The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-12-28
BY Charles Dickens.

Never" Scrooge made answer
to it.
| The Ghost of Christmas Present
rose.
Touch my robe!"
| Holly, mistletoe, turkeys, pies,
puddings. fruit and punch, all van
ished instantly. SO did the room,
and they stood in the city streets
on Christmas morning.
|. Soon the steeples called good
people all, to church and chapel,
and away they came, flocking
through the streets in their best
clothes, and with their gayest
faces. And at the same time there
lemerged from scores of bye-streets,
lanes and nameless turning, in
Vulnerable people, carrying their
dinners to the bakers shops. The
sight of these poor jewellers ap-
lpeared to interest the spirit very
much, for he stood with Scrooge
beside him in a bakers door way,
and taking off the covers as their
vi puboCop lhtChpC
on their dinners from his torch.
i And 1t was very uncommon
kind of torch, for once or twice
when there were angry words be-
tween some dinner-carriers who
had POSTED each other, he shed
a few drops of water on them from
1T, and their good humor was re-
stored directly. For they said it
was shame to quarrel upon
Christmas day. And so 1t was!
God live it, SO 1t was!
rs there a peculiar flavor in
what you sprinkle from your
torch?" asked Scrooge.
There is. My own"
Would it apply to any kind of
dinner on this day." asked
Scrooge.
ITO any kind given. To poor
one most"
why a poor one most?" asked
'Scrooge.
Because 1t needs il most"
They went on, invisible, as they
had been before, into the suburbs
of the town. 1t was a remarkable
quality of the Ghost (Which
Scrooge had observed at the bak-
er's), that Notwithstanding his gil
gantic size. he could accommodate
himself to any place with ease.
And perhaps it was the pleasure
the good Spirit had in showing off
this power of his, or else It was
his own kind, generous, hearty ma
ture,. and his sympathy with all
poor men, that led him straight to
Scrooge's clerks; for there he
went, and took Scrooge with him.
And on the threshold of the door
the Spirit smiled, and stopped to
bless Bob Cratchit's dwelling with
the sprinkling of his torch.
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit,
Cratchit's wife, dressed out but
poorly in twice-turned gown, and
she laid the cloth, assisted by Be-
linda Cratchit. second of her
daughters, while Master Peter
Cratchit plunged fork into tie
saucepan of potatoes. And now
two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl,
came tearing In, screaming that
outside the bakers they had smelt
the goose. and known il for their
own; and basking in luxurious
thoughts OF sage and onion, the
young Cratchits danced about the
table.
| What has ever got your prec-
ious father them" said Mrs. Graft
chit. "And your brother, Tiny
Tim, And Martha warn't as late
last Christmas Day by half an
hourl"
| Here's Martha, mother!" cried
the two young Cratchits. "Hurrah!
There's such a goose, Martial"
| why, bless your heart alive, my
dear, how late you are!" said Mrs.
Cratchit, kissing her dozen
times. and taking off her shawl
and bonnet for her with officious
zeal.
| Wed a deal OF work to finish
/ up last night" replied the girl.
land had TO clear away this morn
Ing, mother!"
| We'll! Never mind, so long as
you are come" said Mrs. Cratchit,
1 tit . hoWh DOlOtO tu6 IlTtt lily
dear. and have a warm, Lord bless
lys"
mo, Mol There's father COM
Ing" cried the two yong Cratchits,
who were everywhere at once.
Hide, Martha, hide!"
So Martha hid herself and in
came Bob. the father, with Tiny
Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for
Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch,
and had his limbs supported by an
iron frame!
| why, where's our Martha?"
cried Bob Cratchit looking around.
Not coming" said Mrs. Graft
chit.
mot comingl" cried Bob, with
a sudden declension In his high
spirits. mot coming upon Christ
! mas Day?"