The evening world. Newspaper, December 24, 1915, Page 11

soceeeadimetin Shamneninamaaenadenmmmnetmemaaananateed Peeereaesocooooen soccecoceooooeoee Christmas Carol The Greatest Yuletide Story Evér Written ev iv Scrooge is & stingy and gronchy Lon- Suvinews tan, who eefses to consider Olney: ulaatce Iie 's confronted by the. gtwst. ot ; nsinews partner, Who of the Engending vet of, hres fis'ovmn jase’ chtusinadaes waking Hy heart the memory of fighter end gecond apiyit. tahaw lm to Te etd given Vues Cihrtatinawo STAVE FOUR. (Continued) The Last of the Spirits. > HE room was very dark, too dark to be observed with any accuracy, though Berooge giancod round it in obedience to a secret im- pulse, anxious to know what kind of room ft was. A pale light, rising in the outer air, fell straight upon the bed; and on it, plundered and bereft, ‘unwatched, unwept, uncared for, was the body of this man. Berooge glanced toward the Phan- tom. Its steady hand was pointed to the head. The cover was so care- lebsly adjusted that the slightest rais- tng of it, the motion of @ finger upon Bercoge’s part, wold have disclosed the face, He thought of it, felt how easy it would be to do, and longed to 6 it, but bad no more power to with- Oraw the veil than to dismiss the Spectre at his side. Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, eet up thine altar here, and dress it with such terrors as thou hast at thy command; for this is thy dominion! But of the loved, revered, and hon- ored head, thou canst not turn one hair to thy dread purposes, or make one feature odious. It ix not that the hand is heavy, and will fali down alpen aye, Foes, Corlatmne © griesome glimpee when released; it is not that the heart and pulse aro still: but that the hand the wat open, generous, and true; heart brave, warm, and tender the pulse a man's. Strike, Shadow, strike! And seo his good deeds spfinging from the wound, to sow the World with life immo: No voice pronounced these words in Scrooge's ears and yet he hoard them when he looked upon the bed, He thought, i¢ this man could be raised up now, what would his foremo#t thoughts? Avurice, hard- dealing, gtiping cares? ‘They have brought him to a rich end, truly! He lay, in a dark, empty house, with not a man, a woman, or a child to say he was kind to me in this or that, and for the memory of one kind word I will be kind to him, A cat Was tearing at the door, and there was @ sound of gnawing rats & neath the heatthstone. What they yvanted in the room of death, and why they were xo restless and dis- turbed, Scrooge did nut dare to think. “Spirit! he said, “this is a fearful plage. In leaving {t 1 sieall not leave ite lesson, trust me. Let us go!” Btili. the Ghost pointed with an un- moved finger to the head. “{ understand you," Scrooge re- turned, “and would do it, if I could, But 1 have not the power, Spirit. J have not the power,” di to look upon him. t ny person in the town who feels emotion caused by this man's death,” said Scrooge, quite agonized, “show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you!” ‘The Phantom spread tts dark robe before him, for a moment, like a wings and withdrawing it, reveaied a roor by daylight, where a mother and he children were, She was expecting some one, and with anxious eagernes: for she walked up and down the room; start~ ed at every wound; looked out from the window: glanced at the clock; tried, but in vain, to work with her needie; and could hardly bear the voices of her children tn their play. ‘At length the long-expected knock (was heard, She hurried to the door and met her pusbend whose t wis ‘orn and depressed, tg expression in It now, « kind of seric delight of which he felt ashamed, which he strung 4 to repress. He sat down ) the ainaee i ding for him by tho Hs when sho asked him faintly what news (which was not until after a jong silence), he appeared embar- rassed how to answer. “Ie it good,” she said, elp him. del Bad," he answered, “W are quite ruined! . ‘ “No, There is hope yet, Caroline. relents,” she said, amased, Nothing Is past hope, it sald her “or bad?” to t “there is! euch a miracle has happenc “He is paat relenting, d, “He te dead.” bo ge a mild and patient crea- ture, if her face spoke truth; but sho Was’ thankful in her soul to hear it, eo sald so, With clasped ai seen, a ae ta ment, and was sor but the first was the emotion of her heart “What the. half-drunken woman whom I told you of last night sald qo me, when I tried to see him and obtain a we K's delay, and what t thought wa a mere excise to avoid me, turns out to have been quite by fis’ was not only very ill, but dying they whom will our debt be trans fey don't know, But before that time we shall be ready with the money; and sven though we were net, it Would be bad fortune indeed to find go merciless a crediior In his succes- for. We may sleep, to-night with , Caroline!” Lo Mabe hs it ag they would, thelr hearts were lighter, The children's faces, hushed and clustered round to whut tir hear, Drighter: and it was & happier house for this man's death! "The only emotion that the Ghost could show him, caused by the event, was one of pleasure “Let me see some tenderness con- nected with a death,” said Scrooge, “or that dark chamber, Spirit, which we left just now will be forever pres- me.” “me Ghost conducted him through eevesa! streets familiar to his feet; Fee: and as they went along Scroo; looked here and there to find himself, but nowhere was he to be seen, They entered poor Bob Cratchit's house— the dwelling he had visited before— and found the mother and the chil- dren seated round the firn, Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little Cratchits were as still ag statues in one corner, and sat looking rh at Peter, who had a book before him, ‘The mother and her daughter were engaged in sewing. But surely they were very quiet! “And He took a child and eet him in the midst of them.'" Where had Scrooge heard those words? He had not dreamed them. The boy must have read them out, aa he and the Spirit crossed the thres- hold, Why did he not go on? The mother laid her work upon the table, and put her hand up to her) face. “The color hurts my eyes,” she sald. The color? Ah, poor Tiny Tim! “They're better now again,” said Cratohit's wife. “It makes th weak by candlelight; and I wouldn't show weak eyes to your father when | he comes home for the world, It must be near his time,” “Past it rather,” Peter answered, shutting up his book. “But I think he h walked a little slower than he used these last few evenings, mother.” They were very quiet again. At last she id, and in a steady, cheerful voice only faltered once: “T have kno#n him walk with—T have known him walk with Tiny Tim fast indeed.” “And so have 1,” cried Peter. ‘Often. “And so have I,” exclaimed an- other. So had all she resumed, {Intent upon her work, nd his father loved him #o, that tt waa no trouble there is your fi | “But he was very light to carry,” | i | no trouble her at the de | him; and And She hurried out to m | little Rob in his comforter he bred | need of it, poor fellow—came in, Mis | tea was ready for him on the hob, | and they all tried who should help Ii to hin most. Then the two youns Cratehita got upon hia knees and laid, each child, a little cheek against his | face, as if they said, “Don't mind it, father. Don't be grieved!" Bob was very chéerful with them: and spoko pleasantly to all the fam- fly. He looked at the work upon the table and praised the Industry and speod of Mrs, Cratchit and the gitis rhay would be done long before #un- he said. You went to-day, then, said his wife. “Yes, my dear,” returned Bob, “T wish you could have gone. It woitld have done you good to see how green & place {t is. But you'll seo it often. 1 promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little, little child!” cried Bob. “My little child!" He broke down all at once. He conldn’t help it. £f he could have ed it, he and hia child would have further apart, perhaps than y were. He left the room and went upstairs into the room above, which was lighted cheerfully and hung with Christmas, 'Thefe was a chalr se cloay beside the child, and there were elgns of some one aving been there lately, Poor Bob sat down in it, and when he had thought a little and com- posed himself, he kissed the little face. Ho was reconciled to what had happened, and went down again quite hap ‘Mey drew about the fire and talked; the girls and mother workin still. Bob told them of the extraord- inary, kindness of Mr. Scroogo’s nephew, whom he had y seen but once, and who, 1 him in the street that day, and seeing that he looked a little—"just @ little down, you know," sald Bob, inquired what had happened to distresa# him, “On ‘said Bob, “for he is the pleas- poken gentleman you ever I told. him. ‘T am heartil for it, Mr. Cratchit, he said, heartily sorry for your good By the by, how he ever knew that, T don't know vo “Knew what, my dear? a “hye that you were a good wife, d Bob. sorry ¥: ‘yboudy knows that,” said Polen y well observed, my boy,” cried Bob. “lL hope they do. ‘Heartily your good wife, ® to you In any me his card, I live, Pray come to me. Now, it wasn't," cried Bob, Mfor the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so Much as for hiv kind way, that this was quite de- lightful, It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim and felt with us." . “Tm sure he's a good soul! Mrs, Cratehit “You would be sure of it, my dear, returned Bob, “if you saw and spoke to him. I shouldn't be at all sur- prived—mark what [ say!