ther great books by that fascinating writer, who saw
people whom nobody else ever saw, and made them real. When you read
those books you will meet again these charming children, and will
remember them as the friends of your childhood.

JESSE L. HURLBUT.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

TROTTY VECK AND MEG. _From "The Chimes"_ 9

TINY TIM. _From "Christmas Carol"_ 24

THE RUNAWAY COUPLE. _From "The Holly-Tree Inn"_ 34

LITTLE DORRIT. _From "Little Dorrit"_ 49

THE TOY-MAKER AND HIS BLIND DAUGHTER. _From
"Cricket on the Hearth"_ 68

LITTLE NELL. _From "The Old Curiosity Shop"_ 86

LITTLE DAVID COPPERFIELD. _From "David
Copperfield"_ 123

JENNY WREN. _From "Our Mutual Friend"_ 178

PIP'S ADVENTURE. _From "Great Expectations"_ 185

TODGERS' 196

DICK SWIVELLER AND THE MARCHIONESS 219

MR. WARDLE'S SERVANT JOE 233

THE BRAVE AND HONEST BOY, OLIVER TWIST 248

ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHARLES DICKENS _Frontispiece_

PAGE

"THEY BROKE IN LIKE A GRACE, MY DEAR." 13

"MR. CLENNAM FOLLOWED HER HOME." 65

LITTLE NELL AND HER GRANDFATHER 86

DAVID COPPERFIELD AND LITTLE EM'LY 131

SEATED ON THE CRYSTAL CARPET WERE TWO GIRLS 179

"KEEP STILL, YOU LITTLE IMP, OR I'LL CUT YOUR
THROAT." 185

"MR. TUPMAN, WE ARE OBSERVED!" 240

I.

TROTTY VECK AND HIS DAUGHTER MEG.

"TROTTY" seems a strange name for an old man, but it was given to Toby
Veck because of his always going at a trot to do his errands; for he was
a ticket porter or messenger and his office was to take letters and
messages for people who were in too great a hurry to send them by post,
which in those days was neither so cheap nor so quick as it is now. He
did not earn very much, and had to be out in all weathers and all day
long. But Toby was of a cheerful disposition, and looked on the bright
side of everything,