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

~ his net again without starcer
Mhen She clock struck eleven this domestic
BAH broke up. Hs. and Mrs. Fezziwig took
their stations, oae on either slle the door, and,
- be or she went out, wished him or her a mer-
~ Christmas. When every body had retired
buA the two 'prentices, they did the same to
them and thus the cheerful voices died away,
and the lads were left to their beds, which were
under counter in the back shop
During the whole of this time, Scrooge had
acted ike man out of his Wits His heart and
no1l were in the scene, and with his former self
Ho cofroborated every thing, remembered every
thing. enjoyed every thing, and underwent the
Strangest agitation. 1t wss not until now,
whom the bright faces Of his former self and
Dick were turned from them, that he remem-
bered the Ghost, and became conscious that it
was looking full upon him, while the light upon
it, head burned very clear.
= A small matter said the Ghost, &c to make
these silly folks SO full Of gratitude
Small !" echoed Scrooge
z Thu Spirit signed to him to listen to the two
apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts
in praise Of Fezziwig: and when he had done SO,
sWhy! Is it not He has spent but few
pounds Of your mortal money . three or four,
I Perhaps. Is that SO much that he deserves this
= Il Isn't that" said Scrooge, heated by the
emark, and speaking unconsciously like his
foxznsr, not his latter self. at isn't that,
Spirit He has the power to render us happy or
unhappy; to make our service light or burden
some; apleasure or toll. Say that his power
lies in words and looks; in things SO slight and
insignificant that it is impossible to add and
count 'em up: what then The happiness he
q gives is q1ite as great as if il cost fortune.
he felt ~ Spirits glance and stopped,
aWh1 y the matter . asked the Ghost.
!" Nothing Particular said Scrooge.
Something, think, z the Ghost insisted.
s No., said Scrooge. g No. l should like to
= BE- able to say a word or two to my clerk just
nov! That's all ~ ,asss
His former self turned down the lamps as he
gave utterance to the wish; and Scrooge and
the Ghost again stood side by side in the
open air.
Ny time grows Short" observed the Spirit,
= Quick!' p
This was not addressed to Scrooge, or to any
one whom he could see, but it produced an i'm
mediate effect For again Scrooge saw himself
he was older now; o. man in the prime of life.
His features had not the harsh and rigid lines Of
later years; but it had begun to wear the signs
Of care and avarice. There was an eager,
greedy, restless motion in the eye, which showed
Tho passion that had taken root, and where the
h1dow of the growing tree would fall
He was not alone, but sat by the side of fair
young girl in q morning dress; in whose eyes
there were tears, which sparkled in the light
that shone out of the Ghost of Christmas Past
g It matters ittle,'' he said. softly. ssTo you,
very little. Another idol has displaced me; and
# it can cheer and comfort you in time to come,
= would have tried to do, have no just cause
70 grieve.
s What idol has displaced you'' he rejoined
6 A golden one''
s This is the even-handed dealing of the
world p he said. g There is nothing on which
it Is % hard as poverty; and there is nothing it
prcfesses to condemn with such severity as the
puSsuit Of wealth p
9 You fear the world too much, p she answered, |
gentlys g All your other hopes have merged
into t1e hope of being beyond the chance of its
sorNd reproach. Ihave seen your noble aspira- |
tons fall of one by one, until the master
passion, Gain, engrosses you. Have not p
ssWhat then 7" he retorted ssEven if have
grown 80 much wiser, what them l am not
changed towards you
She shook her head
cam p
!" Our contract is an old one 1t was made
when we were both poor and content to be so.
worldly fortune by our patient industry. You
are changed. When it was made, you were
another man.
81 was boy he said impatiently
6 Your own feeling tells you that you were
not what you are, she returned. ~ am That
which promised happiness when we were one in
heart, is fraught with misery now that we are
Of this. will not say. 1t is enough that Ihaue
thought Of it, and can release you,'
Have ever sought release?"
!" In words. No. Never
I'm what then ~
" In a changed nature in an altered spirit |
in another atmosphere of life another Hope as |
is great end. In everything that made my love |
OF any worth or value in your sight. If this had |
never been between u.s. said the girl looking |
mildly, but with steadiness, upon him; tel
me, would you seek me out and try to win me
now! All, no!''
He seemed to yield to the justice of this sup
position, in spite Of himself But he said, with
a struggle. g You think not"
would gladly think otherwise if l could
she answered, g Heaven knows! When have
learned q Truth like this, know how strong
ana irresistible It must be. But if you were
free to-day, tomorrow, yesterday, can even |
believe that you would choose dowerless girl
-yon who, in your very confidence with her,
weigh everything by Gain: or choosing her, if
for moment you were false enough to your one
guiding principle to do SO, I do not know that
your repentance and regret would surely fol-
low! do; and release you. With a full
hsort, for the love of him you once WERE
~ wos about to speak but with her head
turned from him, she resumed:
You may-thc memory of what is past half |
makes me hope you will-have pain in this. A
very, very brief time, and you will dismiss the
recollection Of it, gladly, as an Improbable
dream, from which it happened we'll that you
awokss May you be happy in the life you have
chosen p
She left him; and they parted
K ~
Conduct me home. Why do you delight to tor
ture me I"
One shadow more!" exclaimed the Ghost
!. g No more" cried Scrooge. g No more l
don't wish to see it. Show me no more !''
But the relentless Ghost pinioned him in both |
his arms, and forced him to observe what hap
pened next
They were in another scene and place: a
room, not very large or handsome, but full of
comfort. Near to the winter fire sat a beauti-
ful young girl, so like the last that Scrooge be-
lieved II WAS the same, until he saw her, now
: comeiy matron, sitting opposite her daughter
The noise in this room was perfectly tumultu-
GUS, for there were more children there than
Scrooge in his agitated state of mind could
count; and, unlike the celebrated herd in the
poem, they were not forty children conducting
themselves like one, but every child was con
1ucting itself like forty. The consequences
we're uproarious beyond belief; but no one
leemed to care: ON the contrary, the mother
md daughter laughed heartily, and enioyed it
Fery much; and the latter, soon beginning to
niunlo in the snortS rot mill red Inv tho ,,nnn. |