The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-23
DICKENSS BROTHER "BOZ.'
HIS THREE ORPHANS LIVING
DESTITUTE AT AMBOY, ILL.
A Sad Chapter of Family History
The Bright Little Charles Dickens
who looks like his Uncle, the Great
Novelist Help Needed.

AMBoY, ILL.,, March 10.-I came across
a strange thing yesterday here in Amboy,
Ill.,, three poor orphans thrown out up
on the world with no relative to own or
care for them. Stranger still, these three
homeless, unprotected children are the
orphans of brother of Charles Dickens
"a niece and two nephews of the great
novelist himself. When l asked resi-
dent ofAmboy about these Dickens chill
dren, he said
swell, it went pretty hard with 'em
awhile ago. We got ready to take 'em to
the poorhouse. Couldn't let 'em starve
you know, and they hadn't a cent of
money nor decent clothes even. | tell
you it was sorter rough to see Charles
Dickens's nephews and .nieces going to
the poor house, but"
"You haven't taken them there YETI
l interrupted.
"No, not yet, but l reckon they'll have
to 60 there. They're too Young to doany-
thing, it pears they hav'nt got no Twin
person to look after 'em. OF Henry Keel
ing and his wife, who live in that white
house over thar, has got 'em now," he said
pointing to little wooden house, "but
the Lord knows how long old Henry will
keep 'em. He's deaf and nigh used up
himself"
Leaving the old farmer, / called at the
house of Mr. Keeling, The gates were
closed, but / finally got into the yard and
knocked at the front door. The house
looked uninhabited. l knocked several
times, each time louder than before. No
answer. Presently l whanged away as
if were breaking down the door. Then
| heard indistinet noises in the back part
of the house, followed by door opening.
A trip along the hall and pretty slyph-
like little girl about thirteen years old,
with pale face and light blonde hair,
opened the door.
Are the Dickens children here? 1
asked.
"Yes, we're here. Pm one of them,"
said the little girl, looking up curiously.
"Won't you come in ?"
what is your name?" l asked the lit
tie girl, as we CROPPED along the dark hall.
"My name is Amy Dickens. I've got
brother fifteen years old-two years
older than me. His name is Charles
Dickens-Adrian Charles Dickens My
my middle name is Bertha" ratified off
the little thing.
found the family all shut up in one
room in the back part of the house. Old
Mrs. Keeling seemed to be weak and
childish, while Mr.. Keeling was unable
to hear anything. 1t was utterly impos-
sible to make the old man understand
for what l had called. Then his wife got
close up to him and screamed in his ear.
"Mr. Perkins wants to know about the
Dickens children p
"Yes-yes," replied the old man, "he
can have 'em. Take 'em any time he
wants to-" And when / left the old man
was packing up their things to get them
ready.
l found the little boy, Charles Dickens,
a bright little fellow He told me how
his father Augustus N Dickens, had been
dead nine years-hcw he had an older
brother Bertram somewhere up in the
upper part of the State, and how some
body told him once that he looked like
his uncle Charles.
"Did you oversee your Uncle Charles ?"
| asked.
"No, never saw bin, but 1 should
think some Of my uncle's folks would