The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-08-29
HOW I SAW DICKENS.
RY MARJoR1E nANKs.

I always befriended him, even when
the newspapers were filled with abuse
for his past, present and future, and
Especially of those dreadful American
Notes." said that though he might
wear hard, ugly she'll, as some men
do; he must be tender and true within,
or he never could write the beautiful
words which have gladdened so many
hearts. Dosweet waters, / argued, flow
from bitter fountains? Yes, Mr.. Dick
ems had st least one firm friend in
Springfield, and it was 1, Hepsybah
Lee, who, owing to the gnawing ofpov-
lerty, and utter failure to appear upon
the part OF the young man foreordained
and predestinatedt to bear my burdens,
| according to DIR. Holland, taught q, b.,
abs to the future president of the
United States I; at least 1 tried to think
SO when the children were unusually
dirty and stupid.
It was a charming thought, especially
in this connection. Were we not both
working for the benefit of posterity !?
indirectly, perhaps feebly, upon my
l part, but none the less truly and,
thinking thus, my kindly regard for
him increased. 1 read with all the in
forest offs personal friend, of his sue
cess before the American public even
Dolby won share in my good will.
OF Dolby as genius as Dolby as a hui
man being eyens had no thought, but
| the right hand, SO to speak, OF Mr..
Dickens could not be matter OF indif
ference to me, were he ever SO indiffer-
ent d matter, and therefore II slight
halo, or, at least, a reflection of glory,
Ieucircled even Dolbyis head.
When their coming to our city was
not only announced in the newspapers
but actually confirmed the next day, I
began to look around me for ways and
| means. There was no one to ask me,
no one ever did ask me to go any
n
go. DeliS Spiggins was going with her
Joe, but had no Joe. She kindly in
Vited me 10 make third in the party,
provided 1 would furnish my own
ticket, narrowing 1t down TO matter
of dollars and cents.
1t was the beginning of new term,
the first week, L think; like most OF the
teachers, had anticipated my salary,
and after buying a few indispensibles
and paying debts, there was but one
ragged bill, two dollar bill, left in my
purse. looked at it louEingly. We
did not really need anything. / thought;
there was only mother, little Tim and
L; still it was great deal to spend for
f-gratiiication. was by no means.
sure that it would be possible to enjoy
anything at such price.
L turned the ragged bill over and over
in my hand, as 1 turned the subject
over and over in my mind, without a
| word to mother; and yet she knew 1t
all, I think, and word from her de-
cided me at last.
"You had better go, dear; it is but
once in lifetime"
My feet were winged when hasten
ed up town on the way to school to buy
the ticket: but even then / was too
late. There had been watchers and
walters since midnight, and L carried
into school only heavy heart and a
ragged bill, while wandering thoughts
of wise and foolish virgins, and little
Cratchits, and thousand other things
equally irrelevant, drove from my mind
all thoughts of q, b, abs. II was as
good as holiday to the ounces. Even
Tom Trotter's daily whippings was for
gotten until he fingered after the 9TH
ers, as though he missed something.
Il was a bitter disappointment, which
even mothers prediction that / would
yet hear ofa ticket for saleJ would not
soften. and SO 1 did hear gilmore than
one, but at prices ranging from tiYe.to
| ten dollars; nothing less. And yet I
did not q ute despair. 1t cannot be, I
thought, gthatI, who have been his
fondest admirer, his truest friend, am
never to see his face, never tohear his
voice! forgot that virtue should be
its own reward: butwe are apt to for
| get proverbs in times of trouble.
| Friday afternoon came at last, Rs all
afternoons do come, neither earlier nor
l lhIeEs lOE DElnSluB Joy OF 6OEfOWsHa-1
came home from school tired and cross
after a weeks work. My future presi-
dent seemed determined to make an
| A. j of himself, notWith-
standing my efforts to the contrary.
The tea.tabIe was unusually Inviting,
| fashioned china and made loaf of
gingerbread, real luxury to me, dear
motheri 1t delighted Tim, but was
only half grateful, for the thought
would come that it would always be so
through life; just gingerbreads and
nothing more.
"Yo1 haven't any ticket?" 1 shook
my head. She was kneeliug by Tins
chair, pulling off hfsshoes. They were
patched fore and aft They had been
soled and heeled and toed until there
was hardly a bit of the original shoes
left but the copper%toes. g
8" He ought 10 have some new shoes,
said 1 fretfully. She sighed, working
patiently at the broken string.
II 81 know, but can't manage It inst
YETI pushed my chair back from the
table. angry with her FOR signing, an
for my eyes would wander to those
ragged little shoes. GEE
believe I'll take that letter to the
post office. Pm tired to death of the
Il sight of children, land I gave little
Tim a push away from my side,
l lUulAEA
me. i fancied she sighed again as she
laid my piece of gingerbread back upon
the plate. I wished had eaten 1t. The
angry feelings died away from my
heart. Poor mother She tried so hard
to please me. went up stairs for my
hat; hesitating between that and my
4 Sunday bonnet with pink flowers In
side. II was hard to give up hope. AT
last chose the hat and came softly
tdown stairs and out of the house. The
fresh air brought better thoughts, and
before the corner was turned made up
my mind. Up the street little way
was shoe store, with the sign of a gill
boot. At the counter asked for child
q rens shoes, stout, pegged and copper
Z toed. y -, -
> -"Going to DicKens?" asked the spo
, lite young man. -
Twas afraid / was, in certain sense
but said 'fNo, could not get tick
/ et.t -. S -
HThey say there'n bea lot disposed
; of at the box office, Tonight, specula
) tors co0Iden't sell 'ern after sIl.'
i was measuring the shoes with my
eyei no need to do more for the littli
> feet i dressed and undEesSed SO often
The pair dropped from my hand. VIVA
i'll said they would not suit, or I'd cal
again another day2 i put my hand II
: my pocket and teIt the old pOrtmon
maize !: the ragged bill was yet inside
: Then remembered mothers signs
and said nothing. am so glad now
though am afraid e was a reluetan
Offering after all. i chose the shoe
] and gave him the bill, which he threw
careleSalY into the money drawer. An
wellshe did not know.
Then / walked slowly up the stree
past the opera house. Tine people Wer