—if he got Peter a better situation.” “Only hear that, Peter,” said Mré tehit nd then, f the girls, “Peter will be keeping company with some one, and setting up for him welt J he said, ‘fo pan be of serv i, giving sald t along with youl” retorted Peter, grinning Us Just as like as not,” said Bob, “one of these days; though there's plenty of time for that, my dear, But however and whenever we p: from one another, | am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim—shall we? or this first parting that there was} among us?” “Never, father!" cried they all, “And T know," sald Bob,—"l know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was, al- though he Was a little, little child, we shall not quarrel easily among our- selves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it.” "No, never, again, “Tam very happy —"T am very happy Mra, Cratchit kissed him, his daugh- ters kissed him, the two young Cratchits Kissed him, and Peter and himself shook hands. Spirit of ‘Tiny Min, thy childish eswence was from father!" they all cried said little Bob, pectre,” said Scrooge, “something informs me that our parting moment is at hand. 1 know it, but 1 know not how. Tell mo what man was that whom we saw lying dead." 'The Ghost of Christmas Yet Come conveyed him, as to though thought; order in at indeed, these & different time, he there seamed no latter visions, save that they were in the Future —Into the resorts showed hin of business not bimaelf, men, but Indeed, the Spirit did not stay for anything, but now to learn lay ‘underneath the ‘Tho finger pointed from the grave hood and dren. ground, It was @ worthy place, to him, and back again Walled in by houses, overrun by “No, Spirit! Oh, no, no." grags and weeds, the growth of vege- The fi r still was there. ta ‘s death, not lif choked up “Spirit ho cried, tight clutching wh too much burying; fat with re- at its robe, “hear me! ed appetite, A worthy place! man T was. Tam not the 1 will not be the man went straight on, as to the end just @ Spirit stood among the graves, | must have beon but for this inter. now desired, until besought by and pointed down to One. He ad- course. Why show me this, if Lam Scrooge to tarry for a moment vanced towards It, trembling. ‘The past all hope?" “This court,” said Scrooge, “through Phantom was exactly as {t had been, — For tho first time the hand appeared which we hurry now is where my but he dreaded that he saw new to shake place of occupation Is, and has been meaning in its solemn shape, “Good Spirit.” he pursued, as down for a length of time. I see the house, “Before I draw nearer to that stone pon the ground hoe fell before It, Let me behold what I shall bein days to which you point,” sald Serooge, “your nature intercedes for me and to come! “answer one question, Are these the pities me. Assure me that T yet may Spirit stopped, the hand was shadows of the things that Will be, change these shadows you have pointed elsewhere, or are they shadows of the things nome by an al life" rho house is yonder,” Scrooge ex- that May be, only?” The kind hand trembled claimed. “Why do you point away?" — Still the ost pointed downward = "I will honor Christmas in The inexorable Anger underwent no to the grave by which it stood, heart and try to keep it all the ye change, “Men's courses will foreshadow cer- 1 will live in the Past, the E n Scrooge hastened to the window of tain ends, to which, If persevered in, and the Future. ‘The Spirits of all hjs office and looked in. It was an they must lead,” sald Serooge, “But Three shall strive within me. 1 will office sill, but not his. The furniture if the courses be departed from, the not shut out the lessons that tl Was not the same and the figure in the chair was not himself. The Phan- tom pointed as before, He joined it once again, and, won- dering why and whither he had gone, accompanied it until they reached an iron gate. He paused to look around before entering. A. churchy wretched man ard who. Here, then, the vine he had Origin of the Christmas Tree. UST as primitive man worshipper red tree the forest hung upon the sac his gifts to it, so when we to-day deck our trees it is merely a survival of that old rite. Christmas with the