The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-12-20


side upon his little stool. Bob held
his withered little hand, as if he
dreaded he might be taken from him.
Spirit" said Scrooge, "tell me
if Tiny Tim will live"
81 see a vacant seat" replied the
Ghost, Sin the poor chimney-cor-
ner, and a crutch without an owner,
carefully preserved. If these shad-
ows remain unaltered by the Flu
ture, the child will die"
"No, no." said Scrooge. ooh, 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? If he
and decrease the surplus popula-
| tion."
Scrooge hung his head to hear
his own words quoted by the Spirit.
Man." said the Ghost, eff 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 pronouncing
on the too much life among his
hungry brothers in the dustl"
Scrooge bent before the Ghosts
rebuke, and trembling cast his eyes
upon the ground. But he raised them
speedily, on hearing his own name.
"Mr. Scroogel" said Bob; "I'n
give you Mr.. Scrooge, the Founder
of the Feast!"
"The Founder of the Feast in
deed!" cried Mrs. Cratchit, REDEEM
ing. II wish 1 had him here. I'd
give him a piece of my mind"
"My dear" said Bob, "the chill
dren! Christmas Day"
ut should be Christmas Day,
am sure" said she, ION which one
drinks the health of such an odious,
stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr..
Scrooge. You know he is, Robertl
Nobody knows it 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,
mot for his. Long life to hinl"
The children drank the toast after
her. 1t was the first Of their pro-
ceedings which had no heartiness.
Tiny Tim drank it last Of all, but
he didn't care two-pence for it,
Scrooge was the Ogre of the family.
After 1t had passed away, they
were ten times merrier than before.
Bob Cratchit told them how he hac
a situation in his eye for Master
Peter, which would bring in, il OBJ
tanned, full f1ve-and-sixpence week
ly. The two young Cratchits laughed
tremendously at the idea of Peters
being a man Of business; and Peter
himself looked thoughtfully at the
fire from between his collars, as IL
he were celebrating what particu-
lar investments he should favour
when he came into the receipt of
that bewildering income. Martha,
who was q poor apprentice at a mil
liners, then told them what kind of
work she had to do, and how many
hours she worked at q stretch, and
how she meant to lie abed tomor-
row morning for a good long rest.
And now, without a word of warn
ing the Ghost and Scrooge moved on.
A light shone from the window
OF a hut. A cheerful company as
sembled round a glowing fire.
"A place where miners live, who
labour in the bowels Of the earth, "
explained the Spirit. But they know
me. Seel"
The Spirit did not tarry here, but
passing on above the moor, sped
whither7 Not to sea? To sea. They
lighted on a ship. They stood be-
side the helmsman at the wheel. the
lookout in the bow, the officers who
had the watch; dark, ghostly fig
ures in their several stations; but
every man among them hummed
a Christmas tune, or had a Christ
mas thought.
4 /TO DE CnMTIaEyUn,