Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-28
NO. III.
MiseellaneoMs.
DICKENS'S RELIGIOUS VIEWS.

lhe question has often been asked:
What were the religious views of Charles
Dickens? AS contributive to a reply. we
reprint from the third volume Of John
Fosters Biography this extract from let
ter written by Dickens to his youngest son,
on the departure of the latter, in 1868, to
Join his brother in Australia:
write this note to-day because your
gong away is much upon my mind, and
because l want You to have few parting
words from me, to think of now and then
at quiet times. need not tell you that
love you dearly, and am very, very sorry
IN my heart to part with you. But this
lie Is half made up of partings, and these
pans must be borne. 1t is my comfort
and my sincere conviction that you are
gong to try the life fer which you are best
lltted. think its freedom and wildness
more suited to you than any experiment
In study or office would have been: and
without that training, you could have
followed no other suitable occupation
What you have always wanted until now,
mas been set, steady, constant purpose.
therefore eXhc r. you to persevere in a
thorough determination to do whatever
you have to do, as we'll as you can do it.
was not so old as you are now, when l
first had to win my food, and to do it out
OF this determination and l have never
slackened in it since. Never take mean
advantage of any one in any transaction.
and never be hard upon people who are
in your power. Try to do to others as
you would have them do to you, and do
not be discouraged if they fail sometimes.
II is much better for you that they should
fail in obeyng the greatest rule laid down
by our Saviour than that you should.
put a New Testament among your books
for the very same reasons, and with the
very same hopes, that made me write an
easy account of it for you, when you were
little child. Because it is the best book
that ever was, or will be, known in the
world and because it teaches you the
best lessons by which any human creature,
who tries to be truthful and faithful to du-
ty, can possibly be guided. As your
brothers have gone away, one by one,
have written to each such words as am
writing TO you, and have entreated them
all to guide themselves by this Book, put
ting aside the interpretations and inven-
tions of Man. You will remember that
you have never at home been harrassed
about religious observances, or mere FORM
alites. l have always been anxious not
to weary my children with such things,
before they are old enough TO form opin-
ions respecting them. You will therefore
understand the better that now most SOL
emnly impress upon You the truth and
beauty of the Christion Religion, as it
came from Christ HIMSELF and the impos-
sibility of your going far wrong if you hum
bly, but heartily respect it. Only one
thing more on this head The more we
are in earnest as to feeling it, the less we
are disposed to hold forth about it. Never
abandon the wholesome practice of say
ing your own private prayers, night and
morning. have never abandoned it my
self, and know the comfort of it. hope
you will always be able to say, in after life,
that you had kind father. You cannot
show your affection for him so well, or
make him so happy, as by doing your
duty.