New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-12-25
Stare iP.,..,. The Last ofthe SPIRITS.

The Phantom slowly gravely, silently, d
preached. When it came near him, Scrod
bent down upon his knee; for in the very u
through which this spirit moved it seemedk
scatter gloom and mystery.
1t was shrouded in deep black garmef
which concealed its head, its face, its form, al.
left nothing of it visible save one outstretcH
hand But for this, it would have been aid
cult to detach its figure from the night, az
separate it from the darkness by which it V
surrounded.
He felt that il was tall and stately wheb
came beside him, and that its mysterious pr
ence filled him with solemn dread. He KID
no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor now
81 am in the presence of the Ghost of ChrA
mas Yet to Come :" said Scrooge.
The Spirit answered not, but pointed doyl
ward with its hand
9 gu are about to show me shadows of 4
things that have not happened, but will hapIN
in the time before u.s." Scrooge pursued.
that SO, Spirit ~
The upper portion of the garment was cd
tracted for an instant in its folds, as ii the Sp
had inclined its head. That was the only II
swer he received.
Although well used to ghostly company Z
this time, Scrooge feared the silent shaped
much that his legs trembled beneath him. Az
he found that he could hardly stand when (
prepared to follow it. The Spirit paused n nd
ment, as describing his condition, and givia
him time to recover
But Scrooge was all the worse for this
thrilled him with vague, uncertain horror,
know that behind the dusky shroud there wei
ghostly eyes intenty fixed upon him, when hi
though he stretched his own to the utmost, coul
see nothing but spectral hand and one gre|
heap of black.
"Ghost of the Future !" he exclaimed, 81 fed
you more than any Spectre | have seen. BID
as know your purpose is to do me good, and
l hope to live to be another man from what
was, am prepared to bear you company, ad
do it with a thankful heart. Will you not sped
to me p
1t gave himrno reply The hand was poi
ted straight before them.
Lead onr' said Scrooge. Lead on I'll
night is waning fast, and it is precious time
me, know Lead on, Spiritn'
The phantom moved away as it had come I'd
wards him. Scrooge followed in the shadow
its dress, which bore him up, he thought, afI
carried him along.
the city rather seemed to spring up about ther
and encompass them Of its own act. But the
they were, in the heart Of it; on Change, amorl
the merchants; who hurried up and down, and
chinked the money in their pockets. and cod
versed in groups, and looked at their watched
and trifed thoughtfully with their great col
SEALS and so forth, as Scrooge had seen ther
often.
The spirit stopped beside one little knot O
business men. Observing that the hand wa
pointed to them, Scrooge advanced to listen t
their talk
NO." said great fat man with a mon
strous chin, 81 don't know much about il
either way, | only know he's dead"
When did he die !" inquired another.
Last night, believe"
why, what was the matter with him y
asked Il third, taking vast quantity of snui
out of a very large snuff box 81 thought he,
never die"
God knows" said the first, with yawn,
what has he done with his money asked
red-taced gentleman with pendulous excres
cence on the end of his nose, that shook like tbj
gills of a turkey cock.
81 haven't heard,' said the man with tb|
large chin, yawning again. left ii to hill
Company, perhaps. He hasn't left it to me
That's all know"
This pleasantly was received with a genera
laugh.
''lt's likely to be u very cheap funeral, sail
the same speaker; for upon my life don't kno
u any D9dy TO 60 to 1t. Suppose we make up
party and volunteer %
" don mind going if lunch is provided
observed the gentleman with the excrescence q
his nose. ''But l must be fed if / make one
Another laugh.
SWELL, l am the most disinterested anon
you, after all', said the first speaker, sstor
never wear black gloves, and never eat luncli
But I'll offer to go, if any body else will Whe}
come to think Of it, I'm not at all sure that
wasn't his most particular friend; for we use
. stop and speak whenever we met. BJ
oy!"
Speakers and listeners strolled away, AMI
mixed with other groups Scrooge knew TIL