Asspringcameon,anewsetofamusementsbecamethefashion,andthelengtheningdaysgavelongafternoonsforworkandplayofallsorts. Thegardenhadtobeputinorder,andeachsisterhadaquarterofthelittleplottodowhatshelikedwith. Hannahusedtosay,"I'dknowwhicheachofthemgardingsbelongedto,efIsee'eminChiny,"andsoshemight,forthegirls'tastesdifferedasmuchastheircharacters. Meg'shadrosesandheliotrope,myrtle,andalittleorangetreeinit. Jo'sbedwasneveraliketwoseasons,forshewasalwaystryingexperiments. Thisyearitwastobeaplantationofsunflowers,theseedsofwhichcheerfullandaspiringplantweretofeedAuntCockle–topandherfamilyofchicks. Bethhadold–fashionedfragrantflowersinhergarden,sweetpeasandmignonette,larkspur,pinks,pansies,andsouthernwood,withchickweedforthebirdsandcatnipforthepussies. Amyhadabowerinhers,rathersmallandearwiggy,butveryprettytolookat,withhoneysuckleandmorning–glorieshangingtheircoloredhornsandbellsingracefulwreathsalloverit,tallwhitelilies,delicateferns,andasmanybrilliant,picturesqueplantsaswouldconsenttoblossomthere. Gardening,walks,rowsontheriver,andflowerhuntsemployedthefinedays,andforrainyones,theyhadhousediversions,someold,somenew,allmoreorlessoriginal. Oneofthesewasthe'P.C.',forassecretsocietieswerethefashion,itwasthoughtpropertohaveone,andasallofthegirlsadmiredDickens,theycalledthemselvesthePickwickClub. Withafewinterruptions,theyhadkeptthisupforayear,andmeteverySaturdayeveninginthebiggarret,onwhichoccasionstheceremonieswereasfollows:Threechairswerearrangedinarowbeforeatableonwhichwasalamp,alsofourwhitebadges,withabig'P.C.'indifferentcolorsoneach,andtheweeklynewspapercalled,ThePickwickPortfolio,towhichallcontributedsomething,whileJo,whoreveledinpensandink,wastheeditor. Atseveno'clock,thefourmembersascendedtotheclubroom,tiedtheirbadgesroundtheirheads,andtooktheirseatswithgreatsolemnity. Meg,astheeldest,wasSamuelPickwick,Jo,beingofaliteraryturn,AugustusSnodgrass,Beth,becauseshewasroundandrosy,TracyTupman,andAmy,whowasalwaystryingtodowhatshecouldn't,wasNathanielWinkle. Pickwick,thepresident,readthepaper,whichwasfilledwithoriginaltales,poetry,localnews,funnyadvertisements,andhints,inwhichtheygood–naturedlyremindedeachotheroftheirfaultsandshortcomings. Ononeoccasion,Mr.Pickwickputonapairofspectacleswithoutanyglass,rappeduponthetable,hemmed,andhavingstaredhardatMr.Snodgrass,whowastiltingbackinhischair,tillhearrangedhimselfproperly,begantoread: Ourfifty–secondanniversary, Weallarehereinperfecthealth, Nonegonefromoursmallband: Againweseeeachwell–knownface, Andpresseachfriendlyhand. OurPickwick,alwaysathispost, As,spectaclesonnose,hereads Ourwell–filledweeklysheet. Althoughhesuffersfromacold, Forwordsofwisdomfromhimfall, Oldsix–footSnodgrassloomsonhigh, Poeticfirelightsuphiseye, Hestruggles'gainsthislot. NextourpeacefulTupmancomes, Whochokeswithlaughteratthepuns, PrimlittleWinkletooishere, Thoughhehatestowashhisface. Theyearisgone,westillunite Andtreadthepathofliterature Longmayourpaperprosperwell, Andcomingyearstheirblessingspour Gondolaaftergondolasweptuptothemarble steps,andleftitslovelyloadtoswellthe brilliantthrongthatfilledthestatelyhallsofCount Adelon.Knightsandladies,elvesandpages,monks andflowergirls,allmingledgailyinthedance. Sweetvoicesandrichmelodyfilledtheair,andso withmirthandmusicthemasqueradewenton. "HasyourHighnessseentheLadyViolatonight?" askedagallanttroubadourofthefairyqueenwho floateddownthehalluponhisarm. "Yes,isshenotlovely,thoughsosad!Her dressiswellchosen,too,forinaweeksheweds CountAntonio,whomshepassionatelyhates." "Bymyfaith,Ienvyhim.Yonderhecomes, arrayedlikeabridegroom,excepttheblackmask. Whenthatisoffweshallseehowheregardsthe