, 1870-09-11
A STORY OF DICKENS.
lsilt Sykex- Little Nell. and Her
GFhndgnthers In Cambridge.

akaAHutnAAEEs tk1 AAttRDElUECs
From tAr .Seuaskts. j., Courier.
The following lis entirely new. 1t comes
from one to whom association with M.. Dick.
era waH 70 common 4. to have been without
novelty. He was one Of the few who was
wont to accompany the novelist in his dsllv
walks. He told the story one day lately 10 4
number Of friends, among whom was tie pres-
cut writer:
'.olts norning-peIbaps you don't recall
it. MT. Field:-at. Dickens came III clad pecu-
liArlr 4 bun overcoat aud hat t. match,
1hoes, and cane that looked like club. You
could not 50, and he leckoned to me. and We
started on
II have an odd mood on me this morning."
Mr. Dickens remarked. sa we walked to tie
outskirts Of tho city, bearing towards Ctaigie's
bridge. ~ cali it edl, because the mo,d
il not tie one winch nature designed to lie
My Characteristic une. I am An auth IT,
Now. feel Ike acting. Perha' = thes. rea,-
ines have contributed TO make the feeling
tend 10 he. tal:sual. Eut / could act -"
ligntr and shadows of 4 lslf-dozen different
character. ~ t1oaEE the Remembrance Of
The n in rapid succession had caurel them 10
ne II tecttd in his own Ier=ufs ~ tlley passed.
II am q singular compound" La rait.
:" GcneIallr I am cast down till I work
usually shows no higls Observation-Disclosures old
and New-now could act them"
lie looked straight before him over the long
bridge, and We Increased our pace and bur
! fied through the port and through Cambridge.
this time right on past the college, due north
| west, pa.t Torter's to North Cambridge, aud
| sign told us that We we're On the road to
| Arlington We sooD came upon that town
| living On the plain, with its pretty rteepIes
and tue range Of Hills beyond it, over which
blew keen west wind, a. exhil4rat-
ing NJ ever l bEeathea. Indeed, The
air had inyigoratcd us all the willie.
II was = good a, niles wall, when Spy Pond
etana-rtiil near wLere the main street and I
back road met. He stopped and looked over
white fence At the pond. Up the road a
! quarter Of mile. past church With grace
tul steeple. WAS house that stood with its
windows looking down the street. Nj. Dick
| ems fixed his eyes upon that house.
"Hi1l," Re said. in sort OF low eoli1oquy,
=" Bill Sykes tore lis coat, md Nancy menlei
il for linn. He paid her by thrElstius the
needle into her aeeh-ths villAin-and got At
this moment l felt like perronatipg Bill
Sykee." He slipped his buff overcoat eiishtly
from h's shoulders and moved his shoulders
with a sudden strain. ! he1td rip. That
will do" said he. :. Come" and on ho walked.
lie stopped At the door OF the house before
mentioned, and ruuE. The moment the
hand OF some one intide, coming in 70.
t,nnse to tho ringing, was heard on the door
knob, trantformation came over Mr. Dick
ems. lie stood thtra an old man-the vory
:. grandfather" OF lis OWE story. The Old
| Curiosity Shop. A rale-faced girl opened the
door. IIer large eyes rested Cd the uptnrnct1
face of the old man. whose eyes were lifted
to hers. "Nell, he said, in an inacscribAt!y
t,een looking for her all THIS weary wli,lc. and
ii you-if you arc. Ny eyes ara old They
| tell me you were buried. Spcak-Se1l!"
''Whlt do yon want :" asked the girl won
deripely-
"1lnow Nell will mend my coat for me
These are her eyct. VIII YOU. Nelt -
"I!is coat il really torn said l, for Sd,
lnokel ~ though ellc was about TO run away
"Lonk."
"urandma will" aaid the girl, and we en-
tered.
Iwae in advance OF sIr. Dickens. Iu III
sitting room to which the E,r! led the way a.
NJ, old lady in chair. sewing.
"Grandma is blind, eail tho girl.
tWha.-aud scws =
''Sews, ell :" rcs.'uu'sed EruN voice frol
the hallway. We turned and then o.
served that Mr. Dickens had no, get como II
''l,ut can ehe thread the el!e = s,n
FIR tie pnrpos" Of returning til" attention {
tho child. WIN look, Il somessiltt .tattle.
!: +" You du TINT for her.
40. no" said the E.rl. .Shc does it a
Aersclf"
Vino IL this ce,.tlenan :" askel til. nl
lady. - Yon ste get along well enough vi,
tl.ia needle II has !. sir :s.roag9, TO tho cy
and PRESS the :..rcal :!sruash. Here, let u
-s.cw you" Ant 4he tAica1ed tie NEEDLE
atiri> my curiosity.
"Sows. ell :: sEain rcsn,li"!r1 the er7,
voice behind ns. The girl turned with atA
and gaxed at tho figure that new e:oM ha
: rrciin,ne asairet the door post. It was N
Dickens : hut | should hardly have rccasn;ze
.. him. It was Eiis Sskes, rather, in caatum
! Ill attitude, in facial expression. IN the eto,
and hlcar.eycd sullcnntss and ferocity OF II
! lirs. !" Sc<s. ehs Sew my coat then. al
! 10 quick about it dye ile1r:"
He dung the coat toward the Old 1ady. At
with ruilianlv tcliber1tior eease1 himsel
The child cluug in terror to her Erandmoth"
And it was juss At this moment that the he
.. rifle hardness Of Mr.. Dickens face began
rcl.nt. A emile slmmered at one end Of l
tho face. 4 few movements Of han1 Al
Handkerchief. and the hi.!eous paleness
ace gave way to ruhicnnd hue. Tho nose
relvett a touch. and then etouh out red n
: jolly. Human kindness. simplicity au ] jolli
: lighted up the face an g!eamed from the e!!.
q The attitude WAS changed
; e. And tho blind old grapdn. sews, ch
l Let's see, rsy child, a needle that threaIs
= eelf almost = And Captain Cattle stood t
fore ns. "And he's drowned, slut hs
0 Florence, my chiid-Come, tho farce 10 owe
!: Suddenly Mr. dickens rose 10 his t.
9 STOPPING over, lie picked up his coat.
! Stirred his hand into his pocket and drew {
. bill. saw The figure ~ Oh it.
There, child, saii he. '' take it to rle:
fnr. almost slouEht had met With lit
: Sel verify in the nesl, Good bye, ch;
" h. e.. Il to your Gsaudm,."
, Wa left tue llo,ise, and m1lst say '
l. rorry when the play was over"