The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-12-31
AChriisGznna@ Carol
WORLDS GREATEST YULETIDE STORY RUNNING IN THE
PREsS-IDEAI HOLIDAY READING
BY Charles Dickens

, thing Informs me that the parting
moment is at hand. | know it, but
| know not how. Tell me what man
that was whom we saw lying
dead?'
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come conveyed him, as before
though at a different time, he
thought; indeed, there seemed no
order in these latter visions, save
that they were in the Future-into
the resorts of business men, but
showed him not himself Indeed
the Spirit did not stay for any
thing, but went straight on, as to
the end just now desired, until be-
sought by Scrooge to tarry for a
moment.
This Court" said Scrooge
through which we hurry now, is
where my place of occupation is
and has been for length of time
| see the house. Let me behold
what | shall be in days to come.
The Spirit stopped; the hand was
pointed elsewhere.
Scrooge exclaimed. why do you
point away"
The inexorable finger underwent
no change.
Scrooge fastened to the window
| of his office, and looked in. II
was an office still, but not his. The
furniture was not the same, and
the figure in the chair was not him.
| self. The Phantom pointed as be
| fore.
He Joined it once again, and
| wondered why and whittier he had
gone, accompanied it until they
reached an iron gate. He paused
to look around before entering.
A churchyard. Here, then, the
wretched man whose name he had
now to learn, lay underneath the
ground. 1t was a worthy place
Walled in by houses; overrun by
grass and weeds, the growth of
vegetation's death. not life; choked
up with too much burying: fat with
repleted appetite. A worthy place /!
The Spirit stood among the
| graves, and pointed down to One.
he advanced toward it trembling
The Phantom was exactly as it
had been, but he dreaded that he
| saw new meaning in it's solemn
shape.
Before I draw nearer to that
stone to which you point" said
Scrooge, answer me one question
Are these the shadows of the
things that Will be, or are they
shadows of the things that May be-
only"
Still the Ghost pointed downward
to the grave by which it stood.
Mems courses will foreshadow
certain ends, to which, if perse-
vered in, they must lead" said
Scrooge. But if the courses be de
parted from, the ends will change.
Say it is thus with what you show
| mel"
The Spirit was immovable as
ever.
Scrooge crept toward it. trem.
| bling as he went: and following
| the finger, read upon the stone of
the neglected grave his own name.
"Ebenezer Scrooge."
Am | that man who lay upon
the bed?" he cried. upon his knees.
The finger pointed from the
grave to him, and back again.
mo, Spirit. Oh, no, MOI"
The finger still was there.
Spirit" he cried, tight clutch
/ ing at his robe, hear me, | am
not the man | was. will not be
the man | must have been but for
| this intercourse. Why show me
this, if | am past all hope,"
For the first time the hand ap
peared to shake.
Good Spirit" he pursued. as
| down upon the ground he fell be
fore it: Your nature intercedes
| for me, and pities me. Assure me
that | yet may change these shad
ows you have shown me by an al
tered life"
The kind hand trembled.
II will honor Christmas in my
heart and try to keep it all the
year. | will live in the Past. the
Present. and the Future. The Spir-
| its of all three shall strive within
| me. | will not shut out the lessons
that they teach. Oh, tell ME | may
sponge away the writing on this
stone"
In his agony he caught the spec
trail hand. 1t sought to free itself,
but he was strong in his cntreaty,
and detained It, The Spirit,
stronger yet, repulsed him.
Holding up his hands in n last
prayer to have his fate reversed. he
saw an alteration in the Phantom's );
hood and dress. II shrunk, col
lapsed. and dwindled down into 4
| bed post.
STAVE FIVE.
The End of It.
Yes! and the bed post was his