Nothing can surpass the respect paid to Longfellow here, from the Queen downward.  He is everywhere received and courted, and finds (as I told him he would, when we talked of it in Boston) the workingmen at least as well acquainted with his books as the classes socially above them.....

Last Thursday I attended, as sponsor, the christening of Dolby’s son and heir,—­a most jolly baby, who held on tight by the rector’s left whisker while the service was performed.  What time, too, his little sister, connecting me with the pony, trotted up and down the centre isle, noisily driving herself as that celebrated animal, so that it went very hard with the sponsorial dignity.

——­ is not yet recovered from that concussion of the brain, and I have all his work to do.  This may account for my not being able to devise a Christmas number, but I seem to have left my invention in America.  In case you should find it, please send it over.  I am going up to town to-day to dine with Longfellow.  And now, my dear Fields, you know all about me and mine.

You are enjoying your holiday? and are still thinking sometimes of our Boston days, as I do? and are maturing schemes for coming here next summer?  A satisfactory reply to the last question is particularly entreated.

I am delighted to find you both so well pleased with the Blind Book scheme.  I said nothing of it to you when we were together, though I had made up my mind, because I wanted to come upon you with that little burst from a distance.  It seemed something like meeting again when I remitted the money and thought of your talking of it.

The dryness of the weather is amazing.  All the ponds and surface wells about here are waterless, and the poor people suffer greatly.  The people of this village have only one spring to resort to, and it is a couple of miles from many cottages.  I do not let the great dogs swim in the canal, because the people have to drink of it.  But when they get into the Medway, it is hard to get them out again.  The other day Bumble (the son, Newfoundland dog) got into difficulties among some floating timber, and became frightened.  Don (the father) was standing by me, shaking off the wet and looking on carelessly, when all of a sudden he perceived something amiss, and went in with a bound and brought Bumble out by the ear.  The scientific way in which he towed him along was charming.

    Ever your loving

    C.D.

* * * * *

During the summer of 1868 constant messages and letters came from Dickens across the seas, containing pleasant references to his visit in America, and giving charming accounts of his way of life at home.  Here is a letter announcing the fact that he had decided to close forever his appearance in the reading-desk:—­