A Christmas Carol Summarysparknotes

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https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dickens/charles/d5cc/contents.html

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By CHARLES DICKENS

ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS

New York THE PLATT & PECK CO.

!ii"

Copyright, 1905, by THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY

!iii"

INTRODUCTION

#he combined $ualities of the realist and the idealist which %ickens possessed to aremarkable degree& together with his naturall' (o)ial attitude toward life in general& seem

to ha)e gi)en him a remarkabl' happ' feeling toward *hristmas& though the pri)ationsand hardships of his bo'hood could ha)e allowed him but little real e+perience with this

da' of da's.

%ickens ga)e his first formal e+pression to his *hristmas thoughts in his series of

small books& the first of which was the famous ,*hristmas *arol&, the one perfectchr'solite. #he success of the book was immediate. #hackera' wrote of it: ,ho can

listen to ob(ections regarding such a book as this t seems to me a national benefit& andto e)er' man or woman who reads it& a personal kindness.,

#his )olume was put forth in a )er' attracti)e manner& with illustrations b' 0ohn

eech& who was the first artist to make these characters li)e& and his drawings were)aried and spirited.

#here followed upon this four others: ,#he *himes&, ,#he *ricket on the 2earth&,

,#he attle of ife&, and ,#he 2aunted 4an&, with illustrations on their first appearance b' %o'le& 4aclise& and others. #he fi)e are known to-da' as the ,*hristmas ooks., f them all the ,*arol, is the best known and lo)ed& and ,#he *ricket on the 2earth&,

1







although third in the series& is perhaps ne+t in point of popularit'& and is especiall'

familiar to 6mericans through 0oseph 0effersons characterisation of *aleb 8lummer.

%ickens seems to ha)e put his whole self into these glowing little stories. hoe)er sees but a cle)er ghost stor' in the!i)",*hristmas *arol, misses its chief charm and

lesson& for there is a different meaning in the mo)ements of Scrooge and his attendantspirits. 6 new life is brought to Scrooge when he& ,running to his window& opened it and

put out his head. o fog& no mist clear& bright& (o)ial& stirring cold cold& piping for the

blood to dance to ;olden sun-light 2ea)enl' sk' sweet fresh air merr' bells. h&glorious< ;lorious<, 6ll this brightness has its attendant shadow& and deep from the

childish heart comes that true note of pathos& the e)er memorable toast of #in' #im&,;od bless =s& >)er' ne<, ,#he *ricket on the 2earth, strikes a different note.

*harmingl'& poeticall'& the sweet chirping of the little cricket is associated with humanfeelings and actions& and at the crisis of the stor' decides the fate and fortune of the

carrier and his wife.

%ickenss greatest gift was characteri?ation& and no >nglish writer& sa)eShakespeare& has drawn so man' and so )aried characters. t would be as absurd to

interpret all of these as caricatures as to den' %ickens his great and )aried powers of creation. %ickens e+aggerated man' of his comic and satirical characters& as was his

right& for caricature and satire are )er' closel' related& while e+aggeration is the )er'essence of comed'. ut there remains a host of characters marked b' humour and

pathos. @et the pictorial presentation of %ickenss characters has e)er tended toward thegrotes$ue. #he interpretations in this )olume aim to eliminate the grosser phases of thecaricature in fa)our of the more human. f the interpretations seem no)el& if Scrooge be

not as he has been pictured& it is because a more human Scrooge was desiredAa Scroogenot wholl' bad& a Scrooge of a better heart& a Scrooge to whom the resurrection

described in this stor' was possible. t has been the illustrators whole aim to make these people li)e in some form more full' consistent with their t'pes.

;>B;> 6CB>% 64S.

Chatham, N.J.!)"

CONTENTS

STAVE PAGE

Marley's Ghost 11

The First of the Three Spirits 3D

The Second of the Three Spirits 51

E The Last of the Spirits 7F

E The End of it 93

!)i"

D

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19337/19337-h/19337-h.htm#Page_11












!11"

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

I Pro!e

BEING A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS

STAVE ONE

MARLEY"S GHOST

4arle' was dead& to begin with. #here is no doubt whate)er about that. #he register

of his burial was signed b' the clerg'man& the clerk& the undertaker& and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. 6nd Scrooges name was good upon *hange for an'thing he

chose to put his hand to. ld 4arle' was as dead as a door-nail.

4ind< dont mean to sa' that know& of m' own knowledge& what there is

particularl' dead about a door-nail. might ha)e been inclined& m'self& to regard acoffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmonger' in the trade. ut the wisdom of our

ancestors is in the simile and m' unhallowed hands shall not disturb it& or the *ountr'sdone for. @ou will& therefore& permit me to repeat& emphaticall'& that 4arle' was as dead

as a door-nail.

Scrooge knew he was dead f course he did. 2ow could it be otherwise Scrooge

and he were partners for dont know how man' 'ears. Scrooge was his sole e+ecutor&his sole!1D" administrator& his sole assign& his sole residuar' legatee& his sole friend& and

sole mourner. 6nd e)en Scrooge was not so dreadfull' cut up b' the sad e)ent& but thathe was an e+cellent man of business on the )er' da' of the funeral& and solemnised it

with an undoubted bargain.

#he mention of 4arle's funeral brings me back to the point started from. #here isno doubt that 4arle' was dead. #his must be distinctl' understood& or nothing wonderfulcan come of the stor' am going to relate. f we were not perfectl' con)inced that

2amlets Cather died before the pla' began& there would be nothing more remarkable inhis taking a stroll at night& in an easterl' wind& upon his own ramparts& than there would

be in an' other middle-aged gentleman rashl' turning out after dark in a bree?' spotA sa' St. 8auls *hurch-'ard& for instanceAliterall' to astonish his sons weak mind.

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Scrooge ne)er painted out ld 4arle's name. #here it stood& 'ears afterwards&

abo)e the warehouse door: Scrooge and 4arle'. #he firm was known as Scrooge and4arle'. Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge& and sometimes

4arle'& but he answered to both names. t was all the same to him.

h< but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone& Scrooge< a s$uee?ing&wrenching& grasping& scraping& clutching& co)etous& old sinner< 2ard and sharp as flint&from which no steel had e)er struck out generous fire secret& and self-contained& and

solitar' as an o'ster. #he cold within him fro?e his old features& nipped his pointed nose&shri)elled his cheek& stiffened his gait made his e'es red& his thin lips blue and spoke

out shrewdl' in his grating )oice. 6 frost' rime was on his head& and on his e'ebrows&and his wir' chin. 2e carried his own low temperature alwa's about with him he iced

his office in the dog-da's and didnt thaw it one degree at *hristmas.

>+ternal heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. o !13" warmth could warm&

no wintr' weather chill him. o wind that blew was bitterer than he& no falling snow wasmore intent upon its purpose& no pelting rain less open to entreat'. Coul weather didntknow where to ha)e him. #he hea)iest rain& and snow& and hail& and sleet could boast of

the ad)antage o)er him in onl' one respect. #he' often ,came down, handsomel' andScrooge ne)er did.

obod' e)er stopped him in the street to sa'& with gladsome looks& ,4' dear Scrooge& how are 'ou hen will 'ou come to see me, o beggars implored him to

bestow a trifle& no children asked him what it was oclock& no man or woman e)er oncein all his life in$uired the wa' to such and such a place& of Scrooge. >)en the blind mens

dogs appeared to know him and& when the' saw him coming on& would tug their ownersinto doorwa's and up courts and then would wag their tails as though the' said& ,o e'e

at all is better than an e)il e'e& dark master<,

ut what did Scrooge care t was the )er' thing he liked. #o edge his wa' along the

crowded paths of life& warning all human s'mpath' to keep its distance& was what theknowing ones call ,nuts, to Scrooge.

nce upon a timeAof all the good da's in the 'ear& on *hristmas >)eAold Scrooge

sat bus' in his counting-house. t was cold& bleak& biting weather: fogg' withal: and he

could hear the people in the court outside go whee?ing up and down& beating their handsupon their breasts& and stamping their feet upon the pa)ement stones to warm them. #he*it' clocks had onl' (ust gone three& but it was $uite dark alread'Ait had not been lightall da'Aand candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices& like rudd'

smears upon the palpable brown air. #he fog came pouring in at e)er' chink andke'hole& and was so dense without& that& although the court was of the narrowest& the

houses opposite were mere phantoms. #o see the ding' cloud come drooping down&obscuring e)er'thing&!1" one might ha)e thought that nature li)ed hard b' and was

brewing on a large scale.

#he door of Scrooges counting-house was open& that he might keep his e'e upon hisclerk& who in a dismal little cell be'ond& a sort of tank& was cop'ing letters. Scrooge had

a )er' small fire& but the clerks fire was so )er' much smaller that it looked like one



coal. ut he couldnt replenish it& for Scrooge kept the coal-bo+ in his own room and so

surel' as the clerk came in with the sho)el& the master predicted that it would benecessar' for them to part. herefore the clerk put on his white comforter& and tried to

warm himself at the candle in which effort& not being a man of strong imagination& hefailed.

,6 merr' *hristmas& uncle< ;od sa)e 'ou<, cried a cheerful )oice. t was the )oiceof Scrooges nephew& who came upon him so $uickl' that this was the first intimation he

had of his approach.

,ah<, said Scrooge. ,2umbug<,

2e had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost& this nephew of

Scrooges& that he was all in a glow his face was rudd' and handsome his e'es sparkled&and his breath smoked again.

,*hristmas a humbug& uncle<, said Scrooges nephew. ,@ou dont mean that& amsure,

, do&, said Scrooge. ,4err' *hristmas< hat right ha)e 'ou to be merr' hat

reason ha)e 'ou to be merr' @oure poor enough.,

,*ome& then&, returned the nephew gail'. ,hat right ha)e 'ou to be dismal hat

reason ha)e 'ou to be morose @oure rich enough.,

Scrooge& ha)ing no better answer read' on the spur of the moment& said& ,ah<,again and followed it up with ,2umbug<,

,%ont be cross& uncle<, said the nephew.

,hat else can be&, returned the uncle& ,when li)e in !15"such a world of fools asthis 4err' *hristmas< ut upon merr' *hristmas< hats *hristmas-time to 'ou but atime for pa'ing bills without mone' a time for finding 'ourself a 'ear older& and not an

hour richer a time for balancing 'our books& and ha)ing e)er' item in em through around do?en of months presented dead against 'ou f could work m' will&, said

Scrooge indignantl'& ,e)er' idiot who goes about with 4err' *hristmas on his lipsshould be boiled with his own pudding& and buried with a stake of holl' through his

heart. 2e should<,

,=ncle<, pleaded the nephew.

,ephew<, returned the uncle sternl'& ,keep *hristmas in 'our own wa'& and let me

keep it in mine.,

,Geep it<, repeated Scrooges nephew. ,ut 'ou dont keep it.,

,et me lea)e it alone& then&, said Scrooge. ,4uch good ma' it do 'ou< 4uch good

it has e)er done 'ou<,

,#here are man' things from which might ha)e deri)ed good& b' which ha)e not profited& dare sa'&, returned the nephew ,*hristmas among the rest. ut am sure

5



ha)e alwa's thought of *hristmas-time& when it has come roundAapart from the

)eneration due to its sacred name and origin& if an'thing belonging to it can be apartfrom thatAas a good time a kind& forgi)ing& charitable& pleasant time the onl' time

know of& in the long calendar of the 'ear& when men and women seem b' one consent toopen their shut-up hearts freel'& and to think of people below them as if the' reall' were

fellow-passengers to the gra)e& and not another race of creatures bound on other (ourne's. 6nd therefore& uncle& though it has ne)er put a scrap of gold or sil)er in m'

pocket& belie)e that it has done me good& and will do me good and sa'& ;od bless it<,

#he clerk in the tank in)oluntaril' applauded. ecoming immediatel' sensible of

the impropriet'& he poked the fire& and e+tinguished the last frail spark for e)er. !1F"

,et me hear another sound from yo&, said Scrooge& ,and 'oull keep 'our *hristmas b' losing 'our situation< @oure $uite a powerful speaker& sir&, he added&

turning to his nephew. , wonder 'ou dont go into 8arliament.,

,%ont be angr'& uncle. *ome< %ine with us to-morrow.,

Scrooge said that he would see himAA@es& indeed he did. 2e went the whole

length of the e+pression& and said that he would see him in that e+tremit' first.

,ut wh', cried Scrooges nephew. ,h',

,h' did 'ou get married, said Scrooge.

,ecause fell in lo)e.,

,ecause 'ou fell in lo)e<, growled Scrooge& as if that were the onl' one thing inthe world more ridiculous than a merr' *hristmas. ,;ood afternoon<,

,a'& uncle& but 'ou ne)er came to see me before that happened. h' gi)e it as areason for not coming now,

,;ood afternoon&, said Scrooge.

, want nothing from 'ou ask nothing of 'ou wh' cannot we be friends,

,;ood afternoon<, said Scrooge.

, am sorr'& with all m' heart& to find 'ou so resolute. e ha)e ne)er had an'$uarrel to which ha)e been a part'. ut ha)e made the trial in homage to *hristmas&

and ll keep m' *hristmas humour to the last. So 6 4err' *hristmas& uncle<,

,;ood afternoon&, said Scrooge.

,6nd 6 2app' ew @ear<,

,;ood afternoon<, said Scrooge.

2is nephew left the room without an angr' word& notwithstanding. 2e stopped at the

outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk& who& cold as he was& waswarmer than Scrooge for he returned them cordiall'.

F



,#heres another fellow&, muttered Scrooge& who o)erheard him: ,m' clerk& with

fifteen shillings a week& and a wife and famil'& talking about a merr' *hristmas. llretire to edlam.,!17"

#his lunatic& in letting Scrooges nephew out& had let two other people in. #he' were

portl' gentlemen& pleasant to behold& and now stood& with their hats off& in Scroogesoffice. #he' had books and papers in their hands& and bowed to him.

,Scrooge and 4arle's& belie)e&, said one of the gentlemen& referring to his list.,2a)e the pleasure of addressing 4r. Scrooge& or 4r. 4arle',

,4r. 4arle' has been dead these se)en 'ears&, Scrooge replied. ,2e died se)en'ears ago& this )er' night.,

,e ha)e no doubt his liberalit' is well represented b' his sur)i)ing partner&, said

the gentleman& presenting his credentials.

t certainl' was for the' had been two kindred spirits. 6t the ominous word

,liberalit', Scrooge frowned& and shook his head& and handed the credentials back.

,6t this festi)e season of the 'ear& 4r. Scrooge&, said the gentleman& taking up a

pen& ,it is more than usuall' desirable that we should make some slight pro)ision for the poor and destitute& who suffer greatl' at the present time. 4an' thousands are in want of

common necessaries hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts& sir.,

,6re there no prisons, asked Scrooge.

,8lent' of prisons&, said the gentleman& la'ing down the pen again.

,6nd the =nion workhouses, demanded Scrooge. ,6re the' still in operation,

,#he' are. Still&, returned the gentleman& , wish could sa' the' were not.,

,#he #readmill and the 8oor aw are in full )igour& then, said Scrooge.

,oth )er' bus'& sir.,

,h< was afraid& from what 'ou said at first& that something had occurred to stopthem in their useful course&, said Scrooge. , am )er' glad to hear it., !1H"

,=nder the impression that the' scarcel' furnish *hristian cheer of mind or bod' to

the multitude&, returned the gentleman& ,a few of us are endea)ouring to raise a fund to bu' the 8oor some meat and drink& and means of warmth. e choose this time& because

it is a time& of all others& when ant is keenl' felt& and 6bundance re(oices. hat shall put 'ou down for,

,othing<, Scrooge replied.

,@ou wish to be anon'mous,

, wish to be left alone&, said Scrooge. ,Since 'ou ask me what wish& gentlemen&that is m' answer. dont make merr' m'self at *hristmas& and cant afford to make

7



idle people merr'. help to support the establishments ha)e mentionedAthe' cost

enough and those who are badl' off must go there.,

,4an' cant go there and man' would rather die.,

,f the' would rather die&, said Scrooge& ,the' had better do it& and decrease thesurplus population. esidesAe+cuse meA dont know that.,

,ut 'ou might know it&, obser)ed the gentleman.

,ts not m' business&, Scrooge returned. ,ts enough for a man to understand his

own business& and not to interfere with other peoples. 4ine occupies me constantl'.;ood afternoon& gentlemen<,

Seeing clearl' that it would be useless to pursue their point& the gentlemenwithdrew. Scrooge resumed his labours with an impro)ed opinion of himself& and in a

more facetious temper than was usual with him.

4eanwhile the fog and darkness thickened so& that people ran about with flaring

links& proffering their ser)ices to go before horses in carriages& and conduct them ontheir wa'. #he ancient tower of a church& whose gruff old bell was alwa's peeping slil'

down at Scrooge out of a ;othic window in the wall& became in)isible& and struck thehours and $uarters in the clouds& with tremulous )ibrations afterwards& as if its teeth

were chattering in its fro?en head up there. #he cold became !19" intense. n the mainstreet& at the corner of the court& some labourers were repairing the gas-pipes& and had

lighted a great fire in a bra?ier& round which a part' of ragged men and bo's were

gathered: warming their hands and winking their e'es before the bla?e in rapture. #hewater-plug being left in solitude& its o)erflowings suddenl' congealed& and turned tomisanthropic ice. #he brightness of the shops& where holl' sprigs and berries crackled in

the lamp heat of the windows& made pale faces rudd' as the' passed. 8oulterers andgrocers trades became a splendid (oke: a glorious pageant& with which it was ne+t to

impossible to belie)e that such dull principles as bargain and sale had an'thing to do.#he ord 4a'or& in the stronghold of the might' 4ansion 2ouse& ga)e orders to his fift'

cooks and butlers to keep *hristmas as a ord 4a'ors household should and e)en thelittle tailor& whom he had fined fi)e shillings on the pre)ious 4onda' for being drunk

and blood-thirst' in the streets& stirred up to-morrows pudding in his garret& while his

lean wife and the bab' sallied out to bu' the beef.

