Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-11-19
How / Saw Dickens.


of his past, present and future, and
especially of those dreadful 'sAmeri-
can Notes" [ said that though he
might wear a hard, ugly shell, as
some men do, he must be tender and
true within, or he could never write
the beautiful words which have glad
dened so many hearts. Do sweet wa
ters, argued, flow from bitter foun-
tains? Yes, Mr.. Dickens had at least
one firm friend in Springfield, and
that was /, Hepsybah Lee, who, ow-
| ing to the gnawing of poverty and
utter failure to appear upon the part
of the young man foreordained and
predestinated to bear our burdens ,ac-
cording to DR.. Holland, taught a,
b, abs to the future president of the
United States, at least | tried to
think so when the children were un-
usually stupid and dirty.
1t was charming thought, espec-s
tally in this connection. Were we
not both working for the benefit of
posterity, indirectly, perhaps feebly
upon my part, but none the less tru-
ly, and thinking thus, my kindly re-
gard for him increased. | read with
all the interest of a personal friend
of his success before the American
public. Even Dolby won a share of
my good will. Of Dolby as a genius,
of Dolby as human being even, |
had no thought, but the right hand,
so to speak, of Mr.. Dickens, could
not be a matter of Indifference to me,
were he ever so Indifferent matter,
and therefore a slight halo, or at
least, reflection of glory, encircled
even Dolby's head.
When their coming to our city was
not only announced in the newspa-
pers but actually confirmed the next
day, | began to look about me for
ways and means There was no one
to ask me, no one ever did ask me to
90 anywhere but once, and then |
could not go. Della Spriggins was
going with her Joe, but | had no Joe.
She kindly invited me to make a
third in the party, provided | would
furnish my own ticket, narrowing it
down to a question of dollars and
cents.
1t was the beginning of a new
term, the first week, | think; like
most of the teachers, had anticipat-
ed my salary, and after buying few
indispensables and paying debts there
was but one ragged bill, two-dollar
bill, left in my purse. | looked at it
longingly. We did not really need
anything, | thought there was only
mother, little Tim and still it was
great deal to spend for selfgratifi
cation. | was by no means sure that
] could enjoy anything at such a
price.
| turned the ragged bill over and |
over in my mind, without word to
mother; and yet she knew it all, |
think, and a word from her decided |
me at last.
EYou had better go, dear; it is
but once in a lifetime.
My feet were winged when | has
tened up town on the way to school |
to buy my ticket; but even then it |
was too late There had been watch
ers and walters since midnight, and | /
carried into school only a heavy heart
and a ragged bill, while wandering |
thoughts of wise and foolish virgins,
and little Cratchits, and thousand |
other things equally irrelevant, drove
from my mind all thoughts of a, b,
abs. It was as good as a holiday to
the ounces Even Tom Trotter's
daily whipping was forgotten, until
he fingered after the others, as tho
he missed something.
1t was a bitter disappointment,
which even mothers prediction, that
| would yet hear of a ticket for sale,
would not soften. And SO | did hear
of more than one, but at prices rang
ing from five to ten dollars; nothing
less. And yet | did not quite de-
ha / thnnnht hot
I, who have been his fondest admirer,
his truest friend, am never to see his
face, never to hear his voice. / for
got that virtue should be it's own re-
ward but we are apt to forget prov
erbs in times of trouble.
Friday afternoon came at last, as
afternoons do come, neither earlier
nor later for bringing JOY or sorrow.
/ came home from school tired and
cross after the weeks work. Ny fu-
ture president seemed determined to
make an A. j of himself,
Notwithstanding my efforts to the con-
trary. The tea-table was unusually
inviting, for mother had brought out
the ld-fashioned china and made
loaf of gingerbread, a real luxury to
me, dear mother 1t delighted Tim,
but was only half grateful, for the
thought would come that it would al
ways be so in life; just gingerbread
on1 pctbino moro
''You haven't any ticket?" | shook
my head. She was kneeling by Tins
chair, pulling off his shoes. They
were patched fore and aft. They had
been soled and heeled and toed until
there was hardly bit of the original
shoes left but the copper toes.
He ought to have some new
Shoes said I, fretfully. She sighed,
working patiently at the broken