St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-08-24
Child Life in Dickens Stories.

The children of Dickens brain-who
does not know them? Here they come,
trooping up at the call of Memory, crowd
ing upon each other so fast that we can
scarcely detain them for our eager ques-
tions.
Here is sanity Little Nell, with the
light Of another world upon her pure
young face. Here is poor, halt-wltted
Smike, led by the kind hand Of Nicholas
Nickleby. Here is sharp little Susan Mp,
per- whose sa castle tongue IS Matched
only by her good heart. Here is gentle
Florence Dombey, tue unloVed, loving
daughter of a ploud, cold father; and
here, clasping her hand is one or the
sweetest of all Dickens brain children
quaint unchildlike Little Paul. lie is so
very old-fashioned" that be seems, like
the somewhat similar creation OF modern
writer, to be dying of old -1ashlonedness
His dear eyes look the wise questions
which their little owner is too weary to
speak, and his thin lips smile the wise
answers which he is too weak to answer.
Very weak and weary, indeed, Little Paul
has grown; the wild waves bring him
messages which are inaudlble to grosser
ears, and this bustling, jarring world has
littld hold upon him. | choke back
sigh as he passes hey ond my vlslon-not
for Paul Dombey, the grave, little dream
child. but for the fesh-and blood children,
whose type he is, the grave little men and
women who are to DAY dying OF old
| fashionedness."
But here is Dickens 'favorite child,
little Davy Copperheld, the ch1lc-nature
all but crushed out of him by the Murd-
stone discipline. Such forlorn little fg-
ure is this little Davy, that we long to
gather him up snd give him bsck to his
mothers arms But we feel that two
pairs of Murdstone eyes are upon US, and
that we dare not satisfy the natural crav-
| irgs of that loving little heart. Here, too,
| her hands filed with shells and sea- weed
is Little Emily, upon whose sunny face Is
written no prophecy of the dark future
which awaits her.
Here is Little Dorrit, the "Child of Mar
shasea." Here is poor, put-upon Caddy
Jellyby, with long line of little Jellybys
in tow. Here is Poor 10, for whom this
world has no room, but upon whose be-
nighted little soul a celestial glory is soon
to dawn. How many real Joes have we
scorned or neglected-we who weep fo1
this 10 whom Charles Dickens made and
loved?
Here is half-starved Oliver Twist, his
wan face a protest against the wrongs
which have cheated him out of his ightfu
heritage of childish happiness.
Here are the Gradgrind children, who
ale brought up with no nonsense, sir,
and daily crammed to the brlm with Facts
Louisa has look of smothered defiance
upon her handsome face. Tom is sneakine
behind his sister, and we catch only {
glimpse of his surly face and lowered eyes
Beside the Gradgrinds is pretty Sissy Jupe
the circus riders child. Sissy'S mind doe
not take readily to arithmetical problems
but she knows how TO love and be grateful
and this sweet lesson the Gradgrinds, will
all their knowledge of the "ologies," mus
ere day learn from her.
Here is sharp witted, ftful tempered, sci
fish little Jenny Wren, the dolls dress
maker. sheltered in the love of noble Lizz
Hexam.
And here, his clutches laid aside and
look of Christmas cheer upon his pale face
is Tiny Tim, who folds his wee hands rev
erently as he offers the comprehensive lit
tie prayer, ''God bless us, every one !!
These children of ma oters mind hav
their mission to the world. The Christian
pbilanthrophist hears, in their pleading
voices, the cry of wroneed or suffering
childhood everywhere, and feels himsel
drawn Tito closer sympathy with al
child-life which is linked to biting povert
or to physical infrmity. The world
weary man, looking upon these types Q
:. pure, innocent childhood sees the contras
y between their white young souls and tn
soul that he has stained with worldlines
and sin and, if he be not strangely IN
feeling. he joins in the cry Of him wb
gave these white souled children to th
world
"Look upon US, o angels of youn
} children, with hearts not quite estrangec
} when the swift river bears US to tn
: OCEAN. "-JesS5e Fl. Brorn, in ChaTstia