The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-22
DICKENS AT HOME.
WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIS
RELATIONS WITH CHILDREN.
His Mysterious and Awe-Inspiring Study
His Funny Ways with the Little Ones
An Entertaining Collection
of COnjurfng Tricks.
[His Eldest Daughter in Cornhin MagazlneJ

[His Eldest Daughter in Cornhil MagazineJ
His study, to us children, was rather
mysterious and awe inspiring chamber,
and while he was at work no one was al
lowed to enter it. We little ones had to
pass the door as quietly as possible, and
our little tongues left of chattering. But
at no time through his busy life was he
too busy to think Of US, to amuse us, or
to interest himself in all that concerned
US. Ever since l can remember anything
l remember him as the good genius of the
house, and as its happy, bright and funny
genius. He had peculiar tone of voice
and way Of speaking for each of his
children, who could tell, without being
called by name, which was the one adj
dressed He had funny songs which he
used to sing to them before they went to
bed One in Particular about the only
man who caught cold and rheumatism
while sitting in an omnibus, was a great
favorite and, as it was accompanied by
sneezes coughs, and gesticulation; it had
TO be sung over and over again before the
small audience was satisfied
can see him now, through the mist of
years, with a child nearly always on his
knee at this time Of the evening. his
bright and beautiful eyes full of life and
fun. / can hear his clear, sweet voice as
he sang to those children as if he had
no other occupation in the world but to
and were able to act little plays, it was
their father himself who was teacher,
manager and prompter to the infant am
ateurs. These theatricals were under
taken as earnestly and seriously as were
those of grown up people lie would
teach the children their parts separately
what to do and how to do it, acting him
self for their edification. At one moment
he would be the dragon in FORTUNE, :"
at the next one of the seven servants, then
a jockey-played by the youngest child,
whose little legs had much difficulty to
get into the tiny top boots-until he had
taken every part in the play.
AS with his grown up company of
actors, so with his juvenile company, did
his own earnestness and activity work
upon them and effect each person.
ally. The shyest and most awkward
child would come out quite brilliant I'M
der his patient and always encouraging
training.
at the Juvenile parties he was always
the ruling spirit. He had acquired by de-
grees an excellent collection of coniuring
tricks, and on Twelfth Night-his eldest
sons birthday-he would very often,
dressed as a magician, give conjuring
entertainment when little figure which
appeared from wonderful and mysterious
bag, and which was supposed to be per-
sonal friend of the cJnjurer, would greatly
delight the audience by his funny stories,
his eccentric voice and way of speaking,
and his miraculous appearances and dis
appearances OF course, plum pudding
was made in hat and was always one
of the great successes of the evening, 1
have seen many such buildings. but no
other conjurer has been able to put into a
pudding all the love- sympathy, fun, and
thorough enjoyment which seemed
to come from the hands of this
great magician. Then, when supper
time came, he would be everywhere at
once. serving. cutting up the twelfth
cake. dispensing the bonbons, proposing
toasts, and calling upon first one child
and then another for a song or recitation.
How eager the little faces looked for each
turn to come round, and how they would
blush and brighten up when the ma
gician's eyes looked their way.
There can be but little doubt that the
children who came to those parties, and
who lived to grow up to be men and
women, remember them as somethidg
bright and sunny in their young lives,
and must always retain loving feeling
for their kind and genial host.