Germans means the children’ Ger trea. 8 day, and ft is from ny that we have adopted that delight of delights, the Christmas The tree seems to be the very key ote of the arch of Christmas happi- ness and we should truly rejolce that auch a person as Martin Luther lived, since it is to him that the modern world is indebted for that special Christmas Joy After Luther's cloi ried and had or days he r numerous little Luthers, ends will change, Say it Is thue with ou show me!" pirit was immovable an ever. crooge crept towards ft, trembling 8 he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected teach, Oh, tell mo [may away the writing on this sto Tn his agony he caught the spe tral hand, 1 sought to free itvelf, but he waestrong in his entreaty amd detained it. The Spirit, stronger yet, r sponge krave his own name, EB ER Kod him, SCROOGE, Holding up hie hands in “Am 1 that man who lay upon the prayer to have h eversed, bed he cried, upon his kn 5. saw an alters y ome, The Evening World Daily Magazine, Friday, December 24, 1915 2) down, rings and all. They are here —I am here—th adows of the things that would have been may be a They will be. [ know they wilt’ His hands were busy with his gar- ments all this time, turning them naide out, putting them on upside wn, tearing them, misiaying them, king thom parties td every kind of ravagance, “L don't know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and orying {n the samé- breath, and making @ pertedt Laocoon of himself with his stock- ings. “Tam as ight as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, 1 am a merry as a scho as‘adrunken man. mas to everybody! py Yenr to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! — Hallo!” He had frisked into the sitting room, and! wan now standing there perfectly winded. “There's the sauce; that the gruel was in!" cried Scrooge, atart- ingeoft again, and going round the firopiace.. “There's the door by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered! There's the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Prasont sat! There’ the window where I saw the wander. ing Spirits! It's all right, it's all true, it ali happened, Ha, ha, hal” Reatly, for a man who had been ‘apt w out of praction for #o many years, It was @ splendid laugh, a most flue trious laugh, The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs! “L don't know what day of the month it is." sald Scrooge. “I don't know how long J have been among the Spirits. 1 don't know anything, Vm quite a baby, Never mind, tf don't care. I'd rather be a baby, Hallo!’ Whoop! Hallo here!" Ho was checked in his transport by the churches ringing out ie luck fest poals he had evér heard. Clash, clash, hammer; ding, -dong, bell! Kell, dong ding: hammer,’ clang, clash! Oh, glorious, glorious! Running to the window, he opened ft, and put out his head. No fog, no mist, clnar, bright, jovial, atirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to o; Goldew sunlight; Heaventy t frewh alr; merry bells, Oh, to-day?” erled Scrooge, calling downward to a boy In Bunday clothes, who perhaps had lottered im to look about him, "Ent" returned the boy, with all his might of wonder, "What's to-day, sald Scrooge. day!" replied the boy. “Why, Day.” my fine fellow?" to himaeir, “Lt haven't minaod It, Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like, Of course they can, Of course they can, Hallo, my fine follow!" “Hall returned the boy, It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down Into a bedpost. ————e STAVE FIVE. The End of It. ! and the bedpost was his own, the bed was his own, thé room was his own, Beat and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends In! “T will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!" Borooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed, “The Spirit of all Three shall atrive within O Jacob Marley! Heaven and the Christmas Time be praised for this! [say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees!" Iie wan #0 fluttered and so glowing with his gdod intentions, that his broken voice would acarcely answer to his call, He had been sobbing violently In Aig confilet with the pirit, and his face was wet with erled torn down,” vy are not Scrooge, folding one of his bed cur- tains in his arms—"they are not torn Mollie of the Movies —— By Alma Woodwar Copyright, 1916, by the Freee Publishing Cx DON'T know that I'll be quite as contemptuous of these (Phe New York Lyening World “Ie that all, Santa, dea He was told that, alas t was all, Then Reggio walked to a comner, reased-up dolls leading & tWO" | draggoa