seven
o'clock
Gardening , walks , rows on the river , and flower hunts employed the fine days , and for rainy ones , they had house diversions , some old , some new , all more or less original . One of these was the ` P.C. ' , for as secret societies were the fashion , it was thought proper to have one , and as all of the girls admired Dickens , they called themselves the Pickwick Club . With a few interruptions , they had kept this up for a year , and met every Saturday evening in the big garret , on which occasions the ceremonies were as follows : Three chairs were arranged in a row before a table on which was a lamp , also four white badges , with a big ` P.C. ' in different colors on each , and the weekly newspaper called , The Pickwick Portfolio , to which all contributed something , while Jo , who reveled in pens and ink , was the editor . At seven o'clock , the four members ascended to the clubroom , tied their badges round their heads , and took their seats with great solemnity . Meg , as the eldest , was Samuel Pickwick , Jo , being of a literary turn , Augustus Snodgrass , Beth , because she was round and rosy , Tracy Tupman , and Amy , who was always trying to do what she could n't , was Nathaniel Winkle . Pickwick , the president , read the paper , which was filled with original tales , poetry , local news , funny advertisements , and hints , in which they good-naturedly reminded each other of their faults and short comings . On one occasion , Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass , rapped upon the table , hemmed , and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass , who was tilting back in his chair , till he arranged himself properly , began to read : _________________________________________________ `` THE PICKWICK PORTFOLIO '' MAY 20 , 18 -- POET 'S CORNER ANNIVERSARY ODE Again we meet to celebrate With badge and solemn rite , Our fifty-second anniversary , In Pickwick Hall , tonight .