By Charles Dickens

As read by Patrick Stewart

External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, nor wintry weather chill him.

A Christmas Carol Nobody ever stopped him in the street by Charles Dickens to say, “My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?” No (As performed by Patrick Stewart) beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was Stave 1 - Marley’s Ghost o’clock. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they Marley was dead: to begin with. There saw him coming, would tug their owners is no doubt whatever about that. The into doorways and up courts. register of his burial was signed by the But what did Scrooge care! It was the clerk, the clergyman, the undertaker, the very thing he liked. To edge his way chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. Old along the crowded paths of life, warning Marley was dead as a door-nail. all human sympathy to keep its distance! Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course Once upon a time – and of all the he did. How could it be otherwise? good days in the year, on Christmas Eve Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t - old Scrooge sat busy in his counting- know how many years, though Scrooge house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather: never painted out Old Marley’s name. foggy withal: and he could hear the There it stood, years afterwards, above people in the court outside, go wheezing the ware-house door: Scrooge and up and down, beating their hands upon Marley. Sometimes people new to the their breasts, and stamping their feet business called Scrooge “Scrooge,” and upon the pavement stones to warm them. sometimes “Marley,” but he answered to The city clocks had only just gone three, both names. It was all the same to him. but it was quite dark already: The fog Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at came pouring in at every chink and the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, keyhole, and was so dense without, the wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, houses opposite were mere phantoms. covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as The door of Scrooge’s counting-house flint, from which no steel had ever struck was open that he might keep his eye generous fire; secret, and self-contained, upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell and solitary as an oyster. The cold within beyond, a sort of tank, was copying him froze his old features, nipped his letters. Scrooge had a very small fire, but pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his that it looked like one coal. But he thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in couldn’t replenish it, for Scrooge kept his grating voice. He carried his own low the coal box in his own room; and so temperature always about with him; he surely as the clerk came in with the iced his office in the dog-days; and he shovel, the master predicted that it would didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas. be necessary for them to part. Whereupon the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at 2

the candle; in which effort, not being a “Keep it!” repeated Scrooge’s nephew. man of a strong imagination, he failed. “But you don’t keep it. Come! Dine with us to-morrow.” “A merry Christmas, uncle!” It was the voice of Scrooge’s nephew, who came “I’ll see you in Hell first.” upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach. “But why?” cried Scrooge’s nephew. He had so heated himself with rapid “Why?” walking in the fog and the frost, this nephew of Scrooge’s, that he was all in a “Good afternoon,” said Scrooge. glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; and his eyes sparkled. “I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?” “Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” “Good afternoon,” said Scrooge.

“Bah!” said Scrooge, “Humbug!” “Well, I’m sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. but I’ll keep my “Christmas a humbug, uncle!” said Christmas humour to the last. So, Merry Scrooge’s nephew. “You don’t mean Christmas, uncle!” that, I’m sure.” “Good afternoon!” said Scrooge. “I do. Merry Christmas!” “And A Happy New Year!” “Don’t be cross, Uncle!” “Good afternoon!” said Scrooge. “What else can I be,” returned the uncle, His nephew left the room, but stopped “when I live in such a world of fools as at the outer door to bestow the greeting this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry of the season on the clerk, who, cold as Christmas. What’s Christmas time to you he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for he but a time for paying bills without returned them cordially. money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer. If I could “There’s another fellow,” muttered work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, Scrooge; who overheard him: “my clerk, “every idiot who goes about with “Merry with fifteen shillings a week, and a wife Christmas” on his lips, should be boiled and family, talking about a merry with his own pudding, and buried with a Christmas. I’ll retire to Bedlam.” stake of holly through his heart.” The clerk, in letting Scrooge’s nephew “Uncle!” pleaded the nephew. out, had let two other people in. They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to “Nephew!” returned the uncle, sternly, behold, and now stood, with their hats “keep Christmas in your own way, and off, in Scrooge’s office. They had books let me keep it in mine.” and papers in their hands, and they bowed to him. 3

“Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe,” said “Under the impression that they scarcely one of the gentlemen, referring to his list. furnish Christian cheer of mind or body “Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. to the multitude,” returned the Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?” gentleman, “a few of us, Mr. Scrooge, are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy “Mr. Marley has been dead these seven the Poor some meat and drink, and years,” said Scrooge. “He died seven means of warmth. We choose this time, years ago, this very night.” because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance “We have no doubt his liberality is well rejoices. What shall we put you down represented by his surviving partner,” for?” said the gentleman, presenting his credentials. “Nothing!” Scrooge replied.

“At this festive season of the year, Mr. “You wish to be anonymous?” Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable “I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. that we should make some slight “Since you ask me what I wish, provision for the poor and destitute, who gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t suffer greatly at the present time. Many make merry myself at Christmas and I thousands are in want of common can’t afford to make idle people merry. I necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in help to support the establishments I have want of common comforts, sir.” mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.” “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, “Many can’t go there, Mr. Scrooge; and laying down the pen again. many would rather die.”

“And the Union workhouses?” “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in “they had better do it, and decrease the operation?” surplus population. Good afternoon, gentlemen!” “They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “ I wish I could say they were not.” Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen “The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labors full vigor, then?” said Scrooge. with an improved opinion of himself, and the fog and the darkness thickened. “Both very busy, sir.” Thickened so, that people ran about “Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at with flaring links, proffering their first, that something had occurred to stop services to go before horses in carriages, them in their usual course,” said and conduct them on their way. The Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it.” ancient tower of a church, whose gruff 4

old bell was always peeping slyly down “And yet,” said Scrooge, “you don’t at Scrooge out of a gothic window in the think me ill-used, when I pay a day’s wall, became invisible, and struck the wages for no work.” hours and quarters in the clouds, with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head “Well, it’s only once a year,” the clerk up there. The cold became intense. In the observed. main street, at the corner of the court, some laborers were repairing the gas- “A poor excuse for picking a man’s pipes, and had lighted a great fire in a pocket every twenty-fifth of December. brazier, round which a party of ragged But I suppose you must have the whole men and boys were gathered: warming day. Be here all the earlier next their hands and winking their eyes before morning!” the blaze in rapture. Foggier yet, and colder! Piercing, The clerk promised that he would; searching, biting cold. The owner of a and, buttoning his greatcoat to the chin, scant young nose, gnawed by the hungry Scrooge walked out. The office was cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with stooped down at Scrooge’s keyhole to the long ends of his white comforter regale him with a Christmas carol: “God dangling below his waist (for he boasted bless you, merry gentleman! May no great-coat), went down a slide on nothing you dismay! Remember . . .” Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, Scrooge seized the ruler with such twenty times, in honour of its being energy of action that the singer fled in Christmas Eve, and then ran home to terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, even more congenial frost. to play at blindman’s bluff.

At length the hour of shutting up the Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in counting-house arrived. With an ill-will his usual melancholy tavern; and having Scrooge dismounted from his stool, and read all the newspapers, and beguiled the tacitly admitted the fact to the expectant rest of the evening with his banker’s clerk in the Tank, who instantly snuffed book, went home to bed. He lived in his candle out, and put on his hat. chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner. They were a “You’ll want all day tomorrow, I gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile suppose?” said Scrooge. of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could “If quite convenient, Sir.” scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing “It’s not convenient,” said Scrooge, “and at hide-and-seek with other houses, and it’s not fair. If I was to stop half-a-crown have forgotten the way out again. It was for it, you’d think yourself ill-used, I ‘ll old enough now, and dreary enough, for be bound?” nobody lived in it but Scrooge, the other rooms being all let out as offices.

