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

This lunatic, in letting Scrooge's
nephew out, had let two other people
in. They We're portly gentlemen, pleas
ant to behold, and now stood, with their
hats off, in Scrooge's office. They had
books and papers in their hands. and
bowed to him.
"Scrooge and Marley's, / believe
said one of the gentlemen, referring to
his list. Have l the pleasure of ad-
dressing Mr.. Scrooge, or Mr.. Marley?'
MIR. Marley has been dead these
seven years. Scroge replied. He died
seven years ago, this very night"
1--WE have no doubt his liberality Is
well represented by his surviving part
ner," said the gentleman, presenting his
credentials.
1t certainly was; for they had been
two kindred spirits. At the ominous
word "liberality," Scrooge frowned, and
shook his head, and handed the creden-
tails back.
''At this festive season of the year,
Mr.. Scrooge," said the gentleman, TAX
ing up pen. sit is more than usually
desirable that we should make some
slight provision for the poor and desti-
tute. who suffer greatly at the present
common necessaries: hundreds of thou
sands are in want of common comforts,
SIR
"Are there no prisons?" asked
Scrooge.
'Plenty of prisons" said the gentle
man, laying down the pen again.
and the union warehouses? "S de-
manded Scrooge. Are they still in OPP
eration?"
"They are. Still" returned the gen
tleman, Il wish I could say they We're
not"
"The treadmill and the poor laws are
in full vigor, then?" said Scrooge.
Both very busy. sir"
ooh! I was afraid, from what you
said at first, that something had oc-
Cured to stop them in their useful
course" said Scrooge. I'm very glad
to hear 1t"
Under the impression that they
scarcely furnish Christian cheer of
mind or body to the multitude return
ed the gentleman, "a few of us are en-
deavoring to raise fund to buy the
poor some meat and drink, and means
of warmth. We choose this time, be-
cause it is time, of all others, when
want Is keenly felt, and abundance re-
joices. What shall put you down
for?"
"Nothing." Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous"
81 wish to be left alone,' said
Scrooge. Since you ask me what
wish, gentlemen, that is my answer.
don't make merry myself at Christmas.
and I can't afford to make idle people
merry. help to support the establish
ments have mentioned.-they cost
enough; and those who are badly off
must go there"
MANY can't go there; and many
would rather die
"If they would rather die" said
Scrooge, ''tley had better do it, and de-
crease the surplus population. Besides
excuse mel don't know that
"But you might know it." observed
the gentleman.
TITS not my business" Scrooge re-
turned. ITS enough for man to un-
derstand his own business. and not to
interfere with other peoples Mine oc-
cupies me constantly. Good afternoon
gentlemen!"
Seeing clearly that 1t would be use
less to pursue their point the gentle.
men withdrew. Scrooge resumed his
labors with an improved opinion of
himself, and in a more facetiouS tenn
per than was usual with him.
Meanwhile the fog and darkness
thickened so that people ran about
with fiaring Inks. proffering their SER
vices to go before horses in carriages,
and conduct them on their way. The
ancient tower of a church, whose gruff
old bell was always peeping slyly down
at Scrooge out of Gothic window in
the wall, became invisible, and struck
the hours and quarters in the clouds,
with tremulous vibrations afterwards,
as If it's teeth were chattering in it's
frozen head up there. The cold became
intense. In the main street, at the COR
ner of the court. some laborers were
repairing the gas pipes, and had lighted
a great fire In a brasier round which
party of ragged men and boys were
gathered, warming their hands and
winking their eyes before the blaze, in
rapture The water plug being left in
solitude, it's overfiowings suddenly con-
gealed. and turned to misanthropic ice.
The brightness of the shops, where hol-
ly sprigs and berries cracked in the
lamp heat of the windows, made pale
faces rudy as they passed. Poulterers'
and grocers' trades became a splendid
| joke; glorious pageant, with which it
was next to impossible to believe that
such dull principles as bargain and
sale had anything to do. The lord may
or. in the stronghold of the mighty
Mansion House, gave orders to his fif-
ty cooks and buffers to keep Christmas
as a lord mayors household should;
even the little tailor, whom he had fined
| five shillings on the previous Monday
for being drunk and bloodthirsty in the
streets, stirred up tomorrow's pudding
in his garnet, while his lean wife and
| baby sailed out to buy the beef.
| Foggier yet, and colder! Piercing,
searching, biting cold. If the good
Saint Dunstan* had but nipped the evil
spirits nose with a touch of such
weather as that, instead of using his
familiar weapons, then, indeed, he
would have roared to lusty purpose.
| The owner of one scant young nose,
gnawed and mumbled by the hungry
cold as bones are gnawed by dogs.
stopped down at Scrooge's keyhole to
regale him with Christmas carol; but
at the first sound of
"God bless you, merry gentleman,
May nothing you dismay,"
| Union workhouse A workhouse
supported by the union of two or more
parishes, to be administered by guar
| dams chosen for each parish. Oliver
| Twist passed his early years in union
workhouse.
Poor law. The body of laws enact