The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-12-24

l %l lnSS has done 1t SO lulmitably
rs Dickens, and nowhere has
y Dickens described them bet
ter than in the "pickwick Papers"
one might read the paragraph relating
TO the observance of the holiday half
hundred times and not become weary.
The Christmas spirit is cvcrywhc
evident in the chapters devoted to the
holiday making. From the beginning,
when the hero. his three friends and
his faithful servant start for Dingley
Dell. to the hour of their return there
Is Christmas in every sentence:
AS brisk as bees If not altogether as
light as fairies. did the four Picltwicllians
assemble on the morning of the 22d day
Of December in tho year of grace in
which these their faithfully recorded ad-
ventures were undertaken and accom-
plshed. Christmas was close at hand in
ull his bluff and hearty honesty. 1t was
the season of hospitality, mcrri.nant and
open heartcdncss. The old year pre-
pairing. like an ancient philosopher, to
call his friends around him and amid the
sound of feastinG and rcvclry to pass
gently and calmly away. Gay and merry
WAS the time. and right gay ana merry
were at least four of the numerous hearts
that were gladdencd by its coming.
After travelling through Il wide and
open country where the wheels skim
over the hard and frosty ground" slow
ing up as they draw near 4 country
town, where the horses are changed
then again "daShiug along the open
road, with the fresh air blowing in
their faces and gladdcning their very
hearts within thcm,' they arrive at
Dinglcy Doll, where we are introduced
to that famous parsonage, the fat boy.
lie is an old acquaintance of Mr.. Pick
wick, but to sam Weller his face is
strange. To follow this first meeting:
Having given this direction and settled
with the coachn1an, MY. Picl5wiclS and
his three friends struck into the foo:path
across the fields and walked brsllly away
leaving Mr.. Weller and the fat boy CON
fr"nted together 10Y the first time. Sam
looked Mt the fat boy With great aston
ishInent, but without saying a word and
began to st,w the things rapidlv ayrov
IN the cart, while the fat boy stood Quiet
~ by and seemed to think it n very in
terestins sort of thing to see Mr.. Weller
working by himself.
The conversation OF these two char
acterS is too long to reprint here, but
not too much so to pcrusc with the
greatest interest. We must pass over
the story of the wedding, which was
the day before Christmas event at
Din%l"y Dell, at which Mr.. Pickwicll
distinguished himself by a feIicitous
speech, and get to the story cf the
dance. Dickens description Of the Old
sitting room is Il gem:
The best sitting room at Manor 77or,,
was a good. long, dark paneled room
with = Nigh chimney piece and a car1aciors
chimney. up which you could have driven
one OF the new patent cabs, wheels and
all. At the upper end of the room seated
In shady bower of holly and ever.
greens. We're the two best nddlcrs and the
only harp in Mugglcton. in all sorts of
recesscs and all kinds of brackets
stood massive old silver candlesticl<s with
1,r..., !,
the candles burned bright, the fire blazed
and cracked on the hearth and merry
voices and light hearted laughter rang
through the room. If any of the old
English yeomen had turned into fairies
when they died, it was just the place in
which they would have held their reveIs
After the dance was over. Mr.. Pick
wick having acquitted himself with
great credit. the reader is told about
tn" doinGs in the famous Old kitchen.
Here hung the miStIctoc and did IFS
mission we'll in adding to the ioIlitv
OF the occasion The artist whose pic
lures appear on his pages has done ex-
ccllcnt Justice to Dickens text:
From the center OF the ceiling Of +bfe
Kitchen old Wardlc had Just sI1snandrd
with his own hands a huge branch of
iliSteto". and this same branch of mis-
. urIoe lnStAntaneously gave rise to Il
scene of general and most delightful
STRUGGLING and confusion. in the midst Of
which Mr.. Pickwick. with Il ..allantry
which would have done honor to de-
scendant Of I.aGv Tulliu,.Io,ycr bersoT~
took the old lady by the hand led her he,
meath the mystic branch and saluted her |
IN all courtesy and dccururrl. Xl-ar.,lI, /
stood with his back to the fire s1Iry-e,.ir,,
the whole scene with the utmost satfEr,C
toH. a'fI'i the fat boy took the opr,ortIIni- .
y OF appr"irl1tnE to his own use and
summary G"vourinI q particularly +f.a
nine pie that had been carefully put by
Sor somebody else -
q Ttl. u