Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-02-07
A Christmas Carol.

minster.1
A Christmas carol was written by
the famous author, Charles Dickens.
This story liz intended to teach
how we should spend this life in
\ ler to have Joy and peace through
out eternity.
The chief character of the story is
Ebenezer Scrooge, q tight listed,
covetous, old sinner. Marley was
Scrooge's former partner, but had
been dead seven years.
I'VE first see Scrooge IL his count
nghouse on Christmas Eve. There
we see how he treats his nephew and
how kind this nephew is to him, al.
though Scrcoge quarreled at him
from the time he said "Merry Christ
mas, Uncle"
Many lost an opportunity to say
kind thing to Scrooge because they
waited to weigh the matter too long.
But not so with this nephew, for as
little drops of rain brighten the
meadow 30 his little acts of kindness
helped to brighten the world.
When Scrooge's nephew had gone
two gentlemen called to see if
Scrooge would contribute something
to relieve the poor and suffering.
But Scrooge was not the man to do
this, and he even went 30 far as TO
say that the podr and suffering had
better die and decrease the surplus
population. Some one has said,
"Charity is the golden chain that
reaches from heaven to earth," but
SCrooge never bestowed gifts on the
poor, neither did he aid them in any
way. We, like Scrooge, have those
about US to whom we always owe
something. Not only do we owe
them gift of money, but kind
word, a hearty clasp of the hand,
and showing of real, true, broth
ery love for our fellow. men more
unfortunate than we are, for "No
man is 30 high that he cannot elevate
himself by doing kindness for the
meekest and lowliest of Gods crea-
lures"
When Scrooge went to his solitary
home that night, what did he see in
the door -knocker but Marley's face,
and when he had locked himself in
his room what did he hear but an
awful sound deep. down below ?
Nearer and nearer the sound came
and on through his door, and Scrooge
saw that it was Marley's ghost. 1t
is needless to say that Scrooge was
frightened almost out of his senses.
Marley told him how he was spend
ing eternity, and how he, in life, had
forged the chain which he wore.
How careful we ought to be that we
Apight not forge some chain as Mar.
fley had done! Marley told Scrooge
that although he was forging an aw-
full chain, he yet had a chance of
escaping the terrible fate which had
befalen him. But before his life
could be changed he must be haunted
by three spirits. Scrooge shuddered
at the idea, for being haunted by
spirits was not as pleasant to Scrooge
as counting his money.
Exactly at one o'clock the next
SNight the first OF the three spirits
to,him. 1t was the "Ghost
of Christmas Past" and beckoning
Scrooge to it, carried him away. Out
over the dark, dismal city they
passed and into the beautiful, open
country. There was Scrooge's child
hood home, where his happy, young
heart had been as light and free as
the birds that make the woods re-
sound with the melody of their cheer
full voices. Home! where he had
romped in the fields and meadows
with his playmates, and the little
market town, where we suppose he
had looked at the things which be
wished Santa Claus to bring him.
There were his old comrades on their
ponies shouting "Merry Christmas"