Coggier 'et& and colder< 8iercing& searching& biting cold. f the good St. %unstan had but nipped the >)il Spirits nose with a touch of such weather as that& instead of using his

familiar weapons& then indeed he would ha)e roared to lust' purpose. #he owner of onescant 'oung nose& gnawed and mumbled b' the hungr' cold as bones are gnawed b'

dogs& stooped down at Scrooges ke'hole to regale him with a *hristmas carol but& atthe first sound of

,;od bless 'ou& merr' gentleman&4a' nothing 'ou disma'<,

Scrooge sei?ed the ruler with such energ' of action& that the singer fled in terror&lea)ing the ke'hole to the fog& and e)en more congenial frost.

H



6t length the hour of shutting up the counting-house arri)ed. !DI" ith an ill-will

Scrooge dismounted from his stool& and tacitl' admitted the fact to the e+pectant clerk inthe tank& who instantl' snuffed his candle out& and put on his hat.

,@oull want all da' to-morrow& suppose, said Scrooge.

,f $uite con)enient& sir.,

,ts not con)enient&, said Scrooge& ,and its not fair. f was to stop half-a-crown

for it& 'oud think 'ourself ill used& ll be bound,

#he clerk smiled faintl'.

,6nd 'et&, said Scrooge& ,'ou dont think me ill used when pa' a da's wages for

no work.,

#he clerk obser)ed that it was onl' once a 'ear.

,6 poor e+cuse for picking a mans pocket e)er' twent'-fifth of %ecember<, said

Scrooge& buttoning his great-coat to the chin. ,ut suppose 'ou must ha)e the wholeda'. e here all the earlier ne+t morning.,

#he clerk promised that he would and Scrooge walked out with a growl. #he officewas closed in a twinkling& and the clerk& with the long ends of his white comforter

dangling below his waist Jfor he boasted no great-coatK& went down a slide on *ornhill&at the end of a lane of bo's& twent' times& in honour of its being *hristmas-e)e& and then

ran home to *amden #own as hard as he could pelt& to pla' at blindmans buff.

Scrooge took his melanchol' dinner in his usual melanchol' ta)ern and ha)ing readall the newspapers& and beguiled the rest of the e)ening with his bankers book& went

home to bed. 2e li)ed in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner.#he' were a gloom' suite of rooms& in a lowering pile of building up a 'ard& where ithad so little business to be& that one could scarcel' help fanc'ing it must ha)e run there

when it was a 'oung house& pla'ing at hide-and-seek with other houses& and ha)eforgotten the wa' out again. t was old enough now& and drear' enough for nobod' li)ed

in it but Scrooge& the other rooms being all let out as offices. #he 'ard !D1" was so dark that e)en Scrooge& who knew its e)er' stone& was fain to grope with his hands. #he fog

and frost so hung about the black old gatewa' of the house& that it seemed as if the;enius of the eather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.

ow& it is a fact that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the

door& e+cept that it was )er' large. t is also a fact that Scrooge had seen it& night andmorning& during his whole residence in that place also that Scrooge had as little of what

is called fanc' about him as an' man in the *it' of ondon& e)en includingAwhich is a bold wordAthe corporation& aldermen& and li)er'. et it also be borne in mind that

Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on 4arle' since his last mention of his se)en-'ears-dead partner that afternoon. 6nd then let an' man e+plain to me& if he can& how it

happened that Scrooge& ha)ing his ke' in the lock of the door& saw in the knocker&without its undergoing an' intermediate process of changeAnot a knocker& but 4arle's

face.

9



4arle's face. t was not in impenetrable shadow& as the other ob(ects in the 'ard

were& but had a dismal light about it& like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. t was not angr'or ferocious& but looked at Scrooge as 4arle' used to look: with ghostl' spectacles

turned up on its ghostl' forehead. #he hair was curiousl' stirred& as if b' breath of hotair and& though the e'es were wide open& the' were perfectl' motionless. #hat& and its

li)id colour& made it horrible but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face& and be'ondits control& rather than a part of its own e+pression.

6s Scrooge looked fi+edl' at this phenomenon& it was a knocker again.

#o sa' that he was not startled& or that his blood was not conscious of a terriblesensation to which it had been a stranger from infanc'& would be untrue. ut he put his

hand upon the!DD" ke' he had relin$uished& turned it sturdil'& walked in& and lighted hiscandle.

2e did pause& with a moments irresolution& before he shut the door and he did look cautiousl' behind it first& as if he half e+pected to be terrified with the sight of 4arle's

pigtail sticking out into the hall. ut there was nothing on the back of the door& e+ceptthe screws and nuts that held the knocker on& so he said& ,8ooh& pooh<, and closed it with

a bang.

#he sound resounded through the house like thunder. >)er' room abo)e& and e)er'

cask in the wine merchants cellars below& appeared to ha)e a separate peal of echoes of its own. Scrooge was not a man to be frightened b' echoes. 2e fastened the door& and

walked across the hall& and up the stairs: slowl'& too: trimming his candle as he went.

@ou ma' talk )aguel' about dri)ing a coach and si+ up a good old flight of stairs& or through a bad 'oung 6ct of 8arliament but mean to sa' 'ou might ha)e got a hearse

up that staircase& and taken it broadwise& with the splinter-bar towards the wall& and thedoor towards the balustrades: and done it eas'. #here was plent' of width for that& and

room to spare which is perhaps the reason wh' Scrooge thought he saw a locomoti)ehearse going on before him in the gloom. 2alf-a-do?en gas-lamps out of the street

wouldnt ha)e lighted the entr' too well& so 'ou ma' suppose that it was prett' dark withScrooges dip.

=p Scrooge went& not caring a button for that. %arkness is cheap& and Scrooge liked

it. ut& before he shut his hea)' door& he walked through his rooms to see that all wasright. 2e had (ust enough recollection of the face to desire to do that.

Sitting-room& bedroom& lumber-room. 6ll as the' should be. obod' under the

table& nobod' under the sofa a small fire in the grate spoon and basin read' and thelittle saucepan of gruel JScrooge had a cold in his headK upon the hob. obod' under the

bed nobod' in the closet nobod' in his dressing-!D3"gown& which was hanging up in asuspicious attitude against the wall. umber-room as usual. ld fire-guard& old shoes&

two fish baskets& washing-stand on three legs& and a poker.

Luite satisfied& he closed his door& and locked himself in double locked himself in&which was not his custom. #hus secured against surprise& he took off his cra)at put on

1I



his dressing-gown and slippers& and his nightcap and sat down before the fire to take his

gruel.

t was a )er' low fire indeed nothing on such a bitter night. 2e was obliged to sitclose to it& and brood o)er it& before he could e+tract the least sensation of warmth from

such a handful of fuel. #he fire-place was an old one& built b' some %utch merchant longago& and pa)ed all round with $uaint %utch tiles& designed to illustrate the Scriptures.#here were *ains and 6bels& 8haraohs daughters& Lueens of Sheba& 6ngelic messengers

descending through the air on clouds like feather beds& 6brahams& elsha??ars& 6postles putting off to sea in butter-boats& hundreds of figures to attract his thoughts and 'et that

face of 4arle'& se)en 'ears dead& came like the ancient 8rophets rod& and swallowed upthe whole. f each smooth tile had been a blank at first& with power to shape some picture

on its surface from the dis(ointed fragments of his thoughts& there would ha)e been acop' of old 4arle's head on e)er' one.

,2umbug<, said Scrooge and walked across the room.

6fter se)eral turns he sat down again. 6s he threw his head back in the chair& hisglance happened to rest upon a bell& a disused bell& that hung in the room& and

communicated& for some purpose now forgotten& with a chamber in the highest stor' of the building. t was with great astonishment& and with a strange& ine+plicable dread& that&

as he looked& he saw this bell begin to swing. t swung so softl' in the outset that itscarcel' made a sound but soon it rang out loudl'& and so did e)er' bell in the house. !D"

#his might ha)e lasted half a minute& or a minute& but it seemed an hour. #he bells

ceased& as the' had begun& together. #he' were succeeded b' a clanking noise& deepdown below& as if some person were dragging a hea)' chain o)er the casks in the winemerchants cellar. Scrooge then remembered to ha)e heard that ghosts in haunted houses

were described as dragging chains.

#he cellar door flew open with a booming sound& and then he heard the noise muchlouder on the floors below then coming up the stairs then coming straight towards his

door.

,ts humbug still<, said Scrooge. , wont belie)e it.,

2is colour changed& though& when& without a pause& it came on through the hea)'door& and passed into the room before his e'es. =pon its coming in& the d'ing flame

leaped up& as though it cried& , know him< 4arle's ;host<, and fell again.

#he same face: the )er' same. 4arle' 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. #he chain he drew was clasped about his middle. t was long& and woundabout him like a tail and it was made Jfor Scrooge obser)ed it closel'K of cash-bo+es&

ke's& padlocks& ledgers& deeds& and hea)' purses wrought in steel. 2is bod' wastransparent so that Scrooge& obser)ing him& and looking through his waistcoat& could see

the two buttons on his coat behind.

11



Scrooge had often heard it said that 4arle' had no bowels& but he had ne)er

belie)ed it until now.

o& nor did he belie)e it e)en now. #hough he looked the phantom through andthrough& and saw it standing before him though he felt the chilling influence of its

death-cold e'es and marked the )er' te+ture of the folded kerchief bound about its headand chin& which wrapper he had not obser)ed before he was still incredulous& andfought against his senses.

,2ow now<, said Scrooge& caustic and cold as e)er. ,hat do 'ou want with

me,!D5"

,4uch<,A4arle's )oice& no doubt about it.

,ho are 'ou,

,6sk me who was.,

,ho were 'ou& then, said Scrooge& raising his )oice. ,@oure particular& for a

shade., 2e was going to sa' ,to a shade&, but substituted this& as more appropriate.

,n life was 'our partner& 0acob 4arle'.,

,*an 'ouAcan 'ou sit down, asked Scrooge& looking doubtfull' at him.

, can.,

,%o it& then.,

Scrooge asked the $uestion& because he didnt know whether a ghost so transparent

might find himself in a condition to take a chair and felt that& in the e)ent of its beingimpossible& it might in)ol)e the necessit' of an embarrassing e+planation. ut the ;host

sat down on the opposite side of the fire-place& as if he were $uite used to it.

,@ou dont belie)e in me&, obser)ed the ;host.

, dont&, said Scrooge.

,hat e)idence would 'ou ha)e of m' realit' be'ond that of 'our own senses,

, dont know&, said Scrooge.

,h' do 'ou doubt 'our senses,

,ecause&, said Scrooge& ,a little thing affects them. 6 slight disorder of the stomach

makes them cheats. @ou ma' be an undigested bit of beef& a blot of mustard& a crumb of cheese& a fragment of an underdone potato. #heres more of gra)' than of gra)e about

'ou& whate)er 'ou are<,

Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking (okes& nor did he feel in his heart b'

an' means waggish then. #he truth is& that he tried to be smart& as a means of distractinghis own attention& and keeping down his terror for the spectres )oice disturbed the )er'

marrow in his bones.

1D



#o sit staring at those fi+ed gla?ed e'es in silence& for a !DF" moment& would pla'&

Scrooge felt& the )er' deuce with him. #here was something )er' awful& too& in thespectres being pro)ided with an infernal atmosphere of his own. Scrooge could not feel

it himself& but this was clearl' the case for though the ;host sat perfectl' motionless& itshair& and skirts& and tassels were still agitated as b' the hot )apour from an o)en.

,@ou see this toothpick, said Scrooge& returning $uickl' to the charge& for thereason (ust assigned and wishing& though it were onl' for a second& to di)ert the )isions

ston' ga?e from himself.

, do&, replied the ;host.

,@ou are not looking at it&, said Scrooge.

,ut see it&, said the ;host& ,notwithstanding.,

,ell<, returned Scrooge& , ha)e but to swallow this& and be for the rest of m' da's persecuted b' a legion of goblins& all of m' own creation. 2umbug& tell 'ou humbug<,

6t this the spirit raised a frightful cr'& and shook its chain with such a dismal andappalling noise& that Scrooge held on tight to his chair& to sa)e himself from falling in a

swoon. ut how much greater was his horror when the phantom& taking off the bandageround his head& as if it were too warm to wear indoors& its lower (aw dropped down upon

its breast<

Scrooge fell upon his knees& and clasped his hands before his face.

,4erc'<, he said. ,%readful apparition& wh' do 'ou trouble me,

,4an of the worldl' mind<, replied the ;host& ,do 'ou belie)e in me or not,

, do&, said Scrooge. , must. ut wh' do spirits walk the earth& and wh' do the'come to me,

,t is re$uired of e)er' man&, the ;host returned& ,that the spirit within him shouldwalk abroad among his fellow-men& and tra)el far and wide and& if that spirit goes not

forth in life& it is condemned to do so after death. t is doomed to !D7" wander through theworldAoh& woe is me<Aand witness what it cannot share& but might ha)e shared on

earth& and turned to happiness<,

6gain the spectre raised a cr'& and shook its chain and wrung its shadow' hands.

,@ou are fettered&, said Scrooge& trembling. ,#ell me wh',

, wear the chain forged in life&, replied the ;host. , made it link b' link& and'ard b' 'ard girded it on of m' own free-will& and of m' own free-will wore it. s its

pattern strange to yo,

Scrooge trembled more and more.

13



,r would 'ou know&, pursued the ;host& ,the weight and length of the strong coil

'ou bear 'ourself t was full as hea)' and as long as this& se)en *hristmas-e)es ago.@ou ha)e laboured on it since. t is a ponderous chain<,

Scrooge glanced about him on the floor& in the e+pectation of finding himself

surrounded b' some fift' or si+t' fathoms of iron cable& but he could see nothing.

,0acob<, he said imploringl'. ,ld 0acob 4arle'& tell me more< Speak comfort to

me& 0acob<,

, ha)e none to gi)e&, the ;host replied. ,t comes from other regions& >bene?er

Scrooge& and is con)e'ed b' other ministers& to other kinds of men. or can tell 'ouwhat would. 6 )er' little more is all permitted to me. cannot rest& cannot sta'&

cannot linger an'where. 4' spirit ne)er walked be'ond our counting-houseAmark me Ain life m' spirit ne)er ro)ed be'ond the narrow limits of our mone'-changing hole

and wear' (ourne's lie before me<,t was a habit with Scrooge& whene)er he became thoughtful& to put his hands in his

breeches pockets. 8ondering on what the ;host had said& he did so now& but without

lifting up his e'es& or getting off his knees.

,@ou must ha)e been )er' slow about it& 0acob&, Scrooge!DH" obser)ed in a business-

like manner& though with humilit' and deference.

,Slow<, the ;host repeated.

,Se)en 'ears dead&, mused Scrooge. ,6nd tra)elling all the time,

,#he whole time&, said the ;host. ,o rest& no peace. ncessant torture of remorse.,

,@ou tra)el fast, said Scrooge.

,n the wings of the wind&, replied the ;host.

,@ou might ha)e got o)er a great $uantit' of ground in se)en 'ears&, said Scrooge.

#he ;host& on hearing this& set up another cr'& and clanked its chain so hideousl' inthe dead silence of the night& that the ard would ha)e been (ustified in indicting it for a

nuisance.,h< capti)e& bound& and double-ironed&, cried the phantom& ,not to know that ages

of incessant labour& b' immortal creatures& for this earth must pass into eternit' beforethe good of which it is susceptible is all de)eloped< ot to know that an' *hristian spirit

working kindl' in its little sphere& whate)er it ma' be& will find its mortal life too shortfor its )ast means of usefulness< ot to know that no space of regret can make amends

for one lifes opportunities misused< @et such was < h& such was <,

,ut 'ou were alwa's a good man of business& 0acob&, faltered Scrooge& who now

began to appl' this to himself.

,usiness<, cried the ;host& wringing its hands again. ,4ankind was m' business.#he common welfare was m' business charit'& merc'& forbearance& and bene)olence

1



were& all& m' business. #he dealings of m' trade were but a drop of water in the

comprehensi)e ocean of m' business<,

t held up its chain at arms length& as if that were the cause of all its una)ailinggrief& and flung it hea)il' upon the ground again.

,6t this time of the rolling 'ear&, the spectre said& , suffer !D9" most. h' did walk through crowds of fellow-beings with m' e'es turned down& and ne)er raise them to that

blessed Star which led the ise 4en to a poor abode ere there no poor homes towhich its light would ha)e conducted me,

Scrooge was )er' much disma'ed to hear the spectre going on at this rate& and began to $uake e+ceedingl'.

,2ear me<, cried the ;host. ,4' time is nearl' gone.,

, will&, said Scrooge. ,ut dont be hard upon me< %ont be flower'& 0acob< 8ra'<,

,2ow it is that appear before 'ou in a shape that 'ou can see& ma' not tell. ha)e

sat in)isible beside 'ou man' and man' a da'.,

t was not an agreeable idea. Scrooge shi)ered& and wiped the perspiration from his brow.

,#hat is no light part of m' penance&, pursued the ;host. , am here to-night towarn 'ou that 'ou ha)e 'et a chance and hope of escaping m' fate. 6 chance and hope of

m' procuring& >bene?er.,

,@ou were alwa's a good friend to me&, said Scrooge. ,#hankee<,

,@ou will be haunted&, resumed the ;host& ,b' #hree Spirits.,

Scrooges countenance fell almost as low as the ;hosts had done.

,s that the chance and hope 'ou mentioned& 0acob, he demanded in a faltering)oice.

,t is.,

,A think d rather not&, said Scrooge.

,ithout their )isits&, said the ;host& ,'ou cannot hope to shun the path tread.

>+pect the first to-morrow when the bell tolls ne.,

,*ouldnt take em all at once& and ha)e it o)er& 0acob, hinted Scrooge.

,>+pect the second on the ne+t night at the same hour.!3I" #he third& upon the ne+t

night when the last stroke of #wel)e has ceased to )ibrate. ook to see me no more andlook that& for 'our own sake& 'ou remember what has passed between us<,

hen it had said these words& the spectre took its wrapper from the table& and boundit round its head as before. Scrooge knew this b' the smart sound its teeth made when

the (aws were brought together b' the bandage. 2e )entured to raise his e'es again& and

15



found his supernatural )isitor confronting him in an erect attitude& with its chain wound

o)er and about its arm.

