Ever faithfully yours.
OUR LETTER.
By M. F. Armstrong.
"From among all my treasures—to each one of which some pleasant history is bound—I choose this letter, written on coarse blue paper.
The letter was received in answer to cigars sent from America to Mr. Dickens.
The 'little public affairs at home' refers to the war of the Rebellion.
At Colchester, he read 'The Trial' from 'Pickwick,' and selections from 'Nicholas Nickleby.'
The lady, her two sisters, and her brother were Mr. Dickens's guests at the queer old English inn at Colchester.
Through the softly falling snow we came back together to London, and on the railway platform parted, with a hearty hand-shaking, from the man who will for ever be enshrined in our hearts as the kindest and most generous, not to say most brilliant of hosts."
M. de Cerjat.