The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-03-12

kLNF ALL my books" writes
Dickens, Il like this best.
~ Ii will be easily believed
that | am fond parent to every
child of my fancy. and that no one can
ever love that family as dearly as
love them; but, like many fond par
ents, have in my heart of hearts a
favOrite child, and his name is David
COpperfield.'
The world IN the main agrees with
the opinion of the great, kindly define
ator of humanity, for David Copper
field and 'Pickwick Papers hold first
and second choice with most lovers of
this English author of the middle of
the nineteenth century. The reason is
not hard to discover. The memory of
the sad childhood of the writer forms
the basis of the novel and provides
the personal favor. 1t is in many re-
spectS his ablest and cleareSt book.
The narrative, moreover, moves from
beginning to end in full swing with
mingled pathos and humOr. The spirit
throughout is kindly, sympathetic, and,
above all, human. Mr.. G. K. Chesterton,
writing of David Copperfeld' and its
author, says: "He has created crea-
lures who cling to us and tyrannize
over us. creatures whom we would not
forget if we could, creatures whom we
could not forget If we would. creatures
who are more actual than the man
who made them"
The novel begins with the birth of
its hero, David COpperfield. six months
after the death of his father. An &C.
centric great aunt, Miss Betsey TrOt-
wood, is present in the house, but de-
parts quite as suddenly as she ar
rived when she learns that the child
is a boy and cannot bear her name.
David's mother is quite alone in the
world with the exception Of plain Peg
gotty. her devoted serving woman !:
Peggotty, with no shape at all, and so
very plump that when any little ex-
ertion is made after she is dressed,
some of the buttons on the back of her
gown fly off.
Being however youthful and pretty,
Clara Copperfield soon marries the
stern Mr.. Murdstone, who proves to be
not only stern, but hard and cruel.
On the occasion of his mothers mar
riage David is sent with Peggotty to
visit her brother at Yarmouth, where
he, with his niece, little Emily, and
nephew Ham, occupy a superannuated
old boat now converted into a most
delightfully."- coy home. Little Emily
with her winning ways grows very dear
to David. as 90 the honest fisherfOlk
with whom she lives.
Returning home, David at once be-
comes an object of detestation to his
stepfather, and in consequence is pack
ed off to school. Here his misery con-
tinues under a master. or rather bully
Creakle, whose chief Zest in life con-
sists In the infection of pain on some
helpless victim. The one bit of bright.
ness In school life Is attachment for
James Steerforth, handsome. deb
OMAR, dashing lad, with the faculty
of making everyone his friend. But
school days are brought to a sudden
halt by the death Of David's mother
crushed by her husbands careless tyr
rany. Peggotty is dismissed and Bar
kis. the stage driver. whose courtship
has consisted In the singular message
sent through David Of "Barkis Is will
ing" finally succeeds in making Peg
gotty willing also.
After months Of utter neglect David
Is sent to London. where he becomes
at ten years of age, a little laborinP
hind in a dilapidated old warehouse, In
the service of Murdstone and Grimby
wine merchants. Half starved, wearied
by long hours of labor amid repulsive
companions, including Mick Walker
and Neatly Potatoes, David's life Is
continued torture. He lodges with a
Mr.. and Mrs. wilkins Micawber and
their numerous progeny. Mr.. Micawber
always in pecuniary difficulties and
always expecting something to turn
up" and always in possession of fine