The Magic Fishbone: A Holiday Romance from the Pen of Miss Alice Rainbird, Aged 7

								


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THE MAGIC FISHBONE
by
CHARLES DICKENS
With Illustrations by S. Beatrice Pearse

THE MAGIC FISHBONE
A Holiday Romance
from the Pen of
Miss Alice Rainbird
Aged 7.
by
CHARLES DICKENS

London: Constable and Co. Ltd.

FOREWORD

The story contained herein was written by Charles Dickens in 1867. It is
the second of four stories entitled "Holiday Romance" and was published
originally in a children's magazine in America. It purports to be written
by a child aged seven. It was republished in England in "All the Year
Round" in 1868. For this and four other Christmas pieces Dickens received
£1,000.
"Holiday Romance" was published in book form by Messrs Chapman & Hall in
1874, with "Edwin Drood" and other stories.
For this reprint the text of the story as it appeared in "All the Year
Round" has been followed.

                *       *       *       *       *

There was once a King, and he had a Queen; and he was the manliest of
his sex, and she was the loveliest of hers. The King was, in his private
profession, Under Government. The Queen's father had been a medical man
out of town.
They had nineteen children, and were always having more. Seventeen of
these children took care of the baby; and Alicia, the eldest, took care
of them all. Their ages varied from seven years to seven months.
Let us now resume our story.
One day the King was going to the office, when he stopped at the
fishmonger's to buy a pound and a half of salmon not too near the tail,
which the Queen (who was a careful housekeeper) had requested him to send
home. Mr Pickles, the fishmonger, said, "Certainly, sir, is there any
other article, Good-morning."
The King went on towards the office in a melancholy mood, for quarter day
was such a long way off, and several of the dear children were growing out
of their clothes. He had not proceeded far, when Mr Pickles's errand-boy
came running after him, and said, "Sir, you didn't notice the old lady in
our shop."
"What old lady?" enquired the King. "I saw none."
Now, the King had not seen any old lady, because this old lady had been