The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-12-13

ne also told . committee looking for Christ
mas donations to aid the poor that he was
houses. 1ails. and warehouses for them. Oh.
INsTAILMENr TWO
Bear but a touch of my hand
there" said the Spirit, laying it upon
his heart.
AS the words were spoken, they
passed through the wall, and stood
upon an open country road.
Good Heavenr' said Scrooge,
II was boy here!"
The Spirit gazed upon him mildly.
Strange to have forgotten it for
so many years!" observed the
Ghost. LET us 60 on"
Some shaggy ponies now were
seen trotting towards them with
boys upon their backs.
These are but shadows of the
things that have been," said the
Ghost.
The jocund travellers came on;
and as they came, Scrooge knew
and named them every one. Why
was he rejoiced beyond all bounds
to see themi Why was he filed with
gladness when he heard them give
each other Merry Christmas?
''The school is not quite desert
ed" said the Ghost. "a solitary
child is left there still"
Scrooge said he knew it. And he
sobbed.
They went, the Ghost and Scrooge,
to a melancholy room, made bar
er still b. lines Of plain deal forms
and desks. At one of these a lonely
boy was reading near a feeble fire:
and Scrooge wept to see his poor
forgotten self as he used to be.
The Spirit touched him on the
arm, and pointed to his younger self,
intent upon his reading. Suddenly a
man, in foreign garments: won
derfully real and distinct to look at:
stood outside the window, with an
axe stuck in his belt, and leading by
the bride an ass laden with wood.
"Why, it's Ali Baba!" Scrooge ex-
claimed in ecstasy. Its dear old
honest Ali Bahia! Yes, yes. I know!
One Christmas time, when yonder
solitary child was left here all alone,
he did come, for the first time, just
like that. Poor boyi And Valentine"
said Scrooge, land his wild brother,
Orson; there they gol And what's
his name, who was put down in his
drawers, asleep, at the Gate of Da-
mascus; don't you see himl And
the Sultan's Groom turned upside
down by the Genii; there he is
upon his headi Serve him right. I'm
glad Of It. What business had he to
be married to the Princess!"
81 WISH" Scrooge muttered, dry
ing his eyes with his cuff: "but it's
too late now"
''What?" asked the Spirit.
Nothing" said Scrooge. Moth
ing. There was boy singing a
Christmas Carol at my door last
night. I should like to have given
him something: that's ALL"
The Ghost smiled thoughtfully,
and waved its hand, saying, Let
US see another Christmasl"
Scrooge's former self grew larger
at the words. There he was, alone
again, when all the other boys had
gone home for the jolly holidays.
Scrooge looked at the Ghost, and
glanced anxiously towards the door.
It opened; and little girl, much
younger than the boy came darling
in, and putting her arms about his
neck, and often kissing him, ad-
dressed him as her Dear, dear
brother"
II have come to bring you home,
dear brother!" said the child.
"Home, little FAM"
"Yesl" said the child, brimful of
glee. Home, for good and all.
Home, for ever and ever. Father is
so much kinder that 1 was not
afraid to ask him once more if you
might come home; and he said Yes,
you should; and sent me in a coach
to bring you. And you're to be q
mani" said the child, opening her
eyes, "and are never to come back
here; but first, we're to be together
all the Christmas long, and have
the merriest time in all the world"
you're quite a woman, little
FAM" exclaimed the boy.
She clapped her hands and
laughed.
always a delicate creature,
whom a breath might have with
ered," said the Ghost. But she
had a large hearth"
$50 she had" cried Scrooge.
''She died a woman" said the
Ghost, land had, think, children"
Zone child" Scrooge returned.
True" said the Ghost. Your
nephewl"
Although they had but that mo-
ment left the school behind them,
they were now in a busy city.
The Ghost stopped at q certain
warehouse door, and asked Scrooge
II he knew it.
Know it'll" said Scrooge. "Was
apprenticed herel"
They went in. At sight of an old
gentleman in a Welsh wig, Scrooge
cried in great excitement:
why, it's old Fezziwigl Bless
his heart: it's Fezziwig alive againl"
Old Fezziwig laid down his pen,
n a