Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-24

Jacob Morley, tell me more! Speak
comfort to me, Jacob"
Il have none to give" the ghost re-
piled. 1T comes from other regions,
Ebenezer Scroge, and is conveyed by
other ministers, to other kinds of men.
Nor can tell you what would. A ve<T
little more is all permitted to me. l
can not rest, l can not stay, / can not
linger anywhere. My spirit never
walked beyond our counting house.
mark me!-in life my spirit never roved
beyond the narrow limits of our money
changing hole; and weary journeys lie
before met"
1t was habit with Scrooge, whenev-
er he became thoughtful, to put his
hands in his breaches pockets. Pom
dering on what the ghost had said, he
did so now, but without lifting up his
eyes, or getting off his knees.
you must have ben very slow about
it, Jacob" Scrooge observed in a bust
ness-like manner, tho with humility
and Difference.
''Slow!" the ghost repeated.
'Seven years dead" unused Scrooge.
land travelling all the time?"
1.-The whole time,' said the ghost.
mo rest, no peace. Incessant torture
of remorse."
"You travel fast?" said Scrooge.
con the wings of the wind replied
the ghost.
You might have got over great
quantity of ground in seven years."
said Serooge.
The ghost, on hearing this, set up an
other cry, and clanked his chain so
hideously in the dead silence of the
night, that the ward would have been
justified in indicting 1t for nuisance.
ooh! 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 before the good of
which 1t is susceptible is all developed!
Not to know that any Christian spirit
working kindly in it's little sphere,
whatever 1t may be. will find its mortal
| life too short for it's vast means of USE
fulness! Not to know that no space of
regret can make amends for one life's
opportunities misued! Yet such was I!
oh! such was Il"
But you We're always a good man of
business, Jacob faltered Scrooge, who
| now began to apply this to himself.
"Business!" cried the ghost, wringing
| his hands again. mankind was my
| business. The common welfare was
my business; charity, mercy, forbear-
ance, and benevolence were, all, my
business. The dealings of my trade were
! but drop of water in the comprehen-
| sive ocean of my business!"
| He held UP his chain at arms length,
as if that were the cause of all his un-
availing brief. and flung it heavily upon
| the ground again.
"a this time of the rolling year" the
spectre said, Il suffer most. Why did /
walk thru crowds of feliow-beings with
| my eyes turned down. and never raise
| them to that blessed star which led the
| wise mem to poor abode. Were there
40 poor homes to which it's light would
have conducted me?"
| Scroge was very much dismayed to
hear the spectre going on at this rate,
and began to quake exceedingly.
Hear mel" cried the ghost. My
| time is nearly gone"
II will,'' said Scrooge. "But don't be
| hard upon me! Don't be flowery, Jacob!
| Pray!'
"How it Is that appear before you
! tell. I have sat invisible beside you
| many and many day"
1t was not an agreeable idea Scrooge
shivered, and wiped the pers piration
| from his brow.
THAT is no light part of my penance,'
| pursued the ghost. Il am here tonight
to warn you, that you have yet a chance
and hope of escaping my fate. A chance
and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer"
you were always good friend to
me- said Scrooge. Thanked"
you will be haunted" resumed the
ghost "by three spirits"
Scrooge's countenance fell almost as
low as the ghosts had done.
rs that the chance and hope you
mentioned jacob" he demanded. in a
faltering voice.
1T Isl
Ell think I'd rather not" said
Scrooge.
Without their visits" said the ghost,
you can not hope to shun the path
tread. Expect the first tomorrow. when
the bell tolls one
Couldn't I take 'em all at once, and
have it 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 remember what has
passed between us!"
When he had said these words, the
spectre took his wrapper from the table,
and bound it round his head, as before.
Scrooge knew this, by the smart sound
his teeth made when the jaws were
brought together by the bandage. He
ventured to raise his eyes again, and
found his supernatural visitor confront-
ing him in an erect attitude, with his
chain wound over and about his arm.
The apparition walked backward
from him; and at every step he took
the window raised itself little. so that
when the spectre reached it, 1t was
wide open. He beckoned Scrooge to APP
proach, which he did. When they were
within two PAGES of each other, Mar
ley's ghost held up his hand, warning
him to come no nearer Serooge stop
ped.
Not so much on obedience as in sur
prise and fear; for on the raising of the
hand he became sensible of confused
noises in the air; incoherent sounds of
lamentation and regret; wailings mex
pressibly sorrowful and self-accusat-
DRY. The spectre after listening for
moment Joined in the mournful dirge;
and floated out upon the bleak, dark
night.
Scrooge followed to the window. des-
nerate in his curiOsitv He 1ooked ont