The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-07-02
DICKENS.

On Mr.. Dickens first visit TO this coun.
try he made a speech at the dinner given
him In Boston, in which he Illus ALLUDED
to Little Nell
"There Is one other point connected
with the labors "a | may call them so)
that YOU hold in such generous esteem, TO
which | cannot help adverting, cannot
help expressing the delight, the more than
happiness II was 10 me TO find 20 strong
Au interest awakened on this side OF the
water In favor Of that little heroine Of
mine 10 whom your President made allu-
sion, who died In her youth, | had letters
about that child, in England, from the
dwellers in log huts among the morasscs
/ and swamps, aud densest forests and deep
| solitudes Of the Far West Many a sturdy
| hand, hard with the X and spade and
I Drowned by the summers sun, has AIKEN
up the pen and written TO me a little his
tory Of domestic Joy or sorrow, always
coupled, | am proud 10 SAY, with some.
thing Of interest In thatlittle tale, or some
comfort or happiness derived from Il and
the writer has always addressed me, not
as a writer Of books for sale, resident
some four or 1--WE thousand miles away,
but as a friend to whom he might freely
impsrt the Joys and sorrows of his own
iresiie. Many q mother-I could
reckon them now by dozens, not by units
has done the like and has told me how
she lost such a child at such a time, and
where she lay buried, and how good she
was, and how, in this OF that respect she
resemhied Nell. | do assure you that no
circumstance Of my life has given me one
hundredth part of the qualification | have
derived from this source was waverinc
, at the time whether or not 70 wind up my
clock and come and see this country and
this decided me. | feel as If IL were 1
positive duty as If | were bound to pacl
up my clothes and come and see my
friends and even now | have such an odt
/. sensation In connection with these thing,
that you have nc chance OF spelling me
4 | feel as though we were agreeing-as In
I deed we are, II We substitute for %ictitiou.
0 characters the classes from which they ar,
drawn-about third parties, in whom W,
had q common interest. At every ney
Y act OF kindness on your part, l say Il +
n myself, That's for 0liver-l should no
o wonder If that was meant for Smike-
have no doubt that 1t was intended 70
Nell and so became q much happier, Gel
a tainly, but a more sober and retiring ma
than ever l was before"
There are none, we think, who win no
n after reading this allusion TO the child VIII
q has 80 long been a reality 10 many mind
d take a sad interest In recalling the fin,
T. scene Of her life
Y pEATH OF LrTTLR NRIL,
She was dead. No sleep so heautif
ID and calm, so free from trace of pain. {
., fair to look upon. She seemed a creatul
ID fresh from the hand Of God, and wsitin
T. for the breath Of life not one who ha
in lived and suffered death. Her couch WI
er dressed with here and there some whit,
berries and green leaves, gathered in
Id spot she had been used 70 favor. aWhs
e. Idle, put near me something that h,
&c loved the light, and had the sky above
20 always" Those were her words.
b. She was dead. Dear, gentle, patier
at noble Nell was dead. Her little bird,
poor, slight thing the pressure Of a fng
~ would have crushed. was stirring nimh
th In It's cage, and the strong heart Of
"a child. mistress was mute and motionle
lg forever Where we're the traces Of h
'rt early cares, her sufferings, and fatigue
MS All gone. Sorrow was dead, Indeed,
her but peace and perfect happine
were born, imsged in her tranquil beau
and profound repose.
to Aid still her former self lay there, u
nd altered in its change. Yesi the old fl
VI. side had smiled upon that same swS
ng face II had passed like a dream, throuI
the hsunts of misery and care; at {
ny door Of the poor schoolmsster ON the su
CD mer evening; before the furnace 4
id. upon the cola, wet night at the still b
re side Of the dying boy there had been (
lie. same mild and lovely look. So shall
ng know the angels, in their majesty, af
death.
=" The old man held one languid arm
I'm his, and the small, tight hand folded TO
ia breast for warmth, II was the hand I
had stretched out 10 him with her
,ht smile; the hand that had led him
Try through all their wanderings. Ever a