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held the knocker on, so he said, “Bah!” Now, it is a fact, that there was and closed it with a bang. nothing at all particular about the The sound resounded through the knocker on the door, except that it was house like thunder. Every room above, very large. It is also a fact, that Scrooge and every cask in the wine-merchant’s had seen it, night and morning, during cellars below, appeared to have a his whole residence in that place; also separate peal of echoes of its own. that Scrooge had as little of what is Scrooge was not a man to be frightened called fancy about him as any man in the by echoes. He fastened the door, and City of London. walked across the hall, and up the stairs, Let it also be borne in mind that slowly too: trimming his candle as he Scrooge had not bestowed one thought went, for it was pretty dark. on Marley, since his last mention of his But up Scrooge went, not caring a seven-year’s dead partner that afternoon. button for that: darkness is cheap, and And then let any man explain to me, if he Scrooge liked it. But before he shut his can, how it happened that Scrooge, heavy door, he walked through his having his key in the lock of the door, rooms to see that all was right. He had saw in the knocker, without its just enough recollection of the face to undergoing any intermediate process of desire to do that. Sitting-room, bed- change: not a knocker, but Marley’s face. room, lumber-room. Nobody. Nobody in Marley’s face! It was not in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, impenetrable shadow as the other objects which was hanging up in a suspicious in the yard were, but had the dismal light attitude against the wall. about it, like a bad lobster in a dark Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and cellar. It was not angry or ferocious, but locked himself in; double-locked himself looked at Scrooge as Marley used to in, which was not his custom. Thus look: with ghostly spectacles turned up secured against surprise, he took off his upon its ghostly forehead. The hair was cravat; put on his dressing-gown and curiously stirred, as if by breath or hot- slippers, and his night-cap; and sat down air; and, though the eyes were wide before the fire to take his gruel. open, they were perfectly motionless. It was a very low fire indeed; nothing As Scrooge looked fixedly at this on such a bitter night. He was obliged to phenomenon, it was a knocker again. sit close to it, and brood over it, before To say that he was not startled would he could extract the least sensation of be untrue. But he put his hand upon the warmth from such a handful of fuel. The key he had relinquished, turned it fireplace was an old one, built by some sturdily, walked in, and lighted his Dutch merchant long ago, and paved all candle. round with quaint Dutch tiles, but if each He did pause, with a moment’s smooth tile had been a blank at first, now irresolution, before he shut the door; and there was a copy of old Marley’s head on he did look cautiously behind it first, as every one. if he half expected the sight of Marley’s pigtail sticking out into the hall. But “Humbug!” there was nothing on the back of the door, except the screws and nuts that 6

Scrooge’s glance happened to rest observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, upon a bell, a disused bell, that hung in padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy the room, and communicated for some purses wrought in steel. His body was purpose now forgotten with a chamber in transparent; so that Scrooge, observing the highest story of the building. It was him, and looking through his waistcoat, with great astonishment, and with a could see the two buttons on his coat strange, inexplicable dread, that as he behind. Scrooge had often heard it said looked, he saw this bell begin to swing. that Marley had no bowels, but he had It swung so softly in the outset that it never believed it until now. No, nor did scarcely made a sound; but soon it rang he believe it even now. Though he out loudly, and so did every bell in the looked the phantom through and through, house! and marked the very texture of the folded kerchief bound about its head and chin. This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed like an hour. “How now!” said Scrooge, caustic and The bells ceased as they had begun, cold as ever. “What do you want with together. They were succeeded by a me?” clanking noise, deep down below; as if some person were dragging a heavy “Much!” - Marley’s voice, no doubt chain over the casks in the wine- about it. merchant’s cellar. Scrooge then remembered to have heard that ghosts in “Who are you?” haunted houses were described as dragging chains. “Ask me who I was.” He heard the cellar-door fly open with a booming sound, and then the noise “Who were you then?” said Scrooge, much louder, on the floors below; then raising his voice. coming up the stairs; then coming straight towards his door. “In life, I was your partner, Jacob “Bah! It’s humbug still!” said Marley.” Scrooge. “I won’t believe it.” His color changed though, when, without a pause, it came on through the heavy door, and passed into the room before his eyes. Upon its coming in, the dying flame leapt up, as though it cried, “I know him! Marley’s Ghost!” The same face: the very same. Marley in his pigtail, usual waistcoat, tights, and boots; the tassels on the latter bristling, like his pigtail, and his coat-skirts, and the hair upon his head. The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge 7

bandage round its head, as if it were too warm to wear in-doors, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast!

“Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?”

“Man of the worldly mind!” replied the Ghost, “do you believe in me or not?”

“I do,” said Scrooge. “I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?”

“It is required of every man,” the Ghost returned, “that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow- men, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is “Can you - can you sit down?” asked doomed to wander through the world - Scrooge, looking doubtfully at him. oh, woe is me! - and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on “I can.” earth, and turned into happiness!”

“Do it, then.” “You are fettered,” said Scrooge, trembling. “Tell me why?” Scrooge asked the question, because he didn’t know whether a ghost so “I wear the chain I forged in life,” transparent might find himself in a replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, condition to take a chair, but the and yard by yard; I girded it on of my ghost sat down on the opposite side of own free will, and of my own free will I the fireplace, as if he were quite used to wore it. Is its pattern strange to you? Or it. would you know the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It “You don’t believe in me,” observed the was full as heavy and as long as this, Ghost. seven Christmas Eves ago. You have labored on it, since. It is a ponderous “I don’t,” said Scrooge. chain!”

“Muahhhahahah!” the ghost cried in a Scrooge glanced about him on the frightful voice. Scrooge held on tight to floor, in the expectation of finding his chair, to save himself from falling in himself surrounded by some fifty or sixty a swoon. But how much greater was his fathoms of iron cable: but he could see horror, when the phantom taking off the nothing. 8

procuring, Ebenezer. You will be “Jacob,” he said, imploringly. “Old haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Jacob Marley, tell me more. Speak Spirits. Without their visits,” said the comfort to me, Jacob.” Ghost, “you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first tomorrow, when “I have none to give,” the Ghost replied. the bell tolls One. Expect the second on “It comes from other regions, Ebenezer the next night at the same hour. The third Scrooge, and is conveyed by other upon the next night when the last stroke ministers, to other kinds of men. My of twelve has ceased to vibrate.” spirit never walked beyond our counting house - mark me! - in life my spirit never “Couldn’t I take them all at once and roved beyond the narrow limits of our have it over, Jacob?” Scrooge asked. money-changing hole. And never knew that any Christian spirit working kindly “Look to see me no more; and look that, in its little sphere, whatever it may be, for your own sake, you remember what will find its mortal life too short for its has passed between us.” vast means of usefulness. Never knew that no space of regret can make amends When it had said these words, the for one’s life’s opportunity misused! Yet specter took its wrapper from the table, such was I! Oh! such was I!” and bound it round its head, as before. Scrooge knew this, by the smart sound “But you were always a good man of its teeth made, when the jaws were business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who brought together by the bandage. He now began to apply this to himself. ventured to raise his eyes again, and found his supernatural visitor “Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its confronting him in an erect attitude, with hands again. “Mankind was my business. its chain wound over and about its arm. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and The apparition walked backward from benevolence, were all my business. The him; and at every step it took, the dealings of my trade were but a drop of window raised itself a little, so that when water in the comprehensive ocean of my the specter reached it, it was wide open. business!” It beckoned Scrooge to approach, It held up its chain at arm’s length, as which he did. When they were within if that were the cause of all its unavailing two paces of each other, Marley’s Ghost grief, and flung it heavily upon the held up its hand, warning him to come ground again. no nearer. Scrooge stopped.

“At this time of the rolling year,” the Not so much in obedience, as in specter said, “I suffer most. surprise and fear: for on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused “I am here tonight to warn you, that you noises in the air; incoherent sounds of have yet a chance and hope of escaping lamentation and regret; wailings my fate. A chance and hope of my inexpressibly sorrowful and self- 9

accusatory. The specter, after listening Whether these creatures faded into for a moment, joined in the mournful mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, not tell. But they and their spirit voices dark night. faded together; and the night became as it had been when he walked home. Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. The air was Scrooge closed the window, and filled with phantoms, wandering hither examined the door by which the Ghost and thither in restless haste, and moaning had entered. It was double-locked, as he as they went. Every one of them wore had locked it with his own hands, and the chains like Marley’s Ghost. Many had bolts were undisturbed. And being, been personally known to Scrooge in from the emotion he had undergone, or their lives. He had been quite familiar the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of with one old ghost, in a white waistcoat, the Invisible World, or the dull with a monstrous iron safe attached to its conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness ankle, who cried piteously at being of the hour, much in need of repose; unable to assist a wretched woman with went straight to bed, and fell asleep upon an infant, whom it saw below, upon a the instant. doorstep. The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever.

Stave 2 – The First of the Three Spirits

When Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber. He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters. So he listened for the hour.

To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped. Twelve! It was past two when he went to bed. The clock was wrong. An icicle must have got into the works. Twelve!

