The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-03

THE following passages in the early life
of Charles Dickens will be read with lively
interest by his many admirers. The period
described was while his father was in pri-
son:
Mr. John Dickens being unable to make
any arrangement with his creditors, Mrs.
Dickens was obliged to bring up her poor
household in Cover street North, and to go
into Marshalsea. The autobiography then
proceeds:
The key Of the house was then sent back
to the landlord who was very glad to get 1t;
and I(small Cain that / was, except that
had never done harm to any one) was handed
over as ledger to a reduced old lady, long
known to our family, in Little College
street. Camden-town, who took children IN
to board. and had once done so at Brighton,
and who, with few alterations and embel-
lisbments. unconsciously began to sit for
Mrs. Pinchin in 'tDombey" when she took
me in.
She had little brother and sister under
her care then, somebody's natural children,
who were very irregularly paid for, and q
Widows little son. The two boys and |
slept in thesame room. My own cxclu-
siyc breakfast of a penny cottage loaf and a
pennyworth of milk provided for myself.
kept another small loaf and quarter Of a
pound of cheese on a particular Shelf of a
particular cupboard, to make my supper on
when came back at night. They made a
hole in the six or seven shilling ] know
we'll and was not at the backing ware
house all day, and had to support myself
on that money all the week. suppose my
lodging was paid for by my father. ! GER
tainly did not pay it myself; and | certainly
had no other assistance whatever (the max
ing of nv clothes, think, excepted, from
Monday morning until Saturday night. No
advice, no counsel, no encouragement, no
consolation, no support, from any one that
| can call to mind. So help me God.
Sundays Fanny and pass in the prisons.
I was at the Academy in Tenterden street,
Hanover square, at O'Clock in the morn
ing. to fetch her, and we walked backed
there together at night.
was SO young andchidish, and so little
oualified-how could be otherwise ?-to
undertake the whole charge of my own eX-
istence. that in gong to Hungeriord stairs
in morning | could not resist the stale
pastry put out at half-price on trays at the
confectioners' doors in Tottenham Court
road. and | have often spent in that the
money should have kept for my dinner.
Then / went without my dinner, or
bought roll or slice of pudding. There
were two pudding shops between which |
was divided, according to my finances.
One was IN court close TO st. Martins
Church lat the back of the church, which
is now removed all together. The pudding
at that shop was made with currant, and
was rather special pudding, but was dear
two penn'orth not being larger that a
penn'orth of more ordinary pudding. A
good shop for the latter was in the Strand,
Somewhere near where the Lowther Ar
cade is now. 1t was stout, hale pudding,
heavy and tiabby; with great raisns in it,
stuck in whole great distance apart. It
came up hot, at about noon every day and
many and many day did dine off it.
ALMOST LITTLE RoBBEl, AND vAGA-
BOND.
We had half an hour, | think, for tea.
When I had money enough, used tc go to
n colfee-shop and have half-spint of coffee
and slice Of bread and butter. When 1
had no money, | took turn m Govent
Garden Market, and stared at the pneap-
pies. The coffee shops to which most re-
sorted were one in Marion lane; one in
court mon-existent now, close to the Hun
gerford market; and one in st. Martins
fane. Of which | only recollcct that it stood
near the church, and that in the door there
was an oval glass plate, with "co1lee
room ;, painted on it, addressed toward the
street. If ever find myself in different
coffee-room now, but where there is such