The “preliminary word” heralds the paper in thoroughly characteristic fashion, and is, not unnaturally, far more personal in tone than the first leading article of the first number of The Daily News, though that, too, be it said in passing, bears traces, through all its officialism, of having come from the same pen.[22] In introducing Household Words to his new readers, Dickens speaks feelingly, eloquently, of his own position as a writer, and the responsibilities attached to his popularity, and tells of his hope that a future of instruction, and amusement, and kindly playful fancy may be in store for the paper.  Nor were his happy anticipations belied.  All that he had promised, he gave. Household Words found an entrance into innumerable homes, and was everywhere recognized as a friend.  Never did editor more strongly impress his own personality upon his staff.  The articles were sprightly, amusing, interesting, and instructive too—­often very instructive, but always in an interesting way.  That was one of the periodical’s main features.  The pill of knowledge was always presented gilt.  Taking Household Words and All the Year Round together—­and for this purpose they may properly be regarded as one and the same paper, because the change of name and proprietorship in 1859[23] brought no change in form or character,—­taking them together, I say, they contain a vast quantity of very pleasant, if not very profound, reading.  Even apart from the stories, one can do very much worse than while away an hour, now and again, in gleaning here and there among their pages.  Among Dickens’ own contributions may be mentioned “The Child’s History of England,” and “Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices”—­being the record of an excursion made by him in 1857, with Mr. Wilkie Collins; and “The Uncommercial Traveller” papers.  While as to stories, “Hard Times” appeared in Household Words; and “The Tale of Two Cities” and “Great Expectations,” in All the Year Round.  And to the Christmas numbers he gave some of his best and daintiest work.  Nor were novels and tales by other competent hands wanting.  Here it was that Mrs. Gaskell gave to the world those papers on “Cranford” that are so full of a dainty, delicate humour, and “My Lady Ludlow,” and “North and South,” and “A Dark Night’s Work.”  Here, too, Mr. Wilkie Collins wove together his ingenious threads of plot and mystery in “The Moonstone,” “The Woman in White,” and “No Name.”  And here also Lord Lytton published “A Strange Story,” and Charles Reade his “Very Hard Cash.”

The year 1851 opened sadly for Dickens.  His wife, who had been confined of a daughter in the preceding August, was so seriously unwell that he had to take her to Malvern.  His father, to whom, notwithstanding the latter’s peculiarities and eccentricities, he was greatly attached, died on the 31st of March; and on the 14th of April his infant daughter died also.  In connection with this latter death there