The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-20
D0YV THE hlDDLL AND Up AGAIN,
 HANDS AROUND AND BAckAGAlN


 punction of his nephew, the onll child that she had left behind.
 The next instant the scene vanished and Scrooge found himself in a warehouse, where stood an old. stout fellow with a Welsh wig, laughing jovially and ordering his two apprentices to put up the shut ters and prepare to celebrate Christmas Eve.
 "Old Fezziwigl" cried Scrooge. And Dick Wilsonl' added he, looking at the apprentice, who was bustling around with his younger self. ''He was much attached to me, was Dickr'
 Tn camo a fiddler. In came Mrs. Fezzi- wig, one vast, substantial smile. In came the three Miss Fezziwigs with the six young fellows whose hearts they broke. In came all the young men and women em- ployed in the business. In came the boy from next door who was suspected of being underfed by his master, trying to hide behind the girl from next door but one In they all came and away they all went, 20 couples at once down the middle and up again, hands round and back again, all top couples at last and not bottom ons to help theml
 There was a great piece of cold roast and a great piece of cold boiled and there was plenty of beer and mince pies and cake and negus and forfeits and more dances and such good wishes and merry good will It had cost Mir Fezziwig fs or e4 The happiness that he gave was
 q ( bod a f0TfnnA
 scrooge and the Spirit suddenly stood side by side before a young girl. Scrooge SAW himself older now. man in the prime of life His face showed the signs of care and avarice. There was an eager, greedy look in his eye. She was telling him that he regretted his engagement to her because she was poor. He denied 1t, but his very denial was confession. She turned away from him and they parted.
 The Spirit led him swiftly to another place. There he saw her again, now a handsome, cheerful matron. By her sioe sat a daughter as beautiful as she had been. The noise was tumultous, TOT there were more children in the room than scrooee could count. A wild rush to the door announced the arrival of the father. Laughing joyously he fought off the on- slaught When the wild array had quiet ed a little, he turned to his wife and said:
 ...Belle. saw an old friend of yours this afternoon. It was MT. Scrooge. I passed his office window and he sat over can dle working. His partner lies dying, l hear. and there he sat alone. Quite alone in the world I do believe"
 Spirit" said scrooge in broken voice. remove me from this place." Instantly he was in his own room. and he sank at once into heavy slumber. When scrooge sat up in bed again he had no occasion to be told what time it was. As he opened his eyes the clock tolled One!
 His room was grove of living green and glistening berries. A mighty blaze went up from the old petrefaction of a hearth. On a throne of turkeys, geese. game, poultry, brawn. great joints of meat, sucking pigs, long wreaths of saul sages barrels of oysters. apples and oranges sat a g1ant glorious to see. with glowing torch like Plenty's horn. Around him wreathed the steam of frag- rant bowl of punch.
 'I am the ghost of Christmas Present" 1" said the giant. Touch my robe" Instantly they stood in the street. It was Christmas morning. A rough but brisk and not unpleasant noise was in the air. The people yere shoveling the