Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-02-21

You must have been very young at
The time"
"Ycs, | was only FIVE years old. 1t
happened thus: | had, in a childish
way, become deeply interested in the
characters in Nicholas Nickleby,'
which was then coming out in illus
trated monthly numbers, the pictures
of which my father showed me as he
told me the story, and | 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, accord.
ingly, | dictated letter to Dickens,
with whom my father was slightly ac.
quainted, and, to my great delight, a
letter was soon brought to our house
hy the Rev Thomas Barham, the
author of the Ingoldsby Legends,
which shows Dickens kindness Of heart
aud sympathy with childhood. have
uo copy Of my letter, but here is Dick
ems reply"-and Mr.. Hughes handed
the reporter letter in Dickens hand
writing, which ran rs follows:
DoUGATY ST., LONDON, Dec. y, 1888.
RESPECTED SIR-I have given
Squeers one cut on the neck and two
ou the head, at which he appeared
very much surprised and began to cry
which, being cowardly thing, is just
what should have expected from him
wouldn't you?
have carefully done what you told
me in your letter about the lamb and
the two "sheeps" for the little boys.
They have also had some good ale and
porter and some wine. | am sorry
you didn't say what wine you would
like them to have. | gave them some
sherry, which they liked very much,
except one boy, who was little sick,
and choked a good deal. He was
rather greedy, and that's the truth
aud believe it went the wrong way.
which | say served him right, and |
hope you will say so, too.
NICHOLAS AND sMGKE.
Nicholas had his roast lamb, as you
said he was to, but he could not eat it
all, and says if you do not mind his
doing so he should like to have the
rest hashed tomorrow with some
greens, which he is very fond Of, and
- anu |. lie said he did not like to
have his porter hot, for he thought it
spoiled the flavor, so ! let him have it
ap,d. You should have seen him drink
It. ] thought he never would have
left of. | also gave him three pounds
II money, all in sixpences to make it
seem more, and he said directly that
he should give more than half to his
mamma and sister and divide the rest
with poor Smike. And | say he is
good fellow for saying so, and if any.
body says he isn't am ready to fight
him whenever they like-there.
A DisAGREEABLE THING.
Fanny Squeers shall be attended to,
depend upon it. Your drawing of her
Is very like her except that | don't
think the hair is quite curly enough
The nose is particularly like hers
aud so are the legs. She is nasty
't,-agrecable thing, and l know it will
make her very cross when she sees it
aud what ! say is that | hope it may.
YOU will say the same, know.
] meant to have written you long
litter, but / cannot write very fast
when like the person | am writing
g.. because that makes me think about
r,sm, aud like you, and so I tell you
Dssides, it is eight o'clock at night and
always go to bed at eight o'clock,
Except when it is my birthday, and
hen ] sit up to supper. So / will not
lay anything more besides th.s-and
hat is my love to you and Neptune :;
and you will drink my health every
Cbristmas day will drink yours
Comel I am respected sir, your aTec-
iionste friend.
CAARLEs Dickens.
LORD LYrToS spoke wisely when
he said that the stomach is the seat
...-.,,r,. g. n t,,an - uut ELats, -