The other stories are brief. The "Giant
Chronicles" is the title of what appears to be meant for a series
within a series, and we think this design doubly objectionable. The
narrative of "The Bowyer," as well as of "John Podgers," is not
altogether worthy of Mr. Dickens. They were probably sent to press
to supply a demand for copy, while he was occupied with the "Curiosity
Shop." But the "Confession Found in a Prison in the Time of Charles
the Second" is a paper of remarkable power, truly original in
conception, and worked out with great ability.
The story of "The Curiosity Shop" is very simple. Two brothers of
England, warmly attached to each other, love the same lady, without
each other's knowledge. The younger at length discovers the elder's
secret, and, sacrificing himself to fraternal affection, quits the
country and resides for many years in a foreign land, where he amasses
great wealth. Meantime his brother marries the lady, who soon dies,
leaving an infant daughter- her perfect resemblance. In the
widower's heart the mother lives again through the child. This
latter grows up, marries unhappily, has a son and a daughter, loses
her husband, and dies herself shortly afterward. The grandfather takes
the orphans to his home. The boy spurns his protection, falls into bad
courses, and becomes an outcast.
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