Christmas Carol? / believe it occasioned i'm
mensc hospitality throughout England; was
the means of lighting up hundreds of kind
fires at Christmas time; caused I wonderful
outpcuring of Christmas good feeling; OF
Christmas punch-brcwing an awful slaughter
of Christmas turkeys, and roasting and bast-
ing of Christmas beef. As for this mans love
of children, that amiable organ at the back of
his honest head must be perfectly monstrous.
All children ought to love him. l know two
that do and read his books ten times for once
that they peruse the dismal preachmcnts of
their father. | know one who, when she is
happy, reads Nicholas Nickleby; when she is
unhappy, reads Nicholas Nickleby when she
is tired, reads Nicholas Nickleby; when she
is in bed, reads Nicholas Nickleby; when she
has nothing to do, reads Nicholas Nickleby;
and when she has finished the book, reads
Nicholas Nickleby over again. This candid
Young critic, at ten years of age, said, 81
like Mr.. Dickcns's books much better than
your books, papa;'' and frequently expressed
her desire that the latter author should write
book like one of Mr.. Dickens books. Who
can? Every man must say his own thoughts
in his own voice, in his own way; lucky is he
who has such charming gift of nature as this,
which brings all the children in the world
trooping to him, and being fond of him.
l remember when that famous Nicholas
Nickleby came out, seeing letter from ped
agogue in the north of England, which, dis
NAL as it was, was immensely comical. 'Mr.
Dickens's ill-advised publications. wrote the
poor schoolmaster, 50 has passed like whirl-
wind over the schools Of the North.' He WAS
a proprietor of a cheap school; Dotheboys-
Hall was a cheap school. There were many
such establishments in the northern counties.
Parents were ashamed, that never were asham-
ed before, until the kind satirist laughed at
them; relatives were frightened; scores of
little scholars were taken away; poor school
masters had to shut their shops up; every
pedagogue was voted Squeers, and many
suffered no doubt, unjustly; but afterwards
school-boy backs were not so much caned;
school-boys' meat was less tough and more
plentiful and school-boys' milk was not so
sky-blue What kind light of benevolence
it is that plays round Crummles and the Phe-
nomenon, and all those poor theatre people in
that charming book! What humor! and
what good-humor! 1 coinsder with the
youthful critic, whose opinion has just been
mentioned, and own to family admiration
for Nickola Nickleby.
One might go on, though the task would be
endless and needless, chronicling the names
of kind folks with whom this kind genius has
made us familiar. Who does not love the
Marchioncss, and Mr.. Richard Swiveller!-
Who does not sympathise, not only with Oil
yer Twist, but his admirable young friend the
Artful Dodger3 Who has not the inestima
bic advantage Of possessing Mrs. Nickleby
in his own family Who does not bless Sairey
Camp and wonder at Mrs. Harris. Who does
not venerate the chief of that illustrious IA
mily who, being stricken by misfortune, WISE
ly and greatly turned his attention to Sc coals,'
the accomplished, the Epicurean, the dirty,
the delightful Micawberl 2
may quarrel with Mr.. Dickens's art thou
sand and thousand times, delight and won
der at his genius; recognise in i'll speak
with awe and reverence commission from
that Divine Beniicence, whose blessed task we
know it viii one day be to wipe every tear
from every eye. Thankfully take my share
of the feast of love and kindness, which this
gentle, and generous, and charitable soul has
contributed to the happiness of the world.-I
take and enjoy my share, and say Benedic-
tion for the meal.
u Mr. SNOWFALL. wants TO ask you one
question dis ebenin.' Well, succeed den.'
sSpose you 60 to de tabern to get dinner, and
don't hab noffin on de table but big beet,