Dickens in Camp

"Dickens in Camp" by Bret Harte is a touching poem that shows how much Charles Dickens meant to people in America around the start of the 1900s. The poem, a sort of thank you note in verse, fondly remembers and respects the famous writer. Imagine California miners gathered around a campfire, tired from searching for riches—the poem paints this picture, showing how stories can lift people up even when life is hard. One miner reads aloud from a Dickens book, sharing the tale of "Little Nell". The words bring peace and quiet reflection to the group, helping them forget their troubles for a moment and it reminds them of how Dickens work made everyone feel compassion, reminding us that love for good books can connect different parts of the world.