#he apparition walked backward from him and& at e)er' step it took& the windowraised itself a little& so that& when the spectre reached it& it was wide open. t beckoned

Scrooge to approach& which he did. hen the' were within two paces of each other&4arle's ;host held up its hand& warning him to come no nearer. Scrooge stopped.

ot so much in obedience as in surprise and fear for& on the raising of the hand& he became sensible of confused noises in the air incoherent sounds of lamentation and

regret wailings ine+pressibl' sorrowful and self-accusator'. #he spectre& after listeningfor a moment& (oined in the mournful dirge and floated out upon the bleak& dark night.

Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosit'. 2e looked out.

#he air was filled with phantoms& wandering hither and thither in restless haste& and

moaning as the' went. >)er' one of them wore chains like 4arle's ;host some fewJthe' might be guilt' go)ernmentsK were linked together none were free. 4an' had

been personall' known to Scrooge in their li)es. 2e had been $uite familiar with one old

ghost in a white waistcoat& with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle& who cried piteousl' at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant& whom it saw belowupon a doorstep. #he miser' with them all was& clearl'& that the' sought to interfere& for

good& in human matters& and had lost the power for e)er. !31"

hether these creatures faded into mist& or mist enshrouded them& he could not tell.ut the' and their spirit )oices faded together and the night became as it had been when

he walked home.

Scrooge closed the window& and e+amined the door b' which the ;host had entered.

t was double locked& as he had locked it with his own hands& and the bolts wereundisturbed. 2e tried to sa' ,2umbug<, but stopped at the first s'llable. 6nd being& from

the emotion he had undergone& or the fatigues of the da'& or his glimpse of the n)isibleorld& or the dull con)ersation of the ;host& or the lateness of the hour& much in need of

repose& went straight to bed without undressing& and fell asleep upon the instant. !3D"

STAVE TWO

THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS

hen Scrooge awoke it was so dark& that& looking out of bed& he could scarcel'

distinguish the transparent window from the opa$ue walls of his chamber. 2e wasendea)ouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret e'es& when the chimes of a

neighbouring church struck the four $uarters. So he listened for the hour.

1F



#o his great astonishment& the hea)' bell went on from si+ to se)en& and from se)en

to eight& and regularl' up to twel)e then stopped. #wel)e< t was past two when he wentto bed. #he clock was wrong. 6n icicle must ha)e got into the works. #wel)e<

2e touched the spring of his repeater& to correct this most preposterous clock. ts

rapid little pulse beat twel)e& and stopped.

,h'& it isnt possible&, said Scrooge& ,that can ha)e slept through a whole da' and

far into another night. t isnt possible that an'thing has happened to the sun& and this istwel)e at noon<,

#he idea being an alarming one& he scrambled out of bed& and groped his wa' to thewindow. 2e was obliged to rub the frost off with the slee)e of his dressing-gown before

he could see an'thing and could see )er' little then. 6ll he could make out was& that itwas still )er' fogg' and e+tremel' cold& and that there was no noise of people running to

and fro& and making a great stir& as there un$uestionabl' would ha)e been if night had beaten off bright da'& and taken possession of the world. #his!33" was a great relief&

because ,#hree da's after sight of this Cirst of >+change pa' to 4r. >bene?er Scrooge or his order&, and so forth& would ha)e become a mere =nited States securit' if there were

no da's to count b'.

Scrooge went to bed again& and thought& and thought& and thought it o)er and o)er&

and could make nothing of it. #he more he thought& the more perple+ed he was and& themore he endea)oured not to think& the more he thought.

4arle's ;host bothered him e+ceedingl'. >)er' time he resol)ed within himself&

after mature in$uir'& that it was all a dream& his mind flew back again& like a strongspring released& to its first position& and presented the same problem to be worked all

through& ,as it a dream or not,

Scrooge la' in this state until the chime had gone three $uarters more& when he

remembered& on a sudden& that the ;host had warned him of a )isitation when the belltolled one. 2e resol)ed to lie awake until the hour was passed and& considering that he

could no more go to sleep than go to 2ea)en& this was& perhaps& the wisest resolution inhis power.

#he $uarter was so long& that he was more than once con)inced he must ha)e sunk into a do?e unconsciousl'& and missed the clock. 6t length it broke upon his listening

ear.

,%ing& dong<,

,6 $uarter past&, said Scrooge& counting.

,%ing& dong<,

,2alf past&, said Scrooge.

,%ing& dong<,

,6 $uarter to it&, said Scrooge.

17



,%ing& dong<,

,#he hour itself&, said Scrooge triumphantl'& ,and nothing else<,

2e spoke before the hour bell sounded& which it now did with a deep& dull& hollow&

melanchol' >. ight flashed up in the room upon the instant& and the curtains of his bed were drawn.!3"

#he curtains of his bed were drawn aside& tell 'ou& b' a hand. ot the curtains at

his feet& nor the curtains at his back& but those to which his face was addressed. #hecurtains of his bed were drawn aside and Scrooge& starting up into a half-recumbent

attitude& found himself face to face with the unearthl' )isitor who drew them: as close toit as am now to 'ou& and am standing in the spirit at 'our elbow.

t was a strange figureAlike a child: 'et not so like a child as like an old man&

)iewed through some supernatural medium& which ga)e him the appearance of ha)ing

receded from the )iew& and being diminished to a childs proportions. ts hair& whichhung about its neck and down its back& was white& as if with age and 'et the face hadnot a wrinkle in it& and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. #he arms were )er' long

and muscular the hands the same& as if its hold were of uncommon strength. ts legs andfeet& most delicatel' formed& were& like those upper members& bare. t wore a tunic of the

purest white and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt& the sheen of which was

beautiful. t held a branch of fresh green holl' in its hand: and& in singular contradictionof that wintr' emblem& had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. ut the strangest

thing about it was& that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear (et of light&

b' which all this was )isible and which was doubtless the occasion of its using& in itsduller moments& a great e+tinguisher for a cap& which it now held under its arm.

>)en this& though& when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness& was not itsstrangest $ualit'. Cor& as its belt sparkled and glittered& now in one part and now in

another& and what was light one instant at another time was dark& so the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness: being now a thing with one arm& now with one leg& now

with twent' legs& now a pair of legs without a head& now a head without a bod': of which dissol)ing parts no outline would be )isible in the dense gloom wherein!35" the'

melted awa'. 6nd& in the )er' wonder of this& it would be itself again distinct and clear

as e)er.,6re 'ou the Spirit& sir& whose coming was foretold to me, asked Scrooge.

, am<,

#he )oice was soft and gentle. Singularl' low& as if& instead of being so close beside

him& it were at a distance.

,ho and what are 'ou, Scrooge demanded.

, am the ;host of *hristmas 8ast.,

,ong 8ast, in$uired Scrooge obser)ant of its dwarfish stature.

,o. @our past.,

1H



8erhaps Scrooge could not ha)e told an'bod' wh'& if an'bod' could ha)e asked

him but he had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap and begged him to beco)ered.

,hat<, e+claimed the ;host& ,would 'ou so soon put out& with worldl' hands& the

light gi)e s it not enough that 'ou are one of those whose passions made this cap& andforce me through whole trains of 'ears to wear it low upon m' brow,

Scrooge re)erentl' disclaimed all intention to offend or an' knowledge of ha)ingwilfull' ,bonneted, the Spirit at an' period of his life. 2e then made bold to in$uire

what business brought him there.

,@our welfare<, said the ;host.

Scrooge e+pressed himself much obliged& but could not help thinking that a night of

unbroken rest would ha)e been more conduci)e to that end. #he Spirit must ha)e heard

him thinking& for it said immediatel':

,@our reclamation& then. #ake heed<,

t put out its strong hand as it spoke& and clasped him gentl' b' the arm.

,Bise< and walk with me<,

t would ha)e been in )ain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour werenot adapted to pedestrian purposes !3F" that bed was warm& and the thermometer a long

wa' below free?ing that he was clad but lightl' in his slippers& dressing-gown& and

nightcap and that he had a cold upon him at that time. #he grasp& though gentle as awomans hand& was not to be resisted. 2e rose: but& finding that the Spirit made towardsthe window& clasped its robe in supplication.

, am a mortal&, Scrooge remonstrated& ,and liable to fall.,

,ear but a touch of m' hand there&, said the Spirit& la'ing it upon his heart& ,and'ou shall be upheld in more than this<,

6s the words were spoken& the' passed through the wall& and stood upon an opencountr' road& with fields on either hand. #he cit' had entirel' )anished. ot a )estige of

it was to be seen. #he darkness and the mist had )anished with it& for it was a clear& cold&winter da'& with the snow upon the ground.

,;ood 2ea)en<, said Scrooge& clasping his hands together as he looked about him.

, was bred in this place. was a bo' here<,

#he Spirit ga?ed upon him mildl'. ts gentle touch& though it had been light and

instantaneous& appeared still present to the old mans sense of feeling. 2e was consciousof a thousand odours floating in the air& each one connected with a thousand thoughts&

and hopes& and (o's& and cares long& long forgotten<

,@our lip is trembling&, said the ;host. ,6nd what is that upon 'our cheek,

19



Scrooge muttered& with an unusual catching in his )oice& that it was a pimple and

begged the ;host to lead him where he would.

,@ou recollect the wa', in$uired the Spirit.

,Bemember it<, cried Scrooge with fer)our , could walk it blindfold.,,Strange to ha)e forgotten it for so man' 'ears<, obser)ed the ;host. ,et us go

on.,

#he' walked along the road& Scrooge recognising e)er' !37"gate& and post& and tree&

until a little market-town appeared in the distance& with its bridge& its church& andwinding ri)er. Some shagg' ponies now were seen trotting towards them with bo's upon

their backs& who called to other bo's in countr' gigs and carts& dri)en b' farmers. 6llthese bo's were in great spirits& and shouted to each other& until the broad fields were so

full of merr' music& that the crisp air laughed to hear it.

,#hese are but shadows of the things that ha)e been&, said the ;host. ,#he' ha)e no

consciousness of us.,

#he (ocund tra)ellers came on and as the' came& Scrooge knew and named them

e)er' one. h' was he re(oiced be'ond all bounds to see them h' did his cold e'eglisten& and his heart leap up as the' went past h' was he filled with gladness when

he heard them gi)e each other 4err' *hristmas& as the' parted at cross-roads and b'-wa's for their se)eral homes hat was merr' *hristmas to Scrooge ut upon merr'

*hristmas< hat good had it e)er done to him

,#he school is not $uite deserted&, said the ;host. ,6 solitar' child& neglected b' hisfriends& is left there still.,

Scrooge said he knew it. 6nd he sobbed.

#he' left the high-road b' a well-remembered lane& and soon approached a mansion

of dull red brick& with a little weather-cock surmounted cupola on the roof and a bellhanging in it. t was a large house& but one of broken fortunes: for the spacious offices

were little used& their walls were damp and moss'& their windows broken& and their gatesdeca'ed. Cowls clucked and strutted in the stables and the coach-houses and sheds were

o)errun with grass. or was it more retenti)e of its ancient state within for& entering thedrear' hall& and glancing through the open doors of man' rooms& the' found them poorl'

furnished& cold& and )ast. #here was an earthl' sa)our in the air& a chill' bareness in the place& which associated itself somehow with too much getting up b' candle-light& and

not too much to eat.

#he' went& the ;host and Scrooge& across the hall& to a door !3H" at the back of thehouse. t opened before them& and disclosed a long& bare& melanchol' room& made barer

still b' lines of plain deal forms and desks. 6t one of these a lonel' bo' was reading near a feeble fire and Scrooge sat down upon a form& and wept to see his poor forgotten self

as he had used to be.

DI



ot a latent echo in the house& not a s$ueak and scuffle from the mice behind the

panelling& not a drip from the half-thawed water-spout in the dull 'ard behind& not a sighamong the leafless boughs of one despondent poplar& not the idle swinging of an empt'

storehouse door& no& not a clicking in the fire& but fell upon the heart of Scrooge withsoftening influence& and ga)e a freer passage to his tears.

#he Spirit touched him on the arm& and pointed to his 'ounger self& intent upon hisreading. Suddenl' a man in foreign garments: wonderfull' real and distinct to look at:

stood outside the window& with an a+e stuck in his belt& and leading b' the bridle an assladen with wood.

,h'& its 6li aba<, Scrooge e+claimed in ecstas'. ,ts dear old honest 6li aba<

@es& 'es& know. ne *hristmas-time when 'onder solitar' child was left here all alone&he did come& for the first time& (ust like that. 8oor bo'< 6nd Ealentine&, said Scrooge&

,and his wild brother& rson there the' go< 6nd whats his name& who was put down in

his drawers& asleep& at the gate of %amascus dont 'ou see him 6nd the Sultans ;roomturned upside down b' the ;enii: there he is upon his head< Ser)e him right< m glad of it. hat business had he to be married to the 8rincess,

#o hear Scrooge e+pending all the earnestness of his nature on such sub(ects& in amost e+traordinar' )oice between laughing and cr'ing and to see his heightened and

e+cited face would ha)e been a surprise to his business friends in the *it'& indeed.

,#heres the 8arrot<, cried Scrooge. ,;reen bod' and !39"'ellow tail& with a thing

like a lettuce growing out of the top of his head there he is< 8oor Bobin *rusoe he called

him& when he came home again after sailing round the island. 8oor Bobin *rusoe& whereha)e 'ou been& Bobin *rusoe #he man thought he was dreaming& but he wasnt. t wasthe 8arrot& 'ou know. #here goes Crida'& running for his life to the little creek< 2alloa<

2oop< 2alloo<,

#hen& with a rapidit' of transition )er' foreign to his usual character& he said& in pit'for his former self& ,8oor bo'<, and cried again.

, wish&, Scrooge muttered& putting his hand in his pocket& and looking about him&after dr'ing his e'es with his cuff: ,but its too late now.,

,hat is the matter, asked the Spirit.

,othing&, said Scrooge. ,othing. #here was a bo' singing a *hristmas *arol atm' door last night. should like to ha)e gi)en him something: thats all.,

#he ;host smiled thoughtfull'& and wa)ed its hand: sa'ing& as it did so& ,et us seeanother *hristmas<,

Scrooges former self grew larger at the words& and the room became a little darker

and more dirt'. #he panels shrunk& the windows cracked fragments of plaster fell out of the ceiling& and the naked laths were shown instead but how all this was brought about

Scrooge knew no more than 'ou do. 2e onl' knew that it was $uite correct: thate)er'thing had happened so that there he was& alone again& when all the other bo's had

gone home for the (oll' holida's.

D1



2e was not reading now& but walking up and down despairingl'. Scrooge looked at

the ;host& and& with a mournful shaking of his head& glanced an+iousl' towards the door.

t opened and a little girl& much 'ounger than the bo'& came darting in& and& puttingher arms about his neck& and often kissing him& addressed him as her ,dear& dear

brother.,

, ha)e come to bring 'ou home& dear brother<, said the !I" child& clapping her tin'

hands& and bending down to laugh. ,#o bring 'ou home& home& home<,

,2ome& little Can, returned the bo'.

,@es<, said the child& brimful of glee. ,2ome for good and all. 2ome for e)er and

e)er. Cather is so much kinder than he used to be& that homes like 2ea)en< 2e spoke sogentl' to me one dear night when was going to bed& that was not afraid to ask him

once more if 'ou might come home and he said @es& 'ou should and sent me in a coach

to bring 'ou. 6nd 'oure to be a man<, said the child& opening her e'es ,and are ne)er tocome back here but first were to be together all the *hristmas long& and ha)e themerriest time in all the world.,

,@ou are $uite a woman& little Can<, e+claimed the bo'.

She clapped her hands and laughed& and tried to touch his head but& being too little&

laughed again& and stood on tiptoe to embrace him. #hen she began to drag him& in her childish eagerness& towards the door and he& nothing loath to go& accompanied her.

6 terrible )oice in the hall cried& ,ring down 4aster Scrooges bo+& there<, and in

the hall appeared the schoolmaster himself& who glared on 4aster Scrooge with aferocious condescension& and threw him into a dreadful state of mind b' shaking hands

with him. 2e then con)e'ed him and his sister into the )eriest old well of a shi)ering best parlour that e)er was seen& where the maps upon the wall& and the celestial and

terrestrial globes in the windows& were wa+' with cold. 2ere he produced a decanter of curiousl' light wine& and a block of curiousl' hea)' cake& and administered instalments

of those dainties to the 'oung people: at the same time sending out a meagre ser)ant tooffer a glass of ,something, to the postbo' who answered that he thanked the gentleman&

but& if it was the same tap as he had tasted before& he had rather not. 4aster Scrooges

trunk being b' this time tied on to the top of the chaise& !1" the children bade theschoolmaster good-b'e right willingl' and& getting into it& dro)e gail' down the garden

sweep the $uick wheels dashing the hoar frost and snow from off the dark lea)es of thee)ergreens like spra'.

,6lwa's a delicate creature& whom a breath might ha)e withered&, said the ;host.

,ut she had a large heart<,

,So she had&, cried Scrooge. ,@oure right. will not gainsa' it& Spirit. ;od forbid<,

,She died a woman&, said the ;host& ,and had& as think& children.,

,ne child&, Scrooge returned.

,#rue&, said the ;host. ,@our nephew<,

DD



Scrooge seemed uneas' in his mind and answered briefl'& ,@es.,

6lthough the' had but that moment left the school behind them& the' were now in

the bus' thoroughfares of a cit'& where shadow' passengers passed and repassed whereshadow' carts and coaches battled for the wa'& and all the strife and tumult of a real cit'

were. t was made plain enough& b' the dressing of the shops& that here& too& it was*hristmas-time again but it was e)ening& and the streets were lighted up.

#he ;host stopped at a certain warehouse door& and asked Scrooge if he knew it.

