The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-12-29

She was a mild and patient
creature, If her face spoke truth,
but she was thankful in her soul
to hear it, and she said so, with
clasped hands. She prayed for
giveness the next moment, and
was sorry, but the first was the
emotion of her heart.
what the half-drunken woman
whom / told you of last night,
said to me, when l tried to see him
and obtain a weeks delay, and
what | thought was mere ex-
cuse to avoid me, turns out to
have been quite true. He was not
only very ill, but dying, then"
ITO whom will our debt be
transferred?
81 don't know. But before that
time we shall be ready with the
money; and even though we were
not, 1t would be a bad fortune,
| indeed, to find so merciless a
creditor in his successor. We
may sleep tonight with light
hearts, Caroline!"
Yes. Soften it as they would.
it was a happier house for this
mans death! The only emotion
that the Ghost could show him,
caused in the event, was one of
pleasure.
LET me see some tenderness
connected with DEATH" said
Scrooge; "or that dark chamber,
Spirit, which we left just now will
be forever present to me-"
The Ghost conducted him
through several streets familiar
to his feet; and as they went
along, Scrooge looked here and
there to find himself, but nowhere
was he to be seen. They entered
Poor Bob Cratchit's house; the
dwelling he had visited before;
and found the mother and the
children seated round the fire.
Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy
little Cratchits were as still as
statues in one corner, and sat
looking up at Peter, who had
book before him. The mother
and her daughters were engaged
in sewing. But surely they were
very quiet!
"'And He took a child, and sent
him in the midst of them.
Where had Scrooge heard those
words? He had not dreamed
them. The boy must have read
them out, as>he and the Spirit
crossed the threshold. Why did
he not go on?
The mother laid her work upon
the table, and put her hand up to
her face.
"The color hurts my eyes," she
said.
The color? All, poor Tiny Tim!
They're better now again."
said Cratchit's wife. at makes
them weak by candle-light; and |
wouldn't show weak eyes to your
father when he comes home, for
the world. 1t must be near his
time"
past it, rather" Peter an
swered, shutting up his book.
"But I think he has walked a lit
tie slower than he used, these few
last evenings, mother"
They were very quiet again. At
last she said, and in steady,
cheerful voice, that only faltered
once:
"I have known him walk with
Tiny Tim upon his shoulder, very
fast indeed"
"And so have l." cried Peter.
GOTTEN"
"But he was very light to car
ry," she resumed, intent upon her
work, land his father loved him
SO, that 1t was no trouble; no
trouble. And there is your ia
Their at the door!"
She hurried out to meet him;
and Bob came in. His tea was
ready for him on the hob, and
they all tried who should help him
to it most.
Bob 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 Sun
day, he said.
Sunday You went today, then,
Robert?" said his wife.
Eyes, my dear" returned Bob.
81 wish you could have gone. It
would have done you good to see