_-, dead" to be-
gin with. The
register of his burial was
signed by the clergyman, the
clerk, and Scrooge. Scrooge
and he were partners, for
many years. Scrooge never
painted out old Marley's
name and there it stood
above the warehouse door:
SCROOGE AND MARIJEY. Sometimes people new to the
business called him Scrooge, sometimes Marley, but he answered
to both names; it was all the same to him. Tight fisted Scrooge,
grasping, covetous, hard as flint ; secret and solitary as an oyster.
The cold within him froze his old features, his lointed nose, his
thin lips blue, and grated his voice. Nobody ever stopped him with
a gladsome "How are you"no beggars implored him, or chil-
dren ask him what o'clock it was. Even the blind men's dogs
appeared to know him and would tug their masters in doorways
and up courts. But it was the very thing he liked, warning all
human sympathy to keep its distance.
Christmas eye--and old Scrooge sat in his counting house
with the door open so that he might keep his eye on his clerk,
xvho, in ,a dismal little cell beyond was copying letters. It xvas
cold, biting, and the fog poured in through every chink and
keyhole. Scrooge had a small fire, but the clerk in his white
comforter tried to warm himself at the candle and not being a
man of imagination, he failed.
feeble fire; and Scrooge sat down upon a form, and wept to see
his poor forgotten self as he had used to be. The Spirit touched
him on the arm and Scrooge, looking at the Ghost, and with a'
mournful shaking of his head, glanced anxiously towards the
door. It opened; and a little girl, much younger than the boy,
came darting in, and putting her arms about his neck, and often
kissing him, addressed him as her "Dear brother." "I have come
to bring you home !" said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and
bending down to laugh. "Home, for good and all. Home, for-
ever and ever. Father is so much kinder than he used to be and
sent me in a coach to bring you. And ve're to be together all the
Christmas long, and have the merriest time in all the world."
Master Scrooge's trunk being tied on to the top of the coach,
the children bade the schoolmaster goodbye right willingly; and
getting into it, drove gaily down the garden sweep; the quick
wheels dashing the hoar-frost and snov from off the dark leaves
of the evergreens like spray. "Always a delicate creature, vhom
a breath might have withered," said the Ghost. "She died a
woman," continued the Ghost, "and had, as I think,, children."
"One child," Scrooge returned. "True," said the Ghost. "Your
nephew!" Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; and answered
"Yes!"
Although they had but that moment left the school behind
them, they were now in the busy thoroughfares of the city. The
Ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door and asked Scrooge
if he knew it. "Know- it! I was apprenticed here !" said Scrooge.
They went in. An old gentleman in a \Velsh wig sat behind a
high desk. "Why, it's old Fezzivig! Bless his heart!" Scrooge
cried in great excitement. Scrooge's former self, nov grown a
young man, came briskly in accompanied by his fellow'Pren-
tice. "Yo Ho, my boys !" cried Fezziwig. "No more work tonight.
Christmas Eve, let's have the shutters up." It was done in a
minute. Fuel was heaped upon the fire; the floor was swept and
watered, the lamps were trimmed, and the xvarehouse was as
snug and warm a ballroom as you would desire to see upon a
winter's night. In came a fiddler with a music book, and went
up to the lofty desk, and made an orchestra of it, and tuned like
fifty stomach-aches. In came Mrs. Fezziwig, one vast substantial
smile. In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable.
In came the six young followers whose hearts they broke. In
came all the young men and women employed in the business.
There were dances, and there were forfeits, and there was a
cake, and there was a great piece of cold roast. But the great
effect of the evening came when the fiddler struck up 'Sir Roger
de Coverley'. Then old Fezzixvig stood out to dance with Mrs.
Fezziwig. Top couple, too; a positive light appeared to issue
from Fezziwig calves. They shone in every part of the dance
like moons. Vrhen the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball
broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig took their stations, one on
either side of the door, and every person, individually, was
wished a "Merry Christmas." During the whole of this time,
Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. His heart and soul
were in the scene, and with his former self. It was not until nov
that he remembered the Ghost and became conscious that it was
looking full upon him. He felt the Spirit's glance, and stopped.
