The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-28
"REMINISCENCES or DICKENS.
Ills Composing Mood-An Example OF
~, Love 81 Mischief

Ills Love Of Mischief
One day Mile ard ! were standing on
the balcony of our house when Dickens
rame sauntering by. On seeing us nc
promptly struck an attitude win one
hand pressed TO hi. heart. and the other
| thrown out aloft. rs he spou'ed dramati-
cally:
IT'S nv lady. It's my love! Oh
that | we're a glove upon that hand that
| might touch that cheek!
(Which of us do you intend to be
Juliet to your Romeo?" inquired Willie.
whichever YOU choose, my little
daarsl" he answered. touching his hat
airiiy and s~troiiing N. Next morning
we were there again as he passed, this
time with merely al ungracious 'how
do lie was weaving his IDEAS, ana
naturally was bored by interruption
Ancrwari when his face bore tins alb
s~tractci look. | always pretended mol To
see Liu IL saved him the trouble OF be
ing obliged to recognize me, did mol en-
rrnach on his composing mood and tito
pether pleased him. | was horribly
afraid of him sometimes, and told INN 50
once. greatly to his amusement
Seeing him then. calm and solemn rs
the Sphinx. it was difficult to imagine
F. the amount Of mischievOHs fan of when
me was capable To give an example.
We were on the pier n evening, having
been amusing ourselves by dancing a
ouadrille. in a railed-oif space which
Dickens had named the Family Pew, be-
--.,.,...1 -a.tu ON frxrn Efnn. Ito
was in high spirits, as he enjoyed being
here at dusk. where he escaped the scru-
tinv of the gaping throng. lie con
descended TO perform on his pocket comb
and a piece Of paper, while Fred whl5tled'
the two thus doing duty as 'band.
After our caperings we strolled towatd
the end Of the little pier, To watch the
tide rippling in under the fading light
The scene had become weird and uncanny,
the NIGHT seeming 20 drop suddenly down
without q star or noon; the only light Il
lingering phosphorescent CLEAN on the
crest of the waves.
All at once the spirit Of the hour-a
lemon of mischief eyldently-seemed To
AXE possession of Dickens. lie tang ms
arm around me and whirled me with
him down the inclined plane OF the Jetty,
toward tall upright pole fixed at the
.xtreme end. To this pole he clnnS with
his other arm. while he Informed me 80
theatrical accents that he intended to
mold me there until the wild waves over
vhelmei rs.
Think he cried, mounting every
word Think of the sensation We shall
create. Think Of the road 20 celebrity
which we are about to trcad-no, J
mean, not exactly TO tread, but 70
aounder intol'
Here entreated him 20 let me- go.
while | struggled desperately To free my
self.
Let your mind dwell on the column
in The Times. where will be wildly de
scribed the fate of the lovely Emma
p. drowned by Dickens m a tit OF
iementia! Don't struggle, poor little
bird! you are powerless IN the claws OF
such a kite as this chlld!'
The last glimmer OF hight was now
zone, and close to Us vas the dark
mystery of the surging water, very black
very cold. and above all coming nearer
gerry rapidly. With a houid plash II
dashed over my feetl | screamed out:
"Ohl my dress; my best dress, my only
silk dress will be ruinedl'
He was not softened in the least by this
tragic appeal. but continued raGting non
sensically and painting with his e%Xertions
to hold me, and with his suppressed
laughter. Then | gave a wild shrek.
Mrs. Dickeusl help me!-make Mr..
Dickens let me 20. The waves are up TO
my kneesl'
'.Charlesl" Mrs. Dickens called in
/, frantic accents. How can you be so
silly? You will both be carried of by
the waves then falling from pathos to
bathos) and you'll spoil the poor girl 8
silk dress
Dress" shouted Dickens with scorn
Talk not to me of dress! When the pail
of night is enshrouding us in Zimmerman
darkness, when we already stand on the
brink of the great mystery, shall our
thoughts be Of such vanities: Am / not
immolating a brand new pair OF patent
feathers still unpaid for; Perish such
low born thoughtsf In this hour oi
abandonment 10 the voice Of destiny.
-. shall we be held back 10y the pueriliues o.
silken nimentl Shall leather or p%runella
whatever that may bel stop the bolt Oh
fater' The sudden p~arenthet!caI change
from high flown ant back again TO
? ordinary accents was most ridiculous
Here | succeeded in struggling out OF
his grasp, and fled to my friends, almost
CRYING with vexation. my only SILK
dress clinging round my saturated limbs,
and leaving a watery track as | stumbled
. on.-Neyy York Tribune.
2 Concerning the Word "Elizlard'
posnactiro tho word blizzard. % q cor