Charles Dickens Live!
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser March 12, 1868

DICKENS
The following lines written by one Mr. Slocus we copy from the Syracuse Standard. We know the author as one of the closest and most appreciative readers of Dickens extant.  We also knew this "slowcus" in his younger days and if he isn't a better man than he was when a boy, we wouldn't give much for him.  For our part we never knew
a little boy who could put coals of fire on turtle's backs to see 'em "git" or who "hooked" clams and sweet potatoes at the Washington Market and cut the latter up in little bits and tried to make believe they were chestnuts, that ever went to heaven at any price.  But the poetry:
                        DICKENS IS COMING
Yes, give him such a welcome no stranger may claim,
    Let's cast our unanimous votes;
To honor whom Genius has led up to fame
    We can spare some "American Notes"

Not Dickens alone, but "old pals" by the score
    Vicarious welcome we lend,
And in fancy renew the acquaintance of yore
    With many a "Mutual Friend"

The "fat boy" in Pickwick is snoring away
    With such an infectious refrain,
That mem'ry, unjointed, conducts us astray
    As we dreamily join in the strain.

There's "black-eyed" Miss Nipper approaching the door
    Where Dombey for days is confined
And doesn't she neatly wipe out the old score
    When she gives him a piece of her mind?

We kneel by the bed of Poor Joe as he tries
    To utter his first and last prayer,
And help Mr. Dick as with triumph he flies
    The memorial kite in the air.

There fumes Papa Meagles the practical man,
    On the Barnacles venting his spleen,
For Circumlocutioning Doyce's new plan
    To get Pet out of Love's quarantine.

Here's Dodson and Fogg with old Mrs. Bardell,
    And Parker,  dear Pickwick's sage lawyer,
Immortal Sam Weller and Solomon Pell,
    Arabella, and Mr. Bob Sawyer.

We rejoice at the pickle of "Schoolmeaster" Squeers
    When young Nicholas gets "on a strike"
And with pretty Miss Kate help allay the old fears
    Of the pitiful victim, poor Smike.

Ed. Cutter at Grinder is biting his hook,
    While Toots and Jack Bunsby stand by
To hear him impressively "quoting the book"-
    How he'd "sheer" if McStinger were nigh?

Tread softly with Death where sleeps little Nell
    Her last sleep, that will vaguely define
Eternity's verge from the feverish spell-
    The short, fitful dream-we call time.

While honest Joe Gargery helps little Pip
    To steer clear of the tickler's bite
Sweet Dora is earnestly talking to Jip
    Of the figures that "won't add up right.

Micawber is brewing a bowl of hot punch,
    And an eloquent letter begins,
Inviting friend Copperfield up to have lunch
    As nothing 's turned up but the twins.

Cady Jellaby, black as a "Native" with ink,
    While her ma's on a missional trip,-
Booriaboola Gha is her latest kink-
    Has a chat with Miss Flite and old Grip."

Now Grandfather Weller comes straddling along
    A fetchin that viciousest youngster,
Who lives in the watch box and comes it so strong
    Over Tony, As well as the punster.

Thus Sairy Gamp who is left on the dock
    By the slow "Aukwerks Package" detention,
While around the aquaintences steadly flock,
    Whom I haven't space even to mention.

Friends living in more than "Two Cities" were there
    Some had lately arrived from Paris,
Only one absentee, whom we illy can spare,
    On particular friend Mrs. Harris.

There's sweet Dolly Varden and Jefferson Brick,
    Tiny Tim and Uriah the 'umble
Mantalini and Blimer and smart Mrs. Chick,
    Doctor Slammer and Jingle and Bumble.

Newman Noggs and Mrs. Fox and Fagin the Jew,
    Josh Bagstock and Buffin and Joram,
On board of my country's fast packet the Screw
    With Tetterby and Tattycoram.

Dear buttonless Peggotty, Weggand, Flintwinch,
    Dick Swiveller, Gappy and Winkle,
Jenny Wren and the Kenwigacs, Ruth and Tom Pinch
    Mark, Tappertit, Dot Perrybingle

Seth Pecksniff and Barkis and Vick on the trot,
    Mrs. Corney and Cheerble Brothers,
Sally Brass and Old Sleary and Editor Pott,
    Young Oliver, Bagnet and others.

But we wake with a sigh as thee vision goes by,
    And the visions grow spectral and dim,
And with Mr. Paul Pry we determine to try
    When the author reads here to "drop in"
                                        SLOWCUS