Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-20
DICKENS "CHRISTMAS CAROL"


were dismissed from public life Tor
evermore; the floor was swept and
watered, the lamps were trimmed, fuel
was heaped upon the fire, and the ware
house was as snug, and warm, ana dry,
and bright ball room as you would
desire to see upon a winters night.
In came a fiddler with a music book.
and went up to the lofty desk, and
made an orchestra of it, and tuned like
fifty stomach aches. In came Mrs.
FezziWig, one vast substantial smile.
In came the three Miss Fezziwigs,
beaming and loveable. In came the
six young followers whose hearts they
broke. In came all the young men and
women employed in the business. In
came the housemaid, with her cousin,
the baker. In came the cook, with her
brothers particular friend, the milk
man. In came the boy from over the
way, who was suspected of not having
board enough from his master; trying
to hide himself behind the girl from
next door but one, who was proved to
have had her ears pulled by her mis-
tress In they all came, one after an
other; some shyly, some boldly, some
gracefully, some awkwardly, some
pushing, some pulling; in they all came,
anyhow and eYeryhow. Away they all
went, twenty couple at once; hands half
round and back again the other way
down the middle and up again; round
and round in various stages of affec-
tionate grouping; old top couple always
turning up in the wrong place; new top
couple starting off again, as soon as
they got there all top couples at last.
and not q bottom one to help them!
When this result was brought about,
old Fezziwig, clapping his hands to stop
the dance, cried out well done!' and
the fiddler plunged his hot face into a
oP y,roxyfda6 for.
that purpose. But scorning rest, upon
his temperance, he instantly began
again, though there were no dancers
yet, as If the other fiddler had been
carried home, exhausted, on a shutter,
and he were bran new man resolved
to beat him out of sight, or perish.
There were more dances, and there
were forfeits, and more dances, and
there was a great piece of cold roast,
and there was a great piece of cold
boiled, and there were mince pies, and
plenty of beer. But the great effect of
the evening came after the roast and
boiled, when the fiddler Gan artful dog,
mind! The sort of a man who knew
his business better than you or could
have told 1t himD struck up 'Sir Roger
de CoverIey." Then old Fezziwig stood
out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. Top
couple, too; with a good stiff piece of
work cut out for them; three or four
and twenty pair of partners; people
who were not to be trified with; people
who would dance, and had no notion of
walking
But If they had been twice as many
ah, four times-old FeZziwig would
have been a match for them, and so
would Mrs. Fezziwig. AS to her, she
was worthy to be his partner in every
sense of the term. If that's not high
praise, tell me higher, and I'll use it.
A positive light appeared to issue from
Fezziwig's calves. They shone in every
part of the dance like moons. You
couldn't have predicted, at any given
time, what would have become OF them
next. And when old FeEZiwig and Mrs,
F'ezziwig had gone all through the
dance; advance and retire, both hands
to your partner bow and curtsey cork
screw, thread-the-needle, and back
again to your place; Fezziwig cut
cut so deity. that he appeared to wink
with his legs, and came upon his feet
again without a stagger.
When the clock struck II, this domes-
tic ball broke up. Mr.. and Mrs. Fezzi-
wig took their stations, one on either
side of the door, and shaking hands
with every person individually as he or
she went out, wished him or her
merry Christmas. When everybody had
retired but the two 'prentices, they did
the same to them; and thus the cheer
full voices died away, and the lads were
left to their beds; which were under
counter in the back shop.
During the whole of this time Scrooge
had acted like a man out of his wits
His heart and soul were in the scene,
and with his former self. He corrobo-
rated everything, remembered every
thing. enjoyed everything and under
went the strangest agitation. 1t was
tr-6a "a hrio f1ppG nf
his former self and Dick were turned
from them, that he remembered the
Ghost, and became conscious that it
was looking full upon him, while the
light upon it's head burnt very clear.
"a small NATTER said the Ghost, to
make these silly folks so full of graft
tude.
SMALL" echoed Scrooge.
The Spirit signed TO him to listen to
the two apprentices, who were pouring
out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig;
and when he had done so, said:
why? Is 1t not? He has spent but
a few pounds of your mortal money;
three or four perhaps. Is that so much
that he deserves this praise?"
1T isn't that" said Scrooge, heated
by the remark, and speaking uncon-
sciously like his former, not his latter,
self TT isn't that, Spirit He has the
power to render us happy or unhappy;
to make our service light or burden
some; a pleasure or a toll. Say that
his power lies in words and looks; in
things so slight and Insignificant that
it is impossible to add and count EN-
up; what then? The happiness he
gives is quite as great as If it cost
fortune"
He felt the Spirits glance, and
stopped.
Ghost.
Something, 1 Think" the Ghost in
sisted.
like to be able to say word or two to
my clerk just now. That's all.
His former self turned down the
lamps as he gave utterance to the wish;
and Scrooge and the Ghost again stood
side by side in the open air.
"My time grows short" observed the
Spirit. "Quick!"
or to anyone whom he could see, but 1t
produced an immediate effect. For
again Scrooge saw himself. He was
older now; a man in the prime of life.
His face had not the harsh and rigid
lines of later years; but it had begun
to wear the signs of care and ayarice
There was an eager, greedy, restless
motion in the eye. which showed the
passion that had taken root, and where
the shadow of the growing tree would
fall.
He was not alone. but sat by the side
of a fair young girl in mourning dress,
in whose eyes there were tears, which
sparkled in the light that shone out of
the Ghost of Christmas Past.
1T matters little" she said softly.
ITO you, very little Another idol has
displaced me; and if it can cheer and
comfort Won in time to come. as | would