The Ocala evening star., 1910-12-10
4 CHRISTMAS CAROL
CONTINUED from Third Page

wig, with q sharp clap Of his hands,
before q man can say Jack Robin
SOM
In came d fiddler with d music book
and went Up TO the lofty desk and
made an orchestra of it and tuned
like fifty stomach aches. In came Mrs.
FeZZiwig, one vast substantial sEiIie.
In came the three Miss FeZZiwigs,
beaming and loyabie. In came the six
young followers whose hearts they
broke. In came all the young men and
women employed in the business. In
came the housemaid with her cousin,
the baker In came the cook with her
brothers particular friend. the milk
man. In came the boy from over the
way, who was suspected of not having
board enough from his master. trying
to hide himself behind the girl from
next door but one, who was proved to
have had her ears pulled by her mis-
tress. In they all came, one after
another. some shyIy, some boldly.
some gracefully, some awkwardly.
all came, anyhow and eyeryhow. Away
they all went. twenty couples at once.
hands half round and back again tn"
other way, down the middle and up
again, round and round i'll various
stages of affectionate grouping. old top
couple always turning up in the wrong
place, new top couple starting off
fhav fharp all
top couples at last and not Il bottom
one to help them. When this result
was brought about old FeZZiwig, clap
ping his hands to stop the dance, cried
out, "Well done. and the fiddler
plunged his hot face into pot OF por-
ter especially provided for that pur-
pose. But, scorning rest upon his re-
appearance, he instantly began again.
though there were no dancers yet, as
If the other fiddler had been carried
home exhausted on a shutter and he
were brand new man resolved to beat
him out of sight or perish.
When the clock struck II this do
| nestle ball broke up. Mr.. and Mrs.
Fezziwig took their stations, one on
either side the door, and, shaking
hands with every person individually
as he or she went out, wished him or
her a merry Christmas. When every
BODY had retired but the two prem
tees they did the same to them, and
| thus the cheerful voices died away, and
the lads were left to their beds. which
| were under a counter in the back shop.
During the whole Of this time
Scrooge had acted like man out of
his wits. His heart and soul were in
the scene and with his former self. He
corroborated everything, remembered
everything, enjoyed everything and
underwent the strangest agitation.
"What is the matter:'' asked the
ghost.
Nothing particular,' said Scrooge.
something, ! Think the ghost in
sisted.
NO. said Scrooge; mo. should
like to be able to say a word or two to
my clerk just now-that's ALL"
His former self turned down the
lamps as he gave utterance to the
wish, and Scrooge and the ghost again
stood side by side in the open air.
my time grows short" observed the
spirit. Quick
This was not addressed to Scrooge
or to any one whom he could see, but
1t produced an immediate effect, for
again Scrooge saw himself. He was
older now, a man in the prime of life.
His face had not the harsh and rigid
lines Of later years, but it, had begun
to wear the signs of care and avarice.
There was an eager, greedy, restless
motion in the eye which showed the
passion that had taken root and where
the shadow of the growing tree would
fall.
He was not alone, but sat by the
side of fair young girl in a mourning
dress in whose eyes there were tears,