The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-12-25


He passed the door asdozen times
before he had the courage to go mp
and knock. But he made dash. and
did it.
ais your master at home, my dear p
said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl !
eyes, sir"
aWhere is he, my lover" said
Scrooge.
aHes in the dining-room, sir, along
with mistress. I'll show youup stairs,
If you please"
s.Thank'ee. He knows me" said
Scrooge, with his hand already on the
dining-Foom lock. an go in here,
my dear"
He turned it gently and sidled his
face in, round the door. They were
looking at the table (w hieh was spread
out in great array for these young
hOusekeepeFs are always nerVons on
such points, and like to see that every
thing is right.
erred I" said Scrooge.
Dear heart alive, how his niece By
marriage started. ScroOge had for
gotten, for the moment, about her sit.
ting in the corner with the fo0t-stool,
or he wouldn't have done il, on any
account.
aWhy, bless my soul," cried Fred.
Who's that 2" 81
'sIt's /. Yeur uncle Scrocge. !,
have come to dinner. viii you let
me in Fred ?"
Let him inl It's . mercy he didn't
shake his arm of. He was at home
in i've minutes. Nothing could be
heartier. His niece looked just the.
same. So did Topper whenhe came.
So did the plump sister, when she
came, So did every one when they
came. Wonderful party, wonderful
games, wonderful unanilnity, wonder
full happiness.
But he was early at the Office next
morning. Oh, he was early there. If
he could only be there first, and catch
Bob Crathit coming late. That was
the thing he had set his heart upon.
And he did it; yes, he did it'll The
clock struck nine. No Bob. A Quar-.
ter past. No Bob. He was full eigh-l
teen minutes and a half behind his
time. Scrooge sat with bis door wide
open, that he might see him come into
the Tank.
His hat was of before heopened the
door, his comforter too. He was on
his STOOL in iiffy, driving away with
his pen, as if he were trying to over
take nine O'Clock.
.Halloo y growled Scrooge, in his
voice as near as he could
feign it. "What do you mean by COM
ing here at this time of day z"
81 am very sorry, sir" pleaded Bob.
81 am behind my time."
"You are I" repeated ScrOoge. HYes,
I think you are. Step this way, sir, if
you please"
sIf's only once a year, sir,n pleaded
Bob, appearing from the Tank. cit
shall not be repeated. / was making
rather merry yesterday, sir"
Now, III tell you what, my friend,p
said Scrooge, 81 am not going to stand
this sort of thing any longer. And
therefore" he continued, leaping from
his stool and giving Bob such 8 dig
under the waistcoat that he staggered
back into the Tank again, sand there
fore am about to raise your salary n
BOb Erembfed and got little nearer
to the ruler. He had momentary
idea of knocking Scspoge down with
il, holding him down aud calling to
the people in the court for help and a
strait Waisteoat.
ga merry Christmas, .Bobp said
Scrooge, with an earnestnes that could
not be mistaken, as he clapped him on
the back. "a merrier Christmas, Bob,
my good fellew, than I have given
you for many ayearl I'll raise your
salary, and endeaVor to assist your
family, and we will discuss
your affairs this very afternoon over
> Christmas bowl of smoking bishop,
Bobl Make up the fires and buy an
other coal-scuttle before you dot an
other j, Bob Cratchitl"
Scrooge was better than his word.
He did il all, aud iIsfiHitely more and
to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he Yves
D second father. lie was as good 8
friend, as good master, and as good
! man as the old city knew, or any
other good old city, town, or borough
IN the good old world. Some people
laughed, to see the alteration in him,
but he let them laugh, aud little needed
Them for he was old enough to know
that nothing ever happened on this
globe, for good. at Which some people
did not have their fill of laughter in
The outset: and knowing that such
as these would be blind anyway, he
thought it quite az well that they
should wrinkle mp their eyes in grins.
IS have the malady in less attractive
forms. His own heart laughed; and
that was quite enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with
spirits, but lived upon the total abb
stinence principle ever afterward ; ;and
it was always said of him, that he
knew how to keep Christmas well, If
any man alive possessed that know
ledge. May that be truly said of each
and all of US! And so, as Tiny Tim
observed, God bless us, every one!