The Washington herald., 1920-12-25
PHOTO-NEWS PAGE
a CHRISTMAS Carol
Saturday, December as, Ieao.

clear and kind. he did not like to
meet them.
"I am the Ghost of Christmas
Present" said the Spirit. Look
upon mel"
Scroge reverently did so.
You have never seen the like of
me before" exclaimed the Spirit.
'Never!t Scrooge made answer to
1t.
Have. never walked forth with
the younger members of my family;
meaning (for I am very young) my
elder brothers born in these later
yearsT' pursued the Phantom.
II don't think ] have" said
Scrooge. Il am afraid l have not.
Have you had many brothers.
Spirit?"
More than eighteen hundred"
said the Ghost.
"a tremendous family to provide
for!" muttered Scrooge.
The Ghost of Christmas Present
rose.
Spirit" said Scrooge submis-
sively, conduct me where you will.
/ went forth last night on compul-
sion, and 1 learnt a lesson which
is working now. Tonight, il you
have aught to teach me. let me
profit by it."
Touch my robe"
Scrooge did as he was told, and
held 1t fast.
The good Spirit went straight to
Scrooge's clerk; and took Scrooge
with him, holding to his robe; ana
on the threshold of the door the
Spirit smiled. and stopped to bless
Bob Cratchit's dwelling with the
sprinklings of his torch. Think Of
that Bob had but fifteen Bob" a
week himself: he pocketed on Sat-
urdays but fifteen copies of his
Christian name; and yet the Ghost
of Christmas Present blessed his
four-roomed house,
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Crat-
chit's wife, dressed out but poorly
in twice-turned gown. but brave
in ribbons. which are cheap and
make a goodly show for sixpence:
and she laid the cloth, assisted by
Belinda Cratchit, second of her
daughters. also brave in ribbons;
while Master Peter Cratchit plung-
ed a fork into the saucepan of po-
tatoes, and getting the corners of
his monstrous shirt collar (Bob's
private property. conferred upon his
son and heir in honor of the day)
into his mouth, rejoiced to find him
self so calamity attired, and yearn-
ed to show his linen in the fashion
able Parks. And now two smaller
Cratchits. boy and girl, came teGr-
ing in, screaming that outside the
bakers they had smelt the goose,
and known it for their own; and
haSlyf.o IN Inv th4n0hfa -
sage-and- -onion, these young Graft
chits danced about the table. and
exalted Master Peter Cratchit to the
skies, while he (not proud, although
his collars nearly choked hin.) blew
the fire, until the slow potatoes bub-
bling up, knocked loudly at the
saucepan-lid to be let out and
peeled.
What has ever got your precious
father then?" said Mrs. Cratchit.
And your brother, Tiny Tim! And
Martha warn't as late last Christ
mas Day by half-an-hourr'
Here's Martha, mother said
girl, approaching as she spoke.
Here's Martha, mother" cried the
two young Cratchits. "Hurrah! !
There's such a goose, Martha"
why. bless your heart alive, my
dear, how late you arer said Mrs.
Cratchit. kissing her a dozen times,
and taking off her shawl and bon
net for her with officious zeal.
There's father coming" cried the
two young Cratchits, who were ev-
erywhere at once. Hide. Martha,
hide!"
So Martha hid herself, and IN
came little Bob, the father, with at
least three feet of comforter exclu-
sive of the fringe, hanging down
before him; and his threadbare
clothes darned up and brushed. to
look seasonable; and Tiny Tim
upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny
Tim. he bore a little crutch. and had
his limbs supported by an iron
framel
why, where's our Martha?" cried
Bob Cratchit, looking round.
Not coming" said Mrs. Cratchit
Not coming" said Bob, with a
sudden declension in his high spir-
its: for he had been Tins blood
horse all the way from church, and
had come home rampant. Not COM
ing upon Christmas DAY."
Martha didn't like to see him dis
appointed, if it were only in joke;
so she came out prematurely from
behind the closet door, and ran into
his arms, while the two young Crat-
chits hustled Tiny Tim, and bore
him of into the wash-house, that
he might hear, the pudding singing
in the copper
"And how did little Tim behave ?"
asked Mrs. Cratchit, when she had
rallied Bog on his credulity, ana
R4h haI 10 g. III
hearts content.
"As good as gold" said Bob, "and
better. Somehow he gets thought
full, sitting by himself so much, ana
thinks the strangest things you ever
heard. He told me. coming home.
that he hoped the people saw hirA in
the church, because he was a Grip
pie, and it might be pleasant to
them to remember upon Christmas
Day. who made lame beggars walk
and blind men see"
Bob's voice was tremulous when
he told them this, and trembled
more when he said that Tiny Tim
was growing strong and hearty.
His active little crutch was heard
upon the floor. and back came Tiny
Tim before another word was
spoken, escorted by his brother and
sister to his stool before the fire.
There never was such a goose
Bob said he didn't believe there ever
was such a goose cooked. Its ten
derness and flavor, size and cheap
ness. were the themes of universal
admiration. Eked out by the apple
sauce and mashed potatoes, it was
a sufficient dinner for the whole
family; indeed, as Mrs. Cratchit
said with great delight Surveying
one small atom of a bone upon the
dish) they hadn't ate it all at lasti