We
have thus the conception of a childhood, educated in utter ignorance
of the world, filled with an affection which has been, through its
brief existence, the sole source of its pleasures, and which has no
part in the passion of a more mature youth for an object of its own
age- we have the idea of this childhood, full of ardent hopes, leading
by the hand, forth from the heated and wearying city, into the green
fields, to seek for bread, the decrepid imbecility of a doting and
confiding old age, whose stern knowledge of man, and of the world it
leaves behind, is now merged in the sole consciousness of receiving
love and protection from that weakness it has loved and protected.
This conception is indeed most beautiful. It is simply and
severely grand. The more fully we survey it the more thoroughly we are
convinced of the lofty character of that genius which gave it birth.
That in its present simplicity of form, however, it was first
entertained by Mr. Dickens, may well be doubted. That it was not, we
are assured by the title which the tale bears. When in its
commencement he called it "The Old Curiosity Shop," his design was far
different from what we see it in its completion. It is evident that
had he now to name the story he would not so term it; for the shop
itself is a thing of an altogether collateral interest, and is
spoken of merely in the beginning.
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