Description should seldom
be given in chunks, but rather in touches of a brief and delicate kind,
and with the aim of being suggestive rather than full and detailed.
Humor, and especially good humor, are indispensable to the most
successful works of fiction. Above all other kinds of writing,
fiction must win the heart of the reader. And this requires that the
heart of the writer should be tender and sympathetic. Harsh critics
call this quality sentiment, and even sentimentality. Dickens had it
above all other writers, and it is probable that this popularity has
never been surpassed. Scott succeeded by his splendid descriptions, but
no one can deny that he was also one of the biggest hearted men in the
world. And Thackeray, with all his reserve, had a heart as tender and
sympathetic as was ever borne by so polished a gentleman.
As an almost perfect example of the blending of narrative, description,
and dialogue, all welded into an effective whole by the most delicate
and winning sentiment, we offer the following selection from
Barbox Bros. & Co., in "Mugby Junction."
POLLY.
By Charles Dickens.
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