[ Dickens / "Gone Astray" ]
Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) is of course one of the giants of British Literature, a hugely popular novelist and short-story writer in his day, now probably best known for "A Christmas Carol" and novels such as Bleak House, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and others. Dickens was also editor and owner of two popular magazines at different times in his life.
Dickens was also a great lover of dogs, and owned at least two Newfoundlands in his lifetime.
"Gone Astray" is a story, believed to be at least partly autobiographical, recounting one of Dickens' early "night walks." (For much of his life Dickens was in the habit of taking extensive walks throughout London at night, often finding inspiration for his work.) This essay first appeared in the weekly magazine Household Words — one of the journals Dickens edited and (partly) owned — as the opening work in the issue for Saturday, 13 August 1858.
In this essay Dickens recounts a childhood experience (he was 8 or 9 at the time) of being taken to see London's St. Giles Church by "Somebody" (he claims not to remember the identity of his guardian), and then getting separated. He spends the day and part of the night wandering about the city "like a child in a dream, staring at the British merchants, and inspired by a mighty faith in the marvellousness of everything." He eventually finds himself outside a theater and decides to see the (unidentified) play, which was followed by some additional entertainments as a part of a fund-raising benefit. Remarking on a brief play that concluded the evening, Dickens remarks on a child actress who captured his youthful attention:
In the concluding drama, she re-appeared as a boy, (in arms, mostly), and was fought for, several times. I rather think a Baron wanted to drown her, and was on various occasions prevented by the comedian, a ghost, a Newfoundland dog, and a church bell. (VII: 557)
See also this brief note regarding Dickens and Newfies here at The Cultured Newf.