Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-01-12

.. ME BETTER. MAN!
scrooge entered timidly and hung
his head before this spirit.
Il am the Ghost Of Christmas Pres
ent," said the spirit Look upon me!'
Scrooge reverentiy did so. II was
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
barr. rs IL disdaining to be warded or
concealed by any artifce. Its feet.
observable beneath the ample folds OF
the garment. were also bare. and on
its head IL wore no other covering than
q holly wreath set here ana there with
shining icicles. It's 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 I'm IL. and the
ancient sheath was eaten up with rust
The Ghost OF Christmas Present rose.
spirit" said Scrooge submissively.
conduct me where you will. went
forth last night on compulsion. and
learned a lesson which is working
now. Tonight. II you have aught To
teach me. LET me profit By t."
Touch my robev'
Scrooge did as he was told and held
II fast.
Holly. mistletoe. red berries, Ivy. tur-
keys. geese. game. poultry. Drawn.
meat, pigs. sausages. oysters. pies. pud
dings. fruit and punch, ali vanished in
stantly. So did the room. the FIRE. the
ruddy glow. the hour Of night. and
they stood in the city streets on Chris
mas morning, where (for the weather
was severeD 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 1t was mad delight to the boys
TO see II come pumping down into the
road below and splitting into artificial
little snowstorms.
II was a remarkable quality OF the
ghost (which Scrooge had observed ut
the baker'S that. Notwithstanding his
gigantic size, he could accommodate
himself to any place with ease and
that he stood beneath a low roof quite
a. gracefully and like a supernatural
creature az II was possible he could
have done In any lofty hall.
And perhaps II was the pleasure the
good spirit had In showing OF this
power of his or else IL 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 bnave 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 n fork into the saucepan OF
potatoes and. getting the corners of
his monstrous shirt collar tBob's pri-
vate property. conferred upon his son
and heir In honor Of the day. into his
routh. rejoiced to hnd himself 50
calamity attired and yearned to show
his linen In the fashionable parks.
And now two smaller Cratchits. boy
and girl. came tearing In, screa ming
that outside the bakers they had
smelt the goose and known Il for their
own. and. basking In luxurious
thoughts Of sage and onion. these
young Cratchits danced about the ia
BILE and exalted Master Peter Crafchit
to the skies. while he (not proud. al
though his collars nearly ch0ked himD
blew the fre until the slow potatoes.
bubbling up. Knocked loudly az the
saucepan lid 10 be let out aud peeled.
"what has ever got your precious
father. then?" said AIRS. CratrhIt
"And your brother. Tiny Tim. and
Martha warn't as late last Christmas
day by half an hour"
Here's Martha. motherrs said n girl.
appearing as she spoke
Here's Martha. mother-" cried the
two young Cratchits. "Hurrahl There's
such q goose. Martial"
"why. bless your heart alive. my
dear. how late you arer' said Mrs.
Cratchft. kissing her q dozen times
and taking OF her shawl and bonnet
for her with oflcious zeal.
"we'd q deal Of work TO Enish M
last night" replied the girl. -snd had
70 clear away this morning. mother
~well, nsvsr mind 20 long a. you