Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-12-15


"Wh no and Y MM
what are you?" w '8W
Scrooge demand "a W.
ed %% m
= :1 am the Ghost - O
Past" q. ,r,,,, l,,r,,,,r ~,
1t put out its cTn1cT,,,o p,cr"
strong hand as it
spoke and clasped him gently by the
arm.
Rise and walk with me-
The grasp, though gentle as wo-
mans hand, was not to be resisted.
Scrooge rose, but, finding that the spirit
made toward the window, clasped it's
robe in supplication.
They passed through the wall and
stood upon an open country road with
fields on either hand. The city had
entirely vanished. Not a vestige of it
was to be seen. The darkness and the
mist had vanished with it, for it was a
clear, cold winter day, with snow upon
the ground.
Good heavenr' said Scrooge, clasp
ing his hands together as he looked
about him. Il was bred in this place.
| was a boy here
You recollect the way?" inquired
the spirit.
Remember it," cried Scrooge with
fervor. 81 could walk it blindfold.'
Strange to have forgotten it for so
A..
us go on"
They walked along the road, Scrooge
recognizing every gate and post and
tree, until little market town appear
ed in the distance with its bridge, its
church and winding river. Some shay
gy ponies now were seen trotting 70.
ward them with boys upon their backs,
who called to other hUys in country
gigs and carts driven by farmers. All
these boys were in great spirits and
shouted to each other until the broad
fields were so full of merry music that
the crisp air laughed to hear it.
'"The school is not quite deserted"
said the ghost. "a solitary child, neg
lected by his friends, is left there still"
Scrooge said he knew it, and he
Sobbed.
They left the highroad by a we'll re-
membered lane and soon approached
a mansion of dull red brick, with a lit
tie weathercOck SurmOunted cupola on
the roof and a bell hanging in it. 1t
was a large house, but one of broken
fortunes, for the spacious Offices were
little used, their walls were damp and
messy, their windows broken and their
gates decayed.
They went, the ghost and Scrooge,
across the hall to a door at the back
of the house. 1t opened before them
and disclosed long bare. melancholy
room, made barer still by lines of plain
deal forms and desks. At one of these
a lonely boy was reading near a feeble
fire, and Scrooge sat down upon a form
and wept to see his poor forgotten self
as he had used to be-
81 wish,' Scrooge muttered, putting
his hand in his pocket and looking
about him, drying his eyes with his
cuff But it's too late now"
What is the matter?" asked the
spirit
Nothing" said Scrooge, nothing
There was boy singing a Christmas
carol at my door last night. / should
have liked to give him something
that's ALL
The ghost smiled thoughtfully and
waved its hand, saying as it did so,
LET us see another Christmas"
Scrooge's former self grew larger at
the words, and the room became a lit
tie darker and more dirty. The panels
Shrunk, the windows cracked. frag-
ments of plaster fell out Of the cell
ing, and the naked laths were shown
instead, but how all this was brought
about Scrooge knew no more than you
do. He only knew that it was quite
correct; that every thing had happen
ed so; that there he was alone again
when all the other boys had gone home
for the jolly holidays.
He was not reading now, but walk
ing up and down despairingly. Scrooge
looked at the ghost and with mourn
full shake of his head glanced anxious
ly toward the door.
1t opened, and a little girl, much
younger than the boy. came dartlng
in and. putting her arms about his