"What is the matter?" asked the Ghost. Said Scrooge, "I should
like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now!
That's all."
"My time grovs short," observed the Spirit. "Quick !" Again
Scrooge sav himself. He vas older no,v; a man in the prime of
life. His face had begun to wear the signs of care and avarice.
He vas not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl; in
whose eyes there vere tears. "It matters little," she said softly.
"To you, very little. Another idol has dis-
placed me;a golden one. I have seen your
nobler aspirations fall off,
one by one, until the
master passion, Gain, en-
grosses you. Our contract
is an old one. It vas made
vhen ve were both poor
and content to be so, until,
in good season we could improve our worldly fortune by our
patient industry. With a full heart, for the love of him, you once
were, I release you." He was about to speak; but with her head
turned away from him, she resumed. "May you be happy in the
life you have chosen !" She left him and they parted.
"Spirit!" said Scrooge in a broken voice, "Remove me from
this place." "I told you these were the 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! Take me back. Haunt me no longer !" In the struggle,, if that
could be called a struggle in which the Ghost, with no visible
resistance on his own part, was undisturbed by any effort of its
adversary, Scrooge was conscious of being exhausted and over-
come by an irresistible drowsiness ; and, further, being in his own
bedroom where he reeled and sank into a heavy sleep.
_--:-:: -i:/-.-i,-.!:,.'...--.!:.>..:.i.--,;. :-,:: ::'s":--" :.:.-'-. -- .. ........ --.
. .: :,- _ . .:.:': . -.;.,:
....: . ,. . .. . ..... ...... . :...:....::... :- ::-:.-.".. -.. :.:. .: ) .
........ .,.... ....... .,..,,. .......... .:..-
,...(----,,, waking in the middle of a "prodigiously
s.ore, to
,] his thoughts together, Scrooge felt that
he was restored to consciousness in the
right nick of time, for he lay upon his bed, the very core and
center of a blaze of ruddy light which streamed upon it, and
which, being only light, was more alarming than a dozen ghosts.
He began to think that the source and secret of this ruddy fight
might be in the adjoining room, from Whence it seemed to shine.
He got up softly and shuffled in his slippers to the door. The
moment Scrooge's hand was on the lock, a strange voice called
him by his name, and bade him enter. He obeyed.
It was his own room. There was no doubt about that, but it
had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceil-
ing were so hung with living greens, that it looked a perfect
grove, from every part of which, b,right gleaming berries glis-
tened, and the crisp leaves of mistletoe, holly and ivy reflected
back the light; and such a mightly blaze xvent roaring up the
chimney, as that dull petrification of a hearth had never knoxvn
in Scrooge's time or Marley's. Heaped up on the floor, to form
a kind of throne, xvere turkeys, geese, game, great joints of
meat, long wreaths of sausages, mince pies, plum puddings,
apples, juicy Oranges and seething bowls of punch that made
the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon
this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see; who bore a
glowing torch and held it up to shed its light on Scrooge as he
came peeking round the door. "I am the Ghost of Christmas
Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me!" Scrooge reverently
did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, bordered with
white fur. On its head it wore no other covering than a holly
wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown
curls were long and free; free as its cheery voice and its joyful
air. "You have never seen the like of me before !" exclaimed the
Spirit. "Spirit," said Scrooge submissively, "conduct me where
you will." "Touch my robe !" said the Spirit. Scrooge did as he
vas told and held it fast.
All vanished instantly and they stood in the city streets on
Christmas morning. Soon the steeples called good people all, to
church and chapel, and away they came flocking through the
streets in their best clothes, and with the gayest faces.
It was a remarkable quality of the Ghost that notwithstand-
ing his gigantic size, he could accommodate himself to any place
with ease; and that he stood beneath a low roof quite as grace-
fully as it was possible he could have done in any lofty hall.
