The Magic Fishbone

The Magic Fishbone, by Charles
Dickens,

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Dickens, Illustrated by S. Beatrice Pearse
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Title: The Magic Fishbone A Holiday Romance from the Pen of Miss
Alice Rainbird, Aged 7
Author: Charles Dickens

Release Date: November 5, 2007 [eBook #23344]
Language: English
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THE MAGIC FISHBONE
by
CHARLES DICKENS
With Illustrations by S. Beatrice Pearse

[Illustration: The Queen came in most splendidly dressed p. 27]
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.
* * * * *
[Illustration: SEVERAL OF THE CHILDREN WERE GROWING
OUT OF THEIR CLOTHES]
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 invisible to him, though visible to Mr Pickles's boy. Probably
because he messed and splashed the water about to that degree, and
flopped the pairs of soles down in that violent manner, that, if she had
not been visible to him, he would have spoilt her clothes.
Just then the old lady came trotting up. She was dressed in shot-silk of
the richest quality, smelling of dried lavender.
"King Watkins the First, I believe?" said the old lady.
"Watkins," replied the King, "is my name."
"Papa, if I am not mistaken, of the beautiful Princess Alicia?" said the
old lady.
"And of eighteen other darlings," replied the King.
"Listen. You are going to the office," said the old lady.
It instantly flashed upon the King that she must be a Fairy, or how
could she know that?
"You are right," said the old lady, answering his thoughts, "I am the
Good Fairy Grandmarina. Attend. When you return home to dinner,
politely invite the Princess Alicia to have some of the salmon you
bought just now."
"It may disagree with her," said the King.
The old lady became so very angry at this absurd idea, that the King
was quite alarmed, and humbly begged her pardon.
"We hear a great deal too much about this thing disagreeing, and that
thing disagreeing," said the old lady, with the greatest contempt it was

possible to express. "Don't be greedy. I think you want it all