The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-10-10
s.The six Jolly Fellowship POrtcrs.' -

It has long been Il theme OF inquiry
among the admirers of the great novel
ist as to where and how he gathered the
material for the works which have rem
dered his name a household word Wher-
ever the English language Is spoken.
The following incident rs related by a
member Of the GGrrick Club, in London.
may perhaps afford partial solution of
the mystery.
Many years ago, L forget now exactly
how many. | met with an adventure ia
connection with the late Mr. Dickens
which has left a lasting impression upon
my memory. About the time that
--OuT Mutual Friend was being pu b.
lished. one night I had been 20 a social
gathering on the Surrey side of the
Thames. and when the party broke uU.
to my discredil Ue il recorded, I WAS in
no preseutable condition to return home
Being painfully aware of The degrading
fact, 1 ordered my servant to drive me
to the entrance Of the Thames Tunnel 4:
here I dismissed my cabriOIet. and
pleading urgent business at the west
end early on the following morning. l
babe my servant good night. and turned
my face riyerward. The night was dark
and stormy, and the narrow. iII-lighted
streets were nearly deserted. save Occa-
night pTOWlCU or some bedless tramp.
y that time approaches to the tuu-
mel were through some Of the vileSt
SlUms TO be found anywhere between
B.aciWaI and BatteTSee Bridge. Ar
irving after some difficulty at the tuu-
mel entrance | found. to my diScomit-
ure, that the gates were closed for the
night. I had frequently passed that
way by daylight. but I was quite una
ware of the regulation which closed the
gates at a certain hour OF the evening.
The storm. which had been gradually
Increasing, came driving up from the
dark river. bearing on its icy breath
spiteful Whirls Of snow and sleet. and in
its wild course cEriugUished many of
the street lamps, thereby rendering re-
treat by the way | came a matter OF ex-
treme peril to one totally Unacquaintej
with the dark labyrinths Of that cut
throat neighbOrhOOd. The champagne
I had been so freely imbibing during
the evening had been gradually evapor-
ating, and my pot-val0r was mOmc1Itar-
lily f0Tsakiug me and leaving me to a
sober and painful consciousness OF my
uncomfortable and somewhat periI0us
position
''W hat in Heaven S name shall do -
was the question which kept Const antlv
suggesting itself as I wandered about
the dismal streets, chilled to the bone
sick at heart and with my imagination
filled with the most gloomy auticipa-
tious. To seek shelter or acc0mmOda-
tiOu at any of the vile deHs with which
the ncighboThOod ab0unded would be
like walking into a lions lair: for
was well dressed and had quite a large
sum Of money about me. In~my blind
wanderings a sudden turn down dark.
narrow lane brought me to the bank Cf
the river. The lamps on London
Bridge stretched away in dim perspec-
tive some distance to my left, while all
along the opposite bank of the river
twiukled out from amid the gloom the
signal lights from among the shipping
and the dim reflection of the city lamps
beyond the landing at Wrapping Stairs.
''Oh, Ii ] were only on the other side
of the river" | mutteTed to myself
my. teeth chattering with cold as the
keen blast swept by, almost binding me
with the drifting sleet which was pitt
lesSly descending and momentaTily in.
CTeaSing in intensity and force. | was
something in the position Of q drunken
man who one winter night was hanging
on to q post at the end of the dock. anC
who thus s0liluQuiZed IF I hang here
all night L shall freeze to death, and if !
let go / shall tumble into the river
To attempt finding my way back with
out having my throat cut was not an
inviting prospect, and to remain wher;
was till daylight seemed equally per
ilous So, making a virtue Of necessity
] commenced shouting at the top of IN,
voice ''Bost ahoy boat ahoy !" in thr
faint hope of being heard on the oppO
site bank, OF OF attracting attention
from some passing boatman on the river
Having repeated the call with all tn
energy l could command. and listene,
at intervals for a reply. my eXertion
were at length rewarded by a fain
-'HallO - from the vicinity OF the Wap
ping Landing. [ kept on shouting a
the responses from the river becam
more distinct. and presently the dar
outline OF a boat pulled by two me-
hove in sight.
This way this way - ! shouted a
the boat drew nearer.
AYE, aye. sir =" was the CHEEKY re
sp0nse from The boat as she rounded {