C. Dickens, 21st Feb. 1844,—“Many thanks for the ‘Christmas Carol,’ which I shall immediately proceed upon, in preference to six American pamphlets . . . all promising immediate payment!”
Countess Grey, 11th Oct. 1844.—“See what rural life is:—
“Combe Florey Gazette.
“Mr Smith’s large red cow is expected to calve this week.
“Mr Gibbs has bought Mr Smith’s lame mare.
“It rained yesterday, and, a correspondent observes is not unlikely to rain to-day.
“Mr Smith is better.
“Mrs Smith is indisposed.
“A nest of black magpies was found near the village yesterday.”
Sydney Smith died 22nd February 1845.
CHARLES DICKENS
My aim is to give some account of Charles Dickens’ personality, to think of him as a man rather than a writer. For the facts of his life I have to depend largely on Forster’s biography, [199] which is doubtless trustworthy, but the personality of the author does not tend to make it attractive. In this way the little book by Miss M. Dickens is valuable: it gives in simple and touching words an impression of the affection that Dickens inspired.
She writes:—“No man was so inclined naturally to derive his happiness from home affairs. He was full of the kind of interest in a house which is commonly confined to women, and his care of and for us as wee children did most certainly ‘pass the love of women.’ His was a tender and most affectionate nature.”
When he “was arranging and rehearsing his readings from Dombey, the death of ‘little Paul’ caused him such real anguish, that he told us he could only master his intense emotion by keeping the picture of
Plorn, [200a] well, strong, and hearty, steadily before his eyes.” [200b]
He took the children every 24th December to a toy-shop in Holborn to choose their own Christmas presents and any that they liked to give to their friends.