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He touched the spring of his repeater, to correct this most preposterous clock. He spoke before the hour had Its rapid little pulse beat twelve: and sounded, which it now did with a deep, stopped. dull, hollow, melancholy ONE. Light flashed up in the room upon the instant, “Nine, ten, eleven, twelve,” Scrooge and the curtains of his bed were drawn murmured. “Twelve. Why, it was past aside. two when I went to bed. Twelve? Why, it isn’t possible that I can have The curtains of his bed were drawn slept through a whole day and far into aside, I tell you, by a hand. Not the another night. It isn’t possible that curtains at his feet, nor the curtains at his anything has happened to the sun, and back, but those to which his face was this is twelve at noon!” addressed. The curtains of his bed were drawn aside; and Scrooge, starting up Scrooge thought, and thought, and into a half-recumbent attitude, found thought it over and over and over, and he himself face to face with the unearthly could make nothing of it. visitor who drew them. It was a strange figure - like a child: He lay in this state until the chimes yet not so like a child as like an old man, had gone three quarters more, when he viewed through some supernatural remembered, on a sudden, that the Ghost medium, which gave him the appearance had warned him of a visitation when the of having receded from the view, and bell tolled one. He resolved to lie awake being diminished to a child’s until the hour was past. The quarter was proportions. Its hair, which hung about so long, that he was more than once its neck and down its back, was white as convinced he must have sunk into a doze if with age; and yet the face had not a unconsciously, and missed the clock. At wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom length it broke upon his listening ear. was on the skin. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like its upper “Ding, dong! Ding, dong!” members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white and round its waist was “Quarter past,” said Scrooge, counting. bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh “Ding, dong! Ding, dong!” green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had “Half past!” said Scrooge. its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, “Ding, dong! Ding, dong!” that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by “Quarter to it,” said Scrooge. which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its “Ding, dong! Ding, dong!” duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm. “The hour itself,” said Scrooge, triumphantly, “and nothing else!” 11

“Are you the Spirit whose coming was It put out its strong hand as it spoke, and foretold to me?” asked Scrooge. clasped him gently by the arm.

“I am!” “Rise, and walk with me!”

The voice was soft and gentle. It would have been in vain for Singularly low, as if instead of being so Scrooge to plead that the weather and the close beside him, it were at a distance. hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes; that he was clad but lightly in “Who, and what are you?” Scrooge his slippers, dressing-gown, and demanded. nightcap. The grasp, though gentle as a woman’s hand, was not to be resisted. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.” He rose: but finding that the Spirit made towards the window, clasped its robe in “Long past?” inquired Scrooge: supplication. observant of its dwarfish stature. “I am a mortal and liable to fall,” “No. Your past.” Scrooge remonstrated.

Perhaps, Scrooge could not have told “Bear but a touch of my hand there, upon anybody why, if anybody could have your heart, and you shall be upheld in asked him; but he had a special desire to more than this!” see the Spirit in his cap; and he begged him to be covered. As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upon “What!” exclaimed the Ghost, “would an open country road, with fields on you so soon put out, with worldly hands, either hand. The city had entirely the light I give? Is it not enough that you vanished. Not a vestige of it was to be are one of those whose passions made seen. The darkness and the mist had this cap, and force me through whole vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, trains of years to wear it low upon my winter day, with snow upon the ground. brow!” “Good Heavens!” said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about “What business brings you here?” him. “I was bred in this place. I was a Scrooge questioned of the Ghost. boy here!”

“Your welfare!” said the Ghost. “You recollect the way?” inquired the Spirit. “I’m much obliged, but a night of unbroken rest would have been more “Remember it!” cried Scrooge with conducive to that end,” said Scrooge. fervor; “I could walk it blindfold.”

“Your reclamation, then. Take heed!” “Strange to have forgotten it for so many years!” observed the Ghost.

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They walked along the road; Scrooge They went, the Ghost and Scrooge, recognizing every gate, and post, and across the hall, to a door at the back of tree; until a little market-town appeared the house. It opened before them, and in the distance, with its bridge, its disclosed a long, bare, melancholy room, church, and winding river. Some shaggy made barer still by lines of plain deal ponies now were seen trotting towards forms and desks. At one of these a boy them with boys upon their backs, who was reading near a feeble fire; and called to other boys in country gigs and Scrooge himself sat down upon a form, carts, driven by farmers. All these boys and looked upon his poor forgotten self were in great spirits, and shouted to each as he had used to be. other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed “I, I wish…” Scrooge started. to hear it. “What is the matter?” asked the Spirit. “These are but shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost. “They have “Nothing,” said Scrooge. “Nothing. no consciousness of us.” There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should The jocund travelers came on; and as have liked to have given him something: they came, Scrooge knew and named that’s all.” them every one. He heard them give each other Merry Christmas, as they The Ghost smiled thoughtfully, and parted at cross-roads and bye-ways, for waved its hand: saying as it did so, “Let their several homes! us see another Christmas!”

“The school is not quite deserted,” said Scrooge’s former self grew larger at the Ghost. “A solitary child, neglected by the words, and the room became a little his friends, is left there still.” darker and more dirty. The panels shrunk, the windows cracked; fragments They left the high-road, by a well- of plaster fell out of the ceiling, and the remembered lane, and soon approached a naked laths were shown instead; but how mansion of dull red brick, with a little all this was brought about, Scrooge knew weathercock-surmounted cupola, on the no more than you do. He only knew that roof, and a bell hanging in it. It was a it was quite correct; that everything had large house, but one of broken fortunes. happened so; that there he was, alone Entering the dreary hall, and glancing again, when all the other boys had gone through the open doors of many rooms, home for the holidays. they found them poorly furnished, cold, and vast. There was an earthy savor in He was not reading now, but walking the air, a chilly bareness in the place, up and down despairingly. Scrooge which associated itself somehow with suddenly glanced anxiously towards the too much getting up by candle-light, and door. It opened; and a little girl, much not too much to eat. younger than the boy, came darting in, she threw her arms about his neck, and kissed him again and again. 13

plain enough, by the dressing of the “Dear, dear brother. I have come to shops, that here too it was Christmas bring you home, dear brother!” said the time again; but it was evening, and the child, clapping her tiny hands, and streets were lighted up. bending down to laugh. “To bring you home, home, home! Home, for good The Ghost stopped at a certain and all. Home, for ever and ever. Oh, warehouse door, and asked Scrooge if he father is so much kinder than he used to knew it. be, that home’s like Heaven! He spoke so gently to me one night when I was “Know it!” said Scrooge. “I was going to bed, that I was not afraid to ask apprenticed here!” him once more if you might come home; and he said Yes, you should; and sent me They went in. An old gentleman in a the coach to bring you. And you’re to be Welsh wig was sitting behind such a a man!” said the child, opening her eyes, high desk, that if he had been two inches “and are never to come back here; but taller he must have knocked his head first, we’re to be together all the against the ceiling. Christmas long, and have the merriest time in all the world.” “Why, it’s old Fezziwig. It’s Fezziwig alive again!” Scrooge cried with great She began to drag him, in her childish excitement. eagerness, towards the door; and he, nothing loath to go, accompanied her. Old Fezziwig laid down his pen, and looked up at the clock, which pointed to “Always a delicate creature, whom a the hour of seven. He rubbed his hands; breath might have withered,” said the adjusted his capacious waistcoat; and Ghost. “But she had a large heart!” called out: “Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! Dick!” “So she had,” cried Scrooge. “You’re right, I’ll not gainsay it, Spirit. God Scrooge’s former self, now grown a forbid!” young man, came briskly in, accompanied by his fellow ‘prentice. “She died a woman,” said the Ghost, “and had, as I think, children.” “It’s Dick Wilkins, to be sure!” said Scrooge. “One child,” Scrooge returned. “Yo ho, my boys!” said Fezziwig. “No “True,” said the Ghost. “Your nephew!” more work tonight. Christmas Eve, Dick! Christmas, Ebenezer! Let’s have the Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; shutters up,” cried old Fezziwig, with a and answered briefly, “Yes.” sharp clap of his hands, “before a man can say, Jack Robinson!” At that moment, they left the school behind them, and were now in the busy You wouldn’t believe how those two thoroughfares of a city. It was made fellows went at it! They charged into the 14

street with the shutters - one, two, three – had ‘em up in their places – four, five, six – barred ‘em and pinned ‘em – seven, eight, nine – and came back before you could have got to twelve, panting like race-horses.

“Hilli-ho!” Fezziwig, skipped down from the high desk, with wonderful agility. “Clear away, my lads; let’s have lots of room here!”

The floor was swept and watered, the lamps were trimmed, fuel was heaped upon the fire; and the warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ballroom, as you would desire to see upon a winter’s night.

