The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-04-20

What Happened 70 The Children For Whom
Dickens Wrote The Life OF Our Lord

-
Shortly before the birth Of Ed
ward. who IS the youngest va
always the favorite child Of hi
father, the Dickens family moved
to larger quarters in Tavistocl
Square, London. And in 1851
Dickens ioyously announced tho
purchase Of the estate at GadshiI
at which, while living in power
ty at Chatham, he had often gaz.
ed enviously, consumed by 4 child.
ish ambition to win it for his own
Il is here at Gadshill that we
can see the clearest picture 81
Dickens daily life. for it was
here that he remained. almost
without ever leaving it. until his
death. and here that his children
grew old enough to observe their
surroundings accurately and re-.
cord them for posterity. To his
son, Henry, we are indebted fol-
an account Of the authors daily
routine.
He would have breakfast be-
tween 8 and 9 Of the morning, and
stroll in the garden smoking his
cigar for half an hour before get
ting down to his work. either al
his writing table or III the Swiss
chalet q friend had erected fol
him in the woods nearby. He
would work steadily without pans.
ing for any more lunch than q
biscuit and glass Of sherry until
3 o'clock, when he would lay
down his pen and 90 for i walk.
On these walks Dickens was
frequently accompanied BY his son
Henry. They would trudge stead
/ lily along. often as much as ten OF
fifteen miles. and often without
50 much as word between them.
The author, his mind preoccupied
with his work, became q familiar
sight, with his young son and
three or four dogs Of various
breeds tagging devotedly along
behind him.
This silence was easily recogniz-
able for what it was partly pre-
occupation, and partly certain
shyness about Dickens which made
him unwilling to ..Iet himself 20.
with his children. At times the
reserve melted. When Henry re.
turned home after winning priz.
ed scholarship at Cambridge, hi:
father. stopping off the train
merely remarked Capital! Cap.
IitaI!'' cit was naturally some.
what disappointed" related Hen.
nv. rat this apparently Iukcwarm
reception Of my great news. but
he could not long disguise his real
feeling. Half way up the drive
10 Gadshill he completely broke
down. Turning to me with tears
| IN his eyes. he said, God bless
Won. nv bow! and gave me = griE
OF the hand which / can still al
most feel.
Again and again. throughout
the lives 81 his children. Dickens
impressed upon them the mora
lesson he had first presented "a
them in ''The life Of Our Lord,
IN 1868. when Henry went Il
Trinity Hall. Cambridge, Dickens
wrote him: ssAs your brother,
have gone away one BY one / have
written to each Of them what
am now going to write to you. You
know you have never been ham.
pered with religious forms Of r..
straint, and that with mere in.
meaning forms have no sym
pathy. But ! must strongly anS
affectionately impress upon YOU
the priceless value 81 the New
Testament and the study 81 thai
book as the one nufailing guide II
life.
Deeply respecting Il. and hoW.
ing down before the character d
our Saviour, Is separated from
the vain constructions and invea
tions of man. you cannot 70 yer,
wrong and will always preserve Il
heart . true spirit Of veneratiol
and humility.
Similarly | impress upon Vol
the habit Of saying q Christian
prayer every night and morning
These things have stood BY me 81
through my life. and remenbe
that / tried 70 render the Nev
Testament ineligible q you an
lovabie ~ you when you were
mere baby. And 70, God bles
YOU.
Dickens. because 81 his horro
81 religious suuabbIes. never Per
United this attitude 70 become III
lrecsly noticeable III his books. /
was something that Re did no
uaradc; something that he kep
Tor his own personal life and II
| lives II his children.
III the period following 1871
spent mostly 81 Gadxhill. Charlie
! Dickens settled down steadily {
mo TWO DHcKETs STORY
work. Win far fewer inferruu