The Van Buren press., 1903-06-13

Little Dorrit' now sleeps on at South
gate is one Charles Dickens slept Oh
there.
\ few years later the Mittous were
living in Johnson street, Clarendon
square, and a house directly opposite
was occupied by the Dickens family.
There began the acquaintance with
My Charles" as the old lady calls tht
novelist, Mrs. Cooper's brother was a
school fellow Of Dickens, and would as.
sist him in his literary work by cor
recting manuscripts. as in later years
he assisted him in law matters. Be-
tween Mary Ann and Charles the clos
est frieudship-aImost ripeuing into
something more-sprang up, and the
old lady is never tired of telling their
adventures and misadyeutures in the
hcyday of youth-how they would call
at litJle place in the Hampstead road,
where Cecil Rhodes grandfather, "a
grumpy old man. would serve them
with milk; how after church he would
take her for a walk to New St. Pam
cras church, for the special purpose
Of staring at and taking off the pom
puus bcadie who used 10 strut about
its precinct, Dickens initiating his
walk and bearing, TO the delight Of
others, but to The great Indignation Of
this prototype Of Bumble; how Dick
ems was out walking when he met a
procession Of school girls from a Sc
date boarding school, headed 10y par
ticularIy prim and severe principal,
and how, seeing an old apple woman,
Dickens bought up her stock and ,lyly
slipped two apples into the hands Of
each girl and stood by when the horri-
fed principal discovered her very Sc
lect" establishment muuchiug apples
in the street.
Once when staying al Mrs Cooper's
home at Suubury Charles went out,
and borrowing some old clothes, dis
guised himself as farm laborcr in
search Of work, and so clever was his
makeup that he completely deceived
the shrcWd farmer who. not having
work for him, was prevailed upon 10
allow him a place and some straw in
one Of his barns, where hc might pass
the night
Dickens had a habit Of giving nick
names to his friend, and relatives, Us
hc had a way Of giving literary names
Jo his SONS; his name for Miss Milton
Was Little Dour.t. "WhJ cid hr give
you th,, name" / asked, aud the old
lady said; 81 really cannot say 1t
seemed TO comG at any rate, ! only
rccoiIcct that somehow was always
Dorur with Charles"
"Aud how did you come TO get into
the Marshahca, and be- famous ever
af'crvard,?'
"WclI can't exactly say but as /
have told You, Charles and were, /
think may say very fond Of one an.
other aud one day at home be- told us:
Thc next book write ! shall put you
VI ll Ul' ! NI'"ll 'h|I u lblllt ltIlll
Thus his next work was named"
NowiuhcruiucDicth}cU, Mrs, Coop.
cris lively and quick, although she has
had some serious accidents in the
course Of her long lifc once shcNas
thrown from her horse and dragged
for thrcc.quaricrs of q mile, She has
suffered, too, from rheumatism, and is
rather deaf Mrs, Cooper has been a
widow for over 30 years, and now lives
alone IN little room cwmmcd with
flowers aud funcirs, aud Il chimney cor.
ucr which Is u perfect gallery Of nor.
traits, with notable one of course
Of "My Charles ONcrthrmuulclpiccr
is one Of those curiou, old Samplers"
which our grundmoIhcrs used 40 Inbo.
riously to produce made by "Nlary Ann
Milton, ogcd nine. February lsa2,"-
London Black and White,