Page.

Chapter I.

Seeing “Gad’s Hill” as a child.—His domestic side and home love.—His love of children.—His neatness and punctuality.—At the table, and as host.—The original of “Little Nell.”

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Chapter II.

Buying Christmas presents.—In the dance.—The merriest of them all.—As a conjurer.—Christmas at “Gad’s Hill.”—Our Christmas dinners.—A New Year’s Eve frolic.—New Year on the Green.—Twelfth Night festivities.

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Chapter III.

My father at his work.—Rooms in which he wrote.—Love for his child characters.—Genius for character drawing.—Nicholas Nickleby.—His writing hours.—His only amanuensis.—“Pickwick” and “Boz.”—Death of Mr. Thackeray.

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Chapter IV.

Fondness for Athletic Sports.—His love of bathing.—His study of the raven.—Calling the doctor in.—My father with our dogs.—The cats of “Gad’s Hill.”—”Bumble” and “Mrs. Bouncer.”—A strange friendship.

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Chapter V.

Interest in London birds.—Our pet bird “Dick.”—Devotion of his dogs.—Decision to visit America.—His arrival in New York.—Comments on American courtesies.—Farewell public appearances.

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Chapter VI.

Last words spoken in public.—A railroad accident in 1865.—At home after his American visit.—”Improvements” at “Gad’s Hill.”—At “Gad’s Hill” once more.—The closing day of his life.—Burial at Westminster.

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