In came a fiddler with a music-book, There were dances, and there were and went up to the lofty desk, and made forfeits, and more dances, and there was an orchestra of it, and tuned like fifty cake, and there was negus, and there was stomach-aches. In came Mrs. Fezziwig, a great piece of Cold Roast, and there one vast substantial smile. In came the was a great piece of Cold Boiled, and three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and there were mince-pies, and plenty of lovable. In came the six young followers beer. But the great effect of the evening whose hearts they broke. In came all the came after the Roast and Boiled, when young men and women employed in the the fiddler struck up “Sir Roger de business. In came the housemaid, with Coverley.” Then old Fezziwig stood out her cousin, the baker. In came the cook, to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. Top with her brother’s particular friend, the couple, too; with a good stiff piece of milkman. In came the boy from over the work cut out for them; three or four and way, who was suspected of not having twenty pair of partners. board enough from his master; trying to But if there had been twice as many: hide himself behind the girl from next ah, four times: old Fezziwig would have door but one, who was proved to have been a match for them, and so would had her ears pulled by her Mistress. In Mrs. Fezziwig. A positive light appeared they all came, one after another; some to issue from Fezziwig’s calves. They shyly, some boldly, some gracefully, shone in every part of the dance like some awkwardly, some pushing, some moons. pulling; in they all came, anyhow and everyhow. When the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig took their stations, one on

15

either side of the door, and shaking Scrooge saw himself. He was older now; hands with every person individually as a man in the prime of his life. His face he or she went out, wished him or her a had not the harsh and rigid lines of later Merry Christmas. When everybody had years; but it had begun to wear the signs retired but the two ‘prentices, they did of care and avarice. There was an eager, the same to them. Scrooge’s former self greedy, restless motion in the eye, which turned down the lamps, and the cheerful showed the passion that had taken root, voices died away. And Scrooge and the and where the shadow of the growing Ghost again stood side by side in the tree would fall. open air. He was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning-dress: “A small matter,” said the Ghost, “to in whose eyes there were tears. make these silly folks so full of gratitude. He has but spent a few pounds of your “Another idol has displaced me; and if it mortal money: three or four perhaps.” can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, I have “It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, heated by no just cause to grieve.” the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. “It “What idol has displaced you?” isn’t that, Spirit. He had the power to demanded young Ebenezer. render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure “A golden one.” or a toil. The happiness he gave, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.” “This is the even-handed dealing of the world!” he said. “There is nothing on He felt the Spirit’s glance, and which it is so hard as poverty; and there stopped. is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” “What is the matter?” asked the Ghost. “You fear the world too much,” she “Nothing particular,” said Scrooge. answered, gently. “All your other hopes have been merged into the hope of being “Something, I think?” the Ghost insisted. beyond the chance of its sordid reproach. I have seen your nobler aspirations fall “No,” said Scrooge, “No. I should like off one by one, until the master-passion, to be able to say a word or two to my Gain, engrosses you. Have I not?” clerk just now! That’s all.” “What then?” he retorted. “Even if I have grown so much wiser, what then? I am “My time grows short. Quick!” said the not changed towards you.” Ghost. “You are changed. But today, This was not addressed to Scrooge, or tomorrow, yesterday, can I believe that to any one whom he could see, but it you would choose a dowerless girl? I produced an immediate effect. For again release you. With a full heart, for the 16

love of him you once were. May you be happy in the life you have chosen!”

And so she left him.

“Spirit! Show me no more!” said Scrooge. “Conduct me home. Why do you delight to torture me?”

“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost. “That they are what they are, do not blame me!”

“Remove me!” Scrooge exclaimed, “I cannot bear it!”

He turned upon the Ghost, and saw that it looked upon him with a face, in which some strange way there were fragments He was conscious of being exhausted, of all the faces it had shown him. and overcome by an irresistible drowsiness; and, furthermore, of being in “Leave me! Take me back. Haunt me no his own bedroom He gave the cap a longer!” parting squeeze, in which his hand relaxed; and had barely time to reel to Scrooge, observing that the Spirit’s bed, before he sank into a heavy sleep. light was burning high and bright; and dimly connecting that with its influence over him, he seized the extinguisher-cap, and by a sudden action pressed it down upon its head. The Spirit dropped beneath it, so that the extinguisher covered its whole form; but though Scrooge pressed it down with all his Stave 3 – force, he could not hide the light, which The Second of the Three Spirits streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground. Awakening in the middle of a prodigiously tough snore, and sitting up in bed to get his thoughts together, Scrooge had no occasion to be told that the bell was again upon the stroke of One. He felt that he was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time, for the especial purpose of holding a

17

conference with the second messenger that dull petrification of a hearth had dispatched to him through Jacob never known in Scrooge’s time. Marley’s intervention. But, finding that he turned uncomfortably cold when he Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind began to wonder which of his curtains of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, this specter would draw back, he put poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, them every one aside with his own sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, hands; and lying down again, established mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of a sharp look-out all round his bed. For he oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry- wished to challenge the Spirit on the cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious moment of its appearance, and he did not pears, and seething bowls of punch that wish to be taken by surprise, and made made the chamber dim with their nervous. delicious steam. In easy state upon this Now, being prepared for almost couch, there sat a Giant, glorious to see: anything, he was not by any means who bore a glowing torch, in shape not prepared for nothing; and, consequently, unlike Plenty’s horn, and held it up, high when the bell struck One, and no shape up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he appeared, he was taken with a violent fit came peeping round the door. of trembling. But all this time, he lay upon his bed, the very core and center of “Come in!” exclaimed the Ghost. a blaze of ruddy light, which streamed “Come in, and know me better, man! upon it when the clock proclaimed the I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” hour; and which, being only light, was said the Spirit. “Look upon me!” more alarming than a dozen ghosts, as he was powerless to make out what it The ghost was clothed in one simple meant. At last, he began to think that the deep green robe, bordered with white fur. source and secret of this ghostly light This garment hung so loosely on the might be in the adjoining room, from figure, that its capacious breast was bare. whence, on further tracing it, it seemed Its feet, observable beneath the ample to shine. This idea taking full folds of the garment, were also bare; and possession of his mind, he got up softly on its head it wore no other covering and shuffled in his slippers to the door. than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls It was his own room. There was no were long and free: free as its genial doubt about that. But it had undergone a face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its surprising transformation. The walls and unconstrained demeanor, and its joyful ceiling were so hung with living green, air. Girded round its middle was an that it looked a perfect grove; from every antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, part of which, bright gleaming berries and the ancient sheath was eaten up with glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, rust. mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as

18

“Touch my robe!”

Scrooge did as he was told, and held it fast.

All vanished instantly- the room, the fire, the ruddy glow, the hour of night, and they stood in the city streets on Christmas morning. The sky was gloomy, and the shortest streets were choked up with a dingy mist, half thawed, half frozen, whose heavier particles descended in a shower of sooty atoms, as if all the chimneys in Great Britain had, by one consent, caught fire. There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town, and yet there was an air of cheerfulness abroad. The steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best “You have never seen the like of me clothes, and with their gayest faces. before!” exclaimed the Spirit. Scrooge and the Ghost went on, “Never,” Scrooge made answer to it. invisible, into the suburbs of the town and straight to Scrooge’s clerk’s house. “Have never walked forth with the Mrs. Cratchit, Bob Cratchit’s wife, younger members of my family; dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned meaning (for I am very young) my elder gown, but brave in ribbons, which are brothers born in these later years?” cheap and make a goodly show for pursued the Phantom. sixpence; was laying the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit, second of her “I don’t think I have,” said Scrooge. “I daughters, also brave in ribbons; while am afraid I have not. Have you had many Master Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into brothers, Spirit?” the saucepan of potatoes, getting the corners of his monstrous shirt collar “More than eighteen hundred,” said the (Bob’s private property) into his mouth. Ghost. And now two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, came tearing in, screaming that “A tremendous family to provide for!” outside the baker’s they had smelt the muttered Scrooge. goose, and known it for their own; and basking in luxurious thoughts of sage- The Ghost of Christmas Present rose. and-onion, these young Cratchits danced about the table, and exalted Master Peter Cratchit to the skies, while he (not proud, 19

