The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-20

escorted by his brother and sister, to place beside the Are. Bob turned up his cuGfs as if, poor fellow, they could De made mere shabby and compounded q hot mixture in a jug. Master Peter and the tive younger Cratchlts went to fetol the goose. with which they re- turned in high procession.
 The youRg cratchits set chairs for everybody and then crammed their spoons into their mouths lest they should shriek for, goose before their turn. Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in tiny corner at the table. Grace was said, and when Mrs Cratchtt cut into the breast and the gush of the stuf- hng Issued forth. even Tiny Tim, excit- ed by the two young Cratchlts, beat on the table with the handle of hls knife and feebly cried, "GurrahH It was a wonderful goose. It's ten- derness and size and flavor and cheap ness were. the thence of universal ad- miration. Fixed out by apple sauce and mashed potatoes, it was sufficient dinner for the whole family. Indeed as Mrs. Cratchit said with great de- light, surveying one small atom of bone upon the dish. they hadn't ate IL all at last! @
 And 1t was a wondeful pudding. Bob Cratchit said that he regarded 1t as the greatest success achieved by Mrs. Crat- chit since their marriage. Mrs. Crat- chit said that now the weight was off her mind she would confess she had had her doubts about the quantity of Hour. Nobody, said or thought 1t was at all a small pudding for so large a family.
 Then they gathered around the fire and Bob Crstchit served the punch in the family display of glass. two tumb- lers and a custard cup without handle "A merry Christmas to us all. my dears." cred Bob. God bless as"
 "God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim.
 He sat very close to his fathers side on his little stool, and Bob held the lit- tie, shrunken hand in his, as if he fear ed that he might be taken away. "Spirit! said Scrooge with an in terest that he had never felt before. ,'Tell me if Tiny Tim will live"
 T see a vacant chair by the chimney corner" said the Spirit. "If these shadows remain unaltered by the tu- ture the child will dIe. What thenY He would better do 1t and decrease the sur plus population"
 scrooge hung his head. .
 .Oh, man. man!' said the Spirit ITO hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dustH
 And now, without word of warn ing they stood on a bleak and desert moor where m0nstrous stones were cast about and nothing grew. But ijRht shone from the window of poor hut. and there sat miners around hre singing a Christmas song The Spirit without tarrying, rushed to sea. Scrooge's frightened eyes saw tne last of the land. a frightful range of rocks behind him. His ears were deafened by the laundering of water. On they went. till at a league from shore they came to a llghthouse built on sunken reef, Great heaps of seaweed clung to It's base. storm birds rose and fell around it. The waters dashed high at. 1t. Yet even here two men who watch ed the light joined their horny hands over the rough table and wished each other Merry Christmas. and the eld- ar of the two. with his face all dam aged and scared with hard weather. struck up a sturdy song that was like the gale itself
 Again the ghost sped on till far away they saw a ship. Dark ghostly agures stood upon the deck at their stations, whipped by bitter wind and cutting spray, but each man there hummed a Christmas tune or spoke of those whom he cared for at home.
 suddenly the bell struck Twelve!
 Scrooge found himself in his room. Lifting up his eyes he beheld a solemn, phantom, draped and hooded, comfy like a mist toward him.
 Scrooge sank to his knees. The very air through which the Spirit moved seemed to breathe mystery and awe. He knew without a word that he was In the presence of Christmas Yet to Come.
 The City seemed to spring around him all at onceg It was day. and the Spirit Jed him toward a little. group-of.