Dickens's Christmas Books - complete online versions

The Christmas Carol, The Chimes, Cricket On the Hearth, Battle Of Life
& The Haunted Man & the Ghosts's Bargain with Illustrations.

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	166                     THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH.
	" Oh goodness, John !" said Mrs. P. " What a state you're in with the weather !" He was something the worse for it, undeniably. The thick mist hung in clots upon his eyelashes like candied thaw; and between the fog and fire together, there were rainbows in his very whiskers. " Why, you see, Dot," John made an­swer, slowly, as he un­rolled a shawl from about his throat; and warmed his hands; "it—it an't exactly summer weather. So, no wonder." " I wish you wouldn't call me Dot, John. I don't like it," said Mrs. Peerybingle: pouting in a way that clearly showed she did like it, very much. " Why what else are you ?" re­turned John, looking down upon her with a smile, and giving her waist as light a squeeze as his huge hand and arm could give. ': A dot and "—here he glanced at the Baby—"a dot and carry—I won't say it, for fear I should spoil it; but I was very near a joke. I don't know as ever I was nearer.' He was often near to something or other very clever, by his own account: this lumbering, slow, honest John; this John so heavy, but so light of spirit; so rough upon the surface, but so gentle at the core; so dull without, so quick within ; so stolid, but so good ! Oh Mother Nature, give thy children the true Poetry of Heart that hid itself in this poor Carrier's breast—: