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

the afternoon, he turned his step
towards his nephew's house.
He passed the door dozen times be
fore he had the courage to go up an
knock. But he made n dash, and did il
rs your master at home, my dear?
said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl
Very.
Yes, sir"
'Where is he my love?" said Scrooge
J. Hes in the dining room, sir, alon'
with mistress. I'll show you upstairs
if you please"
"Thankee. He knows me-" sal,
Scrooge, with his hand already on tn
dining-room lock. "I'll go in here, M.
! dear"
He turned it gently, and sided hi'
face in. round the door. They wer'
! looking at the table (Which was spread
out in great array); for these youn.
/ housekeepers are always nervous OF
such points, and like 10 see that every.
! thing is right.
Fred" said Scrooge.
Dear heart alive, how his niece BY
marriage started! Scrooge had forgot
! ten. for the moment, about her sitting
lin the corner with the footstool, or he
wouldn't have done it, on any account
why, bless my SOUL" cried Fred
who's that?"
Its /. Your uncle Scrooge. I have
come to dinner Will you let me in
Fred 2"
Let him in! It is a mercy he didn't
shake his arm off. He was at home in
five minutes. Nothing could be heart
Ter. His niece looked just the same. So
did Topper when he came. So did the
plump sister when she came. So die
every one when they came. Wonderful
party, wonderful games, wonderful
unanimity, -der-ful happiness!
But he was early at the office next
morning. oh, he was early there! II
he could only be there first, and catch
Bob Cratchit coming late! That was
the thing he had set Lis heart upon.
And he did it; yes, he did! The clock
struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past.
No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes
and half behind his time. Scrooge sat
with his door wide open, that he might
see him come into the tank.
His hat was off before he opened the
door; his comforter, TOO. He was on his
stool in jiffy; driving away with his
pen, az if he We're trying to overtake 3
o'clock.
'Hallo!' growled Scrooge, in his ac-
customed voice, as near as he could
feign it. 'eWhat do you mean by COM
ing here at this time of day."
II am very sorry, sir" said Bob. Il
am behind my time"
You are?" repeated Scrooge. Eyes.
/ think you are. Step this way, sir, if
you please"
Its only once year, sir" pleaded
Bob, appearing from the tank. ut shall
not be repeated. / was making rather
merry yesterday, sir
Now, I'll tell you what, my friend
said Scrooge; Il am not going to stand
this sort of thing any longer And
therefore," he continued, leaping from
his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in
the waistcoat that he staggered back
into the tank again,--''and, therefore,
am about to raise your salary!'
Bob .trembled, and got little nearer
to the ruler. He had a momentary idea
of knocking Scrooge down with it, hold
ing him, and calling TO the people in the
court for help and a waistcoat.
"a merry Christmas, Bobe" said
Scrooge with an earnestness that could.
not be mistaken, as he clapped him on
the back "a merrier Christmas. Bob,
nv good fellow, than | have given you
for many a year! I'll raise your salary.
and endeayor to assist your struggling
family and we will discuss your affairs
this very afternoon, over Christmas
bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make UP
the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle
before you dot another i. Bob Cratchit!"
Scrooge was better than his word. He
did it all, and infinitely more; and TO
Tiny Tim, who did not die. he was a
second father. He became as good
friend, as good master. and as good
man as the good old city knew. or any
other good old city. town or borough IN
the good old world. Some people
to see the alteration in him, bur
he let them laugh, and little Needed
them: for he was wise enough to know
that nothing ever happened on this
globe, for good, at which some people
did not have their fill of laughter in the
outset; and knowing that such as these
would be blind anyway. he thought 1t
unite as we'll that they should wrinkle
ur their eyes in grins, as have the NAL
adv in less attractive forms. His own
heart laughed, and that was quite
enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with
Spirits, but lived upon the total abstl-
hence principle ever afterwards; ana II
was always said Of him, that ne knew
how to keep Christmas well, II any man
alive possessed the knowledge. MAY
that be truly said of us and all OF us!
And SO, as Tiny Tim observed, GOD
bless us, every one!
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