although his collars nearly choked him) “Not coming!” said Bob, with a sudden blew the fire, until the slow potatoes declension in his high spirits; “Not bubbling up, knocked out loudly at the coming upon Christmas Day!” saucepan-lid to be let out and peeled. Martha didn’t like to see him “What has ever got your precious father disappointed, if it were only in joke; so then.” said Mrs. Cratchit. “And your she came out prematurely from behind brother, Tiny Tim! And Martha warn’t as the closet door, and ran into his arms, late last Christmas Day by half-an-hour!” while the two young Cratchits hustled Tiny Tim, and bore him off into the “Here’s Martha, mother!” cried the wash-house, that he might hear young Cratchits. “Oh! There’s such a the pudding singing in the copper. goose, Martha!” “And how did little Tim behave?” asked “Why, bless your heart alive, my dear, Mrs. Cratchit, when Bob had hugged his how late you are!” said Mrs. Cratchit, daughter to his heart’s content. kissing her a dozen times, and taking off her shawl and bonnet for her with “As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. officious zeal. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and he thinks the “Well! Never mind so long as you are strangest things you ever heard. He told come,” said Mrs. Cratchit. “Sit ye down me, coming home, that he hoped the before the fire, my dear, and have a people saw him in the church, because warm, Lord bless ye!” he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas “No, no! There’s father coming,” cried Day, who made lame beggars walk, and the two young Cratchits, who were blind men see. He’s growing strong and everywhere at once. “Hide, Martha, hearty.” hide!” Tim’s crutch was heard upon the So Martha hid herself, and in came floor, and back he came before another little Bob, the father, with at least three word was spoken, escorted by his brother feet of comforter exclusive of the fringe, and sister to his stool before the fire; and hanging down before him; and his while Bob, turning up his cuffs - as if, threadbare clothes darned and brushed, poor fellow, they were capable of being to look seasonable; and Tiny Tim upon made more shabby - compounded some his shoulder. Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, a little crutch, and had his limbs and stirred it round and round and put it supported by an iron frame! on the hob to simmer; Master Peter, and the two ubiquitous young Cratchits went “Why, where’s our Martha?” said Bob, to fetch the goose, with which they soon looking round. returned in high procession.

“Not coming,” said Mrs. Cratchit. Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all 20

birds; a feathered phenomenon, to which plates being changed by Miss Belinda, a black swan was a matter of course; and Mrs. Cratchit left the room alone - too in truth it was something very like it in nervous to bear witness - to take the that house. Mrs. Cratchit made the gravy pudding up, and bring it in. (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) Suppose it should not be done hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the enough! Suppose it should break in potatoes with incredible vigor; Miss turning out! Suppose somebody should Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce; have got over the wall of the back-yard, Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took and stolen it, while they were making Tiny Tim beside him at a corner of the merry with the goose: a supposition at table; the two young Cratchits set chairs which the two young Cratchits became for everybody, not forgetting themselves, livid! All sorts of horrors were supposed. and mounting guard upon their posts, Hallo! A great deal of steam! The crammed spoons into their mouths, lest pudding was out of the copper. A smell they should shriek for goose before their like washing-day! That was the cloth. A turn came to be helped. And at last the smell like an eating-house and a pastry dishes were set on, and grace was said. cook’s next door to each other, with a “For what we are about to receive, laundress’s next door to that! That was may the Lord make us truly thankful. the pudding. In half a minute Mrs. Amen.” Cratchit entered: flushed, but smiling It was succeeded by a breathless proudly: with the pudding, like a pause, as Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, all along the carving-knife, prepared to blazing in half of half-a-quartern of plunge it into the breast; but when she ignited brandy, and bedight with did, and when the long expected gush of Christmas holly stuck into the top. stuffing issued forth, one murmur of delight arose all round the board, and Oh, a wonderful pudding! Bob even Tiny Tim, excited by the two young Cratchit said that he regarded it as the Cratchits, beat on the table with the greatest success achieved by Mrs. handle of his knife, and cried Hurrah! Cratchit since their marriage. Mrs. Cratchit said that now the weight was off There never was such a goose. Bob her mind, she would confess she had had said he didn’t believe there ever was her doubts about the quantity of flour. such a goose cooked. Its tenderness and Everybody had something to say about flavor, size and cheapness, were the it, but nobody said or thought it was at themes of universal admiration. Eked out all a small pudding for a large family. It by the apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, would have been flat heresy to do so. it was a sufficient dinner for the whole Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint family; indeed, as Mrs. Cratchit said with at such a thing. great delight (surveying one small atom At last the dinner was all done, the of a bone upon the dish), they hadn’t ate cloth was cleared, the hearth swept, and it all at last! Yet every one had had the fire made up. The compound in the enough, and the youngest Cratchits in jug being tasted, and considered perfect, particular, were steeped in sage and apples and oranges were put upon the onion to the eyebrows! But now, the table, and a shovel-full of chestnuts on 21

the fire. Then all the Cratchit family less fit to live than millions like this poor drew round the hearth, in what Bob man’s child!” Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit’s elbow stood Scrooge bent before the Ghost’s the family display of glass: two tumblers, rebuke, and cast his eyes upon the and a custard-cup without a handle. ground. But he raised them speedily, on These held the hot stuff from the jug, hearing his own name. however, as well as golden goblets would have done; and Bob served it out “Mr. Scrooge!” said Bob; “I’ll give you with beaming looks, while the chestnuts Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!” on the fire sputtered and crackled noisily. Then Bob proposed: “A Merry “The Founder of the Feast indeed!” cried Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless Mrs. Cratchit, reddening. “I wish I had us!” him here. I’d give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he’d have “God bless us every one!” said Tiny a good appetite for it.” Tim. “My dear,” said Bob, “the children; He sat very close to his father’s side, Christmas Day.” and Bob held his withered little hand in his. “It should be Christmas Day, I am sure,” said she, “on which one drinks the health “Spirit,” said Scrooge, “tell me if Tiny of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling Tim will live.” man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, Robert! Nobody knows it better than you “I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, do, poor fellow!” “in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully “My dear,” was Bob’s mild answer, preserved. If these shadows remain “Christmas Day.” unaltered by the Future, the child will die. None other of my race will find him “I’ll drink his health for your sake and here. What then? If he be like to die, he the Day’s,” said Mrs. Cratchit, “not for had better do it, and decrease the surplus his. Long life to him. Merry Christmas, population.” happy new year.” The children drank the toast after her. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own It was the first of their proceedings words quoted by the Spirit. which had no heartiness in it. Tiny Tim drank it last of all, but he didn’t care “Man,” said the Ghost, “if man you be twopence for it. Scrooge was the Ogre of in heart, not adamant, forbear that the family. The mention of his name cast wicked cant until you have discovered a dark shadow on the party, which was What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will not dispelled for full five minutes. you decide what men shall live, and what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight But after it had passed away, they were of Heaven, you are more worthless and ten times merrier than before, from the 22

mere relief of Scrooge the Baleful being children’s children, and another done with. The chestnuts and the jug generation beyond that, all decked out went round and round; and bye and bye gaily in their holiday attire. they had a song from Tiny Tim. The Spirit did not tarry here, but bade Scrooge hold his robe, and passing on There was nothing of high mark in above the moor, sped out to sea. this. They were not a handsome family; Built upon a dismal reef of sunken they were not well-dressed; their shoes rocks, some league or so from shore, on were far from being water-proof; their which the waters chafed and dashed, the clothes were scanty. But, they were wild year through, there stood a solitary happy, grateful, pleased with one lighthouse. another, and contented with the time; and But even here, two men who watched when they faded, and looked happier yet the light had made a fire, that through the in the bright sprinklings of the Spirit’s loophole in the thick stone wall shed out torch at parting, Scrooge had his eye a ray of brightness on the awful sea. upon them, and especially on Tiny Tim, Joining their hands over the rough table until the last. at which they sat, they wished each other By this time it was getting dark, and Merry Christmas in their can of grog. snowing pretty heavily; and as Scrooge and the Spirit went along the streets, the Again the Ghost sped on, above the brightness of the roaring fires in black and heaving sea - on, on - until, kitchens, parlors, and all sorts of rooms, being far away from any shore, they was wonderful. Blessings on it, how the lighted on a ship. They stood beside the Ghost exulted! How it bared its breadth helmsman at the wheel, the look-out in of breast, and opened its capacious palm, the bow, the officers who had the watch; and floated on, outpouring, with a dark, ghostly figures in their several generous hand, its bright and harmless stations; but every man among them mirth on everything within its reach! hummed a Christmas tune, or had a Christmas thought, or spoke below his But now, without a word of warning breath to his companion of some bygone from the Ghost, they stood upon a bleak Christmas Day, with homeward hopes moor. belonging to it.