out a rope, tied all his toys pound bundle of brown fluff by atwo-}in a big bundle, pulled it into the yard chain after this, I used to be} hall and came buck Into the studio, one of the scorners, Whenever a wom-|, Hut it wan w different Reggie! Hi hair bristled, {is eyes durte jad an with @ toy canine crossed MY) yreen flames, His lipn were twisted path I'd remark, purposely loud: flendish) With «a wild whoop that “Huh! L's wonder she wouldn't jac ring, he bounded to the . at the group of children, lavish all that gusn on w kld ‘stead » M then doen k of & mutt of @ dog. second Ir t him clinging ke But nothing doing after what hap-|a leeen to So ¢ pened yesteruay afternoon, If some One rip and the adhesive tape cy came up to mé and off: me 4| binding Bi, Nick's whiskers let loose, ready-made family of Raphael's gher- | 1 next on the list, When he got ubim come to life, at January sale, at | through with me, my tulle was on the e-third off prices, I'd turn him dowa | fritz and my rhinestones were pul- a "| dat, . 1 looked like } and it was td his own little family! ““Vecause yesterday afternoon we yi looked Ike Ophelia after up that he first gave the idea of) gave a children's Christmas tea In our | jrom 100 he leaped with almian agtl- the Christmas tree, | studio, and aweet little Reginald Cur- | ity to the tree and climbed it, From We are told that one Christmas| U4 Wan the star | avout Reggic to | he, Phe did an Australian aplowh ve. on his way homé from another stand, He is eight and looks a | urn, ithe lemonade bowl. Ana then, town he passed through a snow cov- nt six. He has gold hair that di Le lh pea pred forent, dertul, cl It was one of those won- nights when the sky seemed a sea of glittering stars, and as they twinkled through the green fir trees the pression upo scene made such an im- n his mind that after he reached home he tried to describe the acene to his children, Feeling that his deseription failed right idea, he went out into the yard, cut @ young fir tree and brought iv He fastened it to a table, and on in, it put many to give them the little candles, These he lighted to represent the stars shining through the them on his The children and thus 4 Christina tr deater the trees as ho had seen way through the woods, wore delighted, of course, peared the first real ree, habit of hanging gifts upon_the. tree enme about, and the ighted tree itself has always been Defore~ the chicf of Christmas joys, dashed through the ranks of velvet- suited Fauntieroys and trish lace motifs and made for the door. It took us a few minutes to recover, slick as the skin of a wet seal, exce; rigMt over his ears, where it bush out beautifully, has limpid, tur- aqWoise eyes and an East Lynne flavo and an exquisite mouth, a bit melan- Then the ingenue spoke choly at the corners, ‘In short, the| “Do you suppowe that eo sort of child who makes the neighbors | Was acting asked, a tell his mother that "she'll never raise | “Or was it ryous bre him.” at a nature? For the party the leading m: dressed up as Santa and I was the fluffy Christmas fairy, all in white tulle and rhinestones, with a wand. | Reggie sat on @ rose velvet cushion! ever child sown of inquired tit funny," broke In the lead- right in front, His face looked like a| ing mon, nursing his raw face, "that bit of toned alabaster stained with he didn't act, breakdown or sicken crushed rose leaves, His @¢yes were | BRERORE he got all those toys?” full of myatery, And Keggie got most of the praa- ents, You could see how over wheimed he was, His lower lip must have trembled at least six times, And we «ll hugged bim to death, When Then we got wise, But [ll get that kid, To-morrow he has to play a scone With ine where he Koes to mleep in my lap. My! how I'm going to hug him! I'm going to hug him, by so that when I xet through ! Ranta stopped Randing out, Roggie|fuguing him they'll need a pulmotor wald gently; to have him say "Uncle!" ‘ a : Betty Vincent’s Advice to Lovers AM a young man of nine’ + writes L ‘and f should like to know how I can over- come bashfulness, which manifests Itself espectally when T am being in- troduced to a young lady.” Dpn't be so self conscious. Think téad atone yourself and the impres- sion you are making and you will be easier and less difident, 66 oq, Hi." writes: “I am engaged to a young man, but when I asked him if he would have to support hie mother after our marriage (there is eome one else in his family who works) he told me it was none of my business. | wanted to know because, it he has no more money than he has at present, I should prefer to