fairmaidwhosehearthecannotwin,thoughher sternfatherbestowsherhand,"returnedthetroubadour. "TiswhisperedthatshelovestheyoungEnglish artistwhohauntshersteps,andisspurnedbythe oldCount,"saidthelady,astheyjoinedthedance. Therevelwasatitsheightwhenapriest appeared,andwithdrawingtheyoungpairtoanalcove, hungwithpurplevelvet,hemotionedthemtokneel. Instantsilencefellonthegaythrong,andnota sound,butthedashoffountainsortherustleof orangegrovessleepinginthemoonlight,brokethe hush,asCountdeAdelonspokethus: "Mylordsandladies,pardontherusebywhich Ihavegatheredyouheretowitnessthemarriageof mydaughter.Father,wewaityourservices." Alleyesturnedtowardthebridalparty,anda murmurofamazementwentthroughthethrong,for neitherbridenorgroomremovedtheirmasks.Curiosity andwonderpossessedallhearts,butrespectrestrained alltonguestilltheholyritewasover.Thenthe eagerspectatorsgatheredroundthecount,demanding "GladlywouldIgiveitifIcould,butIonly knowthatitwasthewhimofmytimidViola,andI yieldedtoit.Now,mychildren,lettheplayend. Unmaskandreceivemyblessing." Butneitherbenttheknee,fortheyoungbridegroom repliedinatonethatstartledalllisteners asthemaskfell,disclosingthenoblefaceofFerdinand Devereux,theartistlover,andleaningonthe breastwherenowflashedthestarofanEnglishearl wasthelovelyViola,radiantwithjoyandbeauty. "Mylord,youscornfullybademeclaimyour daughterwhenIcouldboastashighanameandvasta fortuneastheCountAntonio.Icandomore,foreven yourambitioussoulcannotrefusetheEarlofDevereux andDeVere,whenhegiveshisancientnameandboundless wealthinreturnforthebelovedhandofthisfairlady, Thecountstoodlikeonechangedtostone,and turningtothebewilderedcrowd,Ferdinandadded,with agaysmileoftriumph,"Toyou,mygallantfriends,I canonlywishthatyourwooingmayprosperasminehas done,andthatyoumayallwinasfairabrideasIhave WhyistheP.C.liketheTowerofBabel? Onceuponatimeafarmerplantedalittleseed inhisgarden,andafterawhileitsproutedandbecame avineandboremanysquashes.OnedayinOctober, whentheywereripe,hepickedoneandtookit tomarket.Agorcermanboughtandputitinhisshop. Thatsamemorning,alittlegirlinabrownhat andbluedress,witharoundfaceandsnubnose,went andboughtitforhermother.Sheluggedithome,cut itup,andboileditinthebigpot,mashedsomeofit withsaltandbutter,fordinner.Andtotherestsheadded apintofmilk,twoeggs,fourspoonsofsugar,nutmeg, andsomecrackers,putitinadeepdish,andbakedit tillitwasbrownandnice,andnextdayitwaseaten Iaddressyouuponthesubjectofsinthesinner ImeanisamannamedWinklewhomakestroubleinhis clubbylaughingandsometimeswon'twritehispiecein thisfinepaperIhopeyouwillpardonhisbadnessand lethimsendaFrenchfablebecausehecan'twriteout ofhisheadashehassomanylessonstodoandnobrains infutureIwilltrytotaketimebythefetlockand preparesomeworkwhichwillbeallcommylafothat meansallrightIaminhasteasitisnearlyschool [Theaboveisamanlyandhandsomeaknowledgmentofpast misdemeanors.Ifouryoungfriendstudiedpunctuation,it OnFridaylast,wewerestartledbyaviolentshock inourbasement,followedbycriesofdistress. Onrushinginabodytothecellar,wediscoveredourbeloved Presidentprostrateuponthefloor,havingtrippedand fallenwhilegettingwoodfordomesticpurposes.Aperfect sceneofruinmetoureyes,forinhisfallMr.Pickwick hadplungedhisheadandshouldersintoatubofwater, upsetakegofsoftsoapuponhismanlyform,andtorn hisgarmentsbadly.Onbeingremovedfromthisperilous situation,itwasdiscoveredthathehadsuffered noinjurybutseveralbruises,andwearehappytoadd, Itisourpainfuldutytorecordthesuddenand