Anecdote about Charles Dickens

I love this little anecdote from F.W. Boreham's 'A Pathway of Roses'. The incident happened to his mother at Canterbury Cathedral.

‘ “Excuse me,” he said, “but whilst I was chatting with the friend who has just left me, I could not help noticing that you were eagerly watching for somebody who, evidently, has not arrived. Were you thinking of inspecting the Cathedral?” I admitted that I was, and explained to him the situation.
“I wonder,” he said, “if you would very kindly allow me to show you around. I am deeply attached to this place and happen to know something of its story.”
His manner won my confidence, and I accepted his offer. And what an experience it was! As he conducted me from point to point, I seemed, under the witchery of his silver tongue, to see the coming of Augustine to Canterbury in the days when England was very, very young; I actually beheld those quaint and picturesque pilgrimages that Chaucer has described so vividly in his Canterbury Tales: I saw the fierce Danes savagely attack the noble building, sadly disfiguring its beauties; and as we stood before the gorgeous shrine of St. Thomas à Becket, the grim tragedy was re-enacted under my very eyes. Concerning every pillar and arch, every cranny and crevice, my eloquent guide had some thrilling tale to tell… He held me spellbound for more than an hour and then led me back to the spot from which we started.
“It would be very interesting to me,” he said, as he extended his hand to bid me good-bye, “it would be very interesting to me if we might exchange cards.” I had to confess that I had not brought one; in point of fact, did not even possess one.
“Ah, well. Never mind!” he replied smilingly, setting me once more at my ease, “you must at any rate accept mine!”
He handed it to me; I took it without glancing at it, merely thanking him very sincerely for his courtesy and attention; and then turned on my homeward way. When I found myself once more in the train, I took out the card and examined it. It simply read: Charles Dickens.’

Happy 200th Birthday, Charles Dickens.

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