The Washington herald., 1920-12-25

Bob Cratchit called "a circle. mean
ing half one; and at Bob Crat-
chit's elbow stood the family dis
play of glass. Two tumblers, and
a custard-cup without a handle.
These held the hot stun from the
jug, however. as well as golden COB
let's would have done; and Bob serv-
ed 1t out with beaming looks. while
the chestnuts on the fire sputtered
and cracked noisily. Then Bob pro-
posed:
"A Merry Christmas to us all, my
dears. God bless us!"
Which all the family re-echoed.
God bless us every one" said
Tiny Tim, the last of all.
He sat very close to his fathers
side upon his little stool. Bob held
his withered little hand in his. as
II he loved the child, ,and wished to
keep him by his side. and dreaded
that he might be taken from him.
Spirit" said Scrooge, with an
interest he had never felt before,
tell me il Tiny Tim will live"
II see a vacant seat" replied
the Ghost, 'in the poor chimney
corner and a crutch without an
owner. carefully preserved. II these
shadows remain unaltered by the
Future, the child will die"
"No, no." said Scrooge. "Oh no.
kind spirit! say he will be spared"
IF these shadows remain unal-
tered by the Future, none other of
my race" returned the Ghost
will find him here. ,What then?
II he be like to die. he had better
do it. and decrease the surplus pop
ulation."
Scrooge hung his head to hear his
own words quoted by the Spirit
and was overcome with penitence
and grief.
Man." said the Ghost, "if man
you be in heart. not adamant. for
bear that wicked cant until you
have discovered what the surplus
is and where it is. Will you decide
what men shall live, what men shall
die? 1t may be. that in the sight
Of Heaven, you are more worthless
and less fit to live than millions
like this poor mans child. Oh God!
to hear the Insect on the leaf pro-
nouncing on the too much life
among his hungry brothers in the
dustw
Scrooge bent before the Ghosts
! rebuke and tremblingly cast his
eyes upon the ground. But he rails
ed them speedily on hearing his
own name.
Mr.. Scroogew said Bob, I'll
give you Mr.. Scrooge. the Founder
OF the Feast
The Founder of the Feast in
deedr cried Mrs. Cratchit. redden-
ing. Il wish / had him here. I'd
give him a piece of my mind to
feast upon, and / hope he'd have a
good appetite for it."
MY dear" said Bob, the chill
dren! Christmas Day" -.
1T should be Christmas Day, ]
am sure" said she, ION which one
stingy, hard. unfeeling man as Mr..
Scrooge. You know he is, Robert,
Nobody knows il better than you
do. poor fellow"
My dear" was Bob's mild an
swer, Christmas Day"
I'll drink his health for your
sake and the Days" said Mrs.
Cratchit. not for his. Long life to
him! A Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year, He'll be very
merry. and very happy. have no
doubt"
There was nothing of high mark
in this. They were not a handsome
family; they were not we'll dressed; /;
! their shoes were far from being
waterproof; their clothes were
scanty; and Peter might have
known, and very likely did, the in
side of a pawnbroker's. But, they
were happy. grateful. pleased with
one another and contented with the
time; and when they faded, and
looked happier yet in the bright
sprinklings of the Spirits torch at
parting, Scrooge had his eye upon
them and especially on Tiny Tim,
until the last.