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Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 751, 10 April 1877, Page 3

A ParaOarph i« going the round of the papers just now about a little nephew and a nice of the late Charles Dickens, who are only kept from the workhouse at Amboy, Ulonis, by a poor old couple who have found the children a home since their mother died. Nearly everybody who reada this paragraph gashes over it, and says, " What a pity 1 what a shame ! that the poor little children of Bach an UDcle should be allowed to be fed, lodged, and clothed by the charirity of strangers." yet the Bame paragraph goes on to state that_ their late father was a drunken, unprincipled scoundrel, who deserted his wife in England when she lost her eyesi^t, and eloped with a school girl to Americal. As he was brother of the great novelist, however, interest was brought to bear, and a good billet was found in the Land Department of the Illinois Central Railroad. But he Bpent his money as fast as he got it, sponged on bis brother and everybody eUe within reach, got discharged from bis billet for misconduct , and at length deserted his second wife and the two children above referred. He sponged his way through the States and to Australia^ his brother's great reputation being his only capital j hut it was sufficient ; it procured him free quarters in every township he vißited ; pound notes, half -soverigns, halfcrowns, and unlimited drinks at bush public houses— for the poorest bushman had known and appreciates Charles Dickens. This Au*as us Dickens was at Brisbane here for a few days twelve or thirteen years ago, I rr n.eruber, a bloated, ahal.by, dirty lotfer. He died a pauper and an outcast- as he was bound to be in spite of fi»te and all the help of the people in the world. The poor victim whom he seduced and took to America with him, lived in utter misery for a. number of ars, and then poisoned herself, and herey two children have be§n with this ojd couple at Am,boy, Illinois, ever tiuce. The "pity ' and the "shame" of the whole matter is that such a man should find people foolish enough to show him kindness of which he wua uuwortby — simply because his brother was a great genius. It is the beat thing that could

happen to the two ofcildren at Amboy, Jlli6niit, that- they are not under the blightiaa iufluence of such a father ; and it ;wiU r !be>the wowe thing that duuld happen if they aro : deluded into the idea that .because thtir nuole was a great and gifted man, therefore they' have a claim en the reading' public of the whole world, and .ought not' to be compelled to earn their bread by hard, honest work The sooner we learn to call things |by their right names the better. — 'Bohemia^' in the ' Queenslander.' ;