,Gnow it<, said Scrooge. ,as apprenticed here,

#he' went in. 6t sight of an old gentleman in a elsh wig& sitting behind such a

high desk& that if he had been two inches taller& he must ha)e knocked his head againstthe ceiling& Scrooge cried in great e+citement:

,h'& its old Ce??iwig< less his heart& its Ce??iwig ali)e again<,

ld Ce??iwig laid down his pen& and looked up at the clock& which pointed to the

hour of se)en. 2e rubbed his hands ad(usted his capacious waistcoat laughed all o)er himself&!D" from his shoes to his organ of bene)olence and called out& in a comfortable&

oil'& rich& fat& (o)ial )oice:

,@o ho& there< >bene?er< %ick<,

Scrooges former self& now grown a 'oung man& came briskl' in& accompanied b'

his fellow-prentice.

,%ick ilkins& to be sure<, said Scrooge to the ;host. ,less me& 'es. #here he is.2e was )er' much attached to me& was %ick. 8oor %ick< %ear& dear<,

,@o ho& m' bo's<, said Ce??iwig. ,o more work to-night. *hristmas-e)e& %ick.*hristmas& >bene?er< ets ha)e the shutters up&, cried old Ce??iwig with a sharp clap of

his hands& ,before a man can sa' 0ack Bobinson<,

@ou wouldnt belie)e how those two fellows went at it< #he' charged into the street

with the shuttersAone& two& threeAhad em up in their placesAfour& fi)e& si+Abarredem and pinned emAse)en& eight& nineAand came back before 'ou could ha)e got to

twel)e& panting like race-horses.

,2illi-ho<, cried old Ce??iwig& skipping down from the high desk with wonderfulagilit'. ,*lear awa'& m' lads& and lets ha)e lots of room here< 2illi-ho& %ick< *hirrup&

>bene?er<,

*lear awa'< #here was nothing the' wouldnt ha)e cleared awa'& or couldnt ha)e

cleared awa'& with old Ce??iwig looking on. t was done in a minute. >)er' mo)ablewas packed off& as if it were dismissed from public life for e)ermore 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 dr'& and bright a ball-room as 'ou would desireto see upon a winters night.

D3



n came a fiddler with a music-book& and went up to the loft' desk& and made an

orchestra of it& and tuned like fift' stomachaches. n came 4rs. Ce??iwig& one )astsubstantial smile. n came the three 4iss Ce??iwigs& beaming and lo)able. n came the

si+ 'oung followers whose hearts the' broke. n came all the 'oung men and womenemplo'ed in the business.!3" n came the housemaid& with her cousin the baker. n came

the cook& with her brothers particular friend the milkman. n came the bo' from o)er thewa'& who was suspected of not ha)ing board enough from his master tr'ing to hide

himself behind the girl from ne+t door but one& who was pro)ed to ha)e had her ears pulled b' her mistress. n the' all came& one after another some sh'l'& some boldl'&

some gracefull'& some awkwardl'& some pushing& some pulling in the' all came& an'how and e)er' how. 6wa' the' all went& twent' couple at once hands half round and

back again the other wa' down the middle and up again round and round in )ariousstages of affectionate grouping old top couple alwa's turning up in the wrong place

new top couple starting off again as soon as the' got there all top couples at last& and not

a bottom one to help them< hen this result was brought about& old Ce??iwig& clappinghis hands to stop the dance& cried out& ,ell done<, and the fiddler plunged his hot faceinto a pot of porter& especiall' pro)ided for that purpose. ut& scorning rest upon his

reappearance& he instantl' began again& though there were no dancers 'et& as if the other fiddler had been carried home& e+hausted& on a shutter& and he were a bran-new man

resol)ed to beat him out of sight& or perish.

#here were more dances& and there were forfeits& and more dances& and there was

cake& and there was negus& and there was a great piece of *old Boast& and there was agreat piece of *old oiled& and there were mince-pies& and plent' of beer. ut the great

effect of the e)ening came after the Boast and oiled& when the fiddler Jan artful dog&mind< #he sort of man who knew his business better than 'ou or could ha)e told it

him<K struck up ,Sir Boger de *o)erle'., #hen old Ce??iwig stood out to dance with4rs. Ce??iwig. #op couple& too with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them three or

four and twent' pair of partners people who were not to be trifled with peoplewho wold dance& and had no notion of walking.!"

ut if the' had been twice as man'Aah< four timesAold Ce??iwig would ha)e beena match for them& and so would 4rs. Ce??iwig. 6s to her & she was worth' to be his

partner in e)er' sense of the term. f thats not high praise& tell me higher& and ll use it.

6 positi)e light appeared to issue from Ce??iwigs cal)es. #he' shone in e)er' part of the dance like moons. @ou couldnt ha)e predicted& at an' gi)en time& what would

become of them ne+t. 6nd when old Ce??iwig and 4rs. Ce??iwig had gone all through

the dance ad)ance and retire& both hands to 'our partner& bow and curts'& cork-screw&thread-the-needle& and back again to 'our place Ce??iwig ,cut,Acut so deftl'& that he

appeared to wink with his legs& and came upon his feet again without a stagger.

hen the clock struck ele)en& this domestic ball broke up. 4r. and 4rs. Ce??iwig

took their stations& one on either side the door& and& shaking hands with e)er' personindi)iduall' as he or she went out& wished him or her a 4err' *hristmas. hen

e)er'bod' had retired but the two prentices& the' did the same to them and thus thecheerful )oices died awa'& and the lads were left to their beds which were under a

counter in the back-shop.

D



%uring the whole of this time Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. 2is heart

and soul were in the scene& and with his former self. 2e corroborated e)er'thing&remembered e)er'thing& en(o'ed e)er'thing& and underwent the strangest agitation. t

was not until now& when the bright faces of his former self and %ick were turned fromthem& that he remembered the ;host& and became conscious that it was looking full upon

him& while the light upon its head burnt )er' clear.

,6 small matter&, said the ;host& ,to make these sill' folks so full of gratitude.,

,Small<, echoed Scrooge.

#he Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices& !5" who were pouring outtheir hearts in praise of Ce??iwig and& when he had done so& said:

,h'< s it not 2e has spent but a few pounds of 'our mortal mone': three or four&

perhaps. s that so much that he deser)es this praise,

,t isnt that&, said Scrooge& heated b' the remark& and speaking unconsciousl' like

his former& not his latter self. ,t isnt that& Spirit. 2e has the power to render us happ' or unhapp' to make our ser)ice light or burdensome a pleasure or a toil. Sa' that his

power lies in words and looks in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible toadd and count em up: what then #he happiness he gi)es is $uite as great as if it cost a

fortune.,

2e felt the Spirits glance& and stopped.

,hat is the matter, asked the ;host.

,othing particular&, said Scrooge.

,Something& think, the ;host insisted.

,o&, said Scrooge& ,no. should like to be able to sa' a word or two to m' clerk

(ust now. #hats all.,

2is former self turned down the lamps as he ga)e utterance to the wish and Scrooge

and the ;host again stood side b' side in the open air.

,4' time grows short&, obser)ed the Spirit. ,Luick<,#his was not addressed to Scrooge& or to an' one whom he could see& but it

produced an immediate effect. Cor again Scrooge saw himself. 2e was older now a manin the prime of life. 2is face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later 'ears but it had

begun to wear the signs of care and a)arice. #here was an eager& greed'& restless motionin the e'e& which showed the passion that had taken root& and where the shadow of the

growing tree would fall.

2e was not alone& but sat b' the side of a fair 'oung girl in a mourning dress: in

whose e'es there were tears& which sparkled in the light that shone out of the ;host of

*hristmas 8ast.!F"

D5



,t matters little&, she said softl'. ,#o 'ou& )er' little. 6nother idol has displaced me

and& if it can cheer and comfort 'ou in time to come as would ha)e tried to do& ha)eno (ust cause to grie)e.,

,hat dol has displaced 'ou, he re(oined.

,6 golden one.,

,#his is the e)en-handed dealing of the world<, he said. ,#here is nothing on which

it is so hard as po)ert' and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such se)erit'as the pursuit of wealth<,

,@ou fear the world too much&, she answered gentl'. ,6ll 'our other hopes ha)e

merged into the hope of being be'ond the chance of its sordid reproach. ha)e seen 'our nobler aspirations fall off one b' one& until the master passion& ;ain& engrosses 'ou.

2a)e not,

,hat then, he retorted. ,>)en if ha)e grown so much wiser& what then am not

changed towards 'ou.,

She shook her head.

,6m ,

,ur contract is an old one. t was made when we were both poor& and content to beso& until& in good season& we could impro)e our worldl' fortune b' our patient industr'.

@ou are changed. hen it was made 'ou were another man.,

, was a bo'&, he said impatientl'.

,@our own feeling tells 'ou that 'ou were not what 'ou are&, she returned. , am.

#hat which promised happiness when we were one in heart is fraught with miser' nowthat we are two. 2ow often and how keenl' ha)e thought of this will not sa'. t is

enough that ha!e thought of it& and can release 'ou.,

,2a)e e)er sought release,

,n words. o. e)er.,

,n what& then,

,n a changed nature in an altered spirit in another atmosphere of life another 2ope as its great end. n e)er'thing!7" that made m' lo)e of an' worth or )alue in 'our

sight. f this had ne)er been between us&, said the girl& looking mildl'& but withsteadiness& upon him& ,tell me& would 'ou seek me out and tr' to win me now 6h& no<,

2e seemed to 'ield to the (ustice of this supposition in spite of himself. ut he said&with a struggle& ,@ou think not.,

, would gladl' think otherwise if could&, she answered. ,2ea)en knows<hen " ha)e learned a #ruth like this& know how strong and irresistible it must be. ut

if 'ou were free to-da'& to-morrow& 'esterda'& can e)en belie)e that 'ou would choose

DF



a dowerless girlA'ou who& in 'our )er' confidence with her& weigh e)er'thing b' ;ain:

or& choosing her& if for a moment 'ou were false enough to 'our one guiding principle todo so& do not know that 'our repentance and regret would surel' follow do and

release 'ou. ith a full heart& for the lo)e of him 'ou once were.,

2e was about to speak but& with her head turned from him& she resumed.

,@ou ma'Athe memor' of what is past half makes me hope 'ou willAha)e pain in

this. 6 )er'& )er' brief time& and 'ou will dismiss the recollection of it gladl'& as anunprofitable dream& from which it happened well that 'ou awoke. 4a' 'ou be happ' in

the life 'ou ha)e chosen<,

She left him& and the' parted.

,Spirit<, said Scrooge& ,show me no more< *onduct me home. h' do 'ou delight

to torture me,

,ne shadow more<, e+claimed the ;host.

,o more<, cried Scrooge. ,o more< dont wish to see it. Show me no more<,

ut the relentless ;host pinioned him in both his arms& and forced him to obser)ewhat happened ne+t.

#he' were in another scene and place a room& not )er' large or handsome& but fullof comfort. ear to the winter fire sat a beautiful 'oung girl& so like that last that

Scrooge!H" belie)ed it was the same& until he saw her & now a comel' matron& sitting

opposite her daughter. #he noise in this room was perfectl' tumultuous& for there weremore children there than Scrooge in his agitated state of mind could count and& unlikethe celebrated herd in the poem& the' were not fort' children conducting themsel)es like

one& but e)er' child was conducting itself like fort'. #he conse$uences were uproarious be'ond belief but no one seemed to care on the contrar'& the mother and daughter

laughed heartil'& and en(o'ed it )er' much and the latter& soon beginning to mingle inthe sports& got pillaged b' the 'oung brigands most ruthlessl'. hat would not ha)e

gi)en to be one of them< #hough ne)er could ha)e been so rude& no& no< wouldnt for the wealth of all the world ha)e crushed that braided hair& and torn it down and& for the

precious little shoe& wouldnt ha)e plucked it off& ;od bless m' soul< to sa)e m' life.6s to measuring her waist in sport& as the' did& bold 'oung brood& couldnt ha)e done

it should ha)e e+pected m' arm to ha)e grown round it for a punishment& and ne)er come straight again. 6nd 'et should ha)e dearl' liked& own& to ha)e touched her lips

to ha)e $uestioned her& that she might ha)e opened them to ha)e looked upon the lashesof her downcast e'es& and ne)er raised a blush to ha)e let loose wa)es of hair& an inch

of which would be a keepsake be'ond price: in short& should ha)e liked& do confess&to ha)e had the lightest licence of a child& and 'et to ha)e been man enough to know its

)alue.

ut now a knocking at the door was heard& and such a rush immediatel' ensued that

she& with laughing face and plundered dress& was borne towards it in the centre of aflushed and boisterous group& (ust in time to greet the father& who came home attended

D7



b' a man laden with *hristmas to's and presents. #hen the shouting and the struggling&

and the onslaught that was made on the defenceless porter< #he scaling him& with chairsfor ladders& to di)e into his pockets& despoil him of brown-!9" paper parcels& hold on tight

b' his cra)at& hug him round the neck& pummel his back& and kick his legs inirrepressible affection< #he shouts of wonder and delight with which the de)elopment of

e)er' package was recei)ed< #he terrible announcement that the bab' had been taken inthe act of putting a dolls fr'ing-pan into his mouth& and was more than suspected of

ha)ing swallowed a fictitious turke'& glued on a wooden platter< #he immense relief of finding this a false alarm< #he (o'& and gratitude& and ecstas'< #he' are all indescribable

alike. t is enough that b' degrees& the children and their emotions got out of the parlour&and& b' one stair at a time& up to the top of the house& where the' went to bed& and so

subsided.

6nd now Scrooge looked on more attenti)el' than e)er& when the master of the

house& ha)ing his daughter leaning fondl' on him& sat down with her and her mother athis own fireside and when he thought that such another creature& $uite as graceful and

as full of promise& might ha)e called him father& and been a spring-time in the haggardwinter of his life& his sight grew )er' dim indeed.

,elle&, said the husband& turning to his wife with a smile& , saw an old friend of

'ours this afternoon.,

,ho was it,

,;uess<,

,2ow can #ut& dont know, she added in the same breath& laughing as helaughed. ,4r. Scrooge.,

,4r. Scrooge it was. passed his office window and as it was not shut up& and hehad a candle inside& could scarcel' help seeing him. 2is partner lies upon the point of

death& hear and there he sat alone. Luite alone in the world& do belie)e.,

,Spirit<, said Scrooge in a broken )oice& ,remo)e me from this place.,

, told 'ou these were shadows of the things that ha)e been&, said the ;host. ,#hat

the' are what the' are& do not blame me<, !5I"

,Bemo)e me<, Scrooge e+claimed. , cannot bear it<,

2e turned upon the ;host& and seeing that it looked upon him with a face in which

in some strange wa' there were fragments of all the faces it had shown him& wrestledwith it.

,ea)e me< #ake me back< 2aunt me no longer<,

n the struggleAif that can be called a struggle in which the ;host& with no )isibleresistance on its own part& was undisturbed b' an' effort of its ad)ersar'AScrooge

obser)ed that its light was burning high and bright and diml' connecting that with itsinfluence o)er him& he sei?ed the e+tinguisher cap& and b' a sudden action pressed itdown upon its head.

DH



#he Spirit dropped beneath it& so that the e+tinguisher co)ered its whole form but&

though Scrooge pressed it down with all his force& he could not hide the light& whichstreamed from under it in an unbroken flood upon the ground.

2e was conscious of being e+hausted& and o)ercome b' an irresistible drowsiness

and& further& of being in his own bedroom. 2e ga)e the cap a parting s$uee?e& in whichhis hand rela+ed and had barel' time to reel to bed before he sank into a hea)' sleep. !51"

STAVE THREE

THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS

6waking in the middle of a prodigiousl' tough snore& and sitting up in bed to get histhoughts together& Scrooge had no occasion to be told that the bell was again upon thestroke of ne. 2e felt that he was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time& for

the especial purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger dispatched tohim through 0acob 4arle's inter)ention. ut& finding that he turned uncomfortabl' cold

when he began to wonder which of his curtains this new spectre would draw back& he putthem e)er' one aside with his own hands& and& l'ing down again& established a sharp

look-out all round the bed. Cor he wished to challenge the Spirit on the moment of itsappearance& and did not wish to be taken b' surprise and made ner)ous.

;entlemen of the free-and-eas' sort& who plume themsel)es on being ac$uainted

with a mo)e or two& and being usuall' e$ual to the time of da'& e+press the wide rangeof their capacit' for ad)enture b' obser)ing that the' are good for an'thing from pitch-

and-toss to manslaughter between which opposite e+tremes& no doubt& there lies atolerabl' wide and comprehensi)e range of sub(ects. ithout )enturing for Scrooge

$uite as hardil' as this& dont mind calling on 'ou to belie)e that he was read' for agood broad field of strange appearances& and that nothing between a bab' and a

rhinoceros would ha)e astonished him )er' much.

ow& being prepared for almost an'thing& he was not b' an' means prepared for nothing and conse$uentl'& when the!5D" bell struck ne& and no shape appeared& he wastaken with a )iolent fit of trembling. Ci)e minutes& ten minutes& a $uarter of an hour went

b'& 'et nothing came. 6ll this time he la' upon his bed& the )er' core and centre of a bla?e of rudd' light& which streamed upon it when the clock proclaimed the hour and

which& being onl' light& was more alarming than a do?en ghosts& as he was powerless tomake out what it meant& or would be at and was sometimes apprehensi)e that he might

be at that )er' moment an interesting case of spontaneous combustion& without ha)ingthe consolation of knowing it. 6t last& howe)er& he began to thinkAas 'ou or would

ha)e thought at first for it is alwa's the person not in the predicament who knows what

ought to ha)e been done in it& and would un$uestionabl' ha)e done it tooAat last& sa'&he began to think that the source and secret of this ghostl' light might be in the ad(oining

D9



room& from whence& on further tracing it& it seemed to shine. #his idea taking full

possession of his mind& he got up softl'& and shuffled in his slippers to the door.

#he moment Scrooges hand was on the lock& a strange )oice called him b' hisname& and bade him enter. 2e obe'ed.

t was his own room. #here was no doubt about that. ut it had undergone asurprising transformation. #he walls and ceiling were so hung with li)ing green& that it

looked a perfect gro)e from e)er' part of which bright gleaming berries glistened. #hecrisp lea)es of holl'& mistletoe& and i)' reflected back the light& as if so man' little

mirrors had been scattered there and such a might' bla?e went roaring up the chimne'as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had ne)er known in Scrooges time& or 4arle's& or

for man' and man' a winter season gone. 2eaped up on the floor& to form a kind of throne& were turke's& geese& game& poultr'& brawn& great (oints of meat& sucking-pigs&

long wreaths of sausages& mince-pies& plum-puddings& barrels of o'sters& red-hot

chestnuts& cherr'-cheeked apples& (uic' oranges& luscious pears& immense twelfth-cakes&and seething!53" bowls of punch& that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam.n eas' state upon this couch there sat a (oll' ;iant& glorious to see who bore a glowing

torch& in shape not unlike 8lent's horn& and held it up& high up& to shed its light onScrooge as he came peeping round the door.

