Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-12
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
MR.. PICKwICK HAS FUN.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

Lady Tollinglower herself, took the old
lady by the hand, led her beneath the
mystic branch and kissed her In all
courtesy and decorum. The old lady
submitted to this piece of practical
politeness with all the dignity which
befltted so important and serious SOL
emnity, but the younger ladies, not be-
ing so thoroughly imbued with super
stitious veneration for the custom, or
imagining that the value Of a kiss Is
very much enhanced II it cost a little
trouble to obtain it, screamed and
struggled and ran into corners and
threatened and demonstrated and did
everything but leave the room, until
some of the less adventurous gentlemen
were on the point of deSisting, when the
young ladies all at once found it use
less to resist any longer and submitted
to be kissed with good grace.
Mr.. Wrinkle kissed the young lady
with the black eyes, and Mr.. Snodgrass
kissed Emily, and Mr.. Weller, not being
particular about the form of being I'M
der the mistletoe, kissed Emma and the
other female servants, just as he caught
them. AS to the poor relations, they
kissed everybody, not even excepting
the palmer young lady visitors, who In
their excessive confusion ran right I'M
der the mistletoe as soon IS it was hung
up without knowing 1t. Wardle stood
with his back to the fire, surveying the
whole scene with the utmost satisfac-
ton, and the fat boy took the oppor-
tunity Of appropriating to his own use
and summary devouring particularly
f1ne mince pie that had been carefully
put by for somebody else.
Now the screaming had subsidized and
faces were in glow and curls in a
tangle, and Mr.. Pickwick, after kissing
the old lady as before mentioned, was
standing under the mistletoe looking
with very pleased countenance on all
that was passing around him, when the
young lady with the black eyes, after
little whispering with the other young
ladies, made a sudden dart forward,
and putting her arm around Mr.. Pick
W1ck'S neck kissed him affectionately
on the left cheek, and before Mr.. Pick
wick distinctly knew what was the mat
ter he was surrounded by the whole
body and kissed by every one Of them.
1t was pleasant thing to see Mr.
Pickwick In the center Of the group,
now pulled this way and then that, and
first kissed on the chin and then on
the nose and then on the spectacles,
and to hear the peals of laughter which
were raised on every side. But it was a
sun more pleasant thing to see Mr..
P1ckwick, blinded shortly afterward with
q silk handkerchief, falling up against
the wall and scrambling into corners
and going through all the mysteries of
"blindmans bluff" with the utmost
relish for the game, until at last he
caught one Of the poor relations, and
then he had to evade the blindman
I himself, which he did with a nimbleness
and agility that elected the admiration
and applause of all beholders.
When they were all tired Of various
games they sat down by the huge fire
OF blazing logs 10 substantial supper.
and q mighty bowl of waSsil, something
smaller than an ordinary wash house
copper, In which the hot apples were
kissing and bubbling with q rich look
and q jolly sound that were perfectly
/! irresistible.
This" said Mr.. Pickwick, "is solid
comfort"