The Washington herald., 1920-12-25
why did you get marriedT'


scrooge. as IL that were the only one
thing in the world more ridiculous than
a merry Christmas. Good afternoon
May. uncle. but you never came to see
me before that happened. Why give it as
a reason for not coming now?
| Good afternoon" said Scroogc.
"I want nothing from you; ask moth
| ing of you; why cannot we be friends?"
| Good afternoon" said Scrooge.
"I am sorry, with all my heart, to find
! you so resolute. We have never had
quarrel to which 1 have been party.
But 1 have made the trial in homage to
| Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas
| humor to the last. So Merry Christmas,
| uncle"
Good afternoon" said Scrooge. o..
And Happy New Year"
| Good afternooni" said Scrooge.
His nephew left the room without an
angry word. Notwithstanding. He stopped
at the outer door to bestow the greetings
of the season on the clerk. who, cold as
he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for
he returned them cordially.
| There's another fellow" muttered
| Scrooge who overheard him; my clerk.
with fifteen shillings a week, and wife
and family, talking about a merry Christ
| mas. I'll retire to Bedlam.
| This lunatic in letting Scrooges neph-
| ew out, had let two other people in. They
were portly gentlemen. pleasant to be-
| hold, and now stood, with their hats off,
in Scrooges office.
! "Scrooge and Marley's, I believe" said
one of the gentlemen. referring to his.
list Have 1 the pleasure of addressing
Mr. Scrooge or Mr.. Marley"
| "Mr. Marley has been dead these sew
/ 10
| en- years ago. this very night
I'VE have no doubt his liberality is well
| represented by his surviving partner"
said the gentleman, presenting his Gre
| dentials.
1t certainly was for they had been two
kindred spirits. At the ominous word
| '1iberality," Scrooge frowned, and shook
! his head, and. handed the credential;
| back.
AT this festive season of the year,
| Mr.. Serooge," said the gentleman, taking
| up a pen. lit is more than usually desir-
able that We should make some slight
| provision for the poor and destitute. who
suffer greatly at the present time. Many
thousands are in want of common nee
essaries; hundreds of thousands are in
want of common comforts, Sir"
! Are there prisonsT asked Scrooge.
man, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union worhhouses?" demand
/ ed Scrooge. Are they still in operation?"
| They are. STILL" returned the gentle
man, Il wish ! could say they were not"
The Treadmill and the Poor Law are
in full vigor. them said Scrooge.
| Both very busy, Sir"
"Oh! 1 was afraid, from what you said
at first, that something had occurred to
stop them in their useful course" said
Scrooge. I'm very glad to hear it,
Under the impression that they scarce
Iy furnish Christian cheer of mind or
| body to the multitude" returned the gen.
| tleman, "a few of us are endeavoring to
raise fund to buy the Poor some meat
and drink, and means of warmth. We
choose this time, because it is time, of
| all othrs, when Want is keenly felt and
Abundance retoices. What shall put you
down for?"
Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
| You wish to be anonymous"
| Il wish to be left alone" said Scrooge.
Since you ask me what 1 wish, gentle
men, that is my answer. 1 don't make
merry myself at Christmas, and 1 can't
afford to make idle people merry. help
to support the establishments have
mentioned; they cost enough, and those
| VINO are DaOly OIL must So tueTS'
Many can't go there and many would
rather die"
IF they would rather die," said Scrooge,
they had better do it, and decrease the
surplusl population. Besfdes-excuse me-
don't know that"
But you might know it," observed the
gentleman.
Its not my business" Scrooge returned
ITS enough for a man to understand his
own business and not to interfere with
other peoples. Mine occupies me con-
stantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen"
Seeing clearly that it would be useless
to pursue their point, the gentlemen
withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labors
with an improved opinion of himself and
in more facetious temper than was usual
J with him.
At length the hour of shutting up the
lcounting- house arrived. With in-wiil
Scrooge dismounted from his stool. and
tacitly admitted the fact to the expec-
tant clerk in the Tank, who instantly
snuffed his candle out, and put on his
hat.
You'll want all day tomorrow, 1 sup
pose?" said Scrooge.
IF quite convenient, Sir"
ITS not convenient" said Scrooge,
"and it's not fair. II 1 was to stop half
a-crown for it, you'd think yourself ILL
used, I'll be boundT
The clerk smiled family.
And yet" said Scrooge, you don't
think ME ill-used. when 1 pay days
J wages for no work"
The clerk observed that it was only
once a year.
} "A poor excuse for picking mans
, pocket every twenty-fifth Of December"
; said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to
the chin. But 1 suppose you must have
the whole day. Be here all the earlier next
morning"
Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in
, his usual melancholy tavern, and having