,*ome in<, e+claimed the ;host. ,*ome in< and know me better& man<,

Scrooge entered timidl'& and hung his head before this Spirit. 2e was not the

dogged Scrooge he had been and& though the Spirits e'es were clear and kind& he did

not like to meet them., am the ;host of *hristmas 8resent&, said the Spirit. ,ook upon me<,

Scrooge re)erentl' did so. t was clothed in one simple deep green robe& or mantle& bordered with white fur. #his garment hung so loosel' on the figure& that its capacious

breast was bare& as if disdaining to be warded or concealed b' an' artifice. ts feet&obser)able beneath the ample folds of the garment& were also bare and on its head it

wore no other co)ering than a holl' wreath& set here and there with shining icicles. tsdark brown curls were long and free free as its genial face& its sparkling e'e& its open

hand& its cheer' )oice& its unconstrained demeanour& and its (o'ful air. ;irded round its

middle was an anti$ue scabbard but no sword was in it& and the ancient sheath was eatenup with rust.

,@ou ha)e ne)er seen the like of me before<, e+claimed the Spirit.

,e)er&, Scrooge made answer to it.

,2a)e ne)er walked forth with the 'ounger members of m' famil' meaning Jfor am )er' 'oungK m' elder brothers born in these later 'ears, pursued the 8hantom.

, dont think ha)e&, said Scrooge. , am afraid ha)e not. 2a)e 'ou had man'

brothers& Spirit,

,4ore than eighteen hundred&, said the ;host.!5"

3I





'ellow of the oranges and lemons& and& in the great compactness of their (uic' persons&

urgentl' entreating and beseeching to be carried home in paper bags& and eaten after dinner. #he )er' gold and sil)er fish& set forth among these choice fruits in a bowl&

though members of a dull and stagnant-blooded race& appeared to know that there wassomething going on and& to a fish& went gasping round and round their little world in

slow and passionless e+citement.

#he ;rocers< oh& the ;rocers< nearl' closed& with perhaps two shutters down& or

one but through those gaps such glimpses< t was not alone that the scales descendingon the counter made a merr' sound& or that the twine and roller parted compan' so

briskl'& or that the canisters were rattled up and!5F" down like (uggling tricks& or e)en thatthe blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose& or e)en that the raisins

were so plentiful and rare& the almonds so e+tremel' white& the sticks of cinnamon solong and straight& the other spices so delicious& the candied fruits so caked and spotted

with molten sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel faint& and subse$uentl' bilious. or was it that the figs were moist and pulp'& or that the Crench plums blushed in

modest tartness from their highl'-decorated bo+es& or that e)er'thing was good to eatand in its *hristmas dress but the customers were all so hurried and so eager in the

hopeful promise of the da'& that the' tumbled up against each other at the door& crashingtheir wicker baskets wildl'& and left their purchases upon the counter& and came running

back to fetch them& and committed hundreds of the like mistakes& in the best humour possible while the ;rocer and his people were so frank and fresh& that the polished

hearts with which the' fastened their aprons behind might ha)e been their own& wornoutside for general inspection& and for *hristmas daws to peck at if the' chose.

ut soon the steeples called good people all to church and chapel& and awa' the'came& flocking through the streets in their best clothes& and with their ga'est faces. 6nd

at the same time there emerged& from scores of b'-streets& lanes& and nameless turnings&innumerable people& carr'ing their dinners to the bakers shops. #he sight of these poor

re)ellers appeared to interest the Spirit )er' much& for he stood with Scrooge beside himin a bakers doorwa'& and& taking off the co)ers as their bearers passed& sprinkled incense

on their dinners from his torch. 6nd it was a )er' uncommon kind of torch& for once or twice& when there were angr' words between some dinner-carriers who had (ostled each

other& he shed a few drops of water on them from it& and their good-humour was restored

directl'. Cor the' said& it was a shame to $uarrel upon *hristmas-da'. 6nd so it was< ;odlo)e it& so it was<!57"

n time the bells ceased& and the bakers were shut up and 'et there was a genialshadowing forth of all these dinners& and the progress of their cooking& in the thawed

blotch of wet abo)e each bakers o)en where the pa)ement smoked as if its stones werecooking too.

,s there a peculiar fla)our in what 'ou sprinkle from 'our torch, asked Scrooge.

,#here is. 4' own.,

,ould it appl' to an' kind of dinner on this da', asked Scrooge.

,#o an' kindl' gi)en. #o a poor one most.,

3D



,h' to a poor one most, asked Scrooge.

,ecause it needs it most.,

,Spirit<, said Scrooge after a moments thought. , wonder 'ou& of all the beings in

the man' worlds about us& should desire to cramp these peoples opportunities of innocent en(o'ment.,

,<, cried the Spirit.

,@ou would depri)e them of their means of dining e)er' se)enth da'& often the onl'

da' on which the' can be said to dine at all&, said Scrooge ,wouldnt 'ou,

,<, cried the Spirit.

,@ou seek to close these places on the Se)enth %a'&, said Scrooge. ,6nd it comes to

the same thing.,

, " seek<, e+claimed the Spirit.

,Corgi)e me if am wrong. t has been done in 'our name& or at least in that of 'our famil'&, said Scrooge.

,#here are some upon this earth of 'ours&, returned the Spirit& ,who la' claim to

know us& and who do their deeds of passion& pride& ill-will& hatred& en)'& bigotr'& andselfishness in our name& who are as strange to us& and all our kith and kin& as if the' had

ne)er li)ed. Bemember that& and charge their doings on themsel)es& not us.,

Scrooge promised that he would and the' went on& in)isible& !5H" as the' had been before& into the suburbs of the town. t was a remarkable $ualit' of the ;host JwhichScrooge had obser)ed at the bakersK& that& notwithstanding his gigantic si?e& he could

accommodate himself to an' place with ease and that he stood beneath a low roof $uiteas gracefull' and like a supernatural creature as it was possible he could ha)e done in

an' loft' hall.

6nd perhaps it was the pleasure the good Spirit had in showing off this power of his&

or else it was his own kind& generous& heart' nature& and his s'mpath' with all poor men&that led him straight to Scrooges clerks for there he went& and took Scrooge with him&

holding to his robe and& on the threshold of the door& the Spirit smiled& and stopped to bless ob *ratchits dwelling with the sprinklings of his torch. #hink of that< ob had

but fifteen ,ob, a week himself he pocketed on Saturda's but fifteen copies of his*hristian name and 'et the ;host of *hristmas 8resent blessed his four-roomed house<

#hen up rose 4rs. *ratchit& *ratchits wife& dressed out but poorl' in a twice-turned

gown& but bra)e in ribbons& which are cheap& and make a goodl' show for si+pence andshe laid the cloth& assisted b' elinda *ratchit& second of her daughters& also bra)e in

ribbons while 4aster 8eter *ratchit plunged a fork into the saucepan of potatoes& and&getting the corners of his monstrous shirt collar Jobs pri)ate propert'& conferred upon

his son and heir in honour of the da'K into his mouth& re(oiced to find himself sogallantl' attired& and 'earned to show his linen in the fashionable 8arks. 6nd now twosmaller *ratchits& bo' and girl& came tearing in& screaming that outside the bakers the'

33





might be pleasant to them to remember upon *hristmas-da' who made lame beggars

walk and blind men see.,

obs )oice was tremulous when he told them this& and trembled more when he saidthat #in' #im was growing strong and heart'.

2is acti)e little crutch was heard upon the floor& and back came #in' #im beforeanother word was spoken& escorted b' his brother and sister to his stool beside the fire

and while ob& turning up his cuffsAas if& poor fellow& the' were capable of being mademore shabb'Acompounded some hot mi+ture in a (ug with gin and lemons& and stirred

it round and round& and put it on the hob to simmer& 4aster 8eter and the two ubi$uitous'oung *ratchits went to fetch the goose& with which the' soon returned in high

procession.

Such a bustle ensued that 'ou might ha)e thought a goose the rarest of all birds a

feathered phenomenon& to which a black swan was a matter of courseAand& in truth& itwas something )er' like it in that house. 4rs. *ratchit made the gra)' Jread'

beforehand in a little saucepanK hissing hot 4aster 8eter mashed the potatoes withincredible )igour 4iss elinda sweetened up the apple sauce 4artha dusted the hot

plates ob took #in' #im beside him in a tin' corner at the table the two 'oung*ratchits set chairs for e)er'bod'& not forgetting themsel)es& and& mounting guard upon

their posts& crammed!F1" spoons into their mouths& lest the' should shriek for goose before their turn came to be helped. 6t last the dishes were set on& and grace was said. t

was succeeded b' a breathless pause& as 4rs. *ratchit& looking slowl' all along thecar)ing-knife& prepared to plunge it in the breast but when she did& and when the long-

e+pected gush of stuffing issued forth& one murmur of delight arose all round the board&and e)en #in' #im& e+cited b' the two 'oung *ratchits& beat on the table with the handle

of his knife& and feebl' cried 2urrah<

#here ne)er was such a goose. ob said he didnt belie)e there e)er was such a

goose cooked. ts tenderness and fla)our& si?e and cheapness& were the themes of uni)ersal admiration. >ked out b' apple sauce and mashed potatoes& it was a sufficient

dinner for the whole famil' indeed& as 4rs. *ratchit said with great delight Jsur)e'ingone small atom of a bone upon the dishK& the' hadnt ate it all at last< @et e)er' one had

had enough& and the 'oungest *ratchits& in particular& were steeped in sage and onion to

the e'ebrows< ut now& the plates being changed b' 4iss elinda& 4rs. *ratchit left theroom aloneAtoo ner)ous to bear witnessesAto take the pudding up& and bring it in.

Suppose it should not be done enough< Suppose it should break in turning out<

Suppose somebod' should ha)e got o)er the wall of the back-'ard and stolen it& whilethe' were merr' with the gooseAa supposition at which the two 'oung *ratchits

became li)id< 6ll sorts of horrors were supposed.

2allo< 6 great deal of steam< #he pudding was out of the copper. 6 smell like awashing-da'< #hat was the cloth. 6 smell like an eating-house and a pastr'cooks ne+t

door to each other& with a laundresss ne+t door to that< #hat was the pudding< n half aminute 4rs. *ratchit enteredAflushed& but smiling proudl'Awith the pudding& like a

35



speckled cannon-ball& so hard and firm& bla?ing in half of half-a-$uartern of ignited

brand'& and bedight with *hristmas holl' stuck into the top.!FD"

h& a wonderful pudding< ob *ratchit said& and calml' too& that he regarded it asthe greatest success achie)ed b' 4rs. *ratchit since their marriage. 4rs. *ratchit said

that& now the weight was off her mind& she would confess she had her doubts about the$uantit' of flour. >)er'bod' had something to sa' about it& but nobod' said or thought itwas at all a small pudding for a large famil'. t would ha)e been flat heres' to do so.

6n' *ratchit would ha)e blushed to hint at such a thing.

6t last the dinner was all done& the cloth was cleared& the hearth swept& and the firemade up. #he compound in the (ug being tasted& and considered perfect& apples and

oranges were put upon the table& and a sho)el full of chestnuts on the fire. #hen all the*ratchit famil' drew round the hearth in what ob *ratchit called a circle& meaning half

a one and at ob *ratchits elbow stood the famil' displa' of glass. #wo tumblers and a

custard cup without a handle.

#hese held the hot stuff from the (ug& howe)er& as well as golden goblets would ha)edone and ob ser)ed it out with beaming looks& while the chestnuts on the fire sputtered

and cracked noisil'. #hen ob proposed:

,6 merr' *hristmas to us all& m' dears. ;od bless us<,

hich all the famil' re-echoed.

,;od bless us e)er' one<, said #in' #im& the last of all.

2e sat )er' close to his fathers side& upon his little stool. ob held his withered littlehand in his& as if he lo)ed the child& and wished to keep him b' his side& and dreaded that

he might be taken from him.

,Spirit&, said Scrooge with an interest he had ne)er felt before& ,tell me if #in' #im

will li)e.,

, see a )acant seat&, replied the ;host& ,in the poor chimne'-corner& and a crutch

without an owner& carefull' preser)ed. f these shadows remain unaltered b' the Cuture&the child will die.,!F3"

,o& no&, said Scrooge. ,h& no& kind Spirit< sa' he will be spared.,

,f these shadows remain unaltered b' the Cuture& none other of m' race&, returnedthe ;host& ,will find him here. hat then f he be like to die& he had better do it& and

decrease the surplus population.,

Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words $uoted b' the Spirit& and waso)ercome with penitence and grief.

,4an&, said the ;host& ,if man 'ou be in heart& not adamant& forbear that wicked

cant until 'ou ha)e disco)ered hat the surplus is& and here it is. ill 'ou decidewhat men shall li)e& what men shall die t ma' be that& in the sight of 2ea)en& 'ou aremore worthless and less fit to li)e than millions like this poor mans child. h ;od< to

3F



hear the nsect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungr' brothers

in the dust<,

Scrooge bent before the ;hosts rebuke& and& trembling& cast his e'es upon theground. ut he raised them speedil' on hearing his own name.

,4r. Scrooge<, said ob. ,ll gi)e 'ou 4r. Scrooge& the Counder of the Ceast<,

,#he Counder of the Ceast& indeed<, cried 4rs. *ratchit& reddening. , wish had

him here. d gi)e him a piece of m' mind to feast upon& and hope hed ha)e a goodappetite for it.,

,4' dear&, said ob& ,the children< *hristmas-da'.,

,t should be *hristmas-da'& am sure&, said she& ,on which one drinks the health of such an odious& sting'& hard& unfeeling man as 4r. Scrooge. @ou know he is& Bobert<

obod' knows it better than 'ou do& poor fellow<,

,4' dear<, was obs mild answer. ,*hristmas-da'.,

,ll drink his health for 'our sake and the %a's&, said 4rs. *ratchit& ,not for his.

ong life to him< 6 merr' *hristmas and a happ' ew @ear< 2ell be )er' merr' and)er' happ'& ha)e no doubt<,!F"

#he children drank the toast after her. t was the first of their proceedings which hadno heartiness in it. #in' #im drank it last of all& but he didnt care twopence for it.

Scrooge was the gre of the famil'. #he mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the

part'& which was not dispelled for full fi)e minutes.

6fter it had passed awa' the' were ten times merrier than before& from the mere

relief of Scrooge the aleful being done with. ob *ratchit told them how he had asituation in his e'e for 4aster 8eter& which would bring in& if obtained& full fi)e-and-si+pence weekl'. #he two 'oung *ratchits laughed tremendousl' at the idea of 8eters

being a man of business and 8eter himself looked thoughtfull' at the fire from betweenhis collars& as if he were deliberating what particular in)estments he should fa)our when

he came into the receipt of that bewildering income. 4artha& who was a poor apprenticeat a milliners& then told them what kind of work she had to do& and how man' hours she

worked at a stretch& and how she meant to lie abed to-morrow morning for a good longrest to-morrow being a holida' she passed at home. 6lso how she had seen a countess

and a lord some da's before& and how the lord ,was much about as tall as 8eter, atwhich 8eter pulled up his collars so high& that 'ou couldnt ha)e seen his head if 'ou had

been there. 6ll this time the chestnuts and the (ug went round and round and b'-and-b'the' had a song& about a lost child tra)elling in the snow& from #in' #im& who had a

plainti)e little )oice& and sang it )er' well indeed.

#here was nothing of high mark in this. #he' were not a handsome famil' the'were not well dressed their shoes were far from being waterproof their clothes were

scant' and 8eter might ha)e known& and )er' likel' did& the inside of a pawn-brokers.ut the' were happ'& grateful& pleased with one another& and contented with the time

and when the' faded& and looked happier 'et in the bright sprinklings of the

37



Spirits!F5" torch at parting& Scrooge had his e'e upon them& and especiall' on #in' #im&

until the last.

' this time it was getting dark& and snowing prett' hea)il' and as Scrooge and theSpirit went along the streets& the brightness of the roaring fires in kitchens& parlours& and

all sorts of rooms was wonderful. 2ere& the flickering of the bla?e showed preparationsfor a cos' dinner& with hot plates baking through and through before the fire& and deepred curtains& read' to be drawn to shut out cold and darkness. #here& all the children of

the house were running out into the snow to meet their married sisters& brothers& cousins&uncles& aunts& and be the first to greet them. 2ere& again& were shadows on the window

blinds of guests assembling and there a group of handsome girls& all hooded and fur- booted& and all chattering at once& tripped lightl' off to some near neighbours house

where& woe upon the single man who saw them enterAartful witches& well the' knew it Ain a glow<

ut& if 'ou had (udged from the numbers of people on their wa' to friendl'gatherings& 'ou might ha)e thought that no one was at home to gi)e them welcome whenthe' got there& instead of e)er' house e+pecting compan'& and piling up its fires half-

chimne' high. lessings on it& how the ;host e+ulted< 2ow it bared its breadth of breast&and opened its capacious palm& and floated on& outpouring& with a generous hand& its

bright and harmless mirth on e)er'thing within its reach< #he )er' lamp-lighter& who ranon before& dotting the dusk' street with specks of light& and who was dressed to spend

the e)ening somewhere& laughed out loudl' as the Spirit passed& though little kenned thelamp-lighter that he had an' compan' but *hristmas.

6nd now& without a word of warning from the ;host& the' stood upon a bleak anddesert moor& where monstrous masses of rude stone were cast about& as though it were

the burial-place or giants and water spread itself wheresoe)er it listed or would ha)edone so& but for the frost that held it prisoner and nothing !FF" grew but moss and fur?e&

and coarse& rank grass. %own in the west the setting sun had left a streak of fier' red&which glared upon the desolation for an instant& like a sullen e'e& and& frowning lower&

lower& lower 'et& was lost in the thick gloom of darkest night.

