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


This might have lasted half a minute or
a minute, but it seemed an hour. The bells
ceased as they had begun-together. They
were succeeded by a clanking noise, deep
down below, as If some person were drag
ging a heavy chain over the casks in the
wine merchants cellar. Scrooge then re-
membered to have heard that ghosts in
haunted houses were described as dragging
chains.
The cellar door new open with a booming
sound, and then he heard the noise much
louder, on the floors below; then coming up
the stairs; then coming straight toward his
door,
Its humbug still" said scrooge. Il
won't believe It,"
His color changed, though. when, without
a pause, 1t came on through the heavy door
and passed into the room before his eyes,
Upon its coming In the dying flame leaped
up, as though 1t cried, II know him! Mar
ley's ghostr' and fell again.
The same face: the very same. Marley
in his pigtail, usual waistcoat, tights and
Boots. The chain he drew was clasped
| about his middle. 1t was long and wound
about him like a tail. and 1t was made Of
cash boxes keys, padlocks. ledgers, deeds
and heavy purses wrought in steel His
body was transparent, so that Scrooge. OBJ
serving him, and looking through his waist
coat, could see the two buttons on his coat
behind.
Scrooge had often heard 1t said that Mar
ley had no bowels. but he had never be-
| heved 1t until now.
No. nor did he believe 1t even now.
Though he looked the phantom through and
through. and saw 1t standing before him;
| though he felt the chilling influence of it's
death-cold eyes, and marked the very text
ure of the folded kerchief bound about its
head and chin. which wrapper he had not
observed before. He was still incredulous,
and fought against his senses.
How now!' said Scrooge, caustic and
cold as ever. What do you want with
| me?'
"Much"-Marley's voice no doubt about it.
WHO are you?"
Ask me who 1 was"
WHO were you, then?' said Scrooge.
raising his voice. You're particular. for a
| shade" He was going to say, ito a shade"
| but substituted this. as more appropriate.
In life l was your partner. Jacob Mar
"Can you-can you sit DOWN." asked
Scrooge. looking doubtfully at him.
II can
do 1t, them
didn't know whether ghost SO transparent
might find himself in condition to take a
chair; and felt that in the event Of its be-
ing impossible. 1t might involve the necessi-
ty Of an embarrassing explanation. But the
Ghost sat down on the opposite side of the
fireplace. as II he were quite used to 1t.
You don't believe in me-" observed the
Ghost.
IT DON'T" said Scrooge.
What evidence would you have of my
reality beyond that Of your own sensesT
"Why do you doubt your senses?'
Because" said Scrooge, "a little thing
affects them. A slight disorder of the stom-
ach makes them cheats. You may be an
crumb Of cheese or a fragment of an under
done potato. There's more Of gravy than
grave about you. whatever You are.
Scrooge was not much in the habit of
cracking jokes, nor did he feel in his heart,
by any means. waggish then. The truth is,
that he tried to be smart. as a means of
distracting his own attention. and keeping
down his terror. But how much greater
was his horror. when the phantom. taking
of the bandage round his head If 1t
were too warm to wear indoors. its lower
jaw dropped down upon its breast.
Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped
his hands before his face.
Mercy he said. Dreadful apparation,
why Go you trouble me-?
Man of the worldly mind" replied the
Ghost. do you believe in me or not?''
II do" said Scrooge Il must But why
do spirits walk the earth. and why do they
come to me?"
cit is required of every man." the Ghost
returned. that the spirit within him should
walk abroad among his fellow-men, and
travel far and wide; and II that spirit goes
not forth in life, it is condemned to do 30
after death.
Nor can tell you what would. A very
little more Is permitted to me. I cannot
rest, l cannot stay, 1 cannot linger any
where. My spirit never walked beyond our
never roved beyond our changing
hole; and weary journeys lie before me!'
Seven years dead" unused Scrooge. And
travelling all the timer
THE whole time" said the Ghost. mo
rest. no peace. Incessant torture Of re-
morse"
"You travel fast?' said scrooge.
Ghost.
you might have got over a great guam
ttty Of ground In seven years." said 'Scrooge.
The Ghost on hearing this. set up another
cry and clanked its chains hidsously in the
dead silence of the night.
'Ol captive. bound, and double-ironed."
cried the phantom. mot to know that ages
Of incessant labor. by immortal creatures.
for this earth must pass into eternity be-
fore the good of which 1t is susceptible is all
developed. Not to know that any Christian
spirit. working kindly in its little sphere.
whatever II may be, will find its mortal life
too short for its vast means Of usefulness.
Not to know that no space of regret
can make amends for ones lifes oppor-
tunities misused! Yet such was I! oh,
such was IT,
But you were always q good man Of
business. Jacob" faltered Scrooge, who now
began to apply this to himself.
"Business?' cried the Ghost, wringing it's
hands again. Mankind was my business
The common welfare was my business:
charity. mercy, forbearance and benevo-
lence were all my business
Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear
the specter going on at this rate and began
to quake exceedingly.
Hear met cried the Ghost. MY time is
nearly gone"
II WILL" cried Scrooge. But don't be
hard upon me! Don't be flowery, Jacob!
Prayv
How 1t is that appear before you in a
shape that you can see l may not tell.
have sat invisible beside you many and
many day"
1t was not an agreeable idea. Scrooge
shivered and wiped the perspiration from
his brow.
This is no light part Of my penance."
pursued the Ghost. II am here tonight to
warn you that you have yet a chance and
hope Of escaping fate. chance and hope
Of my procuring. Ebenezer."
You were always good friend to me-"
said Scrooge. Thank ee!'
"You will be haunted" resumed the
Ghost, 'by three Spirits"
as that the chance and hope you men
toned, Jacobs" he demanded in faltering
voice.
TT is"
II think I'd rather not" said Scrooge
without their visits" said the Ghost,
''you cannot hope to shun the path tread
Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell
tolls one"
Couldn't take 'em all at once and have
1t over, Jacob" limited Scrooge.
Expect the second on the next night at
the same hour The third upon the next
night when the last stroke Of twelve has
ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more,
and look that, for your own sake you re-
member what has passed between us!'
The apparitiOn walked backward from