The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-12-31

was his own, to make amends in!
II will live in the Past. the Pres
ent. and the Future!" ScrUoge re,
peated, as ne scrambled out of bed.
The Spirits of all three shalt
strive within me. Oh, Jacob Mar
ley, Heaven and the Christmas
time be praised for this. | say
it on my knees, old Jacob; on my
knees!"
He was so fluttered and so glow
ing with his good intentions, that
his broken voice would scarcely
answer to his call. He had been
sobbing violently in his conflict
with the Spirit, and his face was
wet with tears.
They are not torn down." cried
Scrooge, folding one of his bed cur
tains in his arms they are not
torn down, rings and all They are
here-I am here-the shadows of
the things that would have been,
may be dispelled. They will be. l
know they will"
His hands were busy with his
garments all this time, turning
them inside out, putting them on
upside down, tearing them, mislay-
ing them, making them parties to
every kind of extravaganza.
Il don't know what to dol" cried
Scrooge, laughing and crying in the
same breath; and making a perfect
LAGOON Of himself with his stock
ings. u am as light as feather.
! am as happy as an angel, l am as
merry as schoolboy. / am as
siddy as drunken man. A merry
Christmas to everybody. A happy
New Year to all the world! Halo
here! Whoop ! Hallo!"
He had frisked into the sitting
room, and was now standing there,
Perfectly winded.
There's the saucepan that the
Cruel was I'M" cried Scrooge, start
ing off again, and going round the
fireplace. There's the door by
which the Ghost of Jacob Marley
entered. There's the corner where
the Ghost of Christmas Present
sat! There's the window where |
saw the wandering Spirits! It's all
right, it's all true, it all happened.
Ha, ha, ha!"
Really for man who had been
out of practice for SO many years,
it was a splendid laugh, a most il
lustrious laugh. The father of a
long line of brilliant laughs,
Il don't know what day of the
month it is" said Scrooge. 81 don't
know how long | have been among
the Spirits. | don't know anything.
I'm quite a baby. Never mind. |
don't care. I'd rather be a baby.
Halo! Whoop! Halo here!'
He was checked in his transports
by the churches ringing out the lus-
test peals he had ever heard.
Clash, clash, hammer; ding, dong,
bell. Bell, dong, ding; hammer,
clang, clash. Oh, glorious, glor-
ious!
Running to the window, he open
ed it, and put out his head. No
fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial,
stirring. cold, cold, piping for the
blood to dance to: golden sunlight;
heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; mer-
ry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious.
whats today?' cried Scrooge,
calling downward to boy in Sun
day colthes, who perhaps had
loitered in to look about him.
"Eh?" returned the boy, with all
his might of wonder.
whats today, my fine fellow"
said Scrooge.
Today" replied the boy.
why, Christmas Day" ,r.-...
ITS Christmas Day." said
Scrooge to himself. Il haven't
missed it. The Spirits have done
it all in one night. They can do
anything they like. OF course they
can. OF course they can. Halo,
my fine fellow"
"HaNo!" returned the boy.
do you know the Poulterers in
the next street but one, at the
corner?" Scrooge inquired.
Il should hope | did," replied the
lad.
AN intelligent boy" said
| ScrOoge. "A remarkable boy, Do
you know whether they've sold the
prize turkey that was hanging up
there Mot the little prize turkey
the big one?"
What, the one as big as me?"
returned the boy.
What a delightful boy" said
Scrooge. ITS pleasure to talk
to him. Yes, my buck.'
IT'S hanging there now" replied
the boy.
as it," said Scrooge. Go and
buy It,"
walker" exclaimed the boy.
mo, no." said ScrCoge I'm in
earnest. Go and buv it and tell 'em
to bring it here. that | may give
them the directions where to take
it, Come back with the man. and
I'll give you shilling. Come back
with him in less than five minutes
and I'll give you half-a-crown!"
The boy was off like a shot. He
must have had a steady hand at a
trigger who could have got a shot
off half so fast
(To be continued)