r main gingle and let him support his mother without being isturbed Vas 1 wrong to ask him what I did?" Certainly not. There should be a frank understanding between all en- | gaged peraons as to the financial situ- Jation after marriage, | . ‘. ” . “Winning” Him. “WwW. OW." writes: “On my recent vacation [ made the acquaintance of a young man who ia well educated, holds a fine position and is a member Jof « prosperous fainily, 1 am twentys Jone and & business girl, [have askod | the young man to come and see me, but as yet he has not done eo, Shall I try to win him?" There ts nothing more that you can do with propriety. As @ matter of fact, you should not have asked the young man to call, but waited until be aske do so, Now walt and to continua the frie “A writes young man ta paying me attention and [ love him. Is it proper for me to give him a pres- ent on his birthday? You may give him some simple such a8 a book or a box of uu Know the poulterer’a, in the next street but the corner?” Scrooge inquired. “T should hope I did,” replied the lad. “An Intelligent boy!" sald Scrooge. remarkable boy! Do you know whether they've sold the prise turkey that was hanging up there? Not th little prize turkay, the big one “What, the one as big aa me?” re- turned the boy, “What a delightful boy!" said Scrooge. “It'@ a pleasure to talk to lim, “Yes, my buek,” “It's hanging there now," replied the boy. "Go and “Ia ie buy It.” eald Scrooge. said Scrooge earnest, Go and buy it, and tell tem to bring tt here, that T may give them the directions where to take It. Come back with the man, and Pil give you a shilling, Come back with him in lesa than five minutes and T'll_ give you half a crown.” ‘The boy was off like @ shot, A must have had @ steady hand at the trigger Who could have got @ shot off halt #o faat, “I'll send It to Bob Crateht whispered Serooge, rubbing his hands, and splitting with a laugh. “He shan’t know who #ende it, It's twloe the wize of Tiny Tim, Joe Miller never made such @ joke as sending It to Bob's will bel The hand in which he wrote the address was not @ steady one, but write it he did, somehow, and went downstairs to open the street door, y the coming of the poulter- Aw he stood there, waiting , the knocker caught his 4. “T whall love tt as long as T tive!" cried Beroe, patting it with hig hand, “I scarcely aver looked at It before, What an honest expression {t has in ils face! Ite « wonderful knocker!--Ilore's the Turkey. Hallo! Whoop! How are you? Merry Christmas!” It waa-® turkey! He never could have stood upon his legs, that bird, He would have snapped ‘em short off in @ mt like wicks of sealing wax, “Why, it's imposible to carry that to Camden Tow: id Berooge “You must have @ cab,” The chuckle with which he sald tht and the chuckle with which he pal for the turkey, and the ehuckle with which he puid for the cab, and the chugkie with Which he recompensed » boy, were only to be exceeded by e.chuckle with which he down thless in his ir again and uekled ull he oried. Shaving was not an easy task, for hia hand continued to shake very much, and shaving attention, on When you de 6 while you are at tt, But if b t the end of lid nose off, he would have put a plece of atlcking plaster aver tf and been atied. ed himaelf “all in his be and at lust got out into the atreet The people were by this time pouring forth, as he had seen them with the Ghost of Christmas present, and walk- ing with his hands behind him, Scrooge regarded every one with a de- lighted amile, Ile looked #0 trresteti- bly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good umored fellows said, "Good morning, sir! A merry Christmas to you!" And Serooge said often wards that of all blithe sounds he had ever heard those were the blithest in his ears, Ho had not gone far, when, coming on toward him he beheld the portly gentioman who had walked tmo his counting hous the day before end said “Scrooge and Marley's, I Neve?” It sont a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman th by both his hands, “how gentioman do you do? I hope you Yonrietmas to you te rl , i Mr, Borooget™ “Yea,” sald Scrooge. ‘That is my name, and I fear tt may not be pleas- ant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon, And will you have the good- neas”—Hore Scrooge whispered in his oar. “Lord bless me!" cried the gentie- man as if his breath were taken . “My dear Mr, Scrooge, are you serious?” "it you please,” sald Sctooge. “Not @ farthing less. A great many back mia are included in it, I sanye Jou. Wilt you do me that favor ing hands wi 10 what to say to suoh munifi"—— “Don't say anything, please,” re- torted Scrooge. “Come and se¢ me. Wi you come and see me?” “L will!” crted the old gentleman. And it was clear he meant to do Ht. “Thankee,* T am muoh obliged to you. J fifty times, y Hie went to church, and walked about the streets, one Peano Py people hurrying to and fro, ted. the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows; and found that everything could yield him pleasure. 