mysteriousdisappearanceofourcherishedfriend,Mrs. SnowballPatPaw.Thislovelyandbelovedcatwasthe petofalargecircleofwarmandadmiringfriends;for herbeautyattractedalleyes,hergracesandvirtues endearedhertoallhearts,andherlossisdeeplyfelt Whenlastseen,shewassittingatthegate,watching thebutcher'scart,anditisfearedthatsomevillain, temptedbyhercharms,baselystoleher.Weekshavepassed, butnotraceofherhasbeendiscovered,andwerelinquish allhope,tieablackribbontoherbasket,setasideher dish,andweepforherasonelosttousforever. Asympathizingfriendsendsthefollowinggem: Wemournthelossofourlittlepet, Andsigho'erherhaplessfate, Fornevermorebythefireshe'llsit, Norplaybytheoldgreengate. Thelittlegravewhereherinfantsleeps Buto'erhergravewemaynotweep, Anothercatcomesafterhermice, Butshedoesnothuntasourdarlingdid, Herstealthypawstreadtheveryhall Butsheonlyspitsatthedogsourpet Sheisusefulandmild,anddoesherbest, Andwecannotgiveheryourplacedear, Norworshipherasweworshipthee. MISSORANTHYBLUGGAGE,theaccomplished strong–mindedlecturer,willdeliverher famouslectureon"WOMANANDHERPOSITION" atPickwickHall,nextSaturdayEvening, aftertheusualperformances. AWEEKLYMEETINGwillbeheldatKitchen Place,toteachyoungladieshowtocook. HannahBrownwillpreside,andallare TheDUSTPANSOCIETYwillmeetonWednesday next,andparadeintheupperstoryofthe ClubHouse.Allmemberstoappearinuniform andshouldertheirbroomsatnineprecisely. Mrs.BETHBOUNCERwillopenhernew assortmentofDoll'sMillinerynextweek. ThelatestParisfashionshavearrived, andordersarerespectfullysolicited. ANEWPLAYwillappearattheBarnville Theatre,inthecourseofafewweeks,which willsurpassanythingeverseenontheAmericanstage. "TheGreekSlave,orConstantinetheAvenger,"isthename IfS.P.didn'tusesomuchsoaponhishands, hewouldn'talwaysbelateatbreakfast.A.S. isrequestednottowhistleinthestreet.T.T pleasedon'tforgetAmy'snapkin.N.W.must notfretbecausehisdresshasnotninetucks. AsthePresidentfinishedreadingthepaper(whichIbegleavetoassuremyreadersisabonafidecopyofonewrittenbybonafidegirlsonceuponatime),aroundofapplausefollowed,andthenMr.Snodgrassrosetomakeaproposition. "Mr.Presidentandgentlemen,"hebegan,assumingaparliamentaryattitudeandtone,"Iwishtoproposetheadmissionofanewmember––onewhohighlydeservesthehonor,wouldbedeeplygratefulforit,andwouldaddimmenselytothespiritoftheclub,theliteraryvalueofthepaper,andbenoendjollyandnice. IproposeMr.TheodoreLaurenceasanhonorarymemberoftheP.C.Comenow,dohavehim." Jo'ssuddenchangeoftonemadethegirlslaugh,butalllookedratheranxious,andnoonesaidawordasSnodgrasstookhisseat. "We'llputittoavote,"saidthePresident."Allinfavorofthismotionpleasetomanifestitbysaying,'Aye'." AloudresponsefromSnodgrass,followed,toeverybody'ssurprise,byatimidonefromBeth. "Contrary–mindedsay,'No'." MegandAmywerecontrary–minded,andMr.Winklerosetosaywithgreatelegance,"Wedon'twishanyboys,theyonlyjokeandbounceabout. Thisisaladies'club,andwewishtobeprivateandproper." "I'mafraidhe'lllaughatourpaper,andmakefunofusafterward,"observedPickwick,pullingthelittlecurlonherforehead,asshealwaysdidwhendoubtful. UproseSnodgrass,verymuchinearnest. "Sir,Igiveyoumywordasagentleman,Lauriewon'tdoanythingofthesort. Helikestowrite,andhe'llgiveatonetoourcontributionsandkeepusfrombeingsentimental,don'tyousee? Wecandosolittleforhim,andhedoessomuchforus,Ithinktheleastwecandoistoofferhimaplacehere,andmakehimwelcomeifhecomes." ThisartfulallusiontobenefitsconferredbroughtTupmantohisfeet,lookingasifhehadquitemadeuphismind. "Yes;weoughttodoit,evenifweareafraid.Isayhemaycome,andhisgrandpa,too,ifhelikes." ThisspiritedburstfromBethelectrifiedtheclub,andJoleftherseattoshakehandsapprovingly."Nowthen,voteagain. Everybodyrememberit'sourLaurie,andsay,'Aye!'"criedSnodgrassexcitedly. "Aye!Aye!Aye!"repliedthreevoicesatonce. Now,asthere'snothinglike'takingtimebythefetlock',asWinklecharacteristicallyobserves,allowmetopresentthenewmember." And,tothedismayoftherestoftheclub,Jothrewopenthedoorofthecloset,anddisplayedLauriesittingonaragbag,flushedandtwinklingwithsuppressedlaughter. "Yourogue!Youtraitor!Jo,howcouldyou?"criedthethreegirls,asSnodgrassledherfriendtriumphantlyforth,andproducingbothachairandabadge,installedhiminajiffy. "Thecoolnessofyoutworascalsisamazing,"beganMr.Pickwick,tryingtogetupanawfulfrownandonlysucceedinginproducinganamiablesmile. Butthenewmemberwasequaltotheoccasion,andrising,withagratefulsalutationtotheChair,saidinthemostengagingmanner,"Mr.Presidentandladies––Ibegpardon,gentlemen––allowmetointroducemyselfasSamWeller,theveryhumbleservantoftheclub." "Good!Good!"criedJo,poundingwiththehandleoftheoldwarmingpanonwhichsheleaned. "Myfaithfulfriendandnoblepatron,"continuedLauriewithawaveofthehand,"whohassoflatteringlypresentedme,isnottobeblamedforthebasestratagemoftonight. Iplannedit,andsheonlygaveinafterlotsofteasing." "Comenow,don'tlayitallonyourself.YouknowIproposedthecupboard,"brokeinSnodgrass,whowasenjoyingthejokeamazingly. "Nevermindwhatshesays.I'mthewretchthatdidit,sir,"saidthenewmember,withaWelleresquenodtoMr.Pickwick. "Butonmyhonor,Ineverwilldosoagain,andhenceforthdevotemyselftotheinterestofthisimmortalclub." "Hear!Hear!"criedJo,clashingthelidofthewarmingpanlikeacymbal. "Goon,goon!"addedWinkleandTupman,whilethePresidentbowedbenignly. "Imerelywishtosay,thatasaslighttokenofmygratitudeforthehonordoneme,andasameansofpromotingfriendlyrelationsbetweenadjoiningnations,Ihavesetupapostofficeinthehedgeinthelowercornerofthegarden,afine,spaciousbuildingwithpadlocksonthedoorsandeveryconvenienceforthemails,alsothefemales,ifImaybeallowedtheexpression. It'stheoldmartinhouse,butI'vestoppedupthedoorandmadetheroofopen,soitwillholdallsortsofthings,andsaveourvaluabletime. Letters,manuscripts,books,andbundlescanbepassedinthere,andaseachnationhasakey,itwillbeuncommonlynice,Ifancy. Allowmetopresenttheclubkey,andwithmanythanksforyourfavor,takemyseat." GreatapplauseasMr.Wellerdepositedalittlekeyonthetableandsubsided,thewarmingpanclashedandwavedwildly,anditwassometimebeforeordercouldberestored. Alongdiscussionfollowed,andeveryonecameoutsurprising,foreveryonedidherbest. Soitwasanunusuallylivelymeeting,anddidnotadjourntillalatehour,whenitbrokeupwiththreeshrillcheersforthenewmember. NooneeverregrettedtheadmittanceofSamWeller,foramoredevoted,well–behaved,andjovialmembernoclubcouldhave. Hecertainlydidadd'spirit'tothemeetings,and'atone'tothepaper,forhisorationsconvulsedhishearersandhiscontributionswereexcellent,beingpatriotic,classical,comical,ordramatic,butneversentimental. JoregardedthemasworthyofBacon,Milton,orShakespeare,andremodeledherownworkswithgoodeffect,shethought. TheP.O.wasacapitallittleinstitution,andflourishedwonderfully,fornearlyasmanyqueerthingspassedthroughitasthroughtherealpostoffice. Tragediesandcravats,poetryandpickles,gardenseedsandlongletters,musicandgingerbread,rubbers,invitations,scoldings,andpuppies. Theoldgentlemanlikedthefun,andamusedhimselfbysendingoddbundles,mysteriousmessages,andfunnytelegrams,andhisgardener,whowassmittenwithHannah'scharms,actuallysentalovelettertoJo'scare. Howtheylaughedwhenthesecretcameout,neverdreaminghowmanylovelettersthatlittlepostofficewouldholdintheyearstocome. 
