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

| HS11
Old Fex.iwig Cried Out Well Done.
curtains Of his bed were drawn aside; and
Scrooge starting up into a half-recumben,
attitude. found himself face to face with
| the unearthly visitor.
1t was strange figure-like q child; YET
| not so like child as like an old man.
viewed through some supernatural medium
which gave him the appearance of having
receded from the view, and being dimin-
| ished to child's proportions. Its hair
which hung about its neck and down Its
back, was white as IL with age. and yet
the face had not a wrinkle in 1t. and the
tenderest bloom was on the skin.
1t held branch Of fresh green holly in
its hand; and. in singular contradiction OF
that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed
with summer flowers. But the strangest
thing about 1t was. that from the crown
Of Its head there sprung a bright, clear jet
Of light. by which all this was visible. and
which was doubtless the occasion OF Its
using. in its duller moments. a great ex-
| tinguisher for a cap. which 1t now held
under its arm.
Are you the Spirit sir. whose coming
was foretold to me?' asked scrooge.
II am"
The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly
low, as II instead Of being SO close beside
him, 1t were at a distance.
, "WhS' and what are your" scr0ose de-
II am the Ghost of Christmas Past"
Long past?" inquired Scrooge.
mo. Your past"
He then made bold to inquire what busi-
ness brought him there.
Your welfare! Rise. and walk with me!'
said the Ghost
1t It S would have ave bee, been In, In val. ain
weather and the hour were not adapted to
pedestrian purposes that the bed was warm
and the thermometer long way below
freezing: that he was clad but lightly in
his slippers. dressing gown and nightcap.
The grasp, though gentle as woman's
hand, was not to be resisted. He rose. but
finding that the spirit made toward the
window. clasped its robe in supplication.
Il am a mortal" Scrooge demonstrate
and liable to fall
Bear but a touch Of my hand there"
said the Spirit, laying 1t upon his heart.
thisv'
AS the words were spoken. they passed
through the wall and stood upon an open
country road. with fields on either hand.
The city had entirely vanished. Not a YES
tige Of 1t was to be seen. The darkness and
the mist had vanished with 1t. for II was
q clear, cold winter day. with snow upon
the ground.
Good heaven" said scrooge, clasping his
hands together as he looked about him. Il
was bred in this place 1 was a boy here"
The Spirit gazed upon him mildly. Its
ger tie touch. though 1t had been light and
instantaneous appeared still present to
the old mans sense Of feeling. He was
conscious Of a thousand odors floating in
the DIR. each one connected with q thou
sand thoughts and hopes and joys and
cares. long. long forgotten!
Your lip is trembling" said the Ghost.
And what Is that upon your cheek?'
Scrooge muttered, with an unusual CATCH
ing in his voice, that 1t was a pimple, and
begged the Ghost to lead him where he
would.
You recollect the wayr' inquired the
Spirit.
Il could walk it blindfold."
Strange to have forgotten 1t for SO many
years. observed the Ghost. Let US go
They walked along the road. scrooge
recognising every gate and post and tree,
until a little market town appeared in the
distaIce, with Its bridge. its church and
winding river. Some shaggy ponies now
were seen trotting toward them with boys
upon their backs, who called to other boys
In couI try gigs and carts, driven BY farm
ers All these boys were in great spirits,
and shouted to each other until the broad
crisp air laughed to hear ii.
These are but shadows Of the things
that have been" said the Ghost. ''They
have no consciousness OF u.s."
The jocund travellers came on; and as
they came. Scroogs know and named them
every one Why was he rejoiced beyond
all bounds to see them? Why did his cold
eye glisten, and his heart leap up as
they went past? Why was he filled with
gladress when he heard them give each
other Merry Christmas as they parted at
crossroads and by-ways for their several
homes?
The school is not quite deserted" said
the Chest. "A solitary child. neglected BY
his friends. is left there STILL
Scrooge said he knew 1t. And he sobbed
They left the high road, by a well-remem-
bered lane and soon approached a mansion
of dull red brick with little weathercock-
surmounted cupola on the roof, and a bell
hanging In It, It was large house. but
one OF broken fortunes; for the spacious
offices were little used. their walls were
damp and messy. their windows broken,
and the gate decayed; Nor was it more
retsntlve OF its ancient state. within: for.
entering the dreary hall. and glancing
through the open doors of many rooms.
they found them poorly furnished, cold,
and vast. There was an earthly SAVIOR in
which associated itself somehow with too
much getting up by cardlelight and not too
much to eat.
They went. the Ghost and scrooge, across
the hall. to door at the back Of the house.
1t opened before them, and disclosed a long.
bar4. melancholy room. made barer still by
lines OF plain deal forms and DESKS At one
or these a lonely boy was reading near a
Feeble nre, and Scrooge sat down upon a
form and wept to see his poor forgotten self
as he had used to be.
Not latent echo in the house, not a
squeak and scuffle from the mice behind the
paneling, not a drip from the half-thaw wed
waterspout in the dull yard behind not a
Sigh among the leafless boughs of one de.
spondent poplar, not the idle swinging of an
empty storehouse door, no, not a clicking in
the fire, but fell upon the heart Of Scrooge
with softening influence and gave a freer
passage to his tears
The Spirit touched him on the arm and
pointed to his younger self, intent upon his
reading. suddenly a man in foreign gar
ments, wonderfully real and distinct to look
at, stood outside the window, with an ak
stuck in his belt and leading by the bride
an ass laden with wood
why, it's Ali Babar' Scrooge exclaimed
In ecstasy. It's dear old honest All Babal'
Yes, yes. know. One Christmas time when
yonder solitary child was left here all alone
he did come, for the first time, Just like that
Poor boy! And Valentine" said Scrooge
''and his wild brother Orson; there thew 90,
And the sultan's groom turned upside down
by the genii; there he Is upon his head!
Served him right. I'm glad of IT. What
business had he to be married to the Prin.
cess?'
To hear Scrooge expanding all the earnest.
ness of his nature on such subjects, in a
most extraordinary voice between laughing
and crying, and to see his heightened and
excited face, would have been a surprise to
his business friends in the city indeed
There's the parrot!' cried Scrooge
Green body and yellow tail, with a ttine
like lettuce growing out Of the top of his
head; there he is! Poor Robinson Crusoe
h1 ia