Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-10-19

Aud how Dickens has exalted the chhdf6nl
You have often, perhaps, sought TO answer
to yourself, or to another-what II tne 10"
cret of Dickens power? And q often,
perhaps. you have failed, miles. y your
anal ysis, you have dsv elopod tho CHILD ole.
ment in his novels II you have omitted
iris repeat your effort, and see II. out OF
all the peculisrities that have eadeared this
novelist to you and to English readers
everywhere, this is not the chief element
of sttraction-his love of children. High
or low. rich or poor. good or bad, clean or
dirty. baptized or heather, what . bonanza
keen insight has he portrayed their joys
and sorrows. their hopes and disappoint-
m ents, their 'oves and avsrsions, their mo-
tons and actions And how swestly and
tenderly has no entered into sympathy with
tneir every thought and feeliDgl Recall
to your mind David Copper6eld, on his
weary way down to old Aunt Betsy Trot-
wood in Kent, leaving behind. not only his
service in London, but also tho old home,
where famishing for love. he was fed on
Dombeys, sister, and brother. heart-hungry.
aud desolate, ever hunting, hunting, hunt
ing even in the wild waves of OH Ocean
for some nourishment for their starving
affections; and Little Emily" the angsi
of the family. in the old stranded ship on
tho AlQCOIQb0lF0 COobsf 1H0 Autbs0
poor Little Nell; Who would care for - Old
Curiosity Shop If she were Comet And
the young Jsllybys, whose mother left
them motherles1. that she might run the
missionary societies, especially the one in
BoniobooIa- Ghsl Ard Little 10. who can
forget him 10. tho strest.sweep. whom
the constRbles kept moving on" "whose
only name was 10; didn't know that folks
had two names, one was enough for him !;
a = T. u e.
longer name it was long enough for him !;
had NO father, no mother, no friends and
didn't know what home was; knew broom
was broom. and that & was wrong to tell .
lie: didn't know. who told him; didn't
know nothink. except that the poor dead
ecrivener was very good to him that he
found him one night shivering in the door
nights lodging, because neither Of them
had friend. 10. dirty. ugly. dissareea-
BILE to all the senses: in body . common
street boy, shomely Aith beginning him,
homely parasites devouring him. homely
sores and homely rags. upon him. 10 soul .
native heather, scarcely Abose Mrs. Par
diggle's Tockshoopo Indians, and yet .
human soul, who was never ia no trouble
at AL, 'cept not KNOWN nothink and starva>
ton. and the loss u his only friend. the
poor scrivener, near whose grave in the
cram ped church-yard in the tennis court,
he used 80 often to press his dirty face.
stresked With tears. agAinst the iron wicker
bars, snd then psy the tribute of his love
by sweeping clsan the sunless, clAmm y
stone.step outside. Little 10, whom good
Allen Woodcourt found, shivering ard
starving in the many-roomed ruin Of Tom
Ail-alons's. consumption shaking death
rattle ia his throat, and took to the trooper 8
for relief: dirty, he washed him naked,
he clothed him; hungry, he fed hun sick,
and he Visited him, and watched and
nursed him, q he came nearer the end of
the road, the little cart dragging heavily.
aimost gone to pieces. and then 10 the deep
darkness, the light fast coming. the goo d
doctor speaks sof ~ IN his ear.
"Jo. did you ever know . prayerf
Never knowed nothink. SIR"
IN OF SO much as one short prayers"
mo. sir; nothink At all; Mr.. Chadband
| speakin' to hisself, not me. He prayed q
| lot. but couldn't make nethink out of it.
| And then heered other gentlemen down
at Tom All-slones; but they seemed q
tslkin' to Themselves, and said a. t'othel
wuns prayed wrong and l never knowed
what twas all about"
What now, 10 p Is he tries to rise.
| Its Tina for me to 90 to that there Dor.
ryin' ground. sir "
| What berryin' ground, JoT'
Where they laid him as was VERY good
to me, VERY good indeed, he was. IT.
| time for mo to 60 down to that berryin'
ground and ask to ba put along with him.
| wants to 60 there and be berried. He
used for to say to me, / am A. poor - you
to-day. Jo.' see he. 1 wants to tell him
I'm as poor as him now. and have come to
be laid beside him. Perhaps they WOULDN'T
| do il if was to 60 there by myself Won't
| you have me laid there cir ~ -
II will indeed, 10"
They'll have to get the key, the gate
Ewus allus locked. And there's . step
| there l used to clean it with my broom
Its VERY DARK 'ir' is there any light :
"It is coming very fast, Jo." ca.
Fast indeed. The cart waa shaken al to
pieces. and the rough road very near ita
end.
:" 10. my poor fellow"
II hear you, sir-in the dark; but I'm q
gropin'. Let me catch hold Of your
hand" za .
40. can you say what I say noww
Yes. sir, anythink you say. sir; !
know its good" rfe.
"Our father"
"Ouf father; yes, that's Very good.
SIR" : u .salt -f
/" Which art in heaven"
Art in heavens the light . comm,
sir ~
at j. close ct hand. H.llewsd b. thy
NAME" - %-s= 'Aza ~ ~
"Hallowsd by-thy-,' s.
way, and Jo's dead.
Thus were they dying in the great city
of Cockagna every day.
How much better BY nature or grace, BY
inheritance or training, are the little pine
peddlers on the streets Of Knoxville
Beaten and cuffed in the morning. and
started out on their beGgarly errand. cursed
and scolded during the day, and cuffed and
beaten when they return homo ct night I
Homef do you cal it2 Homef Well, its
the only one they have. And il such nur.
series as tlese are reared men and women
|. to plumber and prey upon our children in
willie. blest, beautiful, favored Knoxvillei
A city set upon an hill A local metropo-
lis. social, commercial and religious.
Nevertheless, daily recruits are added from
our midst to the ranks of vice and sin. and
passion and crime. Aud n-vertheies
there still are PardigHles, and Jellybys
and Chad bands in the land.
| dren. For hem be has preached the gospel
| Of love and good works.
And Longfellow 10 their poet. aud Hans
Anderson their story teller. And yet, "a
We recall the great number Of those who.
in the present century, have written for the
children, it seems invidious to give the
praise to any one. And 20 popular has the
labor grown. that the candidates for the
childrsn's favor ara hardly less numerous
than those who contend for the eyes and
cars of men and women; and NO pub
fishing house is considered complete unless
upon ito serial list it has At least one mAgs-
81 e~., hA n An.