,hat place is this, asked Scrooge.

,6 place where 4iners li)e& who labour in the bowels of the earth&, returned theSpirit. ,ut the' know me. See<,

6 light shone from the window of a hut& and swiftl' the' ad)anced towards it.

8assing through the wall of mud and stone& the' found a cheerful compan' assembledround a glowing fire. 6n old& old man and woman& with their children and their

childrens children& and another generation be'ond that& all decked out gail' in their holida' attire. #he old man& in a )oice that seldom rose abo)e the howling of the wind

upon the barren waste& was singing them a *hristmas song it had been a )er' old songwhen he was a bo' and from time to time the' all (oined in the chorus. So surel' as the'

raised their )oices& the old man got $uite blithe and loud and& so surel' as the' stopped&his )igour sank again.

3H



#he Spirit did not tarr' here& but bade Scrooge hold his robe& and& passing on abo)e

the moor& sped whither ot to sea #o sea. #o Scrooges horror& looking back& he sawthe last of the land& a frightful range of rocks& behind them and his ears were deafened

b' the thundering of water& as it rolled and roared& and raged among the dreadful ca)ernsit had worn& and fiercel' tried to undermine the earth.

uilt upon a dismal reef of sunken rocks& some league or so from shore& on whichthe waters chafed and dashed& the wild 'ear through& there stood a solitar' lighthouse.

;reat heaps of seaweed clung to its base& and storm-birdsAborn of the wind& one mightsuppose& as seaweed of the waterArose and fell about it& like the wa)es the' skimmed.

ut& e)en here& two men who watched the light had made a !F7" fire that through the

loophole in the thick stone wall shed out a ra' of brightness on the awful sea. 0oiningtheir horn' hands o)er the rough table at which the' sat& the' wished each other 4err'

*hristmas in their can of grog and one of them& the elder too& with his face all damaged

and scarred with hard weather& as the figure-head of an old ship might be& struck up asturd' song that was like a gale in itself.

6gain the ;host sped on& abo)e the black and hea)ing seaAon& onAuntil& being far

awa'& as he told Scrooge& from an' shore& the' lighted on a ship. #he' stood beside thehelmsman at the wheel& the look-out in the bow& the officers who had the watch dark&

ghostl' figures in their se)eral stations but e)er' man among them hummed a *hristmastune& or had a *hristmas thought& or spoke below his breath to his companion of some

b'gone *hristmas-da'& with homeward hopes belonging to it. 6nd e)er' man on board&waking or sleeping& good or bad& had had a kinder word for one another on that da' than

on an' da' in the 'ear and had shared to some e+tent in its festi)ities and hadremembered those he cared for at a distance& and had known that the' delighted to

remember him.

t was a great surprise to Scrooge& while listening to the moaning of the wind& and

thinking what a solemn thing it was to mo)e on through the lonel' darkness o)er anunknown ab'ss& whose depths were secrets as profound as death: it was a great surprise

to Scrooge& while thus engaged& to hear a heart' laugh. t was a much greater surprise toScrooge to recognise it as his own nephews& and to find himself in a bright& dr'&

gleaming room& with the Spirit standing smiling b' his side& and looking at that same

nephew with appro)ing affabilit'<

,2a& ha<, laughed Scrooges nephew. ,2a& ha& ha<,

f 'ou should happen& b' an' unlikel' chance& to know a man more blessed in alaugh than Scrooges nephew& all can sa' is& should like to know him too. ntroduce

him to me& and ll culti)ate his ac$uaintance.!FH"

t is a fair& e)en-handed& noble ad(ustment of things& that& while there is infection in

disease and sorrow& there is nothing in the world so irresistibl' contagious as laughter and good-humour. hen Scrooges nephew laughed in this wa'& holding his sides&

rolling his head& and twisting his face into the most e+tra)agant contortions& Scroogesniece& b' marriage& laughed as heartil' as he. 6nd their assembled friends& being not a bit

behindhand& roared out lustil'.

39



,2a& ha< 2a& ha& ha& ha<,

,2e said that *hristmas was a humbug& as li)e<, cried Scrooges nephew. ,2e

belie)ed it& too<,

,4ore shame for him& Cred<, said Scrooges niece indignantl'. less those women<the' ne)er do an'thing b' hal)es. #he' are alwa's in earnest.

She was )er' prett' e+ceedingl' prett'. ith a dimpled& surprised-looking& capital

face a ripe little mouth& that seemed made to be kissedAas no doubt it was all kinds of good little dots about her chin& that melted into one another when she laughed and the

sunniest pair of e'es 'ou e)er saw in an' little creatures head. 6ltogether she was what'ou would ha)e called pro)oking& 'ou know but satisfactor'& too. h& perfectl'

satisfactor'<

,2es a comical old fellow&, said Scrooges nephew& ,thats the truth and not so

pleasant as he might be. 2owe)er& his offences carr' their own punishment& and ha)enothing to sa' against him.,

,m sure he is )er' rich& Cred&, hinted Scrooges niece. ,6t least& 'ou alwa's

tell me so.,

,hat of that& m' dear, said Scrooges nephew. ,2is wealth is of no use to him. 2e

dont do an' good with it. 2e dont make himself comfortable with it. 2e hasnt thesatisfaction of thinkingAha& ha& ha<Athat he is e)er going to benefit =s with it.,

, ha)e no patience with him&, obser)ed Scrooges niece.!F9" Scrooges nieces

sisters& and all the other ladies& e+pressed the same opinion.

,h& ha)e<, said Scrooges nephew. , am sorr' for him couldnt be angr' with

him if tried. ho suffers b' his ill whims 2imself alwa's. 2ere he takes it into hishead to dislike us& and he wont come and dine with us. hats the conse$uence 2e

dont lose much of a dinner.,

,ndeed& think he loses a )er' good dinner&, interrupted Scrooges niece.

>)er'bod' else said the same& and the' must be allowed to ha)e been competent (udges& because the' had (ust had dinner and& with the dessert upon the table& were clustered

round the fire& b' lamp-light.

,ell< am )er' glad to hear it&, said Scrooges nephew& ,because ha)ent an'great faith in these 'oung housekeepers. hat do yo sa'& #opper,

#opper had clearl' got his e'e upon one of Scrooges nieces sisters& for he answeredthat a bachelor was a wretched outcast& who had no right to e+press an opinion on the

sub(ect. hereat Scrooges nieces sisterAthe plump one with the lace tucker& not theone with the rosesAblushed.

,%o go on& Cred&, said Scrooges niece& clapping her hands. ,2e ne)er finishes what

he begins to sa'< 2e is such a ridiculous fellow<,

I



Scrooges nephew re)elled in another laugh& and& as it was impossible to keep the

infection off& though the plump sister tried hard to do it with aromatic )inegar& hise+ample was unanimousl' followed.

, was onl' going to sa'&, said Scrooges nephew& ,that the conse$uence of his

taking a dislike to us& and not making merr' with us& is& as think& that he loses some pleasant moments& which could do him no harm. am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts& either in his mould' old office or his

dust' chambers. mean to gi)e him the same chance e)er' 'ear& whether he likes it or not& for pit'!7I" him. 2e ma' rail at *hristmas till he dies& but he cant help thinking

better of itA def' himAif he finds me going there in good temper& 'ear after 'ear& andsa'ing& =ncle Scrooge& how are 'ou f it onl' puts him in the )ein to lea)e his poor

clerk fift' pounds& that's something and think shook him 'esterda'.,

t was their turn to laugh& now& at the notion of his shaking Scrooge. ut& being

thoroughl' good-natured& and not much caring what the' laughed at& so that the'laughed at an' rate& he encouraged them in their merriment& and passed the bottle&

(o'ousl'.

6fter tea the' had some music. Cor the' were a musical famil'& and knew what the'were about when the' sung a ;lee or *atch& can assure 'ou: especiall' #opper& who

could growl awa' in the bass like a good one& and ne)er swell the large )eins in hisforehead& or get red in the face o)er it. Scrooges niece pla'ed well upon the harp and

pla'ed& among other tunes& a simple little air Ja mere nothing: 'ou might learn to whistleit in two minutesK& which had been familiar to the child who fetched Scrooge from the

boarding-school& as he had been reminded b' the ;host of *hristmas 8ast. hen thisstrain of music sounded& all the things that ;host had shown him came upon his mind

he softened more and more and thought that if he could ha)e listened to it often& 'earsago& he might ha)e culti)ated the kindnesses of life for his own happiness with his own

hands& without resorting to the se+tons spade that buried 0acob 4arle'.

ut the' didnt de)ote the whole e)ening to music. 6fter awhile the' pla'ed at

forfeits for it is good to be children sometimes& and ne)er better than at *hristmas& whenits might' Counder was a child himself. Stop< #here was first a game at blindmans buff.

f course there was. 6nd no more belie)e #opper was reall' blind than belie)e he had

e'es in his boots. 4' opinion is& that it was a done thing between him !71" and Scroogesnephew and that the ;host of *hristmas 8resent knew it. #he wa' he went after that

plump sister in the lace tucker was an outrage on the credulit' of human nature.

Gnocking down the fire-irons& tumbling o)er the chairs& bumping up against the piano&smothering himself amongst the curtains& where)er she went& there went he< 2e alwa's

knew where the plump sister was. 2e wouldnt catch an'bod' else. f 'ou had fallen upagainst him Jas some of them didK on purpose& he would ha)e made a feint of

endea)ouring to sei?e 'ou& which would ha)e been an affront to 'our understanding& andwould instantl' ha)e sidled off in the direction of the plump sister. She often cried out

that it wasnt fair and it reall' was not. ut when& at last& he caught her when& in spite of all her silken rustlings& and her rapid flutterings past him& he got her into a corner

whence there was no escape& then his conduct was the most e+ecrable. Cor his

1



pretending not to know her his pretending that it was necessar' to touch her head-dress&

and further to assure himself of her identit' b' pressing a certain ring upon her finger&and a certain chain about her neck& was )ile& monstrous< o doubt she told him her

opinion of it when& another blind man being in office& the' were so )er' confidentialtogether behind the curtains.

Scrooges niece was not one of the blindmans buff part'& but was made comfortablewith a large chair and a footstool& in a snug corner where the ;host and Scrooge were

close behind her. ut she (oined in the forfeits& and lo)ed her lo)e to admiration with allthe letters of the alphabet. ikewise at the game of 2ow& hen& and here& she was

)er' great& and& to the secret (o' of Scrooges nephew& beat her sisters hollow: thoughthe' were sharp girls too& as #opper could ha)e told 'ou. #here might ha)e been twent'

people there& 'oung and old& but the' all pla'ed& and so did Scrooge for& wholl'forgetting& in the interest he had in what was going on& that his )oice made no sound in

their ears& he sometimes came out with his guess !7D" $uite loud& and )er' often guessedright& too& for the sharpest needle& best hitechapel& warranted not to cut in the e'e& was

not sharper than Scrooge blunt as he took it in his head to be.

#he ;host was greatl' pleased to find him in this mood& and looked upon him withsuch fa)our& that he begged like a bo' to be allowed to sta' until the guests departed. ut

this the Spirit said could not be done.

,2ere is a new game&, said Scrooge. ,ne half-hour& Spirit& onl' one<,

t was a game called @es and o& where Scrooges nephew had to think of

something& and the rest must find out what he onl' answering to their $uestions 'es or no& as the case was. #he brisk fire of $uestioning to which he was e+posed elicited fromhim that he was thinking of an animal& a li)e animal& rather a disagreeable animal& a

sa)age animal& an animal that growled and grunted sometimes& and talked sometimes&and li)ed in ondon& and walked about the streets& and wasnt made a show of& and

wasnt led b' an'bod'& and didnt li)e in a menagerie& and was ne)er killed in a market&and was not a horse& or an ass& or a cow& or a bull& or a tiger& or a dog& or a pig& or a cat&

or a bear. 6t e)er' fresh $uestion that was put to him& this nephew burst into a fresh roar of laughter and was so ine+pressibl' tickled& that he was obliged to get up off the sofa&

and stamp. 6t last the plump sister& falling into a similar state& cried out:

, ha)e found it out< know what it is& Cred< know what it is<,

,hat is it, cried Cred.

,ts 'our uncle Scro-o-o-o-oge<,

hich it certainl' was. 6dmiration was the uni)ersal sentiment& though someob(ected that the repl' to ,s it a bear, ought to ha)e been ,@es,: inasmuch as an

answer in the negati)e was sufficient to ha)e di)erted their thoughts from 4r. Scrooge&supposing the' had e)er had an' tendenc' that wa'.!73"

D



,2e has gi)en us plent' of merriment& am sure&, said Cred& ,and it would be

ungrateful not to drink his health. 2ere is a glass of mulled wine read' to our hand at themoment and sa'& =ncle Scrooge<,

,ell< =ncle Scrooge<, the' cried.

,6 merr' *hristmas and a happ' ew @ear to the old man& whate)er he is<, saidScrooges nephew. ,2e wouldnt take it from me& but ma' he ha)e it ne)ertheless. =ncle

Scrooge<,

=ncle Scrooge had imperceptibl' become so ga' and light of heart& that he would

ha)e pledged the unconscious compan' in return& and thanked them in an inaudiblespeech& if the ;host had gi)en him time. ut the whole scene passed off in the breath of

the last word spoken b' his nephew and he and the Spirit were again upon their tra)els.

4uch the' saw& and far the' went& and man' homes the' )isited& but alwa's with a

happ' end. #he Spirit stood beside sick-beds& and the' were cheerful on foreign lands&and the' were close at home b' struggling men& and the' were patient in their greater hope b' po)ert'& and it was rich. n almshouse& hospital& and gaol& in miser's e)er'

refuge& where )ain man in his little brief authorit' had not made fast the door& and barredthe Spirit out& he left his blessing& and taught Scrooge his precepts.

t was a long night& if it were onl' a night but Scrooge had his doubts of this& because the *hristmas holida's appeared to be condensed into the space of time the'

passed together. t was strange& too& that& while Scrooge remained unaltered in hisoutward form& the ;host grew older& clearl' older. Scrooge had obser)ed this change& but

ne)er spoke of it& until the' left a childrens #welfth-ight part'& when& looking at theSpirit as the' stood together in an open place& he noticed that its hair was gre'.

,6re spirits li)es so short, asked Scrooge.!7"

,4' life upon this globe is )er' brief&, replied the ;host. ,t ends to-night.,

,#o-night<, cried Scrooge.

,#o-night at midnight. 2ark< #he time is drawing near.,

#he chimes were ringing the three-$uarters past ele)en at that moment.,Corgi)e me if am not (ustified in what ask&, said Scrooge& looking intentl' at the

Spirits robe& ,but see something strange& and not belonging to 'ourself& protrudingfrom 'our skirts. s it a foot or a claw,

,t might be a claw& for the flesh there is upon it&, was the Spirits sorrowful repl'.

,ook here.,

Crom the foldings of its robe it brought two children wretched& ab(ect& frightful&

hideous& miserable. #he' knelt down at its feet& and clung upon the outside of its

garment.,h& 4an< look here< ook& look& down here<, e+claimed the ;host.

3



#he' were a bo' and girl. @ellow& meagre& ragged& scowling& wolfish but prostrate&

too& in their humilit'. here graceful 'outh should ha)e filled their features out& andtouched them with its freshest tints& a stale and shri)elled hand& like that of age& had

pinched& and twisted them& and pulled them into shreds. here angels might ha)e satenthroned& de)ils lurked& and glared out menacing. o change& no degradation& no

per)ersion of humanit'& in an' grade& through all the m'steries of wonderful creation&has monsters half so horrible and dread.

Scrooge started back& appalled. 2a)ing them shown to him in this wa'& he tried tosa' the' were fine children& but the words choked themsel)es& rather than be parties to a

lie of such enormous magnitude.

,Spirit< are the' 'ours, Scrooge could sa' no more.

,#he' are 4ans&, said the Spirit& looking down upon them. ,6nd the' cling to me&

appealing from their fathers. #his bo' is gnorance. #his girl is ant. eware of them both& and!75" all of their degree& but most of all beware this bo'& for on his brow see that

written which is %oom& unless the writing be erased. %en' it<, cried the Spirit& stretchingout its hand towards the cit'. ,Slander those who tell it 'e< 6dmit it for 'our factious

purposes& and make it worse< 6nd bide the end<,

,2a)e the' no refuge or resource, cried Scrooge.

,6re there no prisons, said the Spirit& turning on him for the last time with his own

words. ,6re there no workhouses,

#he bell struck #wel)e.

Scrooge looked about him for the ;host& and saw it not. 6s the last stroke ceased to

)ibrate& he remembered the prediction of old 0acob 4arle'& and& lifting up his e'es& beheld a solemn 8hantom& draped and hooded& coming like a mist along the ground

towards him.!7F"

STAVE FOUR

THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS

#he 8hantom slowl'& gra)el'& silentl' approached. hen it came near him& Scrooge

bent down upon his knee for in the )er' air through which this Spirit mo)ed it seemedto scatter gloom and m'ster'.

t was shrouded in a deep black garment& which concealed its head& its face& its form&and left nothing of it )isible& sa)e one outstretched hand. ut for this& it would ha)e been

difficult to detach its figure from the night& and separate it from the darkness b' which itwas surrounded.



2e felt that it was tall and statel' when it came beside him& and that its m'sterious

presence filled him with a solemn dread. 2e knew no more& for the Spirit neither spokenor mo)ed.

, am in the presence of the ;host of *hristmas @et to *ome, said Scrooge.

#he Spirit answered not& but pointed onward with its hand.

,@ou are about to show me shadows of the things that ha)e not happened& but will

happen in the time before us&, Scrooge pursued. ,s that so& Spirit,

#he upper portion of the garment was contracted for an instant in its folds& as if theSpirit had inclined its head. #hat was the onl' answer he recei)ed.

