The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-14
HOW | SAW DICKENS.
lFrom the Springfield Mass, Republican,
BY MARJORIE BANKS.

can Notes" | said that though hi
might wear a hard, ugly shell, a:
some men do. he must be tender anC
true within, or he could never write
the BEAUTIFUL words which have glad
dened so many hearts. Do sweet wa
ters. I arrued, flow from bitter fOun
tains? Yes, Mr.. Dickens had a.
least one firm friend in Springfield
aud that was /, Hepsybah Lee, who
owing to the gnawing of poverty anC
utter failure to appear upon the par
Of the young man fOreOrdained anC
predestined to hear my burdens, &C
cOrding to DR.. Holland, taught a, b
abs. to the future President of the
United States; at least l tried tC
think so when the children were un-
usually stupid and dirty.
1t was charming thought, especial
" in this connection. Were we not
both working for the benefit of pos
terity? Indirectly, perhaps feebly,
upon my part, but none the less truly
aud. thinking thus, my kin " regard
Tor him increased. | read with all
the interest of a personal friend of his
success before the American public
Even Dolby won a share in my good
viii. OF Dolby as a genius. of Dolby
As a human being even, | had no
thought, but the right hand, so to
speak, of Dickens could not be a mat
ter OF indifference TO me, were he ever
so Indifferent matter, and therefore
q halo, or. at least, a reflection Of
glorv encircled even Dolby's head.
When their coming to our city was
not only announced in the newspapers
but actually confirmed the next day,
L began to look about me for ways
and means. There was no one to ask
me, no one ever did ask me to 20 any
where but once, and then / could not
60. Della Spiggins was going with
her Joe, but L had no Joe. She kind
III invited me to make third in the
party, provided | would furnish my
own ticket, narrowing it down to
question of dollars and cents.
1t was the beginning of new term,
the first week, | think; like most of
the teachers [ had anticipated my
salary, and after buying few indis-
pensables and paying debts there was
but Que ragged bill, a two dollar bill,
lett in my purse. / looked at it long
ingly. We did not really need any
thing, thought; there was only
mother, little Tim, and Z; still it was
j great deal to spend In self gratifica-
ton. l was by no means sure that it
would be possible to enjoy anything
at such a price.
/ turned the ragged bill over and
over in my hand, as | turned the sub
ject over and over in my mind, with
out word to mother; and yet she
knew it all, | think, and word from
her decided me at last.
You had better go, dear; it is but
once in a life time.
My feet were winged when [ hasten
ed up town on the way to school to
buy the ticket; but even then it was
too late. There had been watchers
and walters since midnight, and |
carried into school only a heavy
heart and ragged bill, while wan
dering thoughts of wise and foolish
virgins, and little Cratchits, and a
thousand other things equally irrele-
want, drove from my mind all
thoughts of a, b, abs. 1t was as
good a holiday to the ounces, Even
Tom TrOtter's daily whipping was
forgotten, until he fingered after the
others, as though he missed some
thing.
Tt was a bitter disappointment,
which even mothers prediction, that
[ would yet hear of ticket for sale,
would not soften. And so did hear
Of more than one, but at prices rang
ing rom five to ten dollars; nothing
less. Aud yet [ did not quite des-
pair. Tt cannot be, thought, that [,
WHO have been his fOndest admirer,
his truest friend, am never to see his
face. never to hear his voicel | forgot
that virtue should be its own reward !;
but we are apt to forget proverbs in
times OF trouble.
Friday afternoon came at last, as
all afternoons do come, neither earlier
nor later for bringing joy or sorrow.
[ came home from school tired
aud cross af err the weeks work My
future President seemed determined
TO make an A j of himself,
Notwithstanding my efforts to the con-
trary. The tea table was unusually
inviting, for mother had brought out
the old fashioned china and made a
loaf Of gingerbread. a real luxury to
me. dear motherl 1t delighted Tim,
but I was only half grateful, for the
thought would come that it would
always be so in life just gingerbread
and nothing more.
You havn't any ticket2" l shook
my head. She was kneeliug by Tim s
chair, pulling off his shoes. They
were patched fore and aft. They. had
been soled, and heeed, and toed until
there was hardly u bit of original
shoes lefc bus the copper toes.
" He ought to have some new
shoes, said l, fretfully. She sighed,
working patiently at the broken
string
Il know, but 1 can't manage il
lust yet" | pushed my chair back
from the table, angry with her fol
signing, angry with Tim, and even
angry with myself; for my eyes would
wander to those ragged little shoes.
II believe I'll take that letter to
the Post Office. I'm tired to death
Of the sight of children" and gave
little Tim a push away from my side
Mother looked sorrowfully TOWARD
me. l fancied she si0hed again a.
she laid my piece of gingerbread bach
upon the plate. | wished had eater
it. The angry feelings died away from
my heart. Poor mother! She haC
tried so hard to please me. L wen
up stairs for my hat, hesitatiDg be
tween that and my Sunday bonnie
with pink flowers inside. Lit was hare
to give up hope. At last chose the
hat aud came softly down stairs an'
out Of the house. The fresh ali
brought better thoughts, and befor
the corner was turned had made u
my mind. Up the street a little wa
was a shoe store, with the sign of
gilt boot. At the counter asked fo
children's shoes, stout, pegged an,