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

which, beneath III
ragged sheet, 'MERCIFUL HEAVEN.
there Law n some WHAT IS THIsT
thing covered up, which. though it was
dumb, announced itself in awful Ian
guage.
The room was very dark, too dark TO
be observed with any accuracy, though
Scrooge glanced round it III obedience
to a secret impulse, anxious to know
what kind of room 1t was. A pale
light, rising in the outer air, fell
straight upon the bed. and on 1t, un
watched unwept, uncared for. was the
body of this man.
He lay in the dark, empty house with
not man, u woman or a child to say
he was kind to me In this or that and
for the memory of one kind word will
be kind to him. A cat was tearing at
the door, and there was sound OF
gnawing rats beneath the hearthstone.
What they wanted in the room of
death and why they were 50 restless
and disturbed Scrooge did not dare to
think.
Spirit" he said, this is fearful
place. In leaving it | shall not leave
its lesson, trust me. Let us go!'
Still the ghost pointed with an I'M
moved finger to the head.
IL understand you" ScroOge return
ed, land | would do 1t II l could. But
l have not the power. spirit. | have
not the power"
{ m
IF there is any person in the town
who feels emotion caused by this
mans death" said Scrooge. show that
person to me, spirit, | beseech your
The phantom spread It's dark robe
before him for moment like wing,
and, Withdrawing it. revealed room
by daylight, where a mother and her
children were.
She was expecting some one and
with anxious eagerness. for she walk
ed up and down the room. started at
every sound, looked out from the win
dow, glanced at the clock, tried. but in
vain, to work with her needle and
could hardly bear the voices Of the
children in their play.
At length the long expected knock
was heard She hurried TO the door
and met her husband, a man whose
face was careworn and depressed.
though he was young. There was a
remarkable expression In it now. a
kind Of serious delight. Of which he
felt ashamed and which he struggled
to repress.
II tn
been boarding for him by the fire. and
when she asked him family what
news, which was not until after q long
silence, he appeared embarrassed how
to answer
as 1t good" she said, "or badf" to
help him.
Bad" he answered.
1--WE are quite ruined?"
mo. There Is hope yet. Caroline"
'If he relents." she said. amazed.
there IS. Nothing is past hope If such
q miracle has happened"
''He is past relenting." said her hus-
band HE Is dead"
She was a mild and patient creature
If her face spoke truth. But she was
said SO. with clasped hands She pray
ed forgiveness the next moment and
was sorry. but the first was the emo
ton Of her heart
What the half drunken woman
whom l told you Of last night said to
me when l tried to see him and obtain
a weeks delay, and what | Thought
was a mere excuse to avoid me. turns
out to have been quite true lie was
not only I'll. but dying then"
ITO whom will our debt be trans.
ferredw
IL don't know. But before that time
we shall be ready with the money, and
even though we were not ii would be
bad fortune indeed to find so mercileSs
q creditor in his successor. We may
sleep tonight with light hearts, Caro-
line!"
Yes Soften it as they would. their
hearts were lighter The children's
faces. hushed and clustered round t
hear what they so little understood
were brighter. and it was happier
house for this mans death! The only
emotion that the ghost could show
him. caused by the event, was one o.
pleasure.
Let ME see some tenderness con
nected with a DEATH" said Scrooge
cor that dark chamber. spirit, which
we left just now will be forever pres
ent to me-"
The ghost conducted him through
several streets familiar to his feet, ant
as they went along Scrooge looked her
and there to find himself, but nowher
was he to be seen. They entered poo
Bob Cratchit's house, the dwelling b
had visited before, and found tn
mother and the children seated roun
tsS fire.
Quiet-very quiet. The noisy Httl
Cratchits were as still as statues /
one corner and sat looking up at Pr
ter. who had book before him. Th
mother and her daughters were engae
ed in sewing. But surely they wer
very quiet
land He took a child and set bill
In the midst OF them"
Where had Scrooge heard thos
words? He had not dreamed then
The boy must have read them out {
he and the spirit crossed the threshold
Why did he not go on?
The mother laid her work upon Il
table and put her hand up to her face
''The color hurts my eyes," she sal
The color? All. poor Tiny Tim!
They're better now again." sa
CratchIt's wife. at makes them we;
by candlel1ght, and l wouldn't sho
weak eyes to your father when
comes home for the world. It must
near his time"
Past it, rather" Peter answere
shutting up his book. But / THU
he's walked a little slower than
used these few last evenings, mother
They were very quiet again. At la
she said. IN a steady, cheerful vol
that faltered only once:
81 have known him walk with