Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-24

CIOuslg OcsCIiOCu W uA. OlShcuS III us
"Notes."
l then added: "His name IS Billy
Watson, and what ridiculous figure
Mr.. Dickens makes him out"
"BilIy Watsonl You knew him then,
did you?"
'Oh yes, knew him well.
"You must have been but a youth at
that timer"
"Yes, but Mr.. Dickens made Billy
famous and everybody knew him after
wards"
"Indeedw
"But Billy had his morsel, too, In his
reply TO Mr.. Dickens"
HAD be? What was t?"
"Why, it was published; did you never
read it?"
mo, was 1t? What did he say?"
"Oh, can only give you the gist Of
ii, for no one but Mr.. Dickens himself
could possibly describe the old darkey's
rage"
Indeed! Well, what did he say?"
81 will try to tell you part of IL.
When the American Notes came out
college chum Of mine, fellow OF fine
wit, who knew Uncle Billy, as we called
him, very well, was returning 10 the
law school Of the University Of Vir-
GINA, and rode on the same stage
coach and occupied the same seat on
the drivers box that Mr.. Dickens had
during his famous ride. The day was
bright aud the road being better than
when Mr.. Dickens passed over II. my
friend thought he would let Uncle Billy
see himself through Mr.. Dickens glass.
80 he began 20 read from notes.
Billy listened very attentively and at
first he laughed heartily, but when at
last, Billy Is made 10 say: 'WheAkhall
you get through, sa, like fiddle, and
hope to please you when we get through,
sa. Old CONAN at home, sa, outside
gentleman, sa, he often remembered
old CONAN at home, sand again
when Mr.. Dickens says he gave him two
pieces of silver, at which every feature
in Billy's face beamed with delight
here old Billy's indignation broke out
and knew no bounds, for then he re-
membered Mr.. Dickens.
"'He member old CONAN, indeed!
member dat fellow. He rode up here
whar you set. Massa John, and he talk
so much and he AK me so many ques-
tions-and | couldn't help listen 70 him
dat be most make me turn de stage
over and broke all dc folks necks inside
In de Crawl pit yonder by Mrssa Dick
Moncures going down dc big red hill.
He even AK me de- names or all my
horses, aud how old dey was, and den
'sputed II wild me. lie AK me who live
dar in dat house, and yonder, and over
here, and how many daughters dey
all had and II dey was all married, and
II dey had any babies his jaw moved
all de time; 'peared 10 me he had de Jig
in his tongue. So just put de whip 70
de horses and make haste 10 git 10
Fed'isburg for fear de stage turn over
and broke down. He is de only white
man dat eber rode up here on dis here
foot-box dat neber glib me but two
cents when he got of. He member old
oomanl He give me two broad pieces
of silver He is an old fox, Massa
John. member him WE'LL"
The company at the table, who were
all now listening, roared with laughter
at Old Billy's rage. added: I'VE
thought our old darkey hit him pretty
hard, for plainly what he said was so
unvarnished and natural that wo
couldn't help believing him"
After hearty laugh all around and 4,
little further conversation my neigh
Dor asked: "Dld you say this was pub
lished?"
Eyes; my college friend wrote II out
and more for Uncle Billy, who set his
mark to IL, and II came out In the Fred
ericksburg NeCs and Arena and other
newspapers as Billy Watson's Reply 90
Mr.. Dickens, and In order that Mr..
Dickens English readers might enjoy
IL my friend sent IL TO the Edinburgh
ReUictU, which az that time was edited,
think. by Lord jeffrey, who, you know,
bore Mr.. Dickens no good will, but OF
this | am not sure"
At this remark there was such q
laugh on the part OF the company, In
which / observed my neighbor did not
Join so heartily as before, that felt a
little uncomfortable. ! thought that
perhaps this man might be some near
relative OF Lord Jeffrey; or more than
this, In my ignorance, that II might be
Lord Jeffrey himself for some OF the
company had shown him quite a
Difference. So. as / had now nearly
finished my dinner, began TO think 1
had better 60.
As my neighbor had so politely asked
me 10 Join him in glass OF sherry, l
thought II would be bot proper now TO
ask him 20 take glass Of port with me.
He readily consented. So ! filled his
glass and pledged him: THE memory
OF Old Uncle Billy"
He laughed, aud asked: "Do you
often take dinner here2"
Eyes" I said, "when ] am In Lon
DON" then bowed myself out.
In the distant end OF the room and
near the door Of entrance there sat, on
a raised platform, an old man with
blear eyes, who seemed 10 be the msjor
domo and who received payment from
the guests who had dned. walked
up to his table and, paying him for my
dinner, 1 asked him II he could tell me
who II was that sat next 20 me AZ the
big round table. He looked down the
room and said. 81 can't see 50 well,
cir, but will ring for Ambrose; he can
tell you, SIR" Ambrose came at once
at the sound OF the bell. and then the
man asked him in true Cockney style:
"This man wants 70 know what gentle
man sat next 70 him at the big round
table" Ambrose said: That's Mr..
Dickens sir. He writes stories and
such stuff, you know"
fastened at once to light out OF the
door, feeling not so well as when ! en-
tered.
In mentioning the circumstance that
evening 10 my friend Mr.. Seaman, re-
norter az the London TfTufs. be told me