Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-24
urinu 5asalnu ua, arrrhrr "A. 1902

with such favor that he begged like q
boy to be allowed to stay until the
guests departed. But this the Spirit
said could not be done.
Here is a new game" said Scrooge
"One half hour, Spirit, only one!"
1t was a game called YeI and No
where Scrooge's nephew had to think OF
something and the rest must find out
what; he only answering to their ques-
tons yes or no, as the case was. The
brisk fire of questioning to which he
was exposed, ELECTED from him that he
was thinking of an animal, live ami
mai, rather 4 disagreeable animal, a
savage animal, an animal that growled
and grunted sometimes, and talked
/ sometimes, and lived in London, and
walked about the streets, and wasn't
made show of, and wasn't led by any
body, and didn't live in a menagerie
and was never killed in a market and
! was not a horse, or an ass, or COW, OF
a bull, or tiger, or dog, or a pig, OF
a cat, or bear. At every fresh ques-
ton that was put to him. this nephew
| burst into fresh roar of laughter; and
was so inexpressibly tickled, that he
was obliged to get up off the sofa and
stamp. AT last the plump sister, falling
| into a similar state, cried OUT
| Il have it out! I know what it is
Fred! / know what 1t isl"
What is it?' cried Fred.
| ITS your Uncle Scro -o-o-o-oge!"
| Which it certainly was. Admira-
ton was the universal sentiment, tho
some objected that the reply to rs it q
| bear?" ought to have been Yes" mas
much as an answer in the negative was
sufficient to have diverted their
thoughts from Mr.. Scrooge, supposine
| they had ever had any tendency that
way.
HE has given us plenty of merri-
ment, l am sure said Fred, and II
would be ungrateful not to drink his
health. Here is a glass of mulled wine
ready to our hand at the momen; and
say, Uncle Scrooge!"
We'll! Uncle Scrooge!" they cried
"a merry Christmas and a happy
New Year to the old man, whatever he
| isl" said Scrooge's nephew. He
wouldn't take it from me, but may he
have it, nevertheless. Uncle Scrooge!
Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly be-
come so gay and light of heart, that he
would have pledged the unconscious
company in return, and thanked them
| in an inaudible speech. If the Ghost had
given him time. But the whole scene
passed off in the breath of the last
word spoken by his nephew; and ne
and the Spirit Were again upon their
travels.
| Much they saw, and far they went,
and many homes they visited, but al
ways with n happy end. The Spirit
stood beside sick beds, and they We're
cheerful; on foreign lands, and they
were close at home; by struggling men.
and they were patient in their greater
hope; by poverty, and it was rich. In
almshouse, hospital. and jail, IN mis-
ery's every refuge, where vain man In
his little brief authority had not made
| fast the door, and barred the Spirit out,
| he left his blessing, and taught Scrooge
! his precepts.
1t was a long night, if 1t We're only a
night; but Scrooge had his doubts OF
| this, because the Christmas holidays
appeared to be condensed into the space
| of time they passed together. 1t was
strange, too, that while Scrooge re-
manned unaltered in his outward form,
| the Ghost grew older, clearly older.
Scrooge had observed this change, but
never spoke of it, until they left a
children's twelfth night party, when
looking at the Spirit as they stood to-
gether in an open place, he noticed
that it's hair was gray.
| care spirits lives so short?" asked
Scrooge
my life upon this globe is very
brief" replied the Ghost. ut ends to-
night"
| "Tonight!" cried Scrooge.
Tonight at midnight. Hark! The
| time is drawing near"
| The chimes We're ringing the three
| quarters past eleven at that moment.
| Forgive me if / am not justified in
what l ask" said Scrooge, looking in
tently at the Spirits robe, "but see
something strange, and not belonging
to yourself, protrnding from your skirts.
| 1t is foot or a claw"
ut might be claw, for the flesh
there is upon it, was the Spirits sor-
rowful reply. Look here"
From the foldings of its robe, it
brought two children, wretched, abject,
IL
knelt down at Its feet, and chung upon
the outside of its garment.
20 man! look here! Look, look down
here!" exclaimed the Ghost.
They were boy and girl. Yellow,
meagre, ragged, scowling, wolflsh: but
PROSTATE, too, in their humility. Where
graceful youth should have filled their
features out, and touched them with its
freshest tints, stale and shriyeled
hand, like that of age, had pinched and
twisted them, and pulled them into
shreds. Where angels might have sat
enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out
menacing. No change, no degradation,
no perversion of humanity. in any
grade, thru all the mysteries of Won
derfuI creation, has monsters half so
horrible and dread.
Scrooge started back, appalled,. Hay-
ing them shown to him in this way, he
tried to say they were fine children.
but the words choked themselves,
rather than be parties to a lie of such
enormous magnitude.
spirit! are they yours?" Scrooge
could say no more.
"They are Mans" said the Spirit,
looking down upon them. And they
cling to me, appealing from their faith
ers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl
is Want. Beware of them both, and
all of their degree, but most OF all be-
ware this boy, for on his brow | see
that written which is Doom, unless the
writing be erased. Deny it!' cried the
Spirit, stretching out it's hand towards
the city. ISLANDER those who tell 1t We!