“What place is this?” said Scrooge. “Ha, ha!” laughed Scrooge’s nephew. “Ha, ha, ha!” “A place where Miners live, who labour It was a great surprise to Scrooge to in the bowels of the earth,” returned the hear that hearty laugh. It was a much Spirit. “But they know me. See!” greater surprise to Scrooge to recognize it as his own nephew’s and to find A light shone from the window of a himself in a bright, dry, gleaming room, hut, and swiftly they advanced towards with the Spirit standing smiling by his it. Passing through the wall of mud and side, and looking at that same nephew stone, they found a cheerful company with approving affability! assembled round a glowing fire. An old, old man and woman, with their 23

“He said that Christmas was a humbug, something, and the rest must find out as I live!” cried Scrooge’s nephew. “He what; he only answering to their believed it too!” questions yes or no, as the case was. The brisk fire of questioning to which he was “More shame for him, Fred!” said exposed, elicited from him that he was Scrooge’s niece. thinking of an animal, a live animal, rather a disagreeable animal, a savage “Well, he’s a comical old fellow,” said animal, an animal that growled and Scrooge’s nephew, “that’s the truth: and grunted sometimes, and talked not so pleasant as he might be. However, sometimes, and lived in London, and his offences carry their own punishment, walked about the streets, and wasn’t and I’m sorry for him. I couldn’t be made a show of, and wasn’t led by angry with him if I tried. Who suffers by anybody, and didn’t live in a menagerie, his ill whims? Himself, always. Here, he and was never killed in a market, and takes it into his head to dislike us, and he was not a horse, or an ass, or a cow, or a won’t come and dine with us. What’s the bull, or a tiger, or a dog, or a pig, or a consequence? He loses some pleasant cat, or a bear. At every fresh question moments, which could do him no harm. I that was put to him, this nephew burst am sure he loses pleasanter companions into a fresh roar of laughter; and was so than he can find in his own thoughts, inexpressibly tickled, that he was obliged either in his moldy old office, or his to get up off the sofa and stamp. At last dusty chambers. I mean to give him the the plump sister, falling into a similar same chance every year, whether he likes state, cried out: “I have found it out! I it or not, and I think I shook him know what it is, Fred! I know what it is!” yesterday.” “What is it?” cried Fred. It was the company’s turn to laugh now at the notion of his shaking Scrooge. “It’s your Uncle Scro-o-o-o-oge!” But being thoroughly good-natured, and not much caring what they laughed at, so Which it certainly was. Admiration that they laughed at any rate, he was the universal sentiment, though encouraged them in their merriment. some objected that the reply to “Is it a bear?” ought to have been “Yes;” The Ghost was greatly pleased to find inasmuch as an answer in the negative Scrooge in such a merry mood, and was sufficient to have diverted their looked upon him with such favour, that thoughts from Mr. Scrooge, supposing he begged like a boy to be allowed to they had ever had any tendency that way. stay until the guests departed. But this the Spirit said could not be done. “He has given us plenty of merriment, I am sure,” said Fred, “and it would be “Here is a new game,” said Scrooge. ungrateful not to drink his health. Here “One half hour, Spirit, only one!” is a glass of mulled wine ready to our hand at the moment; and I say, “Uncle It was a Game called Yes and No, Scrooge!”” where Scrooge’s nephew had to think of 24

“Well! Uncle Scrooge.” they cried. together in an open place, he noticed that its hair was gray. “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man, whatever he is!” “Are spirits’ lives so short?” asked said Scrooge’s nephew. “He wouldn’t Scrooge. take it from me, but may he have it, nevertheless. Uncle Scrooge!” “My life upon this globe, is very brief,” replied the Ghost. “It ends tonight at Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly midnight. Hark! The time is drawing become so gay and light of heart, that he near.” would have pledged the unconscious company in return, and thanked them in The chimes were ringing the three an inaudible speech, if the Ghost had quarters past eleven at that moment. given him time. “Spirit, forgive me if I am not justified in But the whole scene passed; and what I ask,” said Scrooge, looking Scrooge and the Spirit were again upon intently at the Spirit’s robe, “but I see their travels. something strange, and not belonging to Much they saw, and far they went, yourself, protruding from your skirts. Is and many homes they visited, but always it a foot or a claw?” with a happy end. The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; on “It might be a claw, for all the flesh there foreign lands, and they were close at is upon it,” was the Spirit’s sorrowful home; by struggling men, and they were reply. “Look here.” patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich. In almshouse, hospital, From the foldings of its robe, it and jail, in misery’s every refuge, where brought two children; wretched, abject, vain man in his little brief authority had frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt not made fast the door and barred the down at its feet, and clung upon the Spirit out, he left his blessing, and taught outside of its garment. Scrooge his precepts. “Oh, Man! look here. Look, look down It was a long night, if it were only a here!” exclaimed the Ghost. night; but Scrooge had doubts of this, because the Christmas Holidays They were a boy and girl. Yellow, appeared to be condensed into the space meager, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but of time they passed together. It was prostrate, too, in their humility. Where strange, too, that while Scrooge graceful youth should have filled their remained unaltered in his outward form, features out, and touched them with its the Ghost grew older, clearly older. freshest tints, a stale and shriveled hand, Scrooge had observed this change, but like that of age, had pinched, and twisted never spoke of it, until they left a them, and pulled them into shreds. children’s Twelfth Night party, when, Where angels might have sat enthroned, looking at the Spirit as they stood devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no 25

perversion of humanity, in any grade, “Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, through all the mysteries of wonderful turning on him for the last time with his creation, has monsters half so horrible own words. “Are there no workhouses?” and dread. The bell struck twelve. Scrooge started back, appalled. Scrooge looked about him for the “Spirit! are they yours?” Scrooge could Ghost, and saw it not. But as the last say no more. stroke ceased to vibrate, he remembered the prediction of old Jacob Marley, and “They are Man’s,” said the Spirit, lifting up his eyes, beheld a solemn looking down upon them. “Beware them Phantom, draped and hooded, coming, both, and all of their degree, but most of like a mist along the ground, all beware this boy, for on his brow I see towards him, slowly, gravely, silently. that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Deny it!” cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. “Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse! And bide the end!” Stave 4 - The Last of the Spirits

The very air through which this Spirit moved seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded. Its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.

“I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come?” said Scrooge.

The Spirit answered not, but pointed onward with its hand. “Have they no refuge or resource?” cried Scrooge. “You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but 26

will happen in the time before us,” “What has he done with his money?” Scrooge pursued. “Is that so, Spirit?” asked a red-faced gentleman.

The upper portion of the garment was “I haven’t heard,” said the man with the contracted for an instant in its folds, as if large chin, yawning again. “Left it to his the Spirit had inclined its head. That was Company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to the only answer he received. me. That’s all I know.” But Scrooge was all the worse for this. It thrilled him with a vague uncertain “But it’s likely to be a cheap funeral,” horror, to know that behind the dusky said the same speaker; “for upon my life shroud, there were ghostly eyes intently I don’t know of anybody to go to it. fixed upon him. Suppose we make up a party and volunteer?” “Lead on, Spirit!” said Scrooge. “Lead on! The night is waning fast, and it is “Well, I don’t mind going if a lunch is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, provided,” observed one gentleman, “but Spirit!” I must be fed, if I make one. Good bye.”

They scarcely seemed to enter the “Bye!” city. But there they were, in the heart of “Bye!” it, amongst the merchants, who hurried Speakers and listeners strolled away, up and down, and chinked the money in and mixed with other groups. Scrooge their pockets, and conversed in groups, knew the men, and looked towards the and looked at their watches, and so forth, Spirit for an explanation, but the as Scrooge had seen them so often. Phantom pointed to two persons meeting. The Spirit stopped beside one little knot of business men. Observing that the “How are you?” said one. hand was pointed to them, Scrooge advanced to listen to their talk. “How are you?” returned the other.

“No,” said a great fat man with a “Well!” said the first. “Old Scratch has monstrous chin, “I don’t know much got his own at last, hey?” about it, either way. I only know he’s dead.” “So I’m told,” returned the second. “Cold, isn’t it?” “When did he die?” inquired another. “Seasonable for Christmas time.” “Last night, I believe.” “Good morning!” “Why, what was the matter with him? I thought he’d never die.” “Good morning!”

