New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-12-25

She hurried out to meet him; and little Bob
in his conforter---he had need Of it, poor fsl.
low--came in. His tea was ready for him on
the hob, and they all tried who should help him
to Utmost. Then the two young Cratchits got
upon his knees and laid, each child little
cheek, against his face. as If they said, a Don't
mind it father Don't be grieved r
Bob was very cheerful with them, and spoke
pleasantly to all the family. He looked at the
work upon the table, and praised the industry
and speed of Mrs. Cratchit and the girls. They
would be done long before Sunday, he said
Sunday! You went to-day, then, Robert r
said his wife,
Yes, my dear" returned Bob. al wish you
| could have gone. It would have done you good
to see how green place il is. But you'll see it
| often. promised him that would wslk there
on Sunday. My little, little child p cried
Bob a. Ny little child p
He broke down all at once He couldn't help
it. If he could have helped it, he and his child
| would have been further apart, perhaps, than
they were.
He left the room. and went up stairs into the
room above. which was lighted cheerfully, and
| hung with Christmas There was q chair set
close beside the child, and there were signs of
some one having been there lately Poor Bob
sat down in it, and when he had thought little
| and composed himself, he kissed the little face.
| He was reconciled to what had happened, and
| went down again quite happy.
| They drew about the fire, and talked the
| girls and mother working still. Bob told them
| Of the extraordinary kindness of Mr.. Scrooge's
| nephew, whom he had scarcely seen but once,
and who, meeting him in the street that day.
and seeing that he looked a little just little
| down, you know" said Bob, inquired what had
happened to distress him. Son which, said
Bob, g for he is the pleasantest-spoken gentle
man you ever heard, I told him. lam heartily
sorry for it Mr.. Cratchit,' he said, and heartily
sorry for your good wife, By the bye, how he
1 ever knew that, don't know
Knew what, my dear? 7"
Why, that you we're good wife," replied
Bob.
9. Everybody knows that! p said Peter.
Very well observed, my boyp' cried Bob.
81 hope they do. Heartily sorry he said,
you in any way he said, giving me his card,
that's where live. Pray come to me- Now,
it wasn't cried Bob, &c for the sake Of anything
he might be able TO do for us, SO much as for his
4 kind way, that this was quite delightful 1t
really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim,
and felt with U.S.
s:rm sure he'sa good soulp' said Mrs Cratchit.
| "You would be surer of it, my DEAR return
ed Bob, g if you saw and spoke to him ]
shouldn't be at all surprised, mark what say,
if he get Peter better situation
:sOnly hear that, Peter said Mrs Cratchit
g And them" cried one Of the girls, " Peter
, will be keeping company with some one, and
setting up for himself"
"Get along with you,'' retorted Peter, grin.
ming
ssIt's just as likely as not" said Bob, one
, of these days; though there's plenty of time fl,
that, my dear. But however and whenever We
part from one another / am sure we shall nont
) Of us forget poor Tiny Tim-shall we-or thi!
| first parting that there WIS among us'' @
: Never, father p cried they all
t 'sAnd know said Boil, &C know, my dears
: that when we recollect how patient and how
, mild he was although he was little, littl,
selves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it,"
0 "No, never, fatherm they all cried again.
e 81 am very happy" said little Boy, :" l an
8 very happy"
4 Mrs Cratchit kissed him, his daughters kisset
t him, the two young Cratchits kissed him, AMI
y Peter and himself shook hands. Spirit of Tin,
t Tim, thy childish essence was from God
Spectre, said Scrooge, &C something inform
. me that our parting moment is at hand.
t know it, but know not how. Tell me wha
man that was whom we saw lying dead?"
r The Ghost Of Christmas Yet to Come con
veyed him, as before-though at diferen
d time, he thought: indeed, there seemed no or
e der in these latter visions, save that they wer
in the Future-into the resorts of business men
but showed him not himself. Indeed, the spiri
IS did not stay for anything, but went straight or
d as to the end just now desired, until besought b
o Scrooge to larry for a moment.
ssThis Court said Scrooge, through whic
n we hurry now, is where my place of occupatio
t, is, and has been for length of time. I see til
n house. Let me behold what shall be, in day
to come"
Is The spirit stopped; the hand was pointe
e elsewhere.
n s'The house is yonder," Scrooge exclaimed
n "Why do you point away ~
y The inexorable finger underwent no change
Scrooge FASTENED to the window Of his Office
|. and looked in. 1t was Office STILL but not hi
{; The furniture was not the same, and the fgur
|, in the chair was not himself. The phantol
lie pointed as before.
1t He joined it once again, and wondering VIII
s and whittier he had gone, accompanied it unit
they reached an iron gate. He paused to loo
r round before entering.
ID churchyard. Here, then, the wretche
ii man whose name he had now to learn, lay III
ID derneath the ground. 1t was a worthy plac
Walled in by houses oy. run by grass ar
life, choked up with too much burying fat wit
repleted appetite. A worthy place!
The SPIRIT stood among the graves, al
3! pointed down to One. He advanced towards
p trembling. The Phantom was exactly as
had been, but he dreaded that he saw ne
d. meaning in its solemn shape.
"Betore l draw nearer to that stone to whit
err you point" said Scrooge, 'sanswer me OF
er question. Are these the shadows of the thin
ed that Will be, or are they shadows of the thin
o. that May be, only p
,e Still the Ghost pointed downward to the gra
by which it stood.
Id 'Men's courses will foreshadow certain end
ee to which, if persevered in, they must lead
I said Scrooge." But if the courses be depart
MS from, the ends will change. Say it it thus wi
ly what you show mep
The Spirit was immovable as ever
Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as
ii went; and following the finger, read upon t
We stone of the neglected grave his own nan
to EBENEzER ScRooGE.
We cam l that man who lay upon the bed"
|" cried upon his knees.
is The finger pointed from the grave to him, Al
I'd back again.
n esprit! Oh no, mop .-..-
er The finger still was there.
On s'Spirit' he cried, tight clutching at its rot
be "hear me! l am not the man l was W
not be the man I must have been but for Il
tn intercourse. Why show me this, if I am ps
IT, all hope?"
er For the first time the hand appeared to shah
''Good Spirit he pursued, as down upon t
al ground he fell before it "Your nature int
MT olo To, oyd hot