The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-12-20
INSTALLMENT THREE
STAVE THREE
The Second of the Three Spirits

digiously tough snore, Scrooge had
no occasion to be told that the bell
was again upon the stroke of One.
Now his bed became the very
core and center of a blaze of ruddy
light, which streamed upon it when
the clock proclaimed the hour. Light
might be in the room. He got up soft
ly and shuffled in his slippers to the
door.
1t was his own room. But it had
undergone surprising transforma-
ton.
Living green filled it that it
looked a perfect grove. The crisp
leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy
reflected back the light, as if so
many little mirrors had been scat
tered there; and heaped up on the
floor, to form kind of throne, were
turkeys, geese, game, poultry,
Drawn, great joints Of meat, bar
rels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, or
anges, and seething bowls of punch.
In easy state upon this couch, there
sat a jolly Giant.
81 am the Ghost of Christmas
Present." said the Spirit.
"You have never seen the like Of
me before!" it continued.
Never" Scrooge answered.
"Have never walked forth with
the younger members of my fami-
ly; meaning (for I am very young)
my elder brothers born in these
later years?" pursued the Phantom.
~ don't think I have" said
Scrooge. ''Have you had many
brothers, Spirit?"
more than eighteen hundred"
said the Ghost.
Spirit" said Scrooge submissive
H, conduct me where you will. I
went forth last night on compulsion,
and I learnt lesson which is work.
ing now. Tonight, if you have aught
to teach me, let me profit by it."
"Touch my robel"
Scrooge did as he was told, and
held it fast. They stood in the city
streets on Christmas morn.
But soon the steeples called good
people all, to church. And at the
same time there appeared many
people, carrying their dinners to
the bakers shops. The sight of these
poor jewellers appeared to interest
the Spirit very much, for he stood
with Scrooge beside him in a bak-
er's doorway, and taking off the COW
ers as their bearers passed, sprin-
killed. incense on their dinners from
his torch. And it was a very I'M
common kind of torch, for once or
twice when there were angry words
between some dinner-carriers who
had jostled each other, he shed a
few drops Of water on them from it,
and their good humour was restored
directly. For they said, it was a
shame to quarrel upon Christmas
Day. And SO it wasl God loved It'll
SIS there a peculiar favour in
what you sprinkle from your
torch?" asked Scrooge.
"There is. My own"
would it apply to any kind of din
ner on this day?" asked Scrooge.
ITO any kindly given. To poor
one most"
"Why to poor one most?" asked
Scrooge.
beCduSe ~ ueGQS
Perhaps it was the Spirits SYM
patty with all poor men, that led
him straight to Scrooge's clerks.
On the threshold of the door the
Spirit smiled, and stopped to bless
Bob Cratchit's dwelling with the
sprinklings of his torch.
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit,
Cratchit's wife, dressed out but
poorly in a twice-turned gown, but
brave in ribbons, which are cheap
and make a goodly show for six
pence; and she laid the cloth, as
sisted by Belinda Cratchit, second
Of her daughters, also brave in rib
bons; while Master Peter Cratchit
plunged fork into the 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
it for their own.
What has ever got your precious
father them" said Mrs. Cratchit.
"And your brother, Tiny Timl And
marina warn I Hb iabe iHSt N1IlSk-
mas Day by half an hour7"
Here's Martha, motheri" cried
the two young Cratchits. "Hurrahi
There's such a goose, Martial"
"Why, bless your heart alive, my
dear, how late you arel" said Mrs.
Cratchit, kissing her dozen times.
WED a deal Of work to finish up
last night" replied the girl, land
had to clear away this morning"
"Welli Never mind so long as
you are come" said Mrs. Cratchit.
sit We down before the fire"
mo, mol There's father coming"
cried the two young Cratchits
Hide, Martha, hidel"
So Martha hid herself, and in
came little Bob, the father, Tiny
Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for
Tiny Tim, he bore little crutch.
"Why, where's our Martha7" cried
Bob Cratchit, looking round.
"Not coming" said Mrs. Cratchit