The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-26
The McawberS--DickenS Greatest Humorous Characters
 By


 
 1 what irascible Betsy Trotwood to .ob- serve. Bless and save the man ls He write letters by the ream If it was a capital offenseM
 '1n appearing before you" read MT Micawber in a rich, majestic voice. "tc denounce probably the most consum- mate Villain that ever existed,' and he pointed the ruler like ghostly trunch con at Uriah Heep, who sat staring at him in furious, astonishment. II ask no consideration for myself. The vic tim, from my cradle, of pee1niary lia- bilities to which have been unable to respond, have ever been the sport and toy of debasing circumstances. Ig- nominy, Want, Despair, and Madness have. collectively or separately, been the attendants of my career"
 His emphasis showed the relish with which he described himself as a prey to those dismal calamities and he repeated the list with roll of his head. In still moro flowing language he described his entrance into the employment of Wick field and Heep, and burst out suddenly and unexpectedly: Heep, and only Heep, Is the handspring of that ma chine. Heep, and only Heep, is the For ger and the Cheat!'
 l Heep, more blue than white, snatched at the paper. MT. Micawber struck his knuckles with the ruler. It sounded as I If 1t had fallen on wood and Heep's hand dropped disabled. Approach me again, you-you-you Heep of infamy, gasped MT Micawber, making artistic broad sword guards with the ruler. l Heep did not approach him again and MT. Micawber passed gracefully or to a reference to the Swan of Avon, tho illustrious ornament of the Elizabethar l Era, passage whose beauty so pleased him that under pretence of having lost his place, he read it again. Gradually he approached the charges against Heep drawing the ruler into convenient po- sition under his left arm He almos, smacked his lips as he rolled forth to say" before he proceeded to prove that Heep had made away with trust funds and had then convinced Mir | Wickfeld that that unfortunate man | had used them himself and that HeeI had committed forgeries and other crimes. always managing to fasten the stigma on his innocent but misled and muddled partner
 Having presented all his proofs, there was movement among the company as l if he had finished. Pardon mel" said iii ture of the lowest spirits and the most intense enjoyment, to a beautiful and touching operation:
 Tt merely remains for me, with my ill-starred family to disappear from the landscape on which we apear to be an | incumbrance. That is soon done. It | may reasonably be inferred that our baby will first expire from hamilton, as being the fraiest member of our circle, and that our twins will be next in order. So be it For myself, my Canterbury Pill grimage has done much. Improvement on civil process and want will soon do more. I trust that the labor and haz- ard of this Investigating may be as the sprinkling of few drops of sweet water on my funeral pyre. I ask no more. Let 1t be, in justice, merely said of me, as of a gallant and eminent naval hero, with whom have no pretentions to cope, that what have done I did in despite of mercenary and selfish objects, " For England, Home and Beauty Remaining always. etc.. "wILKINS MICAwBER." MT. Micawber Negotiates a Loan Much affected. MT. Micawber folded up his letter and handed 1t with a bow to i Miss Betsy Trotwood as something that she might like to keep.
 That lady, to the wonder of the rest, jumped up and made a dart at Uriah Heep, seizing, him by the collar with both hands.
 "I want my property!" she cried. "I believed 1t had been made away with by Agnes father and I wouldn't tell any, body. But now want it. David, come and take 1t away from him."
 They 'took 1t away from Uriah Heep. Mir. Micawber's proofs. gathered with Traddles' aid, gave him only the choice between jail and restitution, and he chose the latter.
 MT Mlcawber invited his friends home with him to see Mrs Micawber. Exclaiming Emma! My lfe!" he rush ed into Mrs. Micawber's arms. "Emmai'' said MT. Micawber. Mutual confidence, so long preserved between us once. is restored to know no further interrup- tions Now welcome poverty!' he cried, shedding tears. Welcome misery, well come houselessness. welcome hunger, rags. tempest and beggaryw
 MT. Micawber," said Betsy Trotwood