Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-20
foontinued from rnge onel

asleep, at Lile NTdtG OIL IJdIildSCuSs uOll
you see him! And the Sultan's Groom
turned upside down by the Genii; there
he is upon his head! Serve him right.
I'm glad of it. What business had he
to be married to the princess!"
To hear Scrooge expanding all the
earnestness of his nature on such sub
iects, in a most extraordinary voice be-
tween laughing and crying; and to see
his heightened and excited face; would
have been a surprise to his business
friends in the city, indeed.
"There's the Parrot" cried Scrooge.
Green body and yellow tail, with a
thing like a lettuce growing out OF the
top of his head there he is! Poor
Robin Crusoe, he called him, when ne
came home again after sailing round
the island. Poor Robin Crusoe, where
have YOU been, Robin CrusoeF Inc
man thought he was dreaming, put ne
wasn't. 1t was the Parrot, you know
There goes Friday, running FOR ms me
to the little creek! Halloa! Hoop!
Halloo!"
Then. with a rapidity of transition
very foreign to his usual character, ne
said. in pity for his former self, Poor
boy!" and cried again.
II WISH" Scrooge muttered, putting
his hand in his pocket and looking
about him, after drying his eyes with
his cuff, "but It's too late now"
what is the matter?" said the
Spirit. on-..,.,,
There was boy singing Christmas
Carol at my door last night. 1 should
like to have given him somethlns'
that's ALL"
The Ghost smiled thoughtfully, ana
waved it's hand, saying as it did So
LET us see another Christmas
Scrooge's former self grew larger
at the words, and the room became a
little darker and more dirty Inc
nanels shrunk, the windows cracked
fragments of plaster fell out of the cell
ing and the naked laths were shown
instead: but how all this was brought
about. Scrooge knew no more than you
90. He only knew that 1t was quite
correct; that everything mad happened
so that there he was alone again, wien zen
all the other boys had gone nome Aor
the Jolly holidays
He was not reading now, but Walklng
I'm and down despairingly. Scrooge
looked at the Ghost, and with mourn
full shaking of his head glanced anx-
iously toward the door.
It opened; and little glrl, nlu "a
Younger than the boy, came darting H.
and putting her arms about his neck,
and often kissing him, addressed MIN as
her Dear, dear brother.
"T have come to bring you home, dear
hrotherl" said the child, clapping her
tiny hands and bending down to laugh
ITO bring you home home, home! -,
"Home, little FAM" returned the boy:
"Yes," said the child, brimful or
eIee. ''Home for good and all. Home,
for ever and ever. Father is so much
kinder than he used to be, that nome
like heaven! He spoke so gently TO me
one dear night when l was going 10
bed that L was not AFRAID TO ASK MN
once more If you might come nome,
and he said yes, you should; and sent
me In a coach to bring you. And you re
TO be. a. man." said the child, opening
her eyes, land are never to come pacK
here; but first, we're to be together all
the Christmas long, and have the ner-
riest time In all the world. -,
"You are quite woman, little ran!
exclaimed the boy.
She clapped her hands and laughed,
and tried to touch his head; put peing
too little, laughed again, and STOOD on
tiptoe to embrace him. Then she pc
gan to drag him, in her childish eager
ness toward the door; and me- hothlhs
10th to CO. accompanied her.
terrible voice in the hall crled,
"Bring down Master Scrooge's box,
there" and in the hall appeared the
schoolmaster himself who glared on
Master Scrooge with feroclous con-
descension, and threw him INTO Grea9-
full state of mind by shaking hands
with him. He then conveyed him ana
his sister into the veriest old well OF
shivertng best parlor that ever was
seen, where the maps upon the wall
and the celestial and terrestrial glopes
in the windows, were WaXy with cola'
Here he produced a decanter OF curl
ol1slv light wine, and block of curl
ously heavy cake, and administered IN
stalrnents of those dainties to the young
people; at the same time, sending out
.. meager servant to offer glass OF
Something" to the postboy, VINO an
swered that he thanked the gentleman,
hut If it was the same tap as ne hao
tasted before he had rather not. Mas
fer Scrooges trunk being by this time
fled on to the top of the chaise. the
children babe the schoolmaster goodby
right willingly; and getting into II
drove gayly down the garden sweep
the quick wheels dashing the hoaf
frost and snow from off the dark leaves
of the evergreens like spray.
ALWAYS a delicate creature, whom
breath might have withered," said the
Ghost. "But she had large heart!
$50 she had" cried Scrooge. You're
right. will not gainsay it, Spirit. God
Forbid"
land had as ] think, children"
lone child" Scrooge returned.
True" said the Ghost. Your
nephewl"
Scrooge seemed uneasy in his MIND,
and answered briefly, yes"
Although they had but that moment
left the school behind them they were
now in the busy thoroughfares of a city.
where shadowy passengers passed and
repassed, where shadowy carts and
coaches battled for the way, and all the
strife and tumult of a real city We're
1t was made plain enough, by the dress
ing OF the shops, that here too 1T was
Christmas time again; but it was even
ing. and the streets were lighted up.
The Ghost stopped at a certain ware
house door and asked Scropge if he
knew it.
"Know It'll" said Scrooge. 'SVas APP
prenticed here!"
They went in. At sight of an old
gentleman in Welsh wig, sitting be-
hind such a high desk that If he had
knocked his head against the ceiling,
Scrooge cried in great excitement:
"Why, it's old Fezziwig! Bless his
heart; it's Fezziwig alive again!"
Old Fezziwig laid down his pen and
looked up at the clock, which pointed
to the hour of Z. He rubbed his hands,
adjusted his capacious waistcoat,
Laughed all over himself, from his shoes
to his organ of benevolence, and called
out in a comfortable, oily, rich, fat,
jovial voice:
Scrooge's former self, now grown
panied by his fellow prentice.
"Dick Wilkins, to be sure!" said
Scrooge to the Ghost. BLESS me, yes.
There he is. He was very much at
taehed to me, was Dick. Poor Dick!
Dear dear!'