The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-18
BY III. II. HARPER

to receive him in, when his aged
steps should bring him there at
last. He is filled with joy to see
her-so young-so bright-so full
of promise-and is enraptlIred to
think that she never was old,
wan, fearful, withered. This is
always one of the sources of con-
ISOLATION in the deaths of chill
dren. With no effort of the fancy,
with nothing to undo, you will al
ways be able to think of the pref
ty creature you have lost, as a
child in heaven.
A poor little baby of mine lies
in Highgate cemetery-and 1 laid
her, just as you think of laying
yours, in the catacombs there,
until I made resting place for
all of us in the free air.
1t is better that I should not
come to see you. I feel quite sure
of that, and will think of you in
stead.
God bless and comfort you!
Mrs. Dickens and her sister send
their kindest condolences to your
self and Mr.. Winter. I add mine
with all my heart.
Affectionately your friend,
CHARLES DICKENS.
THIS sad misfortune seems to
Il have put an end to the cor
respondence-and to Dickens anx-
iety as well-for a period of
nearly three years, when the oft
deferred separation from Cath
crime took place, and the devoted
sister-in-law, Georgia Hogarth,
wrote the news to Maria in the
following letter - an historical
item Of great Importance, settling
as it does in the most authentic
manner the much discussed rea-
sons for the parting Of Dickens
and his wife.
Tavistock House, May 81, 1853,
My dearest Maria:
There will be no mistake about
your tickets this time. Charles has
charged Mr.. Arthur Smith with
full particulars and he will for
ward them to you, in due course.
I am now going to tell you
something which will, I am sure,
surprise you, and, at the first,
shock and distress you. 1t is that
Charles and his wife have agreed
to live apart in future.
Believe me when I assure you
that I am perfectly convinced that
this plan will be for the happi-
ness of all. I worked hard to pre-
vent it, as long as I saw any pos
sibility, but latterly I have come
to the conviction that there was
no other way out of the domestic
misery of this house. For my sis
ter and Charles have lived I'M
happily for yearS-they were to-
tally unSuited to each other in
almost every respect-and as the
children grew up this unsuitable
ity developed itself more strongly,
and disagreements and miseries
which used to be easily kept out
of sight have forced themselves
into notice.
Unhappily, also, by some con-
stitutional misfortune and in
capacity my sister always, from
their infancy, threw her children
upon other people; consequently
as they grew up, there was not the
usual strong tie between them and
her-in short for many years, al
though we have put a good face
upon it, we have been very mis-
cradle at home.
My sister has often expressed a
desire to go and live away, but
Charles never agreed to it on the
girls account; but latterly he
thought it must be to their adj
vantage as we'll as to his own and
GATHERINGS, to consent to this and
remodel their unhappy home. So,
by mutual consent and for the
reasons I have told you, and no
other, they have come to this ar
rangement.
She is to have a house of her
own in London, and her eldest son
cat his fathers request, and not
taking any part or showing any
preference in doing it, is to live