The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1911-01-05

father at the door"
She hurried out to meet him. and
little Bob in his comforter-he had
need of 1t, poor fellow-came in. His
tea was ready for him on the hob, and
they all tried who should help him to
1t most Then the two young Cratchits
got upon his knees and laid each child
a little cheek against his face as If
they said: Don't mind 1t. father
Don't be grievedl"
Bob was very cheerful with them
and spoke pleasantly to all the family
He looked at the work upon the table
and praised the industry and speed of
Mrs Cratchit and the girls. They
would be done long before Sunday. he
said.
Sunday! You went today, then
Roberto" said his wife.
Yes, my DEAR" returned Bob. 81
wish you could have gone. 1t would
have done you good to see how green
a place 1t is. But you'll see 1t often
promised him that | would walk
there on Sunday. My little. little
childr cried Bob. MY little child?'
He broke down all at once. He could
1t he and his child would have been
farther apart perhaps than they were
He left the room and went upstairs
into the room above, which was light
ed cheerfully and hung with Christ
mas. There was chair set close be
side the child, and there were signs of
some one having been there lately
Poor Bob sat down In it. and when he
had thought little and composed him
self he kissed the little face. He was
reconciled to what had happened an'
went down again quite happy.
Mrs Cratchit kissed him, his daugh
tiers kissed him, the two young Cratch
its kissed him. and Peter himself SHOOT
hands. Spirit of Tiny Tim. thy child
ish essence was from God!
"Specter." said Scrooge. "somethin
informs me that our parting moment
at hand. l know it, but | know no
how Tell me what man that wa
whom we saw lying dead?
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Com
conveyed him as before, though at dit
ferent time, he thought. Indeed. Their
seemed no order in these latter vision
save that they were in the future, int
the resorts Of business men, but show
ID him not himself. Indeed, the spiri
did not stay for anything. but wer
straight on. as to the end just now de
sired. until besought by Scrooge to ia
ry for a moment.
This court" said Scrooge. through
which we hurry now is where my plac,
Of occupation Is and has been for a
me behold what / shall be In days to
come"
The spirit stopped The hand was
pointed elsewhere.
THE house is yonder." Scrooge ex
claimed why do you point awayT'
The memorable finger underwent no
change.
Scrooge FASTENED to the window of
his office and looked in. 1t was an Of
fee still. but not his. The furniture
was not the same, and the figure in
the chair was not himself. The phan
tom pointed as before
He joined it once again and. wonder
ing why and whittier be had gone. &C
companied it until they reached an iron
gate. He paused to look round before
entering
A churchyard. Here, then. the
wretched man whose name he had now
to learn lay underneath the ground 1t
was a worthy place, walled in by
houses, overrun by grass and weeds.
the growth of vegetations death. not
life. choked up with too much burying,
fat with repleted appetite-a worthy
| place.
The spirit stood among the graves
and pointed down to one. He advanced
toward 1t trembling The phantom
was exactly as it had been, but he
dreaded that be saw new meaning in
its solemn shape.
Before l draw nearer to that stone
to which you point" said Scrooge. an
swer me one question. Are these the
shadows of the things that will be. or
are they shadows of the things that
may be only"
Still the ghost pointed downward to
the grave by which it stood
Scrooge crept toward it, trembling as
| no want ap6 folIouinC tho 6nUar raa,