Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-16
The Poor Relations Story.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

oOuiplCO uiOuhuCio VI Jul AduIilyj duO
particularly John, our esteemed host,
to whom we are so much indebted for
the great hospitality with which he
has this day entertained US. by the
confession | am going to make. But,
if you do me the honor to be surpris-
ed at anything that falls from a per-
son SO unimportant in the family as [
am, l can only say that shall be
scrupulously accurate in all | relate.
l am not what am supposed to
be. Lam quite another thing. Per-
haps before | go further, | had better
glance at what | am supposed to be.
1t is supposed, unless mistake
the assembled members of our family
will correct me if do, which is very
likely (here the poor relation looked
mildly about him for CONTRADICTORY ;
that am nobody's enemy but my
own. That | never met with any par
ticular success in any thing. That |
failed in business because | was un.
business-like and credulous-in not
being prepared for the interested de-
signs Of my partner. That failed in
love because | was ridiculously trust
ful-in thinking it impossible that
Christiana could deceive me. That |
failed in my expectations from my
uncle Chill, on account of moi being
as sharp as he could have wished in
worldly matters. That, through life,
| have been rather put upon and dis
appointed in general way. That |
am at present bachelor of between
tifty-nine and sixty years of age, liv-
ing On a limited income in the form of
a quarterly allowance, to which l see
that John, our esteemed host, wishes
me to make no further allusion.
The supposition as to my present
pursuits and habits is to the following
effect:
live in a lodging in the Clapham
Road, a very clean hack room, in a
very respectable house, where | am
expected not to be at home in the
daytime, unless poorly, and which |
usually leave in the morning at nine
o'clock, on pretense of going to busi-
ness. | take my breakfast, my roll
and butter, and my half pint of coffee,
at the old established cot1ee-shop near
Westminster bridge; and then | go
into the city. | don't know why, and
sit in Garraways Coffee House, and
on Change, and walk about, and look
into few offices and contingencies
where some Of my relations or &C
quaintances are so good as to toler-
ate me, and where stand by the fire
if the weather happens to be cold. |
get through the day in this way until
five o'clock, and then | dine; at a
cost, on the average, of Que and three.
pence. Having still a little money to
spend on my evenings entertainment
l look into the old established coffee
shop as | 60 home, and take my cup
of tea, and perhaps my bit OF toast
So, as the large hand of the clock
makes its way round to the morning
hour again, | make my way round tC
Chaplain Road, and go to bed wher
l get to my lodging, fire being expen
sive, and being objected to by the fam
lily on account of its giving trouble
and making a dirt.
Sometimes, one of my relations Oh
acquaintances is so obliging as to ash
me to dinner. Those are holiday oc
casions, and then ! generally walk il
the Park. l am a solitary man, ant
seldom walk with anybody. Not tina
L am avoided because | am shabby
for am not at all shabby, having al
ways very good suit Of black on,-
or rather Oxford mixture, which ha
the appearance of black, and wear
much better, but | have got into
habit Of speaking low, and been rath
er silent, and my spirits are not higt
and | am sensible that | am not a
attractive companion.
The only exception to this genera
rule is the child of my first cousin, lii
, tie Frank. have a particular afe(
tiOn for that child, and he takes yer
! kindly to me. He is a difident bo
by nature, and in a crowd he is 500
run over, as may say, and forgotten
He and |, however, get on exceeding
: : ly well. l have fancy that the poo
child will in time succeed to my pecv
=. liar position in the family. We tai
but little, still we understand eac
other. We walk about, hand in hanC
and without much speaking, he know
what | mean, and | know what /
. means. When he was very little il
= deed, | used to take him to the vii
:. dows of the toy shops, and show hi
the toys inside. 1t is surprising ho
soon he found out that | would hay
: made him great many presents, if
= had been in circumstances to do it.
\ Little Frank and | go and look
= the outside of the Monument-he
e very fond Of the Monument-and
: the bridges, aud at the sights that a.
, free. On two of my birthdays v
= have dined on a-la-mode beef, ar
gone at half.price to the play, al
been deeply interested. I was On
walking with him in Lombard stret
= which we often visit on account
l. my having mentioned to him tn
E. there are great riches there-he
" very fond of Lombard street,-wh,
d gentleman said to me as he pass,
n by, "Sir, your little son has droppt
d his glove" | assure you, sir, if y,
p will excuse my remarking on so tri
Ie al circumstance, this accidental me
D. ton of the child as mine quite touch
IN my heart and brought the foolish tea
IN into my eyes.
N When little Frank is sent to scho
a. in the country, shall be very mu
e. at loss what to do with myself, b
W | have the intention of walking doy
in there once a month, and seeing h
* on half holiday. | am told be "
I'd then be at play upon the Heath; a
c. if my visits should be objected to,
il unsettling the child, can see h
e. from distance without his seeing Il
d. and walk back again. His moth
p comes of highly genteel family, a
III rather disapproves, | am aware,