The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-03

ncle Scrooge."
goodness"-here Scrooge whispered
in his ear.
Lord bless mel" cried the gentle
man. my dear Mr.. Scrooge, are
you serious7"
If you please" said Scrooge.
mot farthing less. A great many
back-payments are included in it, I
assure YOU"
''My dear sir" said the other,
shaking hands with him. II don't
know what to say to such munifi-"
Don't say anything, please" re-
torted Scrooge. Come and see me-"
II will" cried the old gentleman.
He went to church, and walked
about the streets, and patted chill
dren on the head. In the afternoon
he turned towards his nephew's
house.
"Is your master at home, my
dear?" said Scrooge to the girl. Nice
grit Very.
Hes in the dining-room, sir,
along with mistress. I'll show you
upstairs, If you please"
THANK zee. He knows me-" said
Scrooge, with his hand already on
1.-THE dining room lock. 'eI'1 90 In
here. my dear"
"FredI" said Scrooge.
Dear heart alive, how his niece by
marriage started!
why bless my soull" cried Fred,
who's that?"
cts I. Your uncle Scrooge. I
have come to dinner. Will you let
me in, Fred?"
Let him in! 1t is a mercy he
didn't shake his arm off. He was at
homejn five minutes. Nothing could
be heartier. His niece looked just
the same. So did Topper when he
came. So did the plump sister, when
she came. So did every one when
they came. Wonderful party, won
derful games.
But he was early at the office next
morning. If he could only be there
first, and catch Bob Cratchit COM
ing late!
And he did it; yes he didl The
clock struck nine. No Bob. A quar-
ter past. No Bob. He was full eight
cen minutes behind his time.
"Hallo!" growled Scrooge, in his
accustomed voice, as near as he
could feign it. 'What do you mean
by coming here at this time of day?"
/ am very sorry. sir" said Bob.
Now. I'll tell you what, my
friend" said Scrooge, 81 am not
going to stand this sort of thing
any longer. And therefore," he con-
tinued, leaping from his stool, and
giving Bob dig in the waistcoat:
land therefore I am about to raise
your salary!"
Bob trembled, and got a little
nearer to the ruler. He had a mo-
mentary idea of knocking Scrooge
down with it, holding him, and cali
ing to the people in the court for
help and a strait-waistcoat.
"A merry Christmas, BobI" said
Scrooge, with an earnestness that
could not be mistaken, as he clapped
him on the back. "a merrier Christ
mas, Bob, my good fellow, than I
have given you for many q yeari
III raise your salary, and endeayour
to assist your struggling family"
Scrooge was better than his word.
He did it all, and infinitely more:
and to Tiny Tim, who did not die
he was a second father. He be-
came as good friend, as good
master, and as good a man, as the
good old city knew, or any other
good old city, town, or borough. in
the good old world. Some people
laughed to see the alteration in him.
but he let them laugh, and little
needed them; for he was wise
enough to know that nothing ever
happened on this globe, for good.
at which some people did not have
their fill of laughter in the outset.
He had no further intercourse with
Spirits, and it was always said of
him, that he knew how to keep
Christmas well, if any man alive
possessed the knowledge. May that
be truly said of us, and all of usl
And so, as Tiny Tim observed. God
bless Us, Every One!
THE END.l