Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-04-25
THIS story opens in the gloomy
mansion of Mr.. Dombey, head

of the house of Dombey & Son
who Is exulting in the birth Of "little
Paul." heir to his name and wealth.
This great event is followed by the
death Of Mrs. Dombey, who breathes
her last, clasping her little daughter,
Florence, to her heart. This child,
neglected by her proud, cold father,
tries vainly to win his love, but he,
with all his hopes and his affection
conferred upon his son, finds no place
in his heart for Florence.
All the advantages that wealth can
offer are heaped on little Paul, who is
a delicate child, old far beyond his
years, and totally untitled to fulfill his
fathers expectations. While gentle
and loving to those about him, Paul's
alteration for his sister. Florence, sur
passes all his other interests, fact
which rankles in the breast Of his
father who would be first in the af-
lection Of his son.
Wishing to hasten Paul's education,
Mr.. Dombey sends him to DR.. Blim-
ber's school, famed for it's method of
crushing out each boyish trait and
making learned prigs Of all it's pu'
pills. Here the boy finds a friend and
champion in Toots, the head boy OF
the school. who falls victim to the
charms Of Florence, but in the end
consoles himself by marrying her
faithful maid, the sprightly Susan
Nipper.
The story Of Paul's life at Dr.. Blim-
hers, where his weak frame Is tried
beyond endurance, and finally breaks
down, is pathetic one, although it
is eniivened by much that is anus
ing and absurd in the descriptions of
the school and Of the Blimber fam
lily.
Fatally III, the boy is carried home
to the big house, where all the skill
in. London, coupled with his sisters
devotion, cannot save him, and after
lingering awhile, he slips away from
the grand future his father has so
carefully arranged. The deathbed
scene where little Paul leaves the big
house forever, Is one of the most IA
nous in fiction.
Clasped in his sisters arms, the dy-
ing boy murmurs: "How fast the
river runs it's very near the
sea. I hear the waves" sand
now there was a shore before him
Who stood on the bank" He sees his
mother there awaiting him and whis-
pers: 1.-THE light about her head is
shining on me as I 60"
The bereaved father, in an agony Of
grief and blasted hopes, turns coldly
from the heart-breaking appeal Of his
sorrOwing daughter, who pleads for
some response in this dark hour. Bid
ding her seek her own apartments, he
shuts himself up in his rooms alone.
Beside the dark threads In this
story, are woven many bright ones
which center in the humble dwelling
of old Solomon ellis, maker of ships
instruments, and his devoted nephew.
Walter Gay. who with their good
friend. Captain Cutie. form delight
full trio. The captain, who wears a
hook in, place of his right hand. and
suffers patiently under the insults and
abuses Of his landlady, the terrible
Mrs. MacStingcr. is one Of Dickens
best beloved characters.
Walter, who has modest position
In the great house of Dombey, watch
es with sympathy and admiration the
career Of the neglected daughter of
his employer, and upon one occasion
has the JOY of rescuing her when she
is lost in London. From the night
when the frightened child is warmed
and comforted at the sign of the
wooden Midshipman." Florence holds
Uncle Sol and Walter in warmest re-
gard. When later, during Paul's ILL
ness, Walter comes to plead for loan
to save his uncle's property, the sym
pathetic boy at once becomes his cham
pion and secures the money from his
father. From this time on Paul takes
a special interest in Walter and on
his death-bed hegs that he shall he re-
This message Florence
brings to Walter, pledging to him
thenceforth her sisterly affection.
The fortunes of the house Of DOM
hey are guided principally by the clev-
err and "cat-like" manager, James Car