Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-10
Dickens IIilarity and Kindness.

When in the mood for humorous character
zatlon, Dickens hilarity was most amazing.
To hear him tell ghost story with very
iiorid imitation Of very pallid ghost, or
hear him sing an old-time stage song, such as
he used to enjoy in his youth at cheap Lon.
don theatre, to see him initiate a lion in me-
nagerie-cage, or the clown in the pantomime
when he hops and folds himself up like jack
knife, or to join with him in some mirthful
game Of his own composing, was to become
acquainted with one of the most delightful
and original companions in the world.
On one occasion. during a walk, he chose
to run into the widest Of vagaries about con-
rerSation. The ludicrous vein he indulged in
during that two hours stretch can never be
forgotten. Among other things he said he
had often thought how restricted ones con-
yersation must become when one was visiting
a man who was to be hanged in half an hour.
lie went on in most surprising manner to
imagine all sorts of difficulties in the way
Of becoming interesting to the poor fellow.
" Suppose said he, sit should be rainy
morning while you are making the call, you
could not possibly indulge in the remark,
. We shall have fine weather tomorrow, SIR
for what would that be to him? For my
part, think" said he, " should confne my
observation to the days Of Julius Caesar or
King Alfred"
At another time when speaking Of what
was constantly said about him in certain
newspapers, he observed | notice that
about once in every seven years become the
victim of paragraph disease. 1t breaks out
in England, travels to India by the overland
route, gets to America per Cunard line,
strikes at the base Of the Rocky Mountains,
and rebounding back to Europe, mostly per.
shes on the steppes of Russia from inanition
and extreme cold" When he felt he was
not under observation, and that tomfoolery
would not be frowned upon or gazed at with
astonishment, he gave himself up without re-
serve to healthy amusement and strengthen
ing mirth. 1t was his mission to make peo-
pie happy. Words of good cheer were native
to his lips, and he was always doing what
he could to tighten the lot Of all who came
into his beautiful presence. His talk was
simple, natural, and direct never dropping
into circumlocution nor elocution. Now that
he has gone, whoever has known him in
timately for any considerable period Of time
will linger over his tender regard for, and his
engaging manner with, children; his CHEEKY
" Good Day to poor people he happened to
be passing in the road his trustful and earn
est " Please God" when he was promising
himself any special pleasure, like rejoining
an old friend or returning again to scenes he
loved. At such times his voice had an ir-
rosistibe pathos in it, and his smile diffused
a sensation like music When he came into
the presence of squalid or degraded persons,
such as one sometimes encounters in aims
houses or prisons, be had such soothing words
been most hurt by the archers' listened
gladly, and loved him without knowing who
it was that found it in his heart to speak so
kindly to them.--From Atlantic Monthly for
AMQltst.