“God knows,” said the first, with a yawn. Not another word. That was their meeting, their conversation, and their parting. 27

Scrooge was at first inclined to be followed by a man in faded black, who surprised that the Spirit should attach was no less startled by the sight of them, importance to conversations apparently than they had been upon the recognition so trivial. of each other. After a short period of He looked about in that very place for blank astonishment, they all three burst his own image; but another man stood in into a laugh. his accustomed corner, and though the clock pointed to his usual time of the day “Let the charwoman alone to be the for being there, he saw no likeness of first!” cried she who had entered first. himself among the multitudes that “Let the laundress alone to be the poured in through the Porch. second; and let the undertaker’s man alone to be the third. Look here, old Joe, But now they left the busy scene, and here’s a chance! If we haven’t all three went into an obscure part of the town, met here without meaning it!” where Scrooge had never penetrated before, although he recognized its “You couldn’t have met in a better situation, and its bad repute. The ways place,” said old Joe, removing his pipe were foul and narrow; the shops and from his mouth. “Come into the houses wretched; the people half-naked, parlor.” drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and The woman who had already archways, like so many cesspools, spoken threw her bundle on the floor, disgorged their offences of smell, and and sat down in a flaunting manner on dirt, and life, upon the straggling streets; a stool; crossing her elbows on her and the whole quarter reeked with crime, knees, and looking with a bold with filth, and misery. defiance at the other two. Far in this den of infamous resort, there was a low-browed, beetling shop, “What odds then! What odds, Mrs. below a penthouse roof, where iron, old Dilber?” said the woman. “Every person rags, bottles, bones, and greasy offal, has a right to take care of themselves. He were bought. Upon the floor within, were always did! Who’s the worse for the loss piled up heaps of rusty keys, nails, of a few things like these? Not a dead chains, hinges, files, scales and weights, man, I suppose. If he wanted to keep and refuse iron of all kinds. Sitting in ‘em after he was dead, wicked old among the wares he dealt in, by a screw,” pursued the woman, “why charcoal stove, made of old bricks, was a wasn’t he natural in his lifetime? If he gray-haired rascal, nearly seventy years had a been, he’d have had somebody to of age; who smoked his pipe in all the look after him when he was struck with luxury of calm retirement. Death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself. Open that Scrooge and the Phantom came into bundle, old Joe, and let me know the the presence of this man, just as a value of it.” woman with a heavy bundle slunk into the shop. But she had scarcely entered, But the gallantry of her friends would when another woman, similarly laden, not allow of this; and the man in faded came in too; and she was closely black, mounting the breach first, 28

produced his plunder. It was not company that I’d loiter about him for extensive. A seal or two, a pencil-case, a such things, if he did. Ah! you may look pair of sleeve-buttons, and a brooch of through that shirt till your eyes ache; but no great value, were all. They were you won’t find a hole in it, nor a severally examined and appraised by old threadbare place. It’s the best he had, and Joe, who chalked the sums he was a fine one too. They’d have wasted it, if disposed to give for each, upon the wall, it hadn’t a been for me.” and added them up into a total when he found there was nothing more to come. “What do you call wasting of it?” asked Mrs. Dilber was next. Sheets and old Joe. towels, a little wearing apparel, two old- fashioned silver teaspoons, a pair of “Putting it on him to be buried in,” sugar-tongs, and a few boots. Her replied the woman with a laugh. account was stated on the wall in the “Somebody was fool enough to do it, but same manner. I took it off again.”

“And now undo my bundle, Joe,” said Scrooge listened to this dialogue in the first woman. horror. As they sat grouped about their spoil, in the scanty light afforded by the Joe went down on his knees for the old man’s lamp, he viewed them with a greater convenience of opening it, and detestation and disgust, which could having unfastened a great many knots, hardly have been greater had they been dragged out a large and heavy roll of obscene demons, marketing the corpse some dark stuff. itself. The scene changed, and now he “What do you call these?” said Joe. almost touched a bed: a bare, “Bed-curtains! You don’t mean to say uncurtained bed: on which, beneath a you took them down, rings and all, with ragged sheet, there lay something him lying there?” said Joe. covered up, which, though it was dumb, announced itself in awful language. “Don’t drop that oil upon them blankets, The room was very dark, too dark to now.” be observed with any accuracy, though Scrooge glanced round it in obedience to “His blankets?” asked Joe. a secret impulse, anxious to know what kind of room it was. A pale light, rising “Whose else’s do you think?” replied the in the outer air, fell straight upon the woman. “He isn’t likely to take cold bed; and on it, plundered and bereft, without ‘em, I dare say.” unwatched, unwept, uncared for, was the body of a man. “I hope he didn’t die of anything Scrooge glanced towards the catching? Eh?” said old Joe, stopping in Phantom. Its steady hand was pointed to his work, and looking up. the head. The cover was so carelessly adjusted that the slightest raising of it, “Don’t you be afraid of that,” returned the motion of a finger upon Scrooge’s the woman. “I ain’t so fond of his part, would have disclosed the face. 29

He lay, in the dark empty house. A cat “If he relents,” she said, amazed, “there was tearing the door, and there was a is. Nothing is past hope, if such a miracle sound of gnawing rats beneath the has happened.” hearth-stone. What they wanted in the room of death, and why they were so “He’s past relenting,” said her husband. restless and disturbed, Scrooge did not “He’s dead.” dare to think. She was a mild and patient creature if her face spoke truth; but she was “Spirit, I understand you,” Scrooge cried, thankful in her soul to hear it, and she “and I would do it, if I could. But I have said so, with clasped hands. Oh, she not the power, Spirit. I have not the prayed forgiveness the next moment, and power.” was sorry; but the first was the emotion of her heart. Again, it seemed to look upon him. “To whom will our debt be transferred?” “But Spirit, I beg, if there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by “I don’t know. But before that time we this man’s death,” said Scrooge quite shall be ready with the money. We may agonized, “show that person to me, sleep tonight with light hearts, Caroline!” Spirit, I beseech you!” Yes. Soften it as they would, their The Phantom spread its dark robe hearts were lighter. The children’s faces, before him for a moment, like a wing; hushed and clustered round to hear what and withdrawing it, revealed a room by they so little understood, were brighter; daylight, where a mother and her and it was a happier house for this man’s children were. death! The only emotion that the Ghost She was expecting someone, and with could show him, caused by the event, anxious eagerness. At length the long- was one of pleasure. expected knock was heard. She hurried to the door, and met her husband; a man “Spirit,” said Scrooge, “let me see some whose face was careworn and depressed, tenderness connected with a death, or though he was young. There was a that dark chamber which we left just remarkable expression in it now; a kind now, will be forever present to me.” of serious delight of which he felt ashamed, and which he struggled to The Ghost conducted him through repress. several streets familiar to his feet; and they entered poor Bob Cratchit’s house; “Is it good,” she said, “or bad?” and found the mother and the children seated round the fire. “Bad,” he answered. Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy Cratchits “We are quite ruined, then?” were as still as statues in one corner, and sat looking up at Peter, who had a book “No. There is hope yet, Caroline.” before him. The mother and her

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daughters were engaged in sewing. But He couldn’t help it. If he could have surely they were quiet! helped it, he and his child would have been further apart perhaps than they The mother laid her work on the table. were. He left them, and went upstairs into “Color hurts my eyes,” she said. “It the room above, which was lighted makes them weak by candle-light; and I cheerfully, and hung with Christmas. wouldn’t show weak eyes to your father There was a chair set close beside the when he comes home, for all the world. body of the child, and there were signs of It must be near his time. But I think he’s some one having been there, lately. Bob walked a little slower than he used, these sat down in it, and when he had thought few last evenings.” a little and composed himself, he kissed the child’s face. He was reconciled to They were very quiet again. what had happened, and went down again. “I’ve known him walk with – I’ve And they drew about the fire, and known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his talked; the girls and mother working still. shoulder, very fast indeed. But he was Bob told them of the extraordinary light to carry,” she resumed, intent upon kindness of Mr. Scrooge’s nephew, her work, “and his father loved him so, whom he had scarcely seen but once, and that it was no trouble: no trouble. And who, meeting him in the street that day, there is your father at the door!” and seeing that he looked a little - “just a little down you know,” inquired what His tea was ready for him on the hob, had happened to distress him. “On and they all tried who should help him to which,” said Bob, “for he is the it most. Then the two young Cratchits pleasantest-spoken gentleman you ever got upon his knees and laid, each child a heard, I told him. ‘I am heartily sorry for little cheek, against his face, as if they it, Mr. Cratchit,’ he said, ‘and heartily said, “Don’t mind it, father. Don’t be sorry for your good wife.’ It really grieved!” seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us. But however and Bob was cheerful with them, and whenever we part from one another, I am spoke pleasantly to all the family. sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim - shall we - or this first parting that And Mrs. Cratchit said, “You went to- there was among us?” day, then, Robert?” “Never, father!” cried they all. “Yes, my dear,” returned Bob. “I wish you could have gone. It would have done “And I know,” said Bob, “I know, my you good to see how green a place it is. dears, that when we recollect how patient But you’ll see it often. I promised him and how mild he was; although he was that we would walk there on a Sunday. just a little, little child; we shall not My little child!” cried Bob. “My little, quarrel easily among ourselves, and little child!” forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it.”