6lthough well used to ghostl' compan' b' this time& Scrooge feared the silent shapeso much that his legs trembled beneath him& and he found that he could hardl' stand

when he prepared to follow it. #he Spirit paused a moment& as obser)ing his condition&and gi)ing him time to reco)er.!77"

ut Scrooge was all the worse for this. t thrilled him with a )ague uncertain horror to know that& behind the dusk' shroud& there were ghostl' e'es intentl' fi+ed upon him&

while he& though he stretched his own to the utmost& could see nothing but a spectralhand and one great heap of black.

,;host of the Cuture<, he e+claimed& , fear 'ou more than an' spectre ha)e seen.

ut& as know 'our purpose is to do me good& and as hope to li)e to be another manfrom what was& am prepared to bear 'ou compan'& and do it with a thankful heart.

ill 'ou not speak to me,

t ga)e him no repl'. #he hand was pointed straight before them.

,ead on<, said Scrooge. ,ead on< #he night is waning fast& and it is precious timeto me& know. ead on& Spirit<,

#he phantom mo)ed awa' as it had come towards him. Scrooge followed in the

shadow of its dress& which bore him up& he thought& and carried him along.

#he' scarcel' seemed to enter the *it' for the *it' rather seemed to spring up

about them& and encompass them of its own act. ut there the' were in the heart of it on*hange& amongst the merchants who hurried up and down& and chinked the mone' in

their pockets& and con)ersed in groups& and looked at their watches& and trifledthoughtfull' with their great gold seals and so forth& as Scrooge had seen them often.

#he Spirit stopped beside one little knot of business men. bser)ing that the hand

was pointed to them& Scrooge ad)anced to listen to their talk.

,o&, said a great fat man with a monstrous chin& , dont know much about it either

wa'. onl' know hes dead.,

,hen did he die, in$uired another.

,ast night& belie)e.,

5



,h'& what was the matter with him, asked a third& taking a )ast $uantit' of snuff

out of a )er' large snuff-bo+. , thought hed ne)er die., !7H"

,;od knows&, said the first with a 'awn.

,hat has he done with his mone', asked a red-faced gentleman with a pendulouse+crescence on the end of his nose& that shook like the gills of a turke'-cock.

, ha)ent heard&, said the man with the large chin& 'awning again. ,eft it to his

compan'& perhaps. 2e hasnt left it to me. #hats all know.,

#his pleasantr' was recei)ed with a general laugh.

,ts likel' to be a )er' cheap funeral&, said the same speaker ,for& upon m' life&

dont know of an'bod' to go to it. Suppose we make up a part'& and )olunteer,

, dont mind going if a lunch is pro)ided&, obser)ed the gentleman with thee+crescence on his nose. ,ut must be fed if make one.,

6nother laugh.

,ell& am the most disinterested among 'ou& after all&, said the first speaker& ,for

ne)er wear black glo)es& and ne)er eat lunch. ut ll offer to go if an'bod' else will.hen come to think of it& m not at all sure that wasnt his most particular friend for

we used to stop and speak whene)er we met. 'e& b'e<,

Speakers and listeners strolled awa'& and mi+ed with other groups. Scrooge knew

the men& and looked towards the Spirit for an e+planation.#he 8hantom glided on into a street. ts finger pointed to two persons meeting.

Scrooge listened again& thinking that the e+planation might lie here.

2e knew these men& also& perfectl'. #he' were men of business: )er' wealth'& andof great importance. 2e had made a point alwa's of standing well in their esteem: in a

business point of )iew& that is strictl' in a business point of )iew.

,2ow are 'ou, said one.

,2ow are 'ou, returned the other.!79"

,ell<, said the first. ,ld Scratch has got his own at last& he',

,So am told&, returned the second. ,*old& isnt it,

,Seasonable for *hristmas-time. @ou are not a skater& suppose,

,o. o. Something else to think of. ;ood morning<,

ot another word. #hat was their meeting& their con)ersation& and their parting.

Scrooge was at first inclined to be surprised that the Spirit should attach importance

to con)ersations apparentl' so tri)ial but& feeling assured that the' must ha)e somehidden purpose& he set himself to consider what it was likel' to be. #he' could scarcel'

be supposed to ha)e an' bearing on the death of 0acob& his old partner& for that was 8ast&

F



and this ;hosts pro)ince was the Cuture. or could he think of an' one immediatel'

connected with himself& to whom he could appl' them. ut nothing doubting that& towhomsoe)er the' applied& the' had some latent moral for his own impro)ement& he

resol)ed to treasure up e)er' word he heard& and e)er'thing he saw and especiall' toobser)e the shadow of himself when it appeared. Cor he had an e+pectation that the

conduct of his future self would gi)e him the clue he missed& and would render thesolution of these riddles eas'.

2e looked about in that )er' place for his own image& but another man stood in hisaccustomed corner& and& though the clock pointed to his usual time of da' for being

there& he saw no likeness of himself among the multitudes that poured in through the8orch. t ga)e him little surprise& howe)er for he had been re)ol)ing in his mind a

change of life& and thought and hoped he saw his new-born resolutions carried out inthis.

Luiet and dark& beside him stood the 8hantom& with its outstretched hand. hen heroused himself from his thoughtful $uest& he fancied& from the turn of the hand& and itssitua!HI"tion in reference to himself& that the =nseen >'es were looking at him keenl'. t

made him shudder& and feel )er' cold.

#he' left the bus' scene& and went into an obscure part of the town& where Scrooge

had ne)er penetrated before& although he recognised its situation and its bad repute. #hewa's were foul and narrow the shops and houses wretched the people half naked&

drunken& slipshod& ugl'. 6lle's and archwa's& like so man' cesspools& disgorged their offences of smell& and dirt& and life upon the straggling streets and the whole $uarter

reeked with crime& with filth and miser'.

Car in this den of infamous resort& there was a low-browed& beetling shop& below a

pent-house roof& where iron& old rags& bottles& bones& and greas' offal were bought. =ponthe floor within were piled up heaps of rust' ke's& nails& chains& hinges& files& scales&

weights& and refuse iron of all kinds. Secrets that few would like to scrutinise were bredand hidden in mountains of unseeml' rags& masses of corrupted fat& and sepulchres of

bones. Sitting in among the wares he dealt in& b' a charcoal sto)e made of old bricks&was a gre'-haired rascal& nearl' se)ent' 'ears of age& who had screened himself from the

cold air without b' a frou?' curtaining of miscellaneous tatters hung upon a line& and

smoked his pipe in all the lu+ur' of calm retirement.

Scrooge and the 8hantom came into the presence of this man& (ust as a woman witha hea)' bundle slunk into the shop. ut she had scarcel' entered& when another woman&

similarl' laden& came in too& and she was closel' followed b' a man in faded black& whowas no less startled b' the sight of them than the' had been upon the recognition of each

other. 6fter a short period of blank astonishment& in which the old man with the pipe had (oined them& the' all three burst into a laugh.

,et the charwoman alone to be the first<, cried she who had entered first. ,et the

laundress alone to be the second and let the undertakers man alone to be the third. ook here&!H1" old 0oe& heres a chance< f we ha)ent all three met here without meaning it<,

7



,@ou couldnt ha)e met in a better place&, said old 0oe& remo)ing his pipe from his

mouth. ,*ome into the parlour. @ou were made free of it long ago& 'ou know and theother two ant strangers. Stop till shut the door of the shop. 6h< 2ow it skreeks< #here

ant such a rust' bit of metal in the place as its own hinges& belie)e and m sure theresno such old bones here as mine. 2a< ha< ere all suitable to our calling& were well

matched. *ome into the parlour. *ome into the parlour.,

#he parlour was the space behind the screen of rags. #he old man raked the fire

together with an old stair-rod& and& ha)ing trimmed his smok' lamp Jfor it was nightKwith the stem of his pipe& put it into his mouth again.

hile he did this& the woman who had alread' spoken threw her bundle on the floor&

and sat down in a flaunting manner on a stool crossing her elbows on her knees& andlooking with a bold defiance at the other two.

,hat odds& then hat odds& 4rs. %ilber, said the woman. ,>)er' person has aright to take care of themsel)es. #ealwa's did<,

,#hats true& indeed<, said the laundress. ,o man more so.,

,h'& then& dont stand staring as if 'ou was afraid& woman< hos the wiser erenot going to pick holes in each others coats& suppose,

,o& indeed<, said 4rs. %ilber and the man together. ,e should hope not.,

,Eer' well& then<, cried the woman. ,#hats enough. hos the worse for the loss of a few things like these ot a dead man& suppose,

,o& indeed&, said 4rs. %ilber& laughing.

,f he wanted to keep em after he was dead& a wicked old !HD" screw&, pursued thewoman& ,wh' wasnt he natural in his lifetime f he had been& hed ha)e had somebod'to look after him when he was struck with %eath& instead of l'ing gasping out his last

there& alone b' himself.,

,ts the truest word that e)er was spoke&, said 4rs. %ilber& ,ts a (udgment on him.,

, wish it was a little hea)ier (udgment&, replied the woman ,and it should ha)e

been& 'ou ma' depend upon it& if could ha)e laid m' hands on an'thing else. pen that bundle& old 0oe& and let me know the )alue of it. Speak out plain. m not afraid to be the

first& nor afraid for them to see it. e knew prett' well that we were helping oursel)es before we met here& belie)e. ts no sin. pen the bundle& 0oe.,

ut the gallantr' of her friends would not allow of this and the man in faded black&

mounting the breach first& produced his plunder. t was not e+tensi)e. 6 seal or two& a pencil-case& a pair of slee)e-buttons& and a brooch of no great )alue& were all. #he' were

se)erall' e+amined and appraised b' old 0oe& who chalked the sums he was disposed togi)e for each upon the wall& and added them up into a total when he found that there was

nothing more to come.

H



,#hats 'our account&, said 0oe& ,and wouldnt gi)e another si+pence& if was to be

boiled for not doing it. hos ne+t,

4rs. %ilber was ne+t. Sheets and towels& a little wearing apparel& two old-fashionedsil)er tea-spoons& a pair of sugar-tongs& and a few boots. 2er account was stated on the

wall in the same manner.

, alwa's gi)e too much to ladies. ts a weakness of mine& and thats the wa' ruin

m'self&, said old 0oe. ,#hats 'our account. f 'ou asked me for another penn'& and madeit an open $uestion& d repent of being so liberal& and knock off half-a-crown.,

,6nd now undo my bundle& 0oe&, said the first woman.!H3"

0oe went down on his knees for the greater con)enience of opening it& and& ha)ingunfastened a great man' knots& dragged out a large hea)' roll of some dark stuff.

,hat do 'ou call this, said 0oe. ,ed-curtains,

,6h<, returned the woman& laughing and leaning forward on her crossed arms.

,ed-curtains<,

,@ou dont mean to sa' 'ou took em down& rings and all& with him l'ing there,said 0oe.

,@es& do&, replied the woman. ,h' not,

,@ou were born to make 'our fortune&, said 0oe& ,and 'oull certainl' do it.,

, certainl' shant hold m' hand& when can get an'thing in it b' reaching it out& for the sake of such a man as 2e was& promise 'ou& 0oe&, returned the woman cooll'.,%ont drop that oil upon the blankets& now.,

,2is blankets, asked 0oe.

,hose elses do 'ou think, replied the woman. ,2e isnt likel' to take coldwithout em& dare sa'.,

, hope he didnt die of an'thing catching >h, said old 0oe& stopping in his work&and looking up.

,%ont 'ou be afraid of that&, returned the woman. , ant so fond of his compan'

that d loiter about him for such things& if he did. 6h< @ou ma' look through that shirttill 'our e'es ache but 'ou wont find a hole in it& nor a threadbare place. ts the best he

had& and a fine one too. #he'd ha)e wasted it& if it hadnt been for me.,

,hat do 'ou call wasting of it, asked old 0oe.

,8utting it on him to be buried in& to be sure&, replied the woman with a laugh.,Somebod' was fool enough to do it& but took it off again. f calico ant good enough

for such a purpose& it isnt good enough for an'thing. ts $uite as becoming to the bod'.2e cant look uglier than he did in that one.,

9



Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror. 6s the' sat!H" grouped about their spoil&

in the scant' light afforded b' the old mans lamp& he )iewed them with a detestation anddisgust which could hardl' ha)e been greater& though the' had been obscene demons&

marketing the corpse itself.

,2a& ha<, laughed the same woman when old 0oe& producing a flannel bag withmone' in it& told out their se)eral gains upon the ground. ,#his is the end of it& 'ou see<2e frightened e)er' one awa' from him when he was ali)e& to profit us when he was

dead< 2a& ha& ha<,

,Spirit<, said Scrooge& shuddering from head to foot. , see& see. #he case of thisunhapp' man might be m' own. 4' life tends that wa' now. 4erciful 2ea)en& what is

this,

2e recoiled in terror& for the scene had changed& and now he almost touched a bed: a

bare& uncurtained bed: on which& beneath a ragged sheet& there la' a something co)eredup& which& though it was dumb& announced itself in awful language.

#he room was )er' dark& too dark to be obser)ed with an' accurac'& though Scrooge

glanced round it in obedience to a secret impulse& an+ious to know what kind of room itwas. 6 pale light& rising in the outer air& fell straight upon the bed: and on it& plunderedand bereft& unwatched& unwept& uncared for& was the bod' of this man.

Scrooge glanced towards the 8hantom. ts stead' hand was pointed to the head. #he

co)er was so carelessl' ad(usted that the slightest raising of it& the motion of a finger upon Scrooges part& would ha)e disclosed the face. 2e thought of it& felt how eas' it

would be to do& and longed to do it but had no more power to withdraw the )eil than todismiss the spectre at his side.

h& cold& cold& rigid& dreadful %eath& set up thine altar here& and dress it with suchterrors as thou hast at th' command: for this is th' dominion< ut of the lo)ed& re)ered&

and honoured head thou canst not turn one hair to th' dread purposes& or make onefeature odious. t is not that the hand is hea)'& and!H5" will fall down when released it is

not that the heart and pulse are still but that the hand 6S open& generous& and true theheart bra)e& warm& and tender and the pulse a mans. Strike& Shadow& strike< 6nd see his

good deeds springing from the wound& to sow the world with life immortal<

o )oice pronounced these words in Scrooges ears& and 'et he heard them when he

looked upon the bed. 2e thought& if this man could be raised up now& what would be hisforemost thoughts 6)arice& hard dealing& griping cares #he' ha)e brought him to a rich

end& trul'<

2e la'& in the dark& empt' house& with not a man& a woman& or a child to sa' he waskind to me in this or that& and for the memor' of one kind word will be kind to him. 6

cat was tearing at the door& and there was a sound of gnawing rats beneath the hearth-stone. hat they wanted in the room of death& and wh' the' were so restless and

disturbed& Scrooge did not dare to think.

5I



,Spirit<, he said& ,this is a fearful place. n lea)ing it& shall not lea)e its lesson&

trust me. et us go<,

Still the ;host pointed with an unmo)ed finger to the head.

, understand 'ou&, Scrooge returned& ,and would do it if could. ut ha)e notthe power& Spirit. ha)e not the power.,

6gain it seemed to look upon him.

,f there is an' person in the town who feels emotion caused b' this mans death&,

said Scrooge& $uite agonised& ,show that person to me& Spirit< beseech 'ou.,

#he 8hantom spread its dark robe before him for a moment& like a wing and&

withdrawing it& re)ealed a room b' da'light& where a mother and her children were.

She was e+pecting some one& and with an+ious eagerness for she walked up anddown the room started at e)er' sound looked out from the window glanced at theclock tried& but in!HF" )ain& to work with her needle and could hardl' bear the )oices of

her children in their pla'.

6t length the long-e+pected knock was heard. She hurried to the door& and met her husband a man whose face was careworn and depressed& though he was 'oung. #here

was a remarkable e+pression in it now a kind of serious delight of which he feltashamed& and which he struggled to repress.

2e sat down to the dinner that had been hoarding for him b' the fire& and& when she

asked him faintl' what news Jwhich was not until after a long silenceK& he appearedembarrassed how to answer.

,s it good&, she said& ,or bad, to help him.

,ad&, he answered.

,e are $uite ruined,

,o. #here is hope 'et& *aroline.,

,f he relents&, she said& ama?ed& ,there is< othing is past hope& if such a miracle

has happened.,

,2e is past relenting&, said her husband. ,2e is dead.,

She was a mild and patient creature& if her face spoke truth but she was thankful in

her soul to hear it& and she said so with clasped hands. She pra'ed forgi)eness the ne+tmoment& and was sorr' but the first was the emotion of her heart.

,hat the half-drunken woman& whom told 'ou of last night& said to me when tried to see him and obtain a weeks dela'& and what thought was a mere e+cuse to

a)oid me& turns out to ha)e been $uite true. 2e was not onl' )er' ill& but d'ing& then.,

,#o whom will our debt be transferred,

51



, dont know. ut& before that time& we shall be read' with the mone' and& e)en

though we were not& it would be bad fortune indeed to find so merciless a creditor in hissuccessor. e ma' sleep to-night with light hearts& *aroline<,

@es. Soften it as the' would& their hearts were lighter. #he childrens faces& hushed

and clustered round to hear what!H7" the' so little understood& were brighter and it was ahappier house for this mans death< #he onl' emotion that the ;host could show him&caused b' the e)ent& was one of pleasure.

,et me see some tenderness connected with a death&, said Scrooge ,or that dark

chamber& Spirit& which we left (ust now& will be for e)er present to me.,

#he ;host conducted him through se)eral streets familiar to his feet and& as the'

went along& Scrooge looked here and there to find himself& but nowhere was he to beseen. #he' entered poor ob *ratchits house&Athe dwelling he had )isited before&Aand

found the mother and the children seated round the fire.Luiet. Eer' $uiet. #he nois' little *ratchits were as still as statues in one corner& and

sat looking up at 8eter& who had a book before him. #he mother and her daughters were

engaged in sewing. ut surel' the' were )er' $uiet<

,6nd he took a child& and set him in the midst of them.,

here had Scrooge heard those words 2e had not dreamed them. #he bo' mustha)e read them out& as he and the Spirit crossed the threshold. h' did he not go on

#he mother laid her work upon the table& and put her hand up to her face.

,#he colour hurts m' e'es&, she said.

