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


clothed In one simple deep green robe
or mantle bordered with white fur.
This garment hung so loosely on the
figure that its capacious breast was
bare, as If disdaining TO be warded or
concealed by any artifice. Its feet.
observable beneath the ample folds of
the garment, were also bare, and or
its head 1t wore no other covering thar
q holly wreath set here and there with
shining icicles. Its dark brown curls
were long and free-free as its genial
face, its sparkling eye. its open hand.
| its CHEEKY voice. its unconstrained de-
! meanor and its joyful air. Girded
round its middle was an antique scab-
bard, but no sword was in it, and the
ancient sheath was eaten up with rust
The Ghost Of Christmas Present rose.
spirit" said Scrooge submissively
conduct me where you will. l went
forth last night on compulsion, and l
learned a lesson which is working
| now. Tonight, if you have aught to
| teach me. let me profit by It,"
Touch my rober'
Scrooge did as he was told and held
it fast
Holly, mistletoe. red berries, ivy, tur-
hra
meat, pigs, sausages. oysters. pies. pud-
dings, fruit and punch. all vanished in
stantly. So did the room, the fire. the
rudy glow. the hour of night, and
they stood in the city streets on Chris
mas morning, where Qor the weather
was severe) the people made a rough
! but brisk and not unpleasant kind of
music in scraping the snow from the
| pavement in front of their dwellings
and from the tops of their houses.
whence it was mad delight to the boys
to see it come pumping down into the
road below and splitting into artificial
little snowstorms.
| It was a remarkable quality of the
ghost (Which Scrooge had observed at
| the baker's) that, withstanding his
| gigantic size, he could accommodate
himself to any place with ease and
| that he stood beneath low roof quite
as gracefully and like a supernatural
creature as it was possible he could
have done in any lofty hall.
And perhaps it was the pleasure the
good spirit had in showing off this
power of his or else it was his own
kind. generous. hearty nature and his
sympathy with all poor men that led
him straight to Scrooge's clerk. for
there he went and took Scrooge with
him, holding to his robe.
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, wife of
the clerk, dressed out but poorly in a
twice turned gown, but brave in rib
bons which are cheap and make a
goodly show for sixpence, and she laid
the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit.
second of her daughters, also brave in
ribbons, while Master Peter Cratchit
plunged fork into the saucepan of
potatoes and. getting the corners of
his monstrous shirt collar (Bob's pri-
vate property, conferred upon his son
and heir in honor Of the day. into his
mouth, rejoiced to find himself SO
CALAMITY attired and yearned to show
his linen In the fashionable parks.
And now two smaller Cratchits. boy
and girl, came tearing in, screaming
that outside the bakers they had
smelt the goose and known 1t for their
own, and, basking in luxurious
thoughts Of sage and onion. these
young Cratchits danced about the ia
BILE and exalted Master Peter Cratchit
to the skies, while he mot proud. al
though his collars nearly choked HIM
blew the fire until the slow potatoes,
bubbling up, knocked loudly at the
saucepan lid to be let out and peeled.
"Nhat has ever got your precious
father, them" said Mrs. Cratchit
"And your brother, Tiny Tim. and
Martha warn't as late last Christmas
day by half an hour"
Here's Martha. MOTHER said a girl.
appearing as she spoke.
"Here's Martha. mother" cried the
two young Cratchits. "Hurrah! There's
such q goose. Martial"
"Why, bless your heart alive. my
dear, how late you arer' said Mrs.
Cratchit. kissing her a dozen times
and taking off her shawl aud bonnet
; for her with oficious zeal.
Wed a deal of work to finish up
last night" replied the girl. land had
to clear away this morning. mother"
"well. never mind so long as you
are come" said Mrs. Cratchit. "Sit y
down before the fire, my dear, ant
have a warm. Lord bless ye.'
"No. no! There's father coming!
cried the two young Cratchits, VIII
were everywhere at once. Hide. Mar
tina, hide!
So Martha hid herself. and in cam
little Bob, the father. with at leas
three feet Of comforter. exclusive
the fringe, hanging down before nil
and his threadbare clothes darned u
and brushed TO look seasonable an
Tiny Tim upon his shoulder. Ala
for Tiny Tim. He bore little crutc
and had his limbs supported by a
iron frame.
"Why, where's our MarthaE erie
Rob Cratchit. looking round.
"Not coming" said Mrs CratcniI
.Not coming said Bob. with sn'
den deciension In his high spirit. 1c
! he had been Tins blood horse all ID
i wav from church and had come nom
rampant. Not coming upon CnFis
mas dayg' -
MAJ tha didn't IKE to see him dlsal
pointed. II II were only in joke SO 81
came out prematurely from behind u
closet door and ran into bis arm
While sls two young crasShi'' a0''ss