It was his own kind, generous, hearty nature, and his sym-
pathy with all poor men, that led him straight to Scrooge's
clerk; for there he went, and Scrooge with him, holding to his
robe; and on the threshold of the door, the Spirit smiled arid
stopped to bless Bob Cratchit's dwelling with the sprinklings of
his torch. "Is there a peculiar flavor in what you sprinkle from
your torch?" asked Scrooge. "There is," said the Spirit. "l)oes
it apply to anybody on this day ?" asked Scrooge. "To any kindly
given. To a poor one most." "Why to a poor one most?" asked
Scrooge. "Because he needs it most."
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Bob's wife, dressed out but
poorly in a twice turned gown, assisted by- Belinda Cratchit,
second of her daughters, also brave in ribbons. And now two
smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, came tearing in, screaming that
outside they had smelt the goose, and known it for their own;
and basking in luxurious thoughts of sage and onions, these
young Cratchits danced about the table. While exalted Master
Peter Cratchit, with the corners of his monstrous shirt collar
(Bob's private property, conferred upon his son and heir in
honor of the day) nearly choking him, blew the fire until the
slmv potatoes bubbling up, knocked loudly at the saucepan lid
to be let out and peeled. "Here's Martha, Mother," cried the two
young Cratchits. "Why, bless your heart alive, my dear, how
late you are!" said Mrs. Cratchit, kissing her daughter, and
taking off her shawl and bonnet with officious zeal.
In came Bob, the father, vith at least three
"#:"-" feet of comforter, exclusive of the fringe,
" "" " hanging down before him; and his thread-
.._,.... " , ;:.
: bare clothes darned up and brushed, to look
,;.,- seasonable" and Tiny Tim upon his shoulder.
:'..: ... ' ..:.. '
.;.:: i- i-:i,);:ii-i !: Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch and
::' "+;-;-;!;- had his limbs supported by an iron frame.
';'): . " .- ;- - .-
..... ... "And how did little Tim behave?" asked
..
Mrs.. Cratchit, after Bob had hugged his
daughter to his heart's content. "As good as gold," said Bob,
"and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful sitting by himself so
much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told
me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw hm in the
church, because he was a cripple and it might be pleasant to
them to remember upon Christmas Day who made lame beg-
I have nothing to say against him." "I have no patience with
him," observed Scrooge's niece;and all the others expressed the
same opinion. "I was only going to say," said Scrooge's nephew,
"that he may rail at Christmas till he dies, but he can't help
thinking better of it--I defy him--if he finds me going there,
in good temper, year after year and saying 'Uncle Scrooge, how
are you ?' So here is a glass of mulled wine ready to our hand at
the moment; and I say A Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year to the old man wherever he is." Then Scrooge's nephew
laughed in his way: Scrooge's niece laughed as heartily as he.
And their assembled friends being not a bit behindhand, roared
out lustily. "Uncle Scroo-o-o-o-ge !"
Uncle Scrooge has imperceptibly become so gay and light of
heart, that he would have pledged the unconscious company in
return, if the Ghost had given him time. But the whole scene
passed off in the .breath of the last word spoken by his nephew
and he and the Spirit were again upon their travels.
Much they saw, and far they went, but always with a happy
end. The Spirit stood beside sick-beds and they were cheerful;
in alms-house, hospital, and jail, he left his blessing, and taught
Scrooge his precepts. It was a long night ; it was strange too, but
while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the
Ghost grew clearly older. Scrooge observed this change and as
the Spirit stood in an open place, he noticed that hi hair.was
gray. "Are Spirits' lives so short ?" asked Scrooge. "My life upon
this globe is very brief," replied the Ghost. "It ends tonight.
Hark! The time is drawing near." The himes were ringing the
three-quarters past the eleven at that period. "Forgive me in
what I ask," said Scrooge looking intently at the Spirit's robe,
"but I see something strange and not belonging to yourself.
Your robe?" From the folding of the Spirit's robe it brought
two children; wretched, abject, frightful, miserable. They knelt
down at its feet and clung upon the outside of its garment.
"Spirit! Are they yours ?" Scrooge could say no more.
