-New Year on the Green.--Twelfth Night
festivities.

CHAPTER III. 46

My father at his work.--Rooms in which he wrote.--Love
for his child characters.--Genius for character
drawing.--Nicholas Nickleby.--His writing hours.--His
only amanuensis.--"Pickwick" and "Boz."--Death of Mr.
Thackeray.

CHAPTER IV. 69

Fondness for Athletic Sports.--His love of bathing.--His
study of the raven.--Calling the doctor in.--My father
with our dogs.--The cats of "Gad's Hill."--"Bumble" and
"Mrs. Bouncer."--A strange friendship.

CHAPTER V. 88

Interest in London birds.--Our pet bird
"Dick."--Devotion of his dogs.--Decision to visit
America.--His arrival in New York.--Comments on American
courtesies.--Farewell public appearances.

CHAPTER VI. 103

Last words spoken in public.--A railroad accident in
1865.--At home after his American visit.--"Improvements"
at "Gad's Hill."--At "Gad's Hill" once more.--The
closing day of his life.--Burial at Westminster.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Charles Dickens Frontispiece

Mamie Dickens Facing Dedication

Charles Dickens reading in the garden page 7

Mr. Pickwick slides 25

Mr. John Leech 28

Mr. Pickwick under the Mistletoe 45

Mrs. Bouncer 86

To Miss Dickens' Pomeranian "Mrs. Bouncer" 86

The Empty Chair 101

Charles Dickens' Grave 127

CHAPTER I.

Seeing "Gad's Hill" as a child.--His domestic side and home-love.--His
love of children.--His neatness and punctuality.--At the table, and as
host.--The original of "Little Nell."

[Picture: Charles Dickens Reading in Garden]

If, in these pages, written in remembrance of my father, I should tell
you my dear friends, nothing new of him, I can, at least, promise you
that what I shall tell will be told faithfully, if simply