Chaeles  Dickens  "  Had  Alite."
When  Dickens  was  the  lion  of  the  day  at  Montreal,  there
lived  there  a  young  man  fond  of  collecting  autographs.  He
had  a  desire  to  get  one  from  Dickens.  This  was  no  easy  matter,
as  multitudes  bored  him  for  his  writing,  and  he  had  to  refuse
with  some  sternness,  or  wholly  ignore  the  application,  and  poor
Dickens  was  rather  sold.  The  writer  tried  the  patbetico-
illiteraturo  dodge  : —


OMNIANA.  485

**Me.  Dickens,  sue,

"  Me  and  my  wife's  got  a  boy,  and  wee've  a-hear  tell  a
great  deal  about  the  beautiful  books  you've  a- writ,  and  the  good
you've  a-tryed  to  do  for  us  pore  folk.  Now  we  has  a-thote
that  it  might  so  be  that  you  mite  let  we  give  you're  name  to
our  boy.  We  is  no  scoUerds,  but  we  hope  that,  as  wages  is
good  and  learning  is  plenty,  that  he  will  some  day  read  what
you've  a-rit.  An'  so,  Sir,  we  askes  yu're  pardin,  and  wishes
yu  prosperity  an'  good  luk.    If  so  be  as  yoa  rite,  direc  Andrew

H ,  Montreal  Post  Offis.      So  no  more  at   present,  from

you're  humbel  servints  to  commend.
