Whether I shall become the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by
someone else, the pages of my life will show.
I made not long ago
A great fire at Gads Hill
And burnt every letter I had to show
Sitting there in Devonshire Terrace in snow
Writing letters to Dear Egg and Collins.
For
I am suddenly laid at heels
In this consequence of wills
Christmas Eve in Whitechapel
Is always a curious thing.
There is a valet, called (as I remember), Smart
But what there is of it, decidedly good
He opens the play, and in no small part
Will you undertake to ask him?
If I shall cast him
In this part?
I will call him on Wednesday
I knew his father well and should be very glad to know him, if a glimmer.
Have the pleasure of leaving my card for him (where you say),
And beg him to favor us with his company at dinner
Write me a word in answer
And believe me ever
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens.
For I am suddenly laid at heels
In this consequence of wills
Christmas Eve in Whitechapel
Is always a curious thing
He knew Steerforth and Traddles better than he knew many of his own
He hated Uriah Heep and the Murdstones more than
He ever hated anybody else;
He loved Dora and Tiny Tim and Agnes better than
He ever expected, then
He had gone sobbing to his little bed then when
He heard of David’s mother’s death.
She had died like a child
Her poor head on her stupid cross
She had died like a child
She had died like a child that had gone to sleep.
Dear Collins,
Dear Collins,
If you will have nothing to do, make this selection
There is a place to do it in perfection
If you should be disposed to revel
My money is heard
In the glories of eccentric level
At the Bar of the Household Word
Or if not, then derive
Gin punch at the Family Arms
Tavistock on Sunday next at five
If you should be disposed to revel
In the glories of eccentric British Drama to level
Your spirit, then I am the man to join
In so great a movement purloined
For
I am suddenly laid at heels
In this consequence of wills
Christmas Eve in Whitechapel
Is always a curious thing.
Uriah Heep is here.
Faithfully yours,
CD
j. noguera 3/2000
