第33章

SHEFFIELD, DECEMBER 22, 1855.

[On Saturday Evening Mr.Charles Dickens read his Christmas Carol in the Mechanics' Hall in behalf of the funds of the Institute.

After the reading the Mayor said, he had been charged by a few gentlemen in Sheffield to present to Mr.Dickens for his acceptance a very handsome service of table cutlery, a pair of razors, and a pair of fish carvers, as some substantial manifestation of their gratitude to Mr.Dickens for his kindness in coming to Sheffield.

Henceforth the Christmas of 1855 would be associated in his mind with the name of that gentleman.]

MR.CHARLES DICKENS, in receiving the presentation, said, he accepted with heartfelt delight and cordial gratitude such beautiful specimens of Sheffield-workmanship; and he begged to assure them that the kind observations which had been made by the Mayor, and the way in which they had been responded to by that assembly, would never be obliterated from his remembrance.The present testified not only to the work of Sheffield hands, but to the warmth and generosity of Sheffield hearts.It was his earnest desire to do right by his readers, and to leave imaginative and popular literature associated with the private homes and public rights of the people of England.The case of cutlery with which he had been so kindly presented, should be retained as an heirloom in his family; and he assured them that he should ever be faithful to his death to the principles which had earned for him their approval.In taking his reluctant leave of them, he wished them many merry Christmases, and many happy new years.