The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-13
CHARLES -ll.l !: DICKENS.
THk sToRIHe or .TMR nEATa 0F
LITTLE N1EE AND LIT, :
ma '. TLK Paul. -: 3, {.

|: = q 49, =
TMR STORIES or rHR DEATH Q,
LITTLE NREh AND LIT" =
1saf '. TLk PAUL. -.
--r:o;--
No. writer Of q otion, ever appealed 8,
directly to the better feelings of human
nature as Dickens. None ever describe,
tho death Of children (whom he love,
supremely) with. such ,consummat,
touohea of beauty. No more touching
story was ever told than that Of littl,
Paul Dombey, unless, possibly, it b,
that sadder one of"Dear; gentle, patien
noble Little Nell," in the Old CURIOSITY
Shop and so long al English literature
endures, will these be read in every
household, in every land, with swelling
hearts aud overfowing eyes. Had
Dickens written nothing but these two
sorrowful stories, he would stili have
touched responsive chord, aud have
been embalmed in millions Of hearts on
both sides of the ocean.
At last the master hand that magnet
lied the world with its touch has been
stilled in that death which it 80 often and
beautifully described-nowhere more
beautifully and feelingly than in the
two briof extracts which we copy here
as illustrating that boundless sympathy
with purity, goodness aud suffering that
made himself as fresh and loving in
heart as child. He has followed the
''old, old fashion," that he portrays
here in such gen tie fearful words
"the old, old fashion, Death"-only to
take on, like little Paul, "that older
fashion yet Of Immortality"
DEATH OF LITTLE NELL.
She vas dead. No sleep so beauti-
full and calm, so free from trace of pain,
so fair to look upon. She seemed a
creature fresh from the hand of God,
aud waiting for the breath of life !; not
one who had lived and suffered death.
Her couch was dressed with here aud
thore some winter berries and green
leaves, gathered in spot she had been
used to favor. "When die, put me
near something that loved the light,
and had the sky above it always" Those
were her words.
She was dead. Dear, gentle, patient,
noble Nell was dead. Her little bird, a
poor slight thing the pressure of fiuger
would have crushed, was stirring nimbly
in its cage, and the strong heart of its
child-mistress was mute and motionless
forever! Where were tho traces of her
early cares, her sufferings aud fatigues ?
All gone. Sorrow was dead indeed in
hcr; but peace and perfect happiness
were born, imaged, in her tranquil
beauty aud profound repose.
And still her former self lay there
unaltered in tl.is change. Yes the old
fireside had smiled upon the Same sweet
face; it had passed like dreom, thro'
tho hauuts Of misery and care at the
door of the poor schoolmaster on the
summer evening, before the furnace fire
upon the cold wet night, at the still
bedside. of the dying boy, there had
been the same mild aud lovely look. So
shall we know the angels in their ma
jesty after death.
The old man held one languid arm
in his, and the small, tight hand folded
to his breast for warmth. It was the
hand she had stretched out to him with
her last smile; the hand that had led
him on through all their wanderings
Ever and anon he pressed it to his lips
then hugsed it to his breast again, muir.
muring that it was warmer now, and as
he said it, he looked in agony to those
who stood around, as if imploripg them
to help her.
She was dead, and past all help, or
nccd Of help. The ancient rooms she
had seemed to fill with life, even while
her own was waning fast, the garden
she had tended, the eyes she had glad
ened, the noiseless haunts of many
hour, the paths she had
.rodden, as it wero, but yesterday, could
know her no more.
She had been dead two days. They
we're all about her at the time, knowing
that the end was drawing on. She died
soon after daybreak. They had read and
.alked to her in the earlier portion of tho
night; but, as the hours crept on, she
sank to sleep. They could tell by what
'ho AUtutiy uttCICO III uCT uTcuulS, Luut
hey were Of her iourneyings with the
Did man ;they were Of no painful scenes,
but Of those who had helped them, and
used them kindly, for shc often said,
God bless you !" with great fervor.
Waking, she mover wandered in her
mind but once, and that was at beauti.
full music, which, she said, was in the
air. God knows. 1t may havo been.
Opening her eyes, at last, from every
quiet sleep, she begged that they would
kiss her once again. That done, she
turned to the old man, with a lovely
smile upon her face, such, they said, as
they had never seen. and could never
forget, and clung, with both her arms,
about his neck. She had ncvcr MUIR
mured or complained; but, with quiet
mind, and manner quite unaltered, save
that she ovcry day became more earnest
and more grateful to them, faded like
tho light upon the summers evening.
X *
Along tho crowded path they bore
her now pure the newly fallen snow that
covered it, whose day on earth had been
as Aeeting. Under that porch whore