“THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP”

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 15 June 1935, Page 10

“THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP”

DICKENS’ FAMOUS WORK. Have you ever read “The Old Curiosity Shop?” Have you ever met Little Nell, her old grandmother, Q'uilp the dwarf, Mrs Jarley with her waxworks show, and all the rest of the people in Charles Dickens’ immortal work of that tame?

Of course you know Charles Dickens, one of the greatest of English novelists—some say the greatest—who died t>s years ago. and who wrote not only “The Old Curiosity Shop,” but many other books, all equally interesting, all brimming with humour and pathos, and with pictures of lovable human characters —men, women and children in their pages.

The story of “The Old Curiosity Shop” is one of Charles Dickens’ most popular works. It tells of Little Nell, who with her old grandfather runs awav from the Old Curiosity Shop in London, and wanders through the English countryside. . You will love the story of Mrs Jnrjoy, who kept a travelling waxworks show, and who gave refuge to Little Nell and her old grandfather. You will love the poor Little Marchioness, too. The Little Marchioness was just a little down-trodden servant girl, but everything turned out happily for her in the long run. “The Old Curiosity Shop” still stands .in London-. Charles Dickens used to walk miles aud miles in. the London streets when he was working out the' plots of his stories. One night he passed a little old shop tucked away in a quiet street. This, he decided, should bo the Old Curiosity Shop, and he built the story round it.

To-day many people visit that old house because of the story that Charles Dickens wrote about it. It has, as you see, a tablet on it. Some little while ago it was stated that the Old Curiosity Shop was to be pulled down to make room for newer buildings, but a a outcry arose, and the house is still standing.