The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-09
Charles Dickens Writings.

must have read Dickens. cannot Oelleve IL
possible that any human being who ever had
access to his WORKS. or who can read at all ,
has lived to the ago of discretion without
having devoured those delightful creations.
Therefore, | do not hesitate to ask the
reader, whoever, or wherever he may he. to
come and meet few old friends sociably.
NV gathering may be rather motley one,
but II will be none the les' charming for that.
have been to Bleak House," and brought
away dear Esther Summerson, and have even
dared to penetrate to the "Growlery." and
persu ,de the kind.hear;ed. obstinate Jaun-
dyco to como out in spite of the "east wind" I"
And Harold SkimpoIe, too (; he is here. MS
much afraid of creditors rs ever, and just as
simple and child like BY his side sits hon.
est, large.hearte Bnythorn, with hi' pet CT.
nary on his head, and with as merry q laugh
as when we knew him first. And leaning
against u pillar. in its rcmotest corner. do
you not recognize the "young man OF the
name of Guppy," gazing with oil his eyes
at poor. uncomfortable Esther?
All! they are indeed old friends! How
pleasant It is to sec them all again! And
in another corner there is another set; Sir
Leicester Dcdlock and tiny lady," have
deigned to honor the little party with their
presence. and rs "my lady" leans back in
her chair with hor favorito firescreen in her
hand. YOU have the old feeling Of pity and
curiosity with which you first gael ut her
She watches little Dame burden" with an
eager fascination. hut speaks no word Will
she take her nightly promenade on the
"Ghost's Walk" when she goes home?
While we sit cozily together in quiet.
happy way, the door opens and other equal.
" delightful. equally beloved friends, make
their appearance.
Do YOU see those two ladies, both beauti-
ful, but in such contrast to each other, who
are both so sad? All! see you know them;
Edith and Florence Dombey. All their sad
story comes up before me us | look ut them.
Dear little Florence she has her reward
Of course she will not leave behind her best
friend. our old favorite, Captain Cuttle-he
is as Jolly rs ever, and never loses that tom
dcrness of heart that always makes us feel
like rubbing our eyes when We think OF IL.
His dear "Wal'r' is with them both, and
tho happy circle is complete But loot, and
his Sus,n did not leave them long alone |;
they are M insepirable as ever. "And, in
point of fact" there is Cousin FeeniS lean
ing over Filth Dombey. engaged In his old
attempt to stand straight. The company is
increasing; hut, IL there is room nowhere
else, they will certainly find it in our hearts
and warm reception. too. And here
comes somcbody to claim these things The
Observation-Disclosures and beloved
brothers. heeryble-those friends for whom
VIC keep the warnest corner-aro just enter
ing, and with them, Of course, come their
proteges. We ctnnot help feeling little
sad not to see poor Smike with them; but he
sleeps 30 quietly in his grave. it would be u
pity to rouse him. But Newman Noggs is
here, and no |, some compensation for the
poor dead boy.
And, farther on. SEQ David Copper6eld
and Agnes. far happier together than were
David and poor little Dora. In their train
is Tommy Traddlcs; don't they seem like
old friends to you?
Thcn VIC have (strange that they should
bo 81 late y Mr.. Pickwick. Mr.. Snodsris,,
and Mr.. Wrinkle, and, beyond, Mrs. Leo
Hunter. After them como some compard.
lively new friends; Wemmick and his bru,.
and Mr.. Pip himself, followed by honest,
faithful Joe Gargery; for this is reunion
for them all, humble or great. But do not
these new acquaintances. new acquisitions to
nur circle. deserve MS much love and welcome
as the rest? All! they are dclishtful-"those
dear, familiar faces"
Little Dorrit, too, and Pct Mylcs, and Ar
thur Clarence, are all here, and I ain sure we
love them all, as much rs we do poor Tom
Pinch, who comes quietly in. with his sister
And, last among the train. come Oliver
Twist, with his protectors, and R'ss Maylie,
beautiful as ever. Now, isit not more than
pleasant thus to ass,mble friends We hlvc
known so long, faces which time cannot dim,
hearts which are fresh rs Mt first? Go around
among them, linger and listen, and you
shall hear their we'll remembered talk. You
want to have u quiet tete.a teic with pretty
Kate Nickleby (; hut her mamma, who can
scarcely, in truth, be called friend. wishes
to tall you all about Mr.. and Mrs. Witterlv.
or about the poor little gentleman in small
clothes. and his violent passion for herself.
Ii is very natural.
Then, in II moment Of quiet. you hear,
from some distant corner, the voice OF Jaund-
wee. hot in debate, exclaiming that "thc wind
Is due east" that it certainly must bc due
east.
Or,you got Wemmick to sit down and give
YOU his delightful description OF tho little
house ut Walworth, and all its additions Of
the "Stringer." the moat, drawbridge, &C..
So you GO. from one to another, with an
indcscribabIc feeling OF affection, unable to
n,ss them by, unwilling to let them 60.
iThey lingcr late, till it is time, quite time,
20 separate, and they leave you quietly, with
the promise Of AN early return. AS they 90
slowly out, you pass them in review before
YOU and think. tenderly. how much happi
ness YOU aro indebted to them all. And now
tbev are pons-all Is silent rs the long draw
;ny.room at Chesney Void when "my lady"
is in town.
And now, to come down to ordinary ways
again now that they have shut themselves
in. "under the covers" again. cannot help
s,yinu that everybody feels in his heart, that
no such fiction were ever written by mortal
hand as have originated in the fertile brain
of that beucfactor Of the world. Charles Dick.
cns. In speaking Of hin, invariably think
of what his friend and ;o-novelist said of tho
effect Of "Nicholas Nickieby" upon his
daughter "Ah !"siid he, "she reads Mich.
oias Nickleby' when she is glad and when
shc /, sad, when she Is tired or when she is
fresh, when she is quiet or when sho Is gay.
She reads It and laughs, and she reads Il and
cries, andl have no doubt she will continue
IN do 20 as long IN she shall live."
This Is not correct quotation. for give
II from memory, bat II gives the idea. And
how many people. | wonder, could 30 found.