#he colour 6h& poor #in' #im<

,#he're better now again&, said *ratchits wife. ,t makes them weak b' candle-

light and wouldnt show weak e'es to 'our father& when he comes home& for the world.t must be near his time.,

,8ast it rather&, 8eter answered& shutting up his book. ,ut think he has walked alittle slower than he used& these few last e)enings& mother.,

#he' were )er' $uiet again. 6t last she said& and in a stead'& cheerful )oice& that

onl' faltered once:!HH"

, ha)e known him walk withA ha)e known him walk with #in' #im upon his

shoulder )er' fast indeed.,

,6nd so ha)e &, cried 8eter. ,ften.,

,6nd so ha)e &, e+claimed another. So had all.

,ut he was )er' light to carr'&, she resumed& intent upon her work& ,and his father lo)ed him so& that it was no trouble: no trouble. 6nd there is 'our father at the door<,

5D



She hurried out to meet him and little ob in his comforterAhe had need of it& poor

fellowAcame in. 2is tea was read' for him on the hob& and the' all tried who shouldhelp him to it most. #hen the two 'oung *ratchits got upon his knees& and laid& each

child& a little cheek against his face& as if the' said& ,%ont mind it& father. %ont begrie)ed<,

ob was )er' cheerful with them& and spoke pleasantl' to all the famil'. 2e lookedat the work upon the table& and praised the industr' and speed of 4rs. *ratchit and the

girls. #he' would be done long before Sunda'& he said.

,Sunda'< @ou went to-da'& then& Bobert, said his wife.

,@es& m' dear&, returned ob. , wish 'ou could ha)e gone. t would ha)e done 'ou

good to see how green a place it is. ut 'oull see it often. promised him that wouldwalk there on a Sunda'. 4' little& little child<, cried ob. ,4' little child<,

2e broke down all at once. 2e couldnt help it. f he could ha)e helped it& he and hischild would ha)e been farther apart& perhaps& than the' were.

2e left the room& and went up-stairs into the room abo)e& which was lighted

cheerfull'& and hung with *hristmas. #here was a chair set close beside the child& andthere were signs of some one ha)ing been there latel'. 8oor ob sat down in it& and&

when he had thought a little and composed himself& he kissed the little face. 2e wasreconciled to what had happened& and went down again $uite happ'.

#he' drew about the fire& and talked the girls and mother !H9" working still. ob told

them of the e+traordinar' kindness of 4r. Scrooges nephew& whom he had scarcel' seen but once& and who& meeting him in the street that da'& and seeing that he looked a little A,(ust a little down& 'ou know&, said ob& in$uired what had happened to distress him.

,n which&, said ob& ,for he is the pleasantest-spoken gentleman 'ou e)er heard& toldhim. am heartil' sorr' for it& 4r. *ratchit& he said& and heartil' sorr' for 'our good

wife. '-the-b'e& how he e)er knew that dont know.,

,Gnew what& m' dear,

,h'& that 'ou were a good wife&, replied ob.

,>)er'bod' knows that&, said 8eter.

,Eer' well obser)ed& m' bo'<, cried ob. , hope the' do. 2eartil' sorr'& he said&for 'our good wife. f can be of ser)ice to 'ou in an' wa'& he said& gi)ing me his card&

thats where li)e. 8ra' come to me. ow& it wasnt&, cried ob& ,for the sake of an'thing he might be able to do for us& so much as for his kind wa'& that this was $uite

delightful. t reall' seemed as if he had known our #in' #im& and felt with us.,

,m sure hes a good soul<, said 4rs. *ratchit.

,@ou would be sure of it& m' dear&, returned ob& ,if 'ou saw and spoke to him.

shouldnt be at all surprisedAmark what sa'<Aif he got 8eter a better situation.,

,nl' hear that& 8eter&, said 4rs. *ratchit.

53



,6nd then&, cried one of the girls& ,8eter will be keeping compan' with some one&

and setting up for himself.,

,;et along with 'ou<, retorted 8eter& grinning.

,ts (ust as likel' as not&, said ob& ,one of these da's though theres plent' of timefor that& m' dear. ut& howe)er and whene)er we part from one another& am sure weshall none of us forget poor #in' #imAshall weAor this first parting that there was

among us,

,e)er& father<, cried the' all.

,6nd know&, said ob& , know& m' dears& that when we !9I" recollect how patient

and how mild he was& although he was a little& little child& we shall not $uarrel easil'among oursel)es& and forget poor #in' #im in doing it.,

,o& ne)er& father<, the' all cried again.

, am )er' happ'&, said little ob& , am )er' happ'<,

4rs. *ratchit kissed him& his daughters kissed him& the two 'oung *ratchits kissed

him& and 8eter and himself shook hands. Spirit of #in' #im& th' childish essence wasfrom ;od<

,Spectre&, said Scrooge& ,something informs me that our parting moment is at hand. know it& but know not how. #ell me what man that was whom we saw l'ing dead,

#he ;host of *hristmas @et #o *ome con)e'ed him& as beforeAthough at adifferent time& he thought: indeed& there seemed no order in these latter )isions& sa)e thatthe' were in the CutureAinto the resorts of business men& but showed him not himself.

ndeed& the Spirit did not sta' for an'thing& but went straight on& as to the end (ust nowdesired& until besought b' Scrooge to tarr' for a moment.

,#his court&, said Scrooge& ,through which we hurr' now& is where m' place of occupation is& and has been for a length of time. see the house. et me behold what

shall be in da's to come.,

#he Spirit stopped the hand was pointed elsewhere.

,#he house is 'onder&, Scrooge e+claimed. ,h' do 'ou point awa',

#he ine+orable finger underwent no change.

Scrooge hastened to the window of his office& and looked in. t was an office still& but not his. #he furniture was not the same& and the figure in the chair was not himself.#he 8hantom pointed as before.

2e (oined it once again& and& wondering wh' and whither he had gone& accompanied

it until the' reached an iron gate. 2e paused to look round before entering.

6 church'ard. 2ere& then& the wretched man& whose name!91" he had now to learn&

la' underneath the ground. t was a worth' place. alled in b' houses o)errun b' grass

5



and weeds& the growth of )egetations death& not life choked up with too much bur'ing

fat with repleted appetite. 6 worth' place<

#he Spirit stood among the gra)es& and pointed down to ne. 2e ad)anced towardsit trembling. #he 8hantom was e+actl' as it had been& but he dreaded that he saw new

meaning in its solemn shape.

,efore draw nearer to that stone to which 'ou point&, said Scrooge& ,answer me

one $uestion. 6re these the shadows of the things that ill be& or are the' shadows of thethings that 4a' be onl',

Still the ;host pointed downward to the gra)e b' which it stood.

,4ens courses will foreshadow certain ends& to which& if perse)ered in& the' mustlead&, said Scrooge. ,ut if the courses be departed from& the ends will change. Sa' it is

thus with what 'ou show me<,

#he Spirit was immo)able as e)er.

Scrooge crept towards it& trembling as he went and& following the finger& read uponthe stone of the neglected gra)e his own name& >>>M>B S*B;>.

,6m " that man who la' upon the bed, he cried upon his knees.

#he finger pointed from the gra)e to him& and back again.

,o& Spirit< h no& no<,

#he finger still was there.

,Spirit<, he cried& tight clutching at its robe& ,hear me< am not the man was. willnot be the man must ha)e been but for this intercourse. h' show me this& if am past

all hope,

Cor the first time the hand appeared to shake.

,;ood Spirit&, he pursued& as down upon the ground he !9D" fell before it: ,'our

nature intercedes for me& and pities me. 6ssure me that 'et ma' change these shadows'ou ha)e shown me b' an altered life,

#he kind hand trembled.

, will honour *hristmas in m' heart& and tr' to keep it all the 'ear. will li)e in the8ast& the 8resent& and the Cuture. #he Spirits of all #hree shall stri)e within me. will

not shut out the lessons that the' teach. h& tell me ma' sponge awa' the writing onthis stone<,

n his agon'& he caught the spectral hand. t sought to free itself& but he was strongin his entreat'& and detained it. #he Spirit& stronger 'et& repulsed him.

2olding up his hands in a last pra'er to ha)e his fate re)ersed& he saw an alterationin the 8hantoms hood and dress. t shrunk& collapsed& and dwindled down into a

bedpost.!93"

55



STAVE FIVE

THE END OF IT

@es< and the bedpost was his own. #he bed was his own& the room was his own.

est and happiest of all& the #ime before him was his own& to make amends in<

, will li)e in the 8ast& the 8resent& and the Cuture<, Scrooge repeated as hescrambled out of bed. ,#he Spirits of all #hree shall stri)e within me. h& 0acob 4arle'<

2ea)en and the *hristmas #ime be praised for this< sa' it on m' knees& old 0acob onm' knees<,

2e was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions& that his broken )oicewould scarcel' answer to his call. 2e had been sobbing )iolentl' in his conflict with the

Spirit& and his face was wet with tears.

,#he' are not torn down&, cried Scrooge& folding one of his bed-curtains in his arms&,the' are not torn down& rings and all. #he' are hereA am hereAthe shadows of thethings that would ha)e been ma' be dispelled. #he' will be. know the' will<,

2is hands were bus' with his garments all this time turning them inside out& putting

them on upside down& tearing them& misla'ing them& making them parties to e)er' kindof e+tra)agance.

, dont know what to do<, cried Scrooge& laughing and cr'ing in the same breathand making a perfect aocoNn of himself with his stockings. , am as light as a feather&

am as happ' as an angel& am as merr' as a school-bo'. am as gidd' as a drunken man.6 merr' *hristmas to e)er'bod'<!9" 6 happ' ew @ear to all the world< 2allo here<

hoop< 2allo<,

2e had frisked into the sitting-room& and was now standing there: perfectl' winded.

,#heres the saucepan that the gruel was in<, cried Scrooge& starting off again& and

going round the fire-place. ,#heres the door b' which the ;host of 0acob 4arle'entered< #heres the corner where the ;host of *hristmas 8resent sat< #heres the

window where saw the wandering Spirits< ts all right& its all true& it all happened. 2a&ha& ha<,

Beall'& for a man who had been out of practice for so man' 'ears& it was a splendidlaugh& a most illustrious laugh. #he father of a long& long line of brilliant laughs<

, dont know what da' of the month it is&, said Scrooge. , dont know how long

ha)e been among the Spirits. dont know an'thing. m $uite a bab'. e)er mind. dont care. d rather be a bab'. 2allo< hoop< 2allo here<,

5F



2e was checked in his transports b' the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he

had e)er heard. *lash& clash& hammer ding& dong& bell< ell& dong& ding hammer& clang&clash< h& glorious& glorious<

Bunning to the window& he opened it& and put out his head. o fog& no mist clear&

bright& (o)ial& stirring& cold cold& piping for the blood to dance to ;olden sun-light2ea)enl' sk' sweet fresh air merr' bells. h& glorious< ;lorious<

,hats to-da', cried Scrooge& calling downward to a bo' in Sunda' clothes& who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.

,>2, returned the bo' with all his might of wonder.

,hats to-da'& m' fine fellow, said Scrooge.

,#o-da'<, replied the bo'. ,h'& *2BS#46S %6@.,

,ts *hristmas %a'<, said Scrooge to himself. , ha)ent missed it. #he Spirits ha)edone it all in one night. #he' can !95" do an'thing the' like. f course the' can. f course

the' can. 2allo& m' fine fellow<,

,2allo<, returned the bo'.

,%o 'ou know the 8oulterers in the ne+t street but one& at the corner, Scrooge

in$uired.

, should hope did&, replied the lad.

,6n intelligent bo'<, said Scrooge. ,6 remarkable bo'< %o 'ou know whether the')e sold the pri?e #urke' that was hanging up thereAot the little pri?e #urke': the

big one,

,hat< the one as big as me, returned the bo'.

,hat a delightful bo'<, said Scrooge. ,ts a pleasure to talk to him. @es& m' buck<,

,ts hanging there now&, replied the bo'.

,s it, said Scrooge. ,;o and bu' it.,

,alk->B<, e+claimed the bo'.

,o& no&, said Scrooge& , am in earnest. ;o and bu' it& and tell em to bring it here&

that ma' gi)e them the directions where to take it. *ome back with the man& and llgi)e 'ou a shilling. *ome back with him in less than fi)e minutes& and ll gi)e 'ou half-

a-crown<,

#he bo' was off like a shot. 2e must ha)e had a stead' hand at a trigger who couldha)e got a shot off half so fast.

,ll send it to ob *ratchits&, whispered Scrooge& rubbing his hands& and splittingwith a laugh. ,2e shant know who sends it. ts twice the si?e of #in' #im. 0oe 4iller

ne)er made such a (oke as sending it to obs will be<,

57



#he hand in which he wrote the address was not a stead' one but write it he did&

somehow& and went down-stairs to open the street-door& read' for the coming of the poulterers man. 6s he stood there& waiting his arri)al& the knocker caught his e'e.

, shall lo)e it as long as li)e<, cried Scrooge& patting it with his hand. , scarcel'

e)er looked at it before. hat an honest e+pression it has in its face< ts a wonderfulknocker !9F"<A2eres the #urke'. 2allo< hoop< 2ow are 'ou 4err' *hristmas<,

t was a #urke'< 2e ne)er could ha)e stood upon his legs& that bird. 2e would ha)esnapped em short off in a minute& like sticks of sealing-wa+.

,h'& its impossible to carr' that to *amden #own&, said Scrooge. ,@ou must ha)ea cab.,

#he chuckle with which he said this& and the chuckle with which he paid for the

#urke'& and the chuckle with which he paid for the cab& and the chuckle with which he

recompensed the bo'& were onl' to be e+ceeded b' the chuckle with which he sat down breathless in his chair again& and chuckled till he cried.

Sha)ing was not an eas' task& for his hand continued to shake )er' much and

sha)ing re$uires attention& e)en when 'ou dont dance while 'ou are at it. ut& if he hadcut the end of his nose off& he would ha)e put a piece of sticking-plaster o)er it& and been

$uite satisfied.

2e dressed himself ,all in his best&, and at last got out into the streets. #he people

were b' this time pouring forth& as he had seen them with the ;host of *hristmas

8resent and& walking with his hands behind him& Scrooge regarded e)er' one with adelighted smile. 2e looked so irresistibl' pleasant& in a word& that three or four good-humoured fellows said& ,;ood morning& sir< 6 merr' *hristmas to 'ou<, 6nd Scrooge

said often afterwards that& of all the blithe sounds he had e)er heard& those were the blithest in his ears.

2e had not gone far when& coming on towards him& he beheld the portl' gentleman

who had walked into his counting-house the da' before& and said& ,Scrooge and4arle's& belie)e, t sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentlemanwould look upon him when the' met but he knew what path la' straight before him& and

he took it.

,4' dear sir&, said Scrooge& $uickening his pace& and tak !97"ing the old gentleman b' both his hands& ,how do 'ou do hope 'ou succeeded 'esterda'. t was )er' kind of

'ou. 6 merr' *hristmas to 'ou& sir<,

,4r. Scrooge,

,@es&, said Scrooge. ,#hat is m' name& and fear it ma' not be pleasant to 'ou.

6llow me to ask 'our pardon. 6nd will 'ou ha)e the goodnessAA, 2ere Scroogewhispered in his ear.

,ord bless me<, cried the gentleman& as if his breath were taken awa'. ,4' dear 4r. Scrooge& are 'ou serious,

5H





when they came. onderful part'& wonderful games& wonderful unanimit'& won-der-ful

happiness<

ut he was earl' at the office ne+t morning. h& he was earl' there< f he could onl' be there first& and catch ob *ratchit coming late< #hat was the thing he had set his heart

upon.

6nd he did it 'es& he did< #he clock struck nine. o ob. 6 $uarter past. o ob.

2e was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wideopen& that he might see him come into the tank.

2is hat was off before he opened the door his comforter too. 2e was on his stool ina (iff' dri)ing awa' with his pen& as if he were tr'ing to o)ertake nine oclock.

,2allo<, growled Scrooge in his accustomed )oice as near !99" as he could feign it.

,hat do 'ou mean b' coming here at this time of da',

, am )er' sorr'& sir&, said ob. , am behind m' time.,

,@ou are<, repeated Scrooge. ,@es. think 'ou are. Step this wa'& sir& if 'ou please.,

,ts onl' once a 'ear& sir&, pleaded ob& appearing from the tank. ,t shall not berepeated. was making rather merr' 'esterda'& sir.,

,ow& ll tell 'ou what& m' friend&, said Scrooge. , am not going to stand this sortof thing an' longer. 6nd therefore&, he continued& leaping from his stool& and gi)ing ob

such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the tank again: ,and therefore

am about to raise 'our salar'<,

ob trembled& and got a little nearer to the ruler. 2e had a momentar' idea of

knocking Scrooge down with it& holding him& and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat.

,6 merr' *hristmas& ob<, said Scrooge with an earnestness that could not bemistaken& as he clapped him on the back. ,6 merrier *hristmas& ob& m' good fellow&

than ha)e gi)en 'ou for man' a 'ear< ll raise 'our salar'& and endea)our to assist 'our struggling famil'& and we will discuss 'our affairs this )er' afternoon& o)er a *hristmas

bowl of smoking bishop& ob< 4ake up the fires and bu' another coal-scuttle before 'oudot another i& ob *ratchit<,

Scrooge was better than his word. 2e did it all& and infinitel' more and to #in' #im&

who did # die& he was a second father. 2e became as good a friend& as good a master&and as good a man as the good old *it' knew& or an' other good old cit'& town& or

borough in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him& but he

let them laugh& and little heeded them for he was wise enough to know that nothing e)er happened on this globe& for good& at which some people !1II" did not ha)e their fill of laughter in the outset and& knowing that such as these would be blind an'wa'& he

FI



thought it $uite as well that the' should wrinkle up their e'es in grins as ha)e the malad'

in less attracti)e forms. 2is own heart laughed: and that was $uite enough for him.

2e had no further intercourse with Spirits& but li)ed upon the #otal-6bstinence8rinciple e)er afterwards and it was alwa's said of him that he knew how to keep

*hristmas well& if an' man ali)e possessed the knowledge. 4a' that be trul' said of us&and all of us< 6nd so& as #in' #im obser)ed& ;od bless =s& >)er' ne<

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