Volume Iii Part 35 (1/2)

SUGGESTIONS FOR t.i.tLES OF ”HOUSEHOLD WORDS.”

THE FORGE:

A Weekly Journal,

Conducted by Charles d.i.c.kens.

”Thus at the glowing Forge of Life our actions must be wrought, Thus on its sounding anvil shaped Each burning deed and thought.”--_Longfellow._

THE HEARTH.

THE FORGE.

THE CRUCIBLE.

THE ANVIL OF THE TIME.

CHARLES d.i.c.kENS'S OWN.

SEASONABLE LEAVES.

EVERGREEN LEAVES.

HOME.

HOME-MUSIC.

CHANGE.

TIME AND TIDE.

TWOPENCE.

ENGLISH BELLS.

WEEKLY BELLS.

THE ROCKET.

GOOD HUMOUR.

[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]

148, KING'S ROAD, BRIGHTON, _Tuesday Night, March 12th, 1850._

MY DEAR WILLS,

I have made a correction or two in my part of the post-office article. I still observe the top-heavy ”Household Words” in the t.i.tle. The t.i.tle of ”The Amus.e.m.e.nts of the People” has to be altered as I have marked it. I would as soon have my hair cut off as an intolerable Scotch shortness put into my t.i.tles by the elision of little words. ”The Seasons” wants a little punctuation. Will the ”Incident in the Life of Mademoiselle Clairon” go into those two pages? I fear not, but one article would be infinitely better, I am quite certain, than two or three short ones. If it will go in, in with it.

I shall be back, please G.o.d, by dinner-time to-morrow week. I will be ready for Smithfield either on the following Monday morning at four, or any other morning you may arrange for.

Would it do to make up No. 2 on Wednesday, the 20th, instead of Sat.u.r.day? If so, it would be an immense convenience to me. But if it be distinctly necessary to make it up on Sat.u.r.day, say by return, and I am to be relied upon. Don't fail in this.

I really _can't_ promise to be comic. Indeed, your note put me out a little, for I had just sat down to begin, ”It will last my time.” I will shake my head a little, and see if I can shake a more comic subst.i.tute out of it.