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“No, never, father!” they all cried again. neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE. “I am very happy,” said Bob, “I am very happy!” “Am I that man who lay upon the bed?”

“Specter,” said Scrooge, “something The finger pointed from the grave to informs me that our parting moment is at him, and back again. hand. I know it, but I know not how. Tell me what man that was whom we saw lying dead?”

The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come made no reply, but conveyed him, as before until they reached an iron gate: A churchyard. Here, then, the wretched man whose name he had now to learn, lay underneath the ground. The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to one. Scrooge advanced towards it trembling. The Phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape.

“Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point,” said Scrooge, “answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?”

Still the Ghost pointed downward to “No, Spirit! Oh no, no! Spirit!” he cried, the grave by which it stood. tight clutching at its robe, “hear me! I am not the man I was. Why show me this, if “Men’s courses will foreshadow certain I am past all hope? Good Spirit,” he ends, to which, if persevered in, they pursued, as down upon the ground he fell must lead,” said Scrooge. “But if the before it: “Assure me that I yet may courses be departed from, the ends will change these shadows you have shown change. Say it is thus with what you me, by an altered life! I will live in the show me!” Past, Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will The Spirit was immovable as ever. not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may wash away the writing And Scrooge crept towards it, on this stone!” trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the And there began an alteration in the Phantom’s hood and dress. It shrunk,

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collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost. Scrooge called downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, “What’s today?”

“Eh? “ returned the boy.

“What’s today, my fine fellow?” said Stave 5 - The End of It Scrooge.

Yes! and the bedpost was his own! “Today?” replied the boy. “Why, it’s The room was his own! The bed curtains Christmas Day.” were his own! “It’s Christmas Day!” said Scrooge to “They are not torn down,” cried Scrooge, himself. “I haven’t missed it. The Spirits folding one of his bed-curtains in his have done it all in one night. They can do arms, “they are not torn down, rings and anything they like. Of course they can. all. They are here: I am here: the Hallo, my fine fellow!” shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be. I “Hallo!” returned the boy. know they will! Ha ha ha!” “Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the Really, for a man who had been out of next street but one, at the corner?” practice for so many years, it was a Scrooge inquired. splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. The father of a long, long line of brilliant “I should hope I did,” replied the lad. laughs! “What an intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “I don’t know what day of the month it “A remarkable boy! Do you know is!” said Scrooge. “I don’t know how whether they’ve sold the prize turkey long I’ve been among the Spirits. I don’t that was hanging up there? The big know anything!” one?”

He was checked in his transports by “What, the one as big as me?” returned the churches ringing out the lustiest peals the boy. he had ever heard. Clash, clang, clash, hammer, ding, ding, dong, bell. Bell, “What a delightful boy!” said Scrooge. ding, dong, hammer, clang, clash, clang, “It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my clash! buck!”

Running to the window, he opened it, “It’s hanging up there now,” replied the and put out his head. No fog! No mist! boy. Clear, bright, jovial, stirring cold. Cold, piping for the blood to dance on; Golden “Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it, and sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet, fresh air; tell ‘em to bring it here, that I may give merry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious! them the direction where to take it. Come 33

back with the man, and I’ll give you a as he had seen them with the Ghost of shilling. Come back with him in less than Christmas Present; and walking with his five minutes, and I’ll give you half-a- hands behind him, Scrooge regarded crown!” The boy was off like a shot. every one with a delighted smile. He looked irresistibly pleasant, that three or “I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s!” four good-humored fellows said, “Good whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands, morning, sir! Merry Christmas to you!” and splitting with a laugh. “He shan’t And Scrooge said often afterwards, that know who sends it!” of all the blithe sounds he had ever heard, those were the blithest in his ears. Scrooge went down stairs to open the street door, ready for the coming of the He’d not gone far, however, when poulterer’s man. As he stood there, coming on towards him he beheld the waiting his arrival, the knocker caught portly gentleman, who had walked into his eye. his counting-house the day before. It sent a pang across his heart to think how “I shall love it, as long as I live!” cried this old gentleman would look upon him Scrooge, patting it with his hand. “I when they met; but he knew what path scarcely ever looked at it before. What lay straight before him, and he took it. an honest expression it has in its face! It’s a wonderful knocker! - Here’s the “My dear sir,” Scrooge took the old Turkey. Hallo! Whoop! How are you! gentleman by both his hands. “How do Merry Christmas!” you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A merry It was a turkey! He never could have Christmas to you, sir!” stood upon his legs, that bird. He would have snapped ‘em short off in a minute, “Mr. Scrooge?” like sticks of sealing-wax. “Yes,” said Scrooge. “That is my name, “Why, it’s impossible to carry that to and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Camden Town,” said Scrooge. “You Allow me to ask your pardon. And you must have a cab.” have the goodness to -” And here Scrooge whispered in his ear. The chuckle with which he said this, and the chuckle with which he paid for “Lord bless me!” cried the gentleman, as the turkey, and the chuckle with which if his breath were gone. “My dear Mr. he paid for the cab, and the chuckle with Scrooge, are you serious?” which he recompensed the boy, were only to be exceeded by the chuckle with “If you please,” said Scrooge. “Not a which he sat down breathless in his chair farthing less. A great many back- again, and chuckled till he cried. payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favor?” At last, he dressed himself all in his best, and got out into the streets. The people were by this time pouring forth, 34

“My dear sir,” said the other, shaking hands with him. “I don’t know what to “Thank ‘ee. He knows me,” said say! Such munifi-” Scrooge, with his hand already on the dining-room lock. “I’ll just go in here, “Don’t say anything, please,” retorted my dear.” Scrooge. “Come and see me. Will you come and see me?” He sidled his face, round the door.

“I will!” cried the old gentleman. “Why bless my soul!” cried Fred, “who’s that?” “Thank ‘ee,” said Scrooge. “I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times. “It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I’ve come to Bless you!” dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”

Scrooge found himself near the open Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t door of a church. He went inside, and for shake his arm off. He was at home in the first time as a man, he joined his five minutes. Nothing could be heartier. voice to those of his fellow creatures in a Wonderful party, wonderful games, Christmas hymn. wonderful unanimity, wonderful happiness! Afterwards, he walked about the But he was early at the office next streets, and watched people hurrying to morning. Oh, he was early there. If he and fro, and patted children on the head, could only be there first, and catch Bob and questioned beggars, looked down Cratchit coming late! That was the thing into the kitchens of houses, and up to the he had set his heart upon. windows: and found that everything And he did it; yes he did! The clock could yield him pleasure. He had never struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No dreamed that any walk - that anything - Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and a could give him so much happiness. And half, behind his time. Scrooge sat with in the afternoon he turned his steps his door wide open, that he might see towards his nephew’s house. him come into the Tank. He passed the door a dozen times, Suddenly, Cratchit was there. His hat before he had the courage to go up and was off before he opened the door; his knock. But he made a dash, and he did it. comforter too. He was on his stool in a A young housemaid answered. jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o’clock. “Is your master at home, my dear?” said Scrooge to the girl. “Hallo!” said Scrooge. “And what do “Yes, sir.” you mean by coming here at this time of day?” “Where is he, my love?” said Scrooge. “I am very sorry, sir,” said Bob. “I am “He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with behind my time.” mistress. I’ll show you up-stairs, if you please.” 35

“You are?” repeated Scrooge. “Oh, yes. I think you are. Step this way, if you please.”

“It’s only once a year, sir,” pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. “It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.”

“Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,” said Scrooge, “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” Scrooge leapt from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again, said: “and therefore I am about to raise your salary!”

Bob began to tremble, and got a little Scrooge was better than his word. He nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary did it all, and infinitely more; and to idea of knocking Scrooge down with it; Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a holding him, and calling to the people in second father. He became as good a the court for help and a strait-waistcoat. friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any “A merry Christmas, Bob!” said other good old city, town, or borough, in Scrooge, as he clapped him on the back. the good old world. Some people “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good laughed to see the alteration in him, but fellow, than I have given you for many a he let them laugh, and little heeded them; year! I will raise your salary, and for he was wise enough to know that endeavor to assist your struggling family, nothing ever happened on this globe, for and we will discuss your affairs this very good, at which some people did not have afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of their fill of laughter in the outset; and smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, knowing that such as these would be and buy another coal-scuttle before you blind anyway, he thought it quite as well dot another ‘i’, Bob Cratchit.” that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One! 36

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