Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16

is." said Scrooge, II dent know how long
have been among the Spirits DOM
know anything. I'm quite baby. Never
Halo! Whoop! Halo herev'
He was checked in his transports by the
churches ringing out the lustiest peals he
had ever heard. Clash, clang, hammer
ding. dong. bell. Bell, dong. ding; hammer
clang, clash! Oh, glorious, glorious!
Running to the window, he opened 1t. and
put out his head. No fog. no mist; clear
bright. jovial. stirring cold; cold. piping fol-
the blood to dance to; golden sunlight
heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells
Oh. glorious. glorious!
downward to boy in Sunday clothes, who
perhaps had loitered ir to look about him
En-" returned the boy. with all his
whats today. my fine fellow" said
mas day.?
IT'S Christmas dayr' said Scrooge tc
himself. Il haven't missed it. The Spirits
have done 1t all in one night. They can dc
anything they like OF course they can. OF
course they can. Halo. my fine felow!'
"Hallo!' returned the boy.
i do you know the poulterer's in the next
street but one, at the corner?" Scrooge in
qui-ed.
Il should hope did," replied the lad.
IAN intelligent boyw said Scrooge "A
they've sold the prize turkey that was
hanging up there?-not the little prize tur-
key; the big one?"
What, the one as big as me?" returned
the boy.
What a delightful boyw said Scrooge
buck!'
It's hanging there now" replied the boy.
rs it," said Scrooge go and buy it."
| "Walk-er!' exclaimed the boy.
mo. no." said Scrooge. II am in earnest.
Go and buy it. and tell EN- to bring it here.
that may give them the directions where
to take 1t. Come back with the man, and
III give you a shilling. Come back with
him in less than five minutes, and I'll give
you half a c-own!' The boy was off like a
shot.
I'll send it to Bob Cratchits," whispered
Scrooge. rubbing his hands, and splitting
with a laugh. He shan't know who sends
II; It's twice the size of Tiny Tim: Joe
Miller never made such a joke as sending 1t
| to Bobs will be!'
The hand IN which he wrote the address
was not a steady one; but write it he did,
| street door, ready for the coming of the
| poulterers man. AS he stood there, waiting
his arrival, the knocker caught his eye.
| Il shall love 1t as long as 1 liver cried
scarcely ever looked at it before. What an
honest expression 1t has in it's face! It's a
wonderful knocker!-Here's the turkey.
Halo! Whoop! How are you! Merry
1t was turkey! He could never have
stood upon his legs that bird. He would
have snapped EN- short of 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"
The chuckle with which he said this, and
the chuckle with which he paid for the tur-
Key ana the chuckle with which he paid for
I the cab and the chuckle with which he re-
compensed the boy, were only to be exceed
ed by the chuckle with which he sat down
! GREATNESS 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 1t.
| He dressed himself all in his best" and
| at last got into the streets. The people
| were by this time pouring forth, as he had
seen them with the Ghost of Christmas Pres
emit; and walking with his hands behind
| him Scrooge regarded every one with a de-
lightful smile. He looked so irresistibly
pleasant in word, that three or four good
| humored fellows said, Good morning sir A
| merry Christmas to your Ands Scrooge
| said often afterward that Of all blithe
sounds he had ever heard those were the
| blthest in his ears.
He went to church, and walked about the
| streets. and watched the people hurrying to
and FRO, and patted the children on the
head. and questioned beggaIs, and looked
down into the kitchens of houses, and up to
the windows; and found that everything
could yield him pleasure. He had never
dreamed that any walk-that anything
could give him so much happiness. In the
afternoon he turned his steps toward his
nephew's house.
He passed the door a dozen times before
he had the courage to go up and knock.
But he made a dash, and did 1t.
rs your master at home, my DEAR"
said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl! Very"
Yes, SIR"
Where is he. my love?" said Scrooge.
Hes in the dining room. sir along with
mistress. I'll show you upstairs, II you
please"
"Thank'ee. He knows me-" said Scrooge,
with his hand already on the dining room
lock.
I'm go in here my dear"
He turned it gently. and sidled his face
in, round the door. They were looking at
the table; for these young housekeepers are
always nervous on such points. and like to
| see that everything is right.
"Fred! said Scrooge.
why bless my soul!' cried Fred. who's
that?
Its l. Your uncle Scrooge. / have come
! to dinner. VIII you let me in, Fred?'
Let him in. It's a mercy he didn't shake
his arm Off. He was at home in five min
utes. Nothing could be hearter. His niece
looked just the same. So did Topper when
| he came So did the plump sister when she
| came. So did every one when they came.
Wonderful party. wonderful games. Won
derful unanimity. wonderful happiness!
But he was early at the Office next morn
ing. Oh, he was early there. If he could
only be there first and catch Bob Cratchit
coming late! That was the thing he had
set his heart upon.
And he did it: yes. he did! The clock
struck Q. No Bob. A quarter past. No
Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and
half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his
door wide open, that he might see him
come in.
His hat was off before he opened the door;
| his comforter, too. He was on his stool in
| q tiffy, driving away with his pen, as IL he
were trying to overtake 8 o'clock
"Hallo!' growled Scrooge, in his accus-
toned voice, as near as he could feign 1t.
What do you mean by coming here at
this time of day."
IT am very sorry. sir" said Bob. Il am
behind my time"
"You are!'' repeated Scrooge. Eyes,
| think vcu are. Step this way. sir. II you
please"
ITS only once a year. SIR" pleaded Bob
"It shall not be repeated. I was making
rather merry yesterday, SIR"
Now. I'll tell you what. my friend" said
Scrooge, IT am not going to stand this sort
of thing any longer. And therefore" he
continued. leaping from his stool and giving
Bob a dig in the waistcoat-"and. therefore
l am about to raise your salaryw
Bob tremh,ed. and got a little nearer to
the ruler. He had a momentary idea of
knocking Scrooge down with 1t. holding