The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-06-02
Story Of Charles Dickens.

.
In Westminster Abbey, among our
English heroes, a man was buried in
the summer Of 1871, whom every one
had heard of, and whom every one
admired-the talented writer, Charles
Dickens.
Many of the books he has written
contain sketches of children's charac-
ter--sorrowful sketches oft times, for
Dickens had known what it was to be
lonely and unhappy when a child.
In his early days his home was in
the town of Chatham, and he had five
brothers and sisters; but being deli
cate, Charles could not play much
with them, and when they were too
rough or noisy for him, he made COM
panions of his fathers books.
He was tiny fellow when he first
went to school-so tiny that he was
terrified at an ugly dog that used to
snap at him.
When he was nine years old his
troubles began by his having to leav e
Chatham. His father became very
poor, and had to move with his family
to London, where he could not even
afford to send his boy to school.
AS Charles was the eldest son, he
was expected to make himself of some
use; instead of porting over his favor
lite books he was to be seen running
errands, cleaning windows and even
blacking boots.
His great regret was that he was
learning nothing; but he read the old
books over and over again, until he
could have repeated their contents like
a lesson.
But worse days were in store for lit
tie Charles Dickens. His poor home
had to be given up, his father was taken
to prison for debt, and everything was
sold to buy food for the mother and
her little family.
One day relation of Mr.. Dickens
came and offered to give employment
to the eldest boy. Hewas a backing
merchant in the Strand, and at that
time he happened to want little lad
to stick labels to the pots of backing.
At ten years old, then, Charles found
himself thus employed and though
he was glad to work for his mother, it
made him very unhappy to be with
such rough, rude boys all day.
At first he had little closet to
work in, bnt he was SO dull that rather
than remain quite alone he brought
out his POI and paste to be with the
others.
When on Saturday night Charles
Dickens carried home his six shillings
he felt repaid for all he had endured
by the thanks and love of his mother.
But before long Mrs. Dickens could
not afford even that poor home, and
was forced to take her younger chill
dren and live with them in the debtors
prison, while ssCharlie = remained out
side, lodging an old woman's house,
and trying to keep himself on his six
shillings week.
After some time Mr.. Dickens had
some money left him so he came out
of the prison, and his son then lived at
home. But no one thought Of moving
him from his work at the factory to
anything better, until his father saw
a crowd Of young admirers watching
through the window the rate at which
Charles could tie up bottles, aud it
struck him that the boy ought to do
other work.
His next two years were spent as a
pupil at Wellington House Academy,
where he was very happy, and stuck
to his book, as he had to his backing
bottles, with patient perseverance.
He once said to himself, g Whatever
/ have tried to do in my life, have
tried with all my heart to do well. .
And this was the secret Of his sue
cess.