The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-12-25
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A Novel
A Week
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE l

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very small fire. but the clerks
l fire was so very much smaller that
! II looked Nike one coal. Hut he
couldn't replenish Il, for Scroogo
/ kept the coal box IN his own room.
"a merry ChriHtman. uncle'
God save you" cried cheerful
voice IL was the voice of
Scroogo's nephew. who came upon
him NO quickly that this was the
first intimation he had OF his mp.
proaoh.
"nah," said scrooge. Hum.
bugl"
Ito had 10 heated himself with
rapid walking In the fog and frost.
this nephew OF Ncrooges. that he
was all In a glow his face was
rudy and handsome. hia eyes
sparhlcd. and his breath smoked
again.
Christmas humbug. uncle'"
said Scroores nephew. You
don't mean that. ! am sure"
Il do said Scroogo. Merry
Christmas What right have you
10 be merry What reason have
you TO be be merry You're poor
enough"
Come. then" returned the
nephew. gayiy What right have
you 20 be dismal What reason
have you TO be morose7 You're
rich enough"
scrooEc. having no better an.
swcr ready on the spur OF the mo.
meni. said Bah" again: and fol.
lowed Il mp with "Humbrs"
Don't be eroas. uncle" said the
nephew
VIVA, else can be-" returned
the uncle. when live in such n
world OF fools ne thla' Merry
l Christmas Dat upon merry
I Chrlstmas' What's Christmas
time TO you but \ time for paying
bills without money. time for
finding yourself year older. but
not an hour richer; n time for bal.
Anclng your books and having
every item in ON thru round
dozen OF months presented dead
against YOU n | could work my
will" ssid scrcoEe. indignantly.
every idiot who goes about with
Merry Christmas on HIS llpn
SHOULD be boiled with hts own
pudding. and buried with u stake
~ holly thru his heart lie
should"
Uncle" pleaded the nephew.
Nephew" returned the uncle
stcrnly. keep Christmas tn i0pr
own way. and let me keep u Ia
mine
1 Keep IT," repeated scrooxos
nephew But you don't keep H."
Let mo leav. e alone. then. DO
said ScrooEe. Much good may &
do you Much good IL has ever
done youl"
There ere many things from
which might have derived good.
by which have not profitcd. !
dare say" returned tho nephew.
"Christmas among the rest hut
am sure ! have always thought OF
Christmas time. when Il has come
round-apart from tho yeneratIon
due TO It's sacred name and origin
AS a good time. a kind. forEiving
charitable. pleasant time. the only
time ! know OF. In she long caien.
dar OF the year. when men and
women seem BY one consent TO
open their shutup hearts freely
aud TO think Of people below them
as N they really were fellow pas
sengers 20 the grave. aud not an.
other race OF creatures bound on
other Journeys. And therefore.
uncle. tho Il has never put a scrap
of gold or silver In my pocket. I
believe that II has done mo good.
and viii do me good. and | say.
God bless o.
The clerk involuntarily applaud.
ed. Becoming Immediately senBi-
BILE Of the improperly. he pokcd
the fire. ard eStinguished the last
frall spark foreyers
Let ms hear another sound
from yoI.' said Scrooge. and
you'll keeo your Christmas by los.
Ing your situation You're quite n
powerful speaker. sir" he added.
turning 10 his nephew 4 wonder
you don't go Into parliament"
Don't be angry. uncle. Come
Dine with us tomorrow"
Scrooge said that he would see
him-yes. indeed he did. He went
the whole length Of the expression.
and said that he would see him In
that extremity first
But Vhy?" cried Scrooge's
nephew. why"
why did you get married ?" said
ScrooRc.
"Because ! fell in love"
because you fell in lovei"
growled Scroogc. as II that were
the only thing In the world more
ridiculous Than a Merry Christmas.
| Good afternoon
~ am sorry. with all ms heart.
to find yoI so resolute. We have
never ha ! any quarrel. 10 which
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