Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-01-11


the Ghost of Christmas Present sat
There's the window where saw the wan
dering Spirits It's all right, It's all true!
it all happened.
lie opened the door and put out his head,
No fog, No MIST clear, bright, loyial, stir
ring, cold cold, piping for the blood to
dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky;
sweet fresh mir merry bells. Oh glorious.
Glorious
"What's to-day 7" cried Scrooge, calling
downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who
perhaps had loitered in to look about him,
"EH? returned the boy, with all his
might Of wonder.
"What's to-day, my fine tellow?" said
Scrooge,
"Ro-day 2" replied the boy. Why,
CHRISTMAS DAY."
ITS Christmas Day !" said Scrooge to
himself. 81 haven't missed it. The Spirits
have done it all in one night. They can do
anything they like. Of course they can.
OF course they can. Halo, my fine fellow p
Halo !" returned the boy.
"Do you know the Poulterer's, in the
next street but one, at the corner m
Scrooge inquired.
81 should hope did" replied the lad.
"An intelligent boy" said Scroogc. A
remarkable boy! Do you know whether
they've sold the prize Turkey: the big
one 2"
"What, the one as big as me 2" returned
the boy.
"W hat delightful boy !" said Scrooge.
cts a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my
buck ~
"It's hanging there now," replied the
boy.
"Is it 2" said Scrooge. "Go and buy
it,"
"Walk-er!" exclaimed the boy.
mo, no." said Scrooge' am in earnest
Go and buy it, and telPem to bring it here,
that may give them the directions where
to take it. Come back with the man, and
l'll give you shilling. Come back with
him in less than five minutes, and III give
half-a crownm
The boy was off like shot. He must
have had a steady hand at trigger who
could have got shot off half so fast.
"I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's," whisper
ed Scrooge, rubbing his hands, and splitting
with laugh. ole shan't know who sends
it. It's twice the size Of Tiny Tim. Joe
Miller never made such joke as sending
it to Bob's will be !"
The hand in which he wrote the address
was not a steady one but write it he did,
somehow, ard went downstairs to open
the street door, ready for the coming Of
the poulterer's man. As he stood there,
waiting his arrival, the knocker caught his
eye
81 shall love it as long as | live " cried
Scroogc, pattingit with his hand. " scarce
ly overlooked at it before, What an honest
expression it has in its face It's Won
derful knockcr ! Here's the Turkey Halo!
Whoop How are you merry Christmas !"
1t uaS Turkey He never could have
stood upon his legs, that bird. He would
have snapped 'cm short off in a minute,
like sticks of sealing-waX.
"Why, it's impossible to carry that to
Camden Town." said Scrooge. "You must
have a cab"
TIE chuckle with which he said this,
and tho chuckle with which he paid for
the Turkey, and the chucklc with which
he paid for the cab, and the chuckle with
which he recompensed the boy, were only
to be exceeded by the chucklc with which
he sat down breathlcss in his chair again,
and chuckled till he cried
Shaving was not an easy task, for his
hand continued to shake very much and
shaving requires attention, even when you
don't dance while you are at it. But if he
had cut the end of his nose of, he would
have put piece of sticking plaster over it,
and been quite satisfied.
He dressed himself ." all in his best" and
at last got out into the streets. The people
were by this time pouring forth, as he had
seen them with the Ghost of Christmas
Present; and walking with his hands
behind him, Scroogc regarded every one
with delighted smile. He looked SO ire
sistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or
or four good humored fellows said, "Good
morning, sir! A merry Christmas to youn'
And Scrooge said often afterwards, that Of
all the blithe sounds he had ever heard,
those were the blithest in his cars.
He had not gone far, when coming on
towards him he beheld the portly gentle
man, who had walked into his counting
house the day before, and said " Scrooge
and Marley's, believe 2" 1t sent pane
across his heart to think how this old
gentleman would look upon him when
they met; but he knew what path lay
straight before him, and he took it.
"My dear SIR said Scrooge, 9uickenine
his pace, and taking the old gentleman by
noth his Lands. How do you do ? hope
you succeeded yesterday. 1t was very
kind Of you. A merry Christmas to you
sir !"
"Mr Scroogc ?"
eyes" said Scrooge. "That is my
name, and fear it may not be pleasant tC
you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And
will you have the goodness"-here Scroogc
whispered in his car.
"Lord bless me p cried the gentleman
as if his breath were taken away. "My
dear Mr. Scrooge, you are serious ?"
"Ir you please" said Scrooge. "Not 6
farthing less. A great many back-pay.
ments are included in it, 1 assure. viii
you do me that favor p
"My dear SIR said the other, shaking
hands with him. ~ don't know what tC
say to such munifi-"
"Don say anything, please" retortct
Scroogc. "Come and see me, Will 70,
come and see me ?"
~ will" cried the old gentleman. Ant
it was clear he meant to do it.
Thank'ee," said Scrooge. 81 am macl
obliged to you. ] thank you fifty times
Bless you ?"
He went to church, and walked about the
streets, and watched the people hurryne
to and fro, and patted the children on the
head, and questioned beggars, and looked
down into the kitchens of houses, and W
L ~ 4 ~