The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-02-07
HOW sQUEERs GOT A IHRAsHlhe
AND THE BOYS HAD A
GOOD TINE.
> ths ~ Yort e,epIng Tslsgram.

From the New YORK etenIng Telegram.
"You said you were Dieken' cores
Dondent before his daughter was born.
You must have been very young at
the time ,"
"Yes. / was only pears old. II
bappened thus: l had, In childish
way, become deeply interested In the
Characters in nicholas Niekleby,
which was then coming out in
illustrated monthly numbers, the
Dictures Of which my father showed
me as he told me the story, and l
told my father what / thought ought
to be done to Squeers, Nicholas, and
the boys. He told me the author
would do what liked, If / wrote TO
him; and accordingly, I dictated
letter to Dickens, with whom my
father was slightly acquainted, and to
nv great delight, a letter was soon
brought to our house by the Rev.
Thomas Barham, the author OF the
'Ingoldsby Legends which shows
Dickens kindness of heart and sym
pathy with childhood. l have no
eopy of nv letter, but here Is Dickens
reply. and Mr.. Hughes handed the
reDorter a letter in Dickens hand
writing, which ran as follows:
DoUdHTRY STREET, LONDON, /
Dec. %, 1885.
RESPECTED SIR IL have given
Soueers one cut on the neck and two
on the head, at which he appeared
very much surprised and began tc
cry. which, being a cOwardly thing,
is Just what / expected from him
wouldn't you -,
1 have carefully done what yOu told
me in your letter about the lamb and
the two "sheepsn for the little boys.
They have also had sOTne good ale and
porter and some wine. | am sorry
YOU didn't say what kind of wine
you would like them 20 have. gave
them some sherry, which they liked
very much, except one boy who was
a little sick, and chOked good deal.
He waslrather greedy, and that's the
truth, and l believe it went the
wrong way, which say served him
right, and hope you will say so, too.
Nicholas had his roast lamb, as you
said be was to, but he could not eat II
all and saws II you do not mind bis
doing so be should like to have the
rest hashed tomorrow with some
greens, which he is very fond of, and
so am /. He said he did not like to
have his porter hot, for he thought It
spoiled the flavor so l let him have II
cold. You should have seen him
drink Il, 1 thought he never would
have left of. / also gave him E3 in
money, all in sixpence, TO make Il
seem more, and he said directly that
he should give more than half to his
mama and sister and divide the rest
with poor Smike. And / say he Is q
good fellow for saying so, aud II any
body says be isn't 1 am ready to fight
him whenever they like-there!
Fanny Squeers shall be attended to,
depend upon il. Your drawing Of
her Is very like her, except that j
don't think the hair Is quite curly
enough. The nose is particularly like
hers-and 90 are the legs. She is q
nasty, disagreeable thing, aud know
Il will make her very cross when she
sees it and what / say II, that hope
Il NAV. You will say the same,
know.
/ meant 10 have written you a long
letter, but / can not write very fast
when I like the person / am writing
20. because that makes me think Of
them, aud / like you so / tell you.
Besides Il is just 8 o'clock at night and
I always 90 TO bed at s o'clock, except
when Il is my birthday, and then I
sit up to supper. So will not say
anything more besides this-and that
is my love to you and Neptune; and
II you will drink nv health every
Christmas day ] will drink yours.
COmel 1 am, respected sir, your
affectionate friend,
CHARLES DICKENS.