6 had never dreamed that any walk hat anything—could give him so In the afternoon, nephew's house. Ho passed the door a dozen times before he had the courage to go But he made @ dash, and and knock, did it. “Is your master at bome, my coer aid Scrooge to the girl. Nicw girl! yy ir" fs he, my love?” said dining-room, ¢ir, along I'l show you up- irs, if you please,” “Thankes, He knows moe,” watt Serooge, with his hai ready on the dining-room lock. “I'll go in here, my dear, , Hoe turned {t gently, and pidted his face in, round the door. They were looking at the table (which was spread out In great array); for these young housekeepers are always ner Yous on such points, and like to sew that ev: try y Md right. “Fred!” said Scrooge, Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage started! Scrooge had for- gotten, for the moment, it her ait- ting In the corner with the footstool or wouldn't have done it on any account. “Why, bless my eoull” cried Fred, “who's thas?’ “It's I. Your Uncle Sorooge. I have come to dinner, Will you eo Freda?” Let him tn! It is @ mercy he didn't shake his arm off. He was at bome in five minutes. Nothing could be ne . Hin niece looked just the same. Bo did Topper when he came. 80 did plump sister when she came, Ho did every one, when they came. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, won-der-ful happiness! But he was early at the office next morning. Oh, he waa early there! If he could only be there firet and catch Bob Cratehit coming late! That Was the thing he had eet bis heart upon, And he did it; yes, he did it! The clock struck nine. No Bob, A quar- ter past. No Hob. He was full eigh- teen minutes and @ half bebind his time, Hcrooge sat with his door wiae open, that be might see him come int» the tank. His hat was off before he opened the d his comforter, too. He was on his stool in a jify away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o'clock. “Hallo!” growled Borooge, im his accustomed voice aa near as he could folgn it. “What do mean by coming here at this time of day?” 1 am very sorry, sir,” aaid Bob. “I am behind my time. o are?" repeated cerore “Yes, I think you are, Step this way, sir, If you please.” “It's only once @ year, sir,” ° ed Bob, appearing from the ti “Tt shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, air.” “Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," sald Scrooge; “ not poise to stand this sort of thing any onger, And therefore,” he con- tinued, leaping from stool, and siving Bob such a dig in the waiet Coat that he staggered back into t tank again—‘and therefore, I am “bout to raise your salary!" Bob trembied, and got a little near- He had a momen’ er to the ruler. ing Bcrooge down wit idea of knock it, holding him, and calling to the mas, Bob, my good fellow, have given you for many a yeai ralse your salary, and entsarer to = ist your struggling family, and Will discuss your affairs this very afternoon over « Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle be- fore you dot another 4, Bob Cratohit!” Scrooge was better than his word. Hoe did tt all, and infinitely moro; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT dle, he was a second father He became 6 food a Lire 48 good 4 master, and 8 g00od @ Man as the good City knew, or any other ity, old city, town, or ‘borough i nad igh in the good old Some people lau, to see the al- teration in him, t he let them laugh, and little heedeg them; for he Was wise enough to kriow that noth- ing ever happened on this globe, for at which some people did not ¢ their Ml of laughter in the out. set; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart Jaughed, and that was quite enough for him, He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Ab: atinence Principle ever afterward; nd it was alwaye said of him it e knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the know! would look upon him when they met; ¢d@se. but he knew what path ley straight that be truly sald of and before him, and he took tt. 7 att of us ey ow Tiny ob- “My doar sir,” aaid Scrooge, quick. s¢rved, Sot, Every fils ening is pace, and taking the old (The Bad.) m t SET { es