The Washington herald., 1920-12-25

Gay ana tar into anOtneT II ishl
possible that anything has happened TO
the sun. and that IL is twelve. at noon!"
Scrooge lay until the chimes had gone
three quarters more, when he remembered
on a sudden that the Ghost had warned
him of a visitation when the bell tolled
one. He resolved to lie awake until the
hour was passed; and. considering that
he could no more so to sleep than go to
Heaven. this was perhaps the wisest res
olution in his power.
The quarten was so long that he was
more than once convinced he must have
sunk into a doze unconsciously, and
missed the clock. At length il broke upon
his listening ear.
The hour itself" said Scrooge, tri-
umphantly. and nothing else!"
He spoke before the hour bell sounded,
which IL now did with a deep. dull, hol-
low. melancholy ONE. Light flashed up
in the room upon the instant. and the
curtains Of his bed were drawn.
The curtains of his bed were drawn
aside, tell you. by a hand. Not the cur
tains at his feet. nor the curtains at his
back, but those to which his face was
addressed. The curtains OF his bed were
drawn aside; and Scrooge, starting up
into a haf-recumbent attitude. found
himself face to face with the unearthly
visitor who drew them: as close TO it as
I am now to you, and 1 am standing in
the spirit at your elbow.
II was a strange figure-like a child;
yet not so like a child as like an old
man. viewed through some supernatural
medium, which gave him the appearance
Of having receded from the view, and be-
ing diminished TO a child's proportions.
hafr u-hf ffe
down its back, was white as with age;
and yet the face had not wrinkle in it,
and the tenderest bloom was on the skin.
who, and what are your" Scrooge de-
manded.
Il am the Ghost Of Christmas Past"
Long past7' inquired scrooge, observ-
ant of its dwsrfish stature.
NO. Your past"
Perhaps Scrooge could have told any
body why, IL anybody could have asked
him; but he had special desire to see
the Spirit in his cap. and begged him to
be covered.
What" exclaimed the Ghost, would
you so soon put out, with worldly hands.
the light / give? els it not enough that
you are one Of those whose passions made
this cap. and force me through whole
trains Of years to wear it low upon my
brow"
Scrooge reverently disclaimed all inten-
tion to offend. or any knowledge OF hav-
ing -wfffuuy -bonnefed" the SSirft Al any
period of his life. lie then made bold to
inquire what business brought him there.
Your welfare" said the Ghost.
Scrooge expressed himself much OBJ
liged, but could not help thinking that
a night of unhroken rest would have been
hat nd ha Snfr rff
must have heard him thinking. for it
said Immediately:
Your reclamation. then. Take heed"
II put out its strong hand as it spoke
and clasped him gently by the arm.
Rise. and walk with me-"
As the words were spoken. they passed
through the wall. and stood upon an open
country road with fields on either hand
The city had entirely vanished. Not a
vestige Of 1t was to be seen. The dark
ness and the mist had vanished with it,
for it was a clear. cold, winter day, with
snow upon the ground.
Good heaven!" said Scrooge. claspinc
his hands together. as he looked about
him. Il was bred in this place. j was a
boy here!"
Your lip is trembling" said the Ghost
And what is that upon your cheek"
Scrooge muttered. with an unusual
catching in his voice, that it was a pim-
pie; and begged the Ghost to lead him
where he would.
You recollect the way inquired the
Spirit.
Remember it," cried Scroose with fer.
vor-'I could walk IL blindfold."
strange TO have forgotten il for 50
many years." observed the Ghost. Let
US go on"
They went to a door at the back OF tho
house. 1t opened before them. and dis.
closed a long. bare. melancholy room
made barer still by lines OF plain dsa
| forms and desks. At one OF these a lonely
boy was reading near a feeble fire; anC
Scrooge sat down upon a form. and wept
to see his poor forgotten self as be usec
to be.
Scrooge looked at the Ghost. and with
a mournful shaking of his head glanceS
snxiously toward the door.
1t opened. and a little girl, much young
er than the boy came darting in, and
putting her arms about his neck. and
often kissing him, addressed him as hel
Dear, dear brother"
| Il have come to bring you home, deai
brother" said the child. clspping her tiny
hands, and bending down to laugh. '-TS
| bring you home, home, home!"
Home, little FAM" returned the boy.
| "Yesr" said the child, krimful Of gIee
Home. for good and all. Home, for evel
and ever. Father is so much kinder thar
| he used to be, that homes like Heaven
He spoke so gently to me one dear night
when / was going to bed, that 1 was not
afraid to ask him once more il you might
come home; and he said Yes, you should
and sent me in a coach to bring you. And
you're to be a man." said the child, open.
ing her eyes, and are never to come
back here; but first. we're to be together
all the Christmas long, and have the mer-
riest time in all the world"
| exclaimed the boy.