The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-12-26

in business-like manner, though
with humility and Difference.
Slow" the Ghost repeated.
Seven years dead" unused
Scrooge. And travelling all the
time!"
"The whole time" said the
Ghost. mo rest, no peace. Inces-
SAINT torture of remorse."
you travel fast?" said Scrooge.
ION the wings of the wind" re-
piled the Ghost.
You might have got over a
great quantity of ground in seven
years." said Scrooge.
The Ghost, on hearing this, set
up another cry, and clanked its
chain so hideously in the dead ST.
lence of the night, that the Ward
would have been justified in in
dieting 1t for nuisance.
"Oh! captive, bound, and dou-
ble-ironed," cried the phantom,
mot to know that ages of inces-
SAINT labor by immoral creatures
for this earth must pass into eter-
nifty before the good of which 1t is
susceptible is all developed. Not
to know that any Christian spirit
working kindly in its little sphere.
whatever it may be, will find its
mortal life too short for its vast
means of usefulness. Not to know
that no space of regret can make
amends for one life's opportunity
misused! Yet such was |! OH!
Such was I.
But you were always a good
man of business, Jacob" faltered
Scrooge, who now began to apply
this to himself.
"Business!" cried the Ghost,
wringing it's hands again. MAN
kind was my business. The COM
mon welfare was my business
charity, mercy, forbearance, and
benevolence, were all my business.
The dealings of my trade were but
q drop OF water in the comprehen-
sive ocean OF my business!
"At this time Of the rolling
year," the specter said, 81 suffer
most. Why did | walk through
crowds of fellow-beings with my
eyes turned down, and never raise
them to that blessed Star which
led the Wise Men to poor abode!
We're there no poor homes to
which its light would have con-
Quoted me?"
Scrooge was very much dismay-
ed to hear the specter going on at
this rate. and began to quake ex-
ceedingly.
Hear mel" cried the Ghost.
My time is nearly gone"
81 will" said Scrooge. But
don't be hard upon me! Don't be
flowery, Jacob. Pray"
How it is that l appear before
you In a shape that you can see, |
may not tell. | have sat invisible
beside you many and many a day.
II was not an agreeable idea.
Scrooge shivered, and wiped the
perspiration from his brow.
THAT is no light part of my PEN
ance," pursued the Ghost. II am
here tonight to warn you that you
have yet a chance and hope OF
escaping my fate. A chance and
hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.
you were always a good friend
to me-" said Scrooge. "Thank'ee!"
"You will be haunted" resumed
the Ghost, "by Three Spirits
Scrooge's countenance fell.
"Is that the chance and hope
you mentioned, Jacob?" he de-
manded, in a faltering voice.
ut is"
Il think I'd rather not"
said Scrooge.
Without their visits" said the
Ghost, you cannot hope to shun
the path l tread. Expect the first
tomorrow, when the bell tolls
One"
Couldn't I take 'em all at once.
and have 1t over, jacob" limited
Scrooge.
Expect the second on the next
night at the same hour. The third
upon the next night when the last
stroke OF Twelve has ceased to VI
brate. Look to see me no more;
and look that, for your own sake,
you remember what has passed be-
tween us!"
When Il said these words, the
spectre walked backward from
him; and at every step 1t took the
window raised itself a little, so
that when the spectre reached 1t,
1t was wide open. Marley's Ghost
faded into mist.
Scrooge closed the window and
tried to say "Humbug!" but
stopped at the first syllable. And
being much in need of repose. he
went straight to bed, without un-
dressing. and fell asleep upon the
instant.
CHAPTER III.
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