The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-01

people hurrying to and fro, and pat
ted the children on the head, and
questioned beggars, and looked
down into the kitchens of houses,
and up to the windows, and found
that everything could yield him
pleasure. He had never dreamed
that any walk-that anything
could give him so much happiness.
In the afternoon he turned his steps
toward his nephew's house.
He passed the door a dozen
times before he had the courage to
go up and knock. But he made a
dash and did it.
rs your master at home, my
dear?" Scrooge to the girl. Mice
girl Very!""
Yes, Sir"
"Where is he, my love?" said
Scrooge.
He's in the dining-room, sir,
along with mistress. Ill show you
upstairs, if you please"
Thank 'ae. He knows me- said
Scrooge, with his hand already on
the dining-room lock. 'I'll go in
/ here, my dear"
He turned it gently, and sidled
his face in round the door They
| were looking at the table (Which
| was spread out in great array; for
these young housekeepers are al.
ways nervous on such points, and
| like to see that everything is right
| Erred" said ScrOOge.
| Dear heart alive, how his niece
forgotten, for the moment, about
her sitting in the corner with the
footstool, or he wouldn't have done
it, on any account.
why, bless my SOUL" cried
Fred, who's that?"
| IT'S |. Your uncle Scrooge.
have come to dinner. Will you lei
me in, Fred?"
Let him in! 1t is mercy he
didn't shake his arm off. He was
at home in five minutes. Nothing
could be hcartier. His niece looked
just the same. SO did Topper when
he came. So did the plump sister
when she came. So did every one
when they came. Wonderful party
wonderful games, wonderful una
nimity. wonderful happiness.
But he was early at the office, the
next morning. Oh. he was early
there. If he could only be there
first. and catch Bob Cratchit com
ing late. That was the thing he
had set his heart upon.
And he did it; yes, he did! The
clock struck nine. No Bob. A
quarter past. No Bob. He was full
| eighteen minutes and a half behind
his time. Scrooge sat with his
door wide open, that he might see
him come into the tank
His hat was off before he
opened the door, his comforter too.
He was on his stool in a fifty, driv-
ing away with his pen, as if he
were trying to overtake nine
o'clock.
"Hallo!" growled Scrooge, in his
accustomed voice as near as he
could feign it, What do you mean
by coming here at this time of
day."
Il am very sorry, sir" said Bob.
II am behind my time"
You are," repeated Scrooge.
Eyes. think you are. Step this
way, sir, if you please"
IT'S only once a year, sir" plead
ed Bob appearing from the tank.
1T shall not be repeated. | was
making rather merry yesterday,
sir"
Now, I'll tell YOU what, my
friend" said Scrooge. Il am not
going to stand this sort of thing
any longer. And therefore, he
continued, leaping from his stool,
and giving Bob such a dig in, the
waistcoat that he staggered back
into the tank again, and therefore
] am about to raise your salary"
Bob trembled. and got a little
nearer to the ruler. He had a mo-
mentary idea of knocking Scrooge
down with it, holding him, and call
ing to the people in the court for
help and a straight waistcoat.
"a merry Christmas, Bob" said
Scrooge. with an earnestness that
could not be mistaken, as he
clapped him on the back. "A mer-
rier Christmas; Bob, my good fell
low, than | have given you for
many year. III raise your salary,
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