The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1915-12-24

A Merry Christmas 20 yeu. sirl"
Mr.. scrooge1"
Yes" said scrooge. That IL my
name. and fear Il may not be pleas
pardon. And will you have the good
ness"--Hcre scrooEe whispered In his
ear.
Lord bless met" cried the gentle.
man as II his breath were taken
away. MY dear Mr.. scroosc. are you
serious7"
III you please" said scrooEe. mot
q farthing less. A great many back
payments are included in u, ASSURE
you. Will you do me that favorF
My dear SIR" said the other. shak-
ing hands with him, II don't know
what 20 say to such munifi-
DONE say anything, please, re-
tortsd Sorooge. Come and see me
VIII you come and see mef'
II Wilt" cried ths old gentleman.
And u was clear he meant TO do ".
"Thankee.' said scrooge ~ Am
much obliged TO you. l thank you
ATTY times. Bless you'll"
lie went to church, and walked
about the streets, and watched the
people hurrying to and fro, and pat.
ted the children on the head, and
questioned beggsrs. and looked down
into the kitchens OF houses. ana up
to the windows; and found that
every thing could yield him pleasure
He had never dreamed that any walk
that anythlng--could give him 80
much happiness. In the afternoon,
he turned his steps towards his
nephew's house.
He passed the door dozen timss
before he had the courage TO 20 up
and knock. But he made dash. and
did II.
as your master at home, my
dear7" said Scrooge to the girl. Mics
girl Very.
Where Is he. my lover" said
Scrooge.
He's In the dining room. sir. along
with mistress. I'll show you up
stairs. II you please"
''Thankee. lie knows me-" safd
scrooge, with his hand already Oh
the dinlng-room lock. "Iil go in here,
lie turned Il gently. and sldied his
face In, round the door. They were
looking at the table (Which was
spread out In great array; for these
young housekeepers are always ner-
vous on such points. and like TO see
that everything In right.
Fred" said Scroose.
Dear heart alive, how his niece by
UdTTlNko StaTttul ECTOOkb nAu
gotten. for the moment, about her sit.
ting In the corner with the footstool
OF he wouldn't have done II on any
account.
Why, bless my souil" cried Fred,
"Its I. Your Uncle scrooge. have
. come to dinner. VIII you let me IN,
f'red7"
Let him mi 1t Is mercy he didn't
shake his arm on. He was at homo
In Ave minutes. Nothing could bs
|. hsartier. His niece looked Just the
Same. 30 did Topper when he came.
30 did plump sister whom she came.
10 did every ono, when they came.
Wonderful party. wonderful games.
wonderful unanimity. wonderful
I but he was early at the once ner.
D morning. Oh. he was early there
IL he could only be there first and
i catch Bob Cratchit coming latel That
was the thing he had set his heart
! upon.
And he did II, yes. he did I'll The
clock struck nine. No Bob. \ quar-
\ ter past. No Bob. He was full eigh-
a teen minutes and q half behind his
. time. Scroogs sat with his door wiae
!: open, that he might see him come into
u the tank.
, His hat was of before he opened
the door: his comforter, too. Ne was
on his stool In a jiffy; driving away
. with his pen. as IL he were trying to
Q overtake nine o'clock.
I ''Hallo!' Erowled scroogs, In his
=. accustomed voice as near as he could
y feiEn II. What do you mean by
J. coming hero at this time of dayf'
I 81 am very sorry. SIR" said Bob.
o II am behind my time"
6 You are?" repeated scrooge
o Yes. think you are. Step this
way. sir. II you please"
ITS only once a year, sir" plead
i ed Bob. appearing from the tank. "It
It shall not DO repeated. was maxim 8
r, rather merry yesterday. air.
q friend" said scrooge; II an not
Is going to stand this sort of thing any
longer. And therefore," he con
!" tlnued. leapinE from his stool, and
IN giving Bob such q dig In the waist
IL coat that he staggered back into ths
N tank again and therefore, i am
" about TO raise your salary"
}! Bob trembled. and got a little near
y es 10 tne ruler; He had a momentary
ID IT, holding him. and calling 10 Tbs
d: people In tho court for help ana =
n straight Jacket N
merry Christmas, Bobl" said
y scrooge, with an earnestnes. thst
~ could not be mistaken, as no clappeS
MIN on the back. "A merrier Chriat .
$, mas, Bob, my good fellow than
ID have given You for many a yearI mi
n raise your salary. and endeavor 20 as /.
10 sist your struggling family. and W.
ID VIII discuss your affairs this very
" afternoon over Christmas bowl al
n smoking bishop. Bob! Make up The
ID nres. and buy another coal -scuttie be !
fore you dot another 4, Bob Cratchitlu
or Scroose was better than his word
y He did It all, and Infinitely moro
u, and 10 Tiny Tim, who did NOT die
~ he was second father lie became
81 AZ good a friend. as good a master
&c and as good a man as the good old
," City knew. or any other good old CITY
,. town. or borough In the good old
world.
81 Some people laughed to see the al
20 teration In him. but he let then
70 laugh. and little needed them; for n,
n was wise enough TO know thai moth.
o. ing ever happened on this globe, FOL
A. good, at which some people did no
ar have their NIL OF laughter In the out.
nd set; and knowing that such as thes,
would ha blind ANYWAY M thnu.h.