The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-01


DEAR SIR: The two following scenes, which
extract from Mr. Dickens admirable Christ
mas Carol, are worthy OF every ones hought
full perusal. and more particularly by the enc
mics Of ftemperance- the enemies that cause,
which once triumphant, and justified of all
men. would Danish more Ignorance and ,oant"
from the world, than all other charities besides
Task for these extracts place in your "Foun-
tain" of health.
..Scrooge and Marley's, believe.' said one
of the gentlemen, referring to his list. tHave
the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or
Mr.. Marey2"
'sMr Marley has been dead these seven
years." Scrooge replied. .He died seven years
ago this very night"
''We have no doubt his liberality is well re-
presented by his surviving partner" said The
gentleman, presenting his credentials.
AT the ominous word "liberality," Scrooge
frowned, and shook his head, and handed the
credentials back.
SAT this season of the year, Mr.. Scrooge,"
said the gentleman, taking up pen, sit is
more than usually desirable that we should
make some slight provision for the poor and
destitute, who suffer greatly at the present
Z time. Many thousands are in want Of com
mon necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in
want Of common comforts sir"
'yare there no prisons 2" asked Scrooge.
W h HM 49, @#
#a er. ~ #gs \
The chimes were ringing the three quarters
past eleven at that moment.
.Forgive me if am not justified in what
ask" said Scrcoge, looking intently at the spi-
rirs robe, "but see something strange, and
not belonging to yourself, protruding from
your skirts. Is it foot or claw2 2"
at ssIt might be claw, for the flesh there is
,r upon it, was the spirits sorrowful reply.
g Look here.'' os
l From the foldings OF its robe, it brought two
children; wrelched, abect, frightfu, hideous,
miserable. They knet at It's feet, and clung
upon the outside of its garment
et "Oh, Man! look here. Look, look, down
here ~ exclaimed the Ghost.
There was boy and girl; yellow, meagre,
ragged, scowling, wolfsh; but prosuate, 100,
in their humility. Where graceful youth
should have filled their features out, and
touched them with its fresh tints, stale and
shrivelled hand, like that Of age, had pinched
and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds.
Where angels might have set enhroned, dew
lis lurked, and glared out menacing No
change, no degradation, no perpersion Of humn.i-
ty IN any grade, through all the mysteries Of wo,a-
deyfL creation, has monsters half so horrible and
dread
Scrooge started back, appalled,, having them
shown 10 him in this way, he tried TO say they
were fine children, but the words choked them
selves, rather than be parties to lie of such
enormous magnitude.
Esprit! are they yours?" Scrooge could
say no more.
"They are IMan's," said the Spirit, locking
- down upon them. And they cling TO me,
appealing from their fathers This boy is Ig
norance This gill is Want. Beware them
both, and all of their degree; but most Of all be-
ware this boy, for on his brow see that writ
ten which is Doom, unless the writing be eras
ed .sDeny i,!'' cried the Spirit, stretching
out its hand toward the city, ISLANDER those
7s who tell it yel Admit it for your factious
purposes, and make it worse And bide the
end ~ ~. Hsse a saa #H
:" Have they no refuge or resources ?" cried
Scrooge.
e s'.qre there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turn
ing on him for the last time acith his o,cl aoords
The bell struck twelve.
Scrooge looked about for the Ghost and saw
it not As the last stroke ceased TO vibrate, he
remembered the prediction of old Jacob Mar
ley, and lifted up his eyes. beheld phantom,
dressed and hooded, coming like mist along
the ground towards him.
THE MUTUAL BENEFIT LIFE IN