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

himself surrounded by some fifty or
sixty fathoms of iron cable; but he
could see nothing.
Jacob" he said imploringly. "Old
Jacob Morley, tell me more! Speak
comfort to me, Jacob!"
| / 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 l tell you what would. A ve<y
| little more is all permitted to me. l
can not rest, can not stay, l 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 mel"
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
| 1t, 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 timer"
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 Scrooge.
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 it for nuisance.
"Oh! 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 it is susceptible is all developed!
Not to know that any Christian spirit
working kindly in it's little sphere,
| whatever it may be. will find it's 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
l opportunities lHlSuSQ. Il ct SuCu was l..
oh! such was 1"
But you were always 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.
"At this time of the rolling year." the
spectre said, Il suffer most. Why did
walk thru crowds of fellow-beings with
4 my eyes turned down, and never raise
them to that blessed star which led the
! wise men to poor abode. Were there
no poor homes to which its 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"
i II WILL said Scrooge. "But don't be
hard upon me! Don't be flowery, Jacob!
Pray!"
How it Is that appear before you
In shape that you can see. 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.
That is no light part of my penance,'
pursued the ghost. Il am here tonight
to warn you, that you have yet chance
and hope of escaping my fate. A chance
and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.'
You were always a 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.
TT Isl
I'll 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 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 usi"
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 a 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, warming
him to come no nearer. Scrooge 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
/