"They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them.
".And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is
Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware of them both, and all of
their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brov I
see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased !"
"Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge. ".Are there
no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning-on him for the last time
with his own words. ".Are there no workhouses?" The bells
struck twelve. Scrooge looked for the Ghost and saw it not.
i'- .... !
;.{) : ; s the last stroke ceased to vibrate, he re-
Marley and lifting up his eyes, beheld a solemn
s,-- Phantom, draped and hooded, coming, like a
mist along the ground, toward him. The Phantom, slovly
gravely, silently approached. When it came near him, Scrooge
bent down upon his knees; for in the very air through which this
Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was
sht-ouded in deep black garments, 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 separated from the darkness by which it
was surrounded. He felt that it was tall and stately when it came
beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a
solemn dread. He knew no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor
moved.
"I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall
thrive within me. Oh, tell me that I may sponge away the writ-
ing on this stone !" In his agony, he caught the spectral hand. It
sought to free itself, but he was strong in his entreaty, and de-
tained it. The Spirit, stronger yet, repulsed him. Holding up his
hands in one last prayer to have his fate reversed, he saw an al-
teration in the Phantom's hood and dress. It shrank, collapsed,
and dwindled down into a bedpost.
hi2 own.. he be s : :.
own, and the too s "
own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own,
to make amends in "I will live in the Past, the Present and the
Future " Scrooge repeated, and he scrambled out of bed. "The
Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley
Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this I say it on
my knees, Old Jacob, on my knees " He had been sobbing vio-
lently in his conflict of the spirit and his face was wet with tears.
Running to the window, he opened it and put out his head. No
fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring cold; golden sunlight;
heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious, glorious
"What's today?" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy
in Sunday clothes, "What's today, my fine fellow? .... Today"
replied the boy, "Why, CHRISTMAS DAY." "It's Christmas
Day" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Sirits
have done it all in one night. "Hallo, my fine fellow!" "Hallo,"
returned the boy. "Do you know the Poulterer's, in the next
street but one, at the corner?" Scrooge inquired. "I should hope
I did," replied the lad. "An intelligent boy," said Scrooge. "A
remarkable boy! Do you know whether they sold the prize turkey
that was hanging there? The big one?" "What, the one as big
as me ?" returned the boy. "What a delightful boy !" said Scrooge.
"It's a pleasure to-talk to him. Yes, my buck," "It's hanging
there now," replied the boy. "Go and buy it," said Scrooge,
"And tell them to bring it here, that I may give them the direc-
tion where to take it. Come back with the man and I'll give you
a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I'll
give you a half a crown !" The boy was off like a shot. "I'll send
it to Bob Cratchit's !" whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands and
splitting with a laugh. "He shan't know who sends it. It's twice
the size of Tiny Tim." He went downstairs to open the street
door, ready for the coming of the poulterer's man. Here's the
turkey. "Hello again! Merry Christmas!" The chuckle with
which he recompensed the boy was only to be exceeded by the
chuckle with which he sat down breathless in his chair again,
and chuckled till he cried.
He dressed himself in all "his best" and at last got out into
the streets. The people were by this time pouring forth; Scrooge
regarded everyone with a delighted smile. He looked so irresist-
ibly pleasant, that three or four good humored fellows said,
"Good morning, Sir, a Merry Christmas to you!" And Scrooge
said often afterwards, that ot all the blithe sounds he had ever
heard, those were the blithest in his years. He had not gone far,
when coming on towards him, he beheld the portly gentleman,
who had walked into his counting house the day before and
said "Scrooge and Marley's, I believe?" "My dear Sir," said
Scrooge, and taking the old gentleman by both his hands. "Mr.
Scrooge?" "Yes," said Scrooge. "That is my name and I fear
it may not be pleasant to you, allow me to ask your pardon. And
will you have the goodness--" Here Scrooge whispered in his
ear. "My dear Sir," said the other, shaking hands with him. "I
don't know whag to say to such munifi--" " Don't say anything,
