Charles Dickens' Children Stories Read online

  THE LITTLE KENWIGS.

  Mrs. Kenwigs was the wife of an ivory turner, and though they only had avery humble home of two rooms in a dingy-looking house in a smallstreet, they had great pretensions to being "genteel." The little MissKenwigs had their flaxen hair plaited into pig-tails and tied with blueribbons, and wore little white trousers with frills round their ankles,the highest fashion of that day; besides being dressed with suchelegance, the two eldest girls went twice a week to a dancing school.Mrs. Kenwigs, too, had an uncle who collected the water rate, and shewas therefore considered a person of great distinction, with quite themanners of a lady. On the eighth anniversary of their wedding day, Mr.and Mrs. Kenwigs invited a party of friends to supper to celebrate theoccasion. The four eldest children were to be allowed to sit up tosupper, and the uncle, Mr. Lillyvick, had promised to come. The baby wasput to bed in a little room lent by one of the lady guests, and a littlegirl hired to watch him. All the company had assembled when a ring washeard, and Morleena, whose name had been _invented by Mrs. Kenwigs_specially for her, ran down to open the door and lead in herdistinguished great-uncle, then the supper was brought in.

  The table was cleared; Mr. Lillyvick established in the arm-chair by thefireside; the four little girls arranged on a small form in front of thecompany with their flaxen tails towards them; Mrs. Kenwigs was suddenlydissolved in tears and sobbed out--

  "They are so beautiful!"

  "Oh, dear," said all the ladies, "so they are; it's very natural youshould feel proud of that; but don't give way, don't."

  "I can--not help it, and it don't signify," sobbed Mrs. Kenwigs: "oh!they're too beautiful to live, much too beautiful."

  On hearing this dismal prophecy, all four little girls screamed untiltheir light flaxen tails vibrated again, and rushed to bury their headsin their mother's lap.

  At length she was soothed, and the children calmed down; while theladies and gentlemen all said they were sure they would live for manymany years, and there was no occasion for their mother's distress: andas the children were not so remarkably lovely, this was quite true.

  Then Mr. Lillyvick talked to the company about his niece's marriage, andsaid graciously that he had always found Mr. Kenwigs a very honest,well-behaved, upright, and respectable sort of man, and shook hands withhim, and then Morleena and her sisters kissed their uncle and most ofthe guests.

  Then Miss Petowker, who could sing and recite in a way that broughttears to Mrs. Kenwigs' eyes, remarked--

  "Oh, dear Mrs. Kenwigs, while Mr. Noggs is making that punch to drinkhappy returns in, do let Morleena go through that figure dance beforeMr. Lillyvick."

  "Well, I'll tell you what," said Mrs. Kenwigs. "Morleena shall do thesteps, if uncle can persuade Miss Petowker to recite us the'Blood-Drinker's Burial' afterwards."

  Everyone clapped their hands and stamped their feet at this proposal,but Miss Petowker said, "You know I dislike doing anything professionalat private parties."

  "Oh, but not here!" said Mrs. Kenwigs. "You might as well be goingthrough it in your own room: besides, the occasion."

  "I can't resist that," interrupted Miss Petowker, "anything in my humblepower, I shall be delighted to do."

  In reality Mrs. Kenwigs and Miss Petowker had arranged all theentertainment between them beforehand, but had settled that a littlepressing on each side would look more natural. Then Miss Petowker hummeda tune, and Morleena danced. It was a very beautiful figure, with agreat deal of work for the arms, and gained much applause. Then MissPetowker was entreated to begin her recitation, so she let down her backhair, and went through the performance with great spirit, and diedraving mad in the arms of a bachelor friend who was to rush out andcatch her at the words "in death expire," to the great delight of theaudience and the terror of the little Kenwigses, who were nearlyfrightened into fits.

  Just as the punch was ready, a knock at the door startled them all. Butit was only a friend of Mr. Noggs, who lived upstairs, and who had comedown to say that Mr. Noggs was wanted.

  Mr. Noggs hurried out, saying he would be back soon, and presentlystartled them all by rushing in, snatching up a candle and a tumbler ofhot punch, and darting out again.

  Now, it happened unfortunately that the tumbler of punch was the veryone that Mr. Lillyvick was just going to lift to his lips, and the greatman--the rich relation--who had it in his power to make Morleena and hersisters heiresses--and whom everyone was most anxious to please--wasoffended.

  Poor Mr. Kenwigs endeavored to soothe him, but only made matters worse.Mr. Lillyvick demanded his hat, and was only induced to remain by Mrs.Kenwigs' tears and the entreaties of the entire company.

  THE LITTLE KENWIGS. "THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL."]

  "There, Kenwigs," said Mr. Lillyvick, "and let me tell you, to show youhow much out of temper I was, that if I had gone away without anotherword, it would have made no difference respecting that pound or twowhich I shall leave among your children when I die."

  "Morleena Kenwigs," cried her mother, "go down on your knees to yourdear uncle, and beg him to love you all his life through; for he's morean angel than a man, and I've always said so."

  Just as all were happy again, everyone was startled by a rapidsuccession of the loudest and shrillest shrieks, apparently coming fromthe room where the baby was asleep.

  "My baby, my blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed baby! My own darling,sweet, innocent Lillyvick! Let me go-o-o-o," screamed Mrs. Kenwigs.

  Mr. Kenwigs rushed out, and was met at the door of the bedroom by ayoung man with the baby (upside down) in his arms, who came out soquickly that he knocked Mr. Kenwigs down; handing the child to hismother, he said, "Don't be alarmed, it's all out, it's all over--thelittle girl, being tired, I suppose, fell asleep and set her hair onfire. I heard her cries and ran up in time to prevent her setting fireto anything else. The child is not hurt: I took it off the bed myselfand brought it here to convince you."

  After they had all talked over this last excitement, and discussedlittle Lillyvick's deliverer, the collector pulled out his watch andannounced that it was nearly two o'clock, and as the poor children hadbeen for some time obliged to keep their little eyes open with theirlittle forefingers, the company took leave, declaring they had neverspent such a delightful evening, and that they wished Mr. and Mrs.Kenwigs had a wedding-day once a week.