Charles Dickens, the great 19th century English writer, clearly is one of the most famous and beloved novelists of all time. Many of his classic novels were required reading in high school. A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations are among his most famous works.
While Dickens had distain for organized religion, he believed in Jesus as Savior and had a great love of the Bible and compassion for the poor and marginalized. While his Christianity was sincere some have questioned his doctrine.
On one occasion we find one of the most touching letters that a father could ever write a child. The reason Dickens wrote this letter was that he was filled with emotions over the departure of one of his sons to Australia to attend the university. The son’s name was Edward Bulwer Lytton, whom he nicknamed ‘Plorn.’ The letter is full of timeless advice. If you have a child that is about to leave home for good, I think writing a special letter, as Dickens did, is something that, your child will cherish for the rest of their life. Below is the letter in its entirety:
My dearest Plorn,
I write this note to-day because your going away is much upon my mind, and because I want you to have a few parting words from me to think of now and then at quiet times. I need not tell you that I love you dearly, and am very, very sorry in my heart to part with you. But this life is half made up of partings, and these pains must be borne. It is my comfort and my sincere conviction that you are going to try the life for which you are best fitted. I think its freedom and wildness more suited to you than any experiment in a study or office would ever have been; and without that training, you could have followed no other suitable occupation.
What you have already wanted until now has been a set, steady, constant purpose. I therefore exhort you to persevere in a thorough determination to do whatever you have to do as well as you can do it. I was not so old as you are now when I first had to win my food, and do this out of this determination, and I have never slackened in it since.
Never take a mean advantage of anyone in any transaction, and never be hard upon people who are in your power. Try to do to others, as you would have them do to you, and do not be discouraged if they fail sometimes. It is much better for you that they should fail in obeying the greatest rule laid down by our Saviour, than that you should.
I put a New Testament among your books, for the very same reasons, and with the very same hopes that made me write an easy account of it for you, when you were a little child; because it is the best book that ever was or will be known in the world, and because it teaches you the best lessons by which any human creature who tries to be truthful and faithful to duty can possibly be guided. As your brothers have gone away, one by one, I have written to each such words as I am now writing to you, and have entreated them all to guide themselves by this book, putting aside the interpretations and inventions of men.
You will remember that you have never at home been wearied about religious observances or mere formalities. I have always been anxious not to weary my children with such things before they are old enough to form opinions respecting them. You will therefore understand the better that I now most solemnly impress upon you the truth and beauty of the Christian religion, as it came from Christ Himself, and the impossibility of your going far wrong if you humbly but heartily respect it.
Only one thing more on this head. The more we are in earnest as to feeling it, the less we are disposed to hold forth about it. Never abandon the wholesome practice of saying your own private prayers, night and morning. I have never abandoned it myself, and I know the comfort of it.
I hope you will always be able to say in after life, that you had a kind father. You cannot show your affection for him so well, or make him so happy, as by doing your duty.
Your affectionate Father1
Good find, thank you!
I’ve read most everything by Dickens and he is like a good friend. I think Dostoevsky may also have been a Christian? Really look forward to meeting them both someday!