Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-22
rom the Newark Courier.l
MENDING DICKENS COAT.

The following is entirely new. II
comes from one to whom association
with Mr.. Dickens was so common as to
be without novelty. He was one Of the
few, who was wont to accompany the
novelist in his daily walks. He told the
story lately to a number of friends,
among whom was the present writer,
One neutrality-suspicious. you don re.
call it, Mr.. Fields--Mr. Dickens came
in clad peculiarly; buff overcoat and
hat to match, shoes, and cane that
looked like club You could not 60,
and he beckoned to me and we started
off isa-e liiie
81 have an odd mood on me this morn
ing" Mr.. Dickens remarked, as we
walked to the outskirts of the city, bear
ing toward Craigle's bridge. II call it
odd, because the mood is not the one
which nature designed to be my charac-
teristic one. am an author Now ]
feel just like acting. Perhaps these
readings have contributed to make the
feeling tend to be habitual. But could
act" He glanced up and saw fit
across his face the lights and shadows of
half dozen different characters, as
though the remembrance of them, in
rapid succession, had caused them to be
reflected in his own person as they
passed. 81 am a singular compound,
he said. " Generally lam cast down till
| work Characters come and go, but
my exterior usually shows no signs
Observation-Disclosures old and new-now |
could act them,
He looked straight before him over
the long bridge, and we increased our
pace and hurried through the Port and
through Cambridge, this time right on
past the college, due northwest, past
Porter's IN North Cambridge, and a sign
told us we were on the road to Airing
ton. We soon came upon that town,
lying on the plain with its pretty steeples
and the range of the hills beyondit, over
which blew keen west wind, as exhila-
rating as ever breathed. Indeed, the
air had invigorated us all the while. 1t
was good six miles walk, when Spy
Pond came into view Mr.. Dickens came
to stapdstill near where the main street
and back road met. He stopped and
looked over white fence at the pond |
Up the road quarter of mile, past
church with graceful steeple, was
house that stood with its windows look
ing down the street. Mr.. Dickens fixed
his eyes upon that house. ffFnrA
'Bill, he said in sort Of low solilo- |
guy, "Bill llSykes tore his coat, and Nancy |
nlended it for him. He paid her by
thrusting the needle into her flesh the |
yet at this moment feel
like personating Bill Sykes. He slipped
his buff oVercoat slightly from his shoul-
lers with a sudden strain. j heard
Zip. That will do, said he. Come"
and on we walked He stopped at the
loor of the house before mentioned end
,ung. The moment the hand of some
1ne inside, coming in response to the
.inging, was heard on the door-knob, a
came over Mr.. Dickens. |
He stood there, an old man-the very
grandfather" of his own story, The
Did Curiosity Shop A pale-faced girl
opened the door. Her large eyes rested
IN the upturned face of the old man,
whose eyes were lifted TO hers. Nell,
lie said, in an indescribable pathetic tone
# voice, ''is this Nell2 I've been look
ng for her all this weary while, and If
Tou--if you are. My eyes are old.
They tell me you were buried. Speak,
lellr' .n.EU .ni iaraaf isg1 /
"What do you wsnt?" asked the girl,
Eonderingly. I
Il know Nell viii mend my coat for
ne. These are her eyes. viii you,
SeIl?"
His coat is really torn, said l, for
he looked as though she vas about TO
un away. Look oo
Grandma will, " said the girl, and we
ntered
/ was in advance Of Mr.. Dickens In
he sitting room to which the girl led the
Tay sat an old lady in a chair, sewing.
Grandma is blind, said the girl
"What-and sews7Y
Sews, eh?" responded gruHf voice
-om thehall-way. We turned, and then
observed that Mr.. Dickens had not yet \
ONE in. ~
But can she thread needle?n 1
aid, for the purpose Of retaining the at
sntion of the child, who looked some
hat startled. You do that for her?"
20, mo-, said the girl " she does it /
Il herself" r.=[ ii
who is this gentleman" asked The
ID LADY" Yea see l get along well
nough with this needle. 1t has a slit
trough to the eye. and press the thread |