New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08
The Royal Baking Powder is in
dispensable to progress in cookery
and to the comfort and conve-
nience of modern housekeeping.

20 ue uOOr That morning lot tnc VI uic bN'S ~
the back gardens Of the square beyond us-said KEY
being kept By the tenant Of the last cottage 1or
a. consideration" in the rent The key was mslaid-
the dustman impatient. At last my lnndlady went
out and almost flung II at him. for they had had many
tH' over IL before ITO think that l should
sink so low to wait on a vile dustman!" she
cried. elevating her head-and nosc-lofty. " And
my poor, dear mamma owned an estate in fence y
Yes! Ugh and mighty enough You both was. l
dessay! Bowed II don't b'neve rs twas circus
ring the old gal owned, if all was knowd" shouted
the dustman
AS looked out ut the disturbance, saw Mr..
Dickens standing near the gate, looking on at the
rix" with pretematurally solemn face. He gave no
name to my landlady, but asked her to tell me that
n gentleman had called she threw the door wide
open and announced "MR. CHARLES DICKENS!"
In gigantic capitals, and Dickens came In, evidently
glad OF the excuse for the hearty laugh with which he
greeted her recognition.
II queer little threecOrnered parlor into
which he was shown with rather shabby furniture,
and an Oblong window wired over, on account OF my
pet canary, Francic. who flew about ut Will: ara 81"
who received him there Nobody quite with
out social literary distinction; yet TO Princess In
a palace boudor Mr.. Dickens could not have made
himself more delightfully."- genial. Genial he always
was, his smile was sunshine and hearts and homes
grew warmer and brighter for his coming; but some
times fancled that he gave OF his best and brightest
to me, simply because was stranger in strange
land, a girl alone and poo. At that time l was
kind OF human interrogation point, roaming urough
the great city and It's suburbs, and often going into
distant counties aud into the heart OF rura, districts
talking freely u all those met. and never ceasng my
inquiry into English ways and modes OF living. |
never met with the stand -Ohlsh reserve nsolent
rebufs had been warned to expect From the pccr
In his Home Park OF thousands OF acres, to the navy
cleaning the clay from his thick shoes with his spade,
every one answered me courteously and gave me all
A all
doned my curiosity because OF my real love for Eng
land and my genuine delight in the experiences which
were so fresh and new. | was free to so and come
rs chose every one was kind and nice" to me, even
when sat under Glpscy's tent in the Potteres at
Noting Hill and gos,ipped with the brown nomads
half q summers morning. ! believe one in society
said anything about these ways. than
that they were delightfully."- unconventional and
American
Thus merclfully judged and pleasantly employed,
/ was happy as the days were long" all the more
30 because The Chief (as they called him I'm Wei
lngtons ST. liked TO drop in Informally when business
pleasure called lin my way, to hear the history
Of my latest excursion " find As English and
AmcricaU ways utterly unlike In some respects,
made amusing bundcrs now and then and he would
roar with laughter ever my mistakes, beore he cor,
rcctcG them. lie was Ike living guide book To
knowledge OF that quaint Old cty>s itlluacd nook,
and bygone customs that few American women
But at that time Mr. Dickens was not, when saw
him In the state u overlooking high spirits wrich 50
many have described. lie had much to trouble and
depress him Enyogs cI'' were watching a chancc
10 sUarl at his heels business matters sometimes went
wrong, ,lecplcs, nights wore upon hi, strength ana
the shadow Of the separation hung over ms path rs
even some Of hi, old friends felt away. blaming MIN
bitterly for that step because it, full explanation was
withheld III, air VA, thick with rumois, ana many
should be told The urging. counselTing and qnes-
onng seemed to woy him nexprss.siiI Syea Hnee nee
TO visit his daughters at Gad;s iiil l.. ,,o,, ,,or
mine after ALL h. said stopped short. and then
burst ont with this exclamation pat con ' ~
Is TO here. To have place where I'm always
welcome, and where never am questioned or preached
to about that horrible affair -, .o,,, ., .,
again. But remember that shabby little parl2r az,
eonatcly 6scaSe ne cane AIN To ,n 1T Fr
cic the canary had introduced himself TO Mr. Dickens
on his call in startling way Ihe blGd' mn tnoo og
after "A moments keen observation. and peiched on ms
head apoloazed and tried to remove him. but he
an nger,d American Eagle by spreading hi, Wing,
dancng .. wardnncc and screaming defiance 10 Eng ,H
lrish curl, beneath hi, tiny feet and Juggling at 1T
Ill he nearly toppd oyer BACKWARD ina ana the W ony
laughed. and said his own canares behaved quite as
LIT him stay. At home sometimes go about
man became warm friends from that time.
\ huge oli-fashoned arm chair stood beside the
wired window. 1t was covered with prune-coIored
American leather aud had been worn into comfor
table humps and hollows by generations of departed
sittcrs. lir. Dickens would nestle into It's ,nuggest
corner with his little yellow friend pcrched above
his forehead. and tav listen he felt inclined
Any Mokannas - his first question.
rule And then he would sit and rest, knowing how
heart felt was his welcome. and how glad we're to
him there. even II he uttered no word sitting
thus the burrows would be- magically smoothei out
Of his face. the years would seem 10 drop from him.
til at times ne looked almost as bright ana eager
manhood which had hung above my writing desk IN
my American home.
alway, remember him him last. just be-
fore left England for the East. lie came In ut the
sunset hour. his way to some literary dinner aud
out In body and In mind, and sank down into his chair
as II the rest sweet Francie flew TO him with
gan to smooth them with his beak dropping his little
yellow head down to his friends ear now and then.
II whispering some secret that was to be kept ;lom
me. 1t still evening. and the lane which held
only few cottages was unusually quiet. We could
just hear the dan roar of carriages In the High Road,
but no way.
Dickens silent looking ont over the prlvct hedge
of the garden, at The lime tree avenue and the ancient
Ivy covered church. Hundreds Of sparrows built
nests in the thick stems OF that ivy, and they
glittcrcd IN the level sunset rays and glory OF gold
and crimson and purple overSmead the west. We
fresh clear voices OF boys choir singing Litany of
the Virgin wonderful .opano voice, sweet and strong
a, lark song soaring up gladly. and a rich bell
like contfaO pursuing. overriding, blending with its
music. and the whoc glad strength OF the united chol
pouring out IN eNultant harmony at the end. II was
dvney beautiful and Dickens listened with his heart
ana s jadsG hazard c oS wa gone lis head
full upon his nplfted face. his eyes were fixed upon
and f"auiul in that thoughtful, peaceful countenan1c.
IT was the angel look that we all inherit but which
had never seen in his face ill then.
, THE tany cndd ,, The church r bells began to ring
the hoz on ooding all the with gold rs it went
down. And Just then the little canary made short
Dickcns's head burst into sudden song. ''''
1t is goodnight blessing" said our friend, like
lie gave me his hand, and went away. I never
heard him speak again.