The delight in homely sociability and cheerfulness, in the innocent efforts of simple people to make merry, the kindly satire of their little vanities and ambitions, the hearty ridicule of dry fogies who shut themselves up in selfish cares and reserves, and of sour mischief-makers who take pleasure in conspiring against the enjoyments of their neighbors,--these tendencies, which remained with Dickens to the last, are strongly marked in the `Sketches,' though lighter-hearted in their expression than in his later works. ...

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• Approx Pages: 9