The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-12-29
A Christmas Carol
WORLDS GREATEST YULETIDE STORY, RUNNING IN THE
PREss-IDEAL HOLIDAY READING
BY Charles Dickens

Judgment" replied the woman;
land it should have been, you may
depend upon it, IL could have laid
my hands on anything else. Open
that bundle, Old Joe, and let me
know the value of it. Speak out
plain. I'm not afraid to be the
first, nor afraid for them to see it.
We knew pretty we'll that we were
helping ourselves, before we met
here, l believe. It's no sin. Open
the bundle, joe"
But the gallantry of her friends
would not allow of this; and the
man in faded black, mounting the
breach, first produced his plumber.
1t was not extensive. A seal OF
two, a pencil-case, a pair of sleeve
buttons, and brooch of no great
value, were all. They were sever
ally examined and appraised by
old Joe, who chalked the sums he
was disposed to give for each up
on the wall, and added them up
into total when ne found that
there was nothing more to come.
That's your account" said Joe,
and | wouldn't give another six
pence. if l was to be boiled for
not doing it. Who's next?'
Mrs. Dilber was next. Sheets
and towels, little wearing appar.
ell, two oldfashioned silver tea.
spoons, a pair of sugar tongs, and
a few boots. Her account was
stated on the wall in the same
| manner
Il always give too much to
ladies'. It's a weakness of mine,
and that's the way | ruin myself"
said old Joe. That's your ac-
count. If you ask me for another
penny, and made it an open ques-
ton, I'd repent of being so liberal,
and knock off half-a-crown."
And now undo my bundle, joe"
said the first woman.
Joe went down on his knees for
the greater convenience of open
ing 1t, and having unfastened a
great many knots, dragged out a
large heavy roll of some dark stuff.
What do you call this?' said
Joe. Bed curtains"
All" returned the woman.
laughing and leaning forward on
her crossed arms. Bed curtains"
You don't mean to say you took
EN- down rings and all, with him
lying there?' said Joe.
Yes, | do" replied the woman.
"Why not?'
you were born to make your
fortune said Joe, "and you'll Ger.
| tainly do it,"
| Il certainly shan't hold my hand,
when l can get anything in it by
reaching it out, for the sake of
such a man as he was, | promise
you. joe" returned the woman,
coolly Don't drop that oil upon
the blankets, now"
His blankets?" asked Joe.
| Whose else's do you Think" re-
piled the woman He isn't likely
to take cold with out EN-, dare
say" '"''
Il hope he didn't die of any.
thing catching? Eh?" said old Joe,
stopping in his work, and looking
up.
Don't you be afraid of that" re-
turned the woman. Il amt so
fond OF his company that I'd loiter
about him for such things, if he
did. All! You may look through
that shirt until your eyes ache;
but you won't find hole in it, nor
a threadbare place. It's the best
ne mad, and fine one, too. They'd
nave wasted it, If it hadn't been
| for me-"
What do You call wasting ito
asked old Joe.
Putting it on him to be buried
in to be sure replied the woman
with laugh. Somebody was
fool enough to do it, but | took it
off again. If calico amt good
enough for such a purpose, ii
isn't good enough for anything. It's
quite as becoming to the body. He
can't look uglier than he did in
that one"
Scrooge listened to this dialogue
in horror. As they sat grouped
about their spoil, in the scanty
| light afforded by the old mans
| iulIlp, ne NlcWtu lHell Will ne
hesitation and disgust which could
hardly have been greater, though
they had been obscene demons
marketing the corpse itself.
"Ha, hal laughed the same
woman, when old Joe producing a
flannel bag with money in it. told
out their several gains upon the
| ornpnh tfFIhic IL, thn Of
see? He frightened every one
away from him when he was alive
to profit us when he was dead
ia. ha, ha"
Spirit" said Scrooge, shudder,
ing from head to foot. 81 see.
see. The case of this unhappy
man might be my own. My life
| tnnhc TINT Mnrritll