In 1836 these sketches were published in two volumes. The tide of Dickens' popularity had now fully set in, and sketches and books flowed from his pen like the steady movement of a mighty river. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, upon the introduction of "Sam Weller," in the fifth number, grew in popularity, and upon completion of the "Papers," the author was famous.

Oliver Twist, two anonymous volumes entitled Young Gentlemen and Young Couples, Memoirs of Joseph Gramaldi, Nicholas Nickleby, Old Curiosity Shop, and Barnaby Rudge, quickly followed.

In January, 1842, in company with his wife, Dickens sailed for the United States, and on the 22d, landed at Boston. He was received with great enthusiasm. Upon his return home he published American Notes. He was severely censured for his exaggerations in speaking of American customs. In 1844 appeared Martin Chuzzlewit. Then followed a year's travel in Italy, after which he became editor of the London "Daily News." In the "News" appeared his Pictures from Italy. His editorship was discontinued at the end of four months. Dombey and Son appeared in 1848, and David Copperfield, in 1850. In 1850 he established "Household Words;" this being discontinued, in 1859 he started "All the Year Round." At this time he wrote a popular Child's History of England. Omitting his other works we will only record the productions of A Tale of Two Cities, published in 1860; Great Expectations, 1861; Our Mutual Friend, in 1865.

Visiting the United States again in 1867, he gave public readings from his works, in the Eastern and Middle States.

Dickens was an almost perfect actor, and his laborious study had prepared him to make his readings in this country the most successful part of his life work.

In a financial, as well as in a literary sense, his life work was eminently successful. The Child's Dream of a Star, which we have selected for this book, has been issued in a beautiful, illustrated edition. His writings are so well known that we will make no further record of them here.

Dickens' social history is brief. He was the second of eight children. In 1836, he married Catherine, the eldest daughter of George Hogarth, an editorial writer for the "Chronicle." They had seven children, but in 1858 arranged a formal separation, the reasons for which have never been made public. He once refused a baronetcy. He willed that no public announcement be made of his burial; that his name be inscribed on his tomb in plain English letters, without any title. He wished no monument, but said: "I rest my claims to the remembrance of my country upon my published works." A grateful world will remember him. Leaving The Mystery of Edwin Drood unfinished, he died at the time given in the beginning of this sketch, from a stroke of apoplexy, and was buried privately in the poet's corner of Westminster Abbey.

The Child's Dream of a Star.

There was once a child, and he strolled about a good deal, and thought of a number of things. He had a sister, who was a child, too, and his constant companion. These two used to wonder all day long. They wondered at the beauty of the flowers; they wondered at the height and blueness of the sky; they wondered at the depth of the bright water; they wondered at the goodness and the power of God who made the lovely world.

They used to say to one another, sometimes, "Supposing all the children upon the earth were to die, would the flowers, and the water, and the sky be sorry?" They believed they would be sorry: "For," said they, "the buds are the children of the flowers; and the little playful streams that gambol down the hillsides are the children of the waters; and the smallest bright specks playing at hideand-seek in the sky all night, must surely be the children of the stars; and they would all be grieved to see their playmates, the children of men, no more." There was one clear, shining star that used to come out in the sky before the rest, near the church-spire, above the graves. It was larger and more beautiful, they thought, than all the others, and every night they watched for it, standing hand in hand at the window. Whoever saw it first, cried out, "I see the star!" And often they cried out both together, knowing so well when it would rise, and where. So they grew to be such friends with it, that before lying down in their beds, they always looked out once again, to bid it good-night; and when they were turning round to sleep, they used to say, "God bless the star!"

But while she was still very young, O, very, very young, the sister drooped, and came to be so weak that she could no longer stand in the window at night; and then the child looked sadly out by himself, and when he saw the star, turned round and said to the patient, pale face on the bed, "I see the star!" and then a smile

would come upon the face, and a little weak voice used to say, "God bless my brother and the star!" And so the time came, all too soon! when the child looked out alone, and when there was no face on the bed; and when there was a little grave among the graves, not there before; and when the star made long rays down toward him, as he saw it through his tears.

Now, these rays were so bright, and they seemed to make such a shining way from earth to heaven, that when the child went to his solitary bed, he dreamed about the star; and dreamed that, lying where he was, he saw a train of people taken up that sparkling road by angels.

And the star, opening, showed him a great world of light, where many more such angels waited to receive them.

All these angels who were waiting turned their beaming eyes. upon the people who were carried up into the star; and some came out from the long rows in which they stood, and fell upon the people's necks, and kissed them tenderly, and went away with them down avenues of light, and were so happy in their company, that lying in his bed he wept for joy.

But there were many angels who did not go with them, and among them was one he knew. The patient face that once had lain upon the bed was glorified and radiant, but his heart found out his sister among all the host.

His sister's angel lingered near the entrance of the star, and said to the leader among those who had brought the people thither, "Is my brother come?"

And he said, "No."

She was turning hopefully away, when the child stretched out his arms, and cried,

"O sister, I am here!

Take me!" And then she turned her beaming eyes upon him and it was night; and the star was shining into the room, making long rays down toward him as he saw it through his tears.

From that hour forth the child looked out upon the star as on