As the mountains are round about Jerusalem; so the Lord is roun.1 about his people from henceforth, even forever."-Ps. cxv. 2.

FTER "Bleak

House " carne

"Little

Dorritt," not so attractive as some of Mr. Dickens's books, but yet full of its own peculiar interest. It contains some fine descriptions, among which is one of a scene amid the Alps, for which we would gladly find space if possible.

Among the serials afterwards published was one called "Hard Times; the first book of which is called "Sowing," the next "Reaping," the third "Garner-. ing," and wherein Mr. Gradgrind achieves his irrtality," a a man of realities, a man of facts

calculations." In this occur the thrilling passages describing poor Stephen's fall into the pit, and his rescue. Very touching are Stephen's words concerning the star which shone into the pit where he lay. And thus the tale concludes: :

"The bearers being now ready to carry him away, and the surgeon being anxious for his removal, those who had torches or lanterns prepared to go in front of the litter. Before it was raised, and while they were arranging how to go, he said to Rachael, looking upward at the star,

"Often as I coom to myseln, and found it shinin' on me down there in my trouble, I thowt it were the star as guided to our Saviour's home. I awmust think it be the very star.'

"They lifted him up; and he was overjoyed to find that they were about to take him in the direction Iwhither the star seemed to him to lead.

hand. We

"Rachael, beloved lass, don't let go my hand.

may walk toogether t'night, my dear.'

"I will hold thy hand, and keep beside thee, Stephen, all the way.'

"Bless thee! Will soombody be pleased to coover my face?'

"They carried him very gently along the fields, and down the lanes, and over the wide landscape; Rachael always holding the hand in hers. Very few whispers

broke the mournful silence.

It was soon a funeral

procession. The star had shown him where to find the God of the poor; and, through humility and sorrow and forgiveness, he had gone to his Redeemer's rest."

Among the shorter sketches by Dickens, gathered into one volume in some editions of his works, as “Additional Christmas Stories," was one which the writer of this memorial volume had the delight of hearing him read to his last Boston audience. It is called "Dr. Marigold," and is a mixture of humor and pathos. After telling of the deaf-and-dumb girl whom he adopted, and of her refusal to go away with her lover, Dr. Marigold pleasantly concludes with a narration of his peculiar manner of giving consent to the marriage; then tells how lonely he was without Sophy; and then, one Christmas Eve, how he ate his lonely dinner, and sat dreamily by his fireside. Then he says, —

66

Sophy's books so brought up Sophy's self, that I saw her touching face quite plainly before I dropped off dozing by the fire. This may be a reason why Sophy, with her deaf-and-dumb child in her arms, seemed to stand silent by me all through my nap.

I was

on the road, off the road, in all sorts of places,— north and south and west and east; winds liked best, and winds liked least; here and there, and gone astray; over the hills, and far away,- and still she stood silent by me, with

her silent child in her arms.

Even when I woke with

a start, she seemed to vanish, as if she had stood by me in that very place only a single instant before.

"I had started at a real sound; and the sound was on the steps of the cart. It was the light, hurried tread of a child coming clambering up. That tread of a child had once been so familiar to me, that, for half a moment, I believed I was going to see a little ghost.

"But the touch of a real child was laid upon the outer handle of the door; and the handle turned, and the door opened a little way, and a real child peeped in, -a bright little comely girl with large dark eyes.

66

Looking full at me, the tiny creature took off her mite of a straw hat; and a quantity of dark curls fell all about her face. Then she opened her lips, and said in a pretty voice, —

"Grandfather!'

"Ah, my God!' I cries out.

'She can speak!' "Yes, dear grandfather; and I am to ask you whether there was ever any one that I remind you of.'

"In a moment, Sophy was round my neck, as well as the child; and her husband was a-wringing my hand with his face hid, and we all had to shake ourselves together before we could get over it. And when we did begin to get over it, and I saw the pretty child a-talking, pleased and quick and eager and busy, to her mother in the signs that I had first taught her mother, the happy and yet pitying tears fell rolling down my face."

CHAPTER XIII.

AS AN EDITOR.

Household Words. All the Year Round. - Great Expectations. - Tale of Twe

1

Cities.

"Nor need we power or splendor,

Wide hall or lordly dome:

The good, the true, the tender,

These form the wealth of home."

MRS. HALE.

"Let your speech be always with grace."-COL. iv. 6.

EARTH and home has need of pleasant words, and words of wisdom. These Mr. Dickens sought to give in the periodicals of which he was editor. In 1850, he took charge of a weekly literary paper called "Household Words;" and it became exceedingly popular. He showed that he was "abundantly competent to superintend a periodical with regularity and efficiency; to write, select, and edit with practical and workmanlike skill; and to select judiciously, and conduct with kindness and decision, the necessary staff of subordinates." In 1857, owing to a disagreement with his publishers, Mr. Dickens discontinued "Household Words," and