drew upon him. Having fancied that in the republic of America he might
have at least free speech on a matter which so closely concerned him,
Dickens resented this treatment, and the Americans resented his
resentment. However, it was with the kindliest feelings toward the many
friends he had made in the United States, and with the most out-spoken
admiration for many American institutions that he left for England. The
publication of his _American Notes_ and of _Martin Chuzzlewit_ did not
tend to reconcile Americans to Dickens; but there seems to have been no
falling off in the sale of his books in this country.

Dickens's life, like the lives of most literary men, was not
particularly eventful. It was, however, a constantly busy life. Book
followed book in rapid succession, and still their popularity grew.
Sometimes in London, sometimes in Italy or Rome or Switzerland, he
created those wonderful characters of his which will live as long as the
English language. The first of the Christmas books, _A Christmas Carol_,
appeared in 1843, and henceforward one of the things to which people
looked forward at Yuletide was the publication of a new Dickens
Christmas story.

One diversion--if diversion it can be called--Dickens allowed himself
not infrequently, and enjoyed most thoroughly. This was the production,
sometimes before a selected audience, sometimes in public, of plays, in
which Dickens himself usually took the chief part. Often these plays
were given not only in London, but in various parts of the country, as
benefits for poor authors or actors, or for the widows and families of
such; and always they were astonishingly successful. It is reported that
an old stage prompter or property man said one time to Dickens "Lor,
Mr. Dickens! If it hadn't been for them books, what an actor you would
have made."

Naturally, a man of Dickens's eminence had as his friends and
acquaintances many of the foremost men of his time, and a most
affectionate and delightful friend he was. His letters fall no whit
below the best of his writing in his novels in their power of
observation, their brightness, their humorous manner of expression.

In 1849 was begun the publication of _David Copperfield_, Dickens's own
favorite among his novels. It contains, as has already been said, much
that is autobiographical, and one of the most interesting facts in
connection with this phase of it is that there really was, in Dickens's
young days, a "Dora"