produced by jason isbell and the online distributed proofreading team at @url@ a christmas carol by charles dickens illustrated by george alfred williams new york the platt & peck co . copyright , @number@ by the baker & taylor company [ illustration : " he had been tim 's blood horse all the way from church . " ] introduction the success of the book was immediate . thackeray wrote of it : " who can listen to objections regarding such a book as this ? it seems to me a national benefit , and to every man or woman who reads it , a personal kindness . " the five are known to-day as the " christmas books . " dickens seems to have put his whole self into these glowing little stories . a new life is brought to scrooge when he , " running to his window , opened it and put out his head . oh , glorious ! glorious ! " " the cricket on the hearth " strikes a different note . dickens 's greatest gift was characterization , and no english writer , save shakespeare , has drawn so many and so varied characters . it would be as absurd to interpret all of these as caricatures as to deny dickens his great and varied powers of creation . but there remains a host of characters marked by humour and pathos . yet the pictorial presentation of dickens 's characters has ever tended toward the grotesque . the interpretations in this volume aim to eliminate the grosser phases of the caricature in favour of the more human . it has been the illustrator 's whole aim to make these people live in some form more fully consistent with their types . george alfred williams . chatham , n contents a christmas carol stave page illustrations a christmas carol " he had been tim 's blood horse all the way from church . " frontispiece " a merry christmas , uncle ! god save you ! " cried a cheerful voice . @number@ " you recollect the way ? " inquired the spirit . " remember it ! " cried scrooge , with fervour ; " i could walk it blindfold . " @number@ " why , it 's ali baba ! " scrooge exclaimed in ecstasy . " it 's dear old honest ali baba ! " @number@ a christmas carol in prose being a ghost story of christmas stave one marley's ghost marley was dead , to begin with . there is no doubt whatever about that . the register of his burial was signed by the clergyman , the clerk , the undertaker , and the chief mourner . scrooge signed it . and scrooge 's name was good upon ' change for anything he chose to put his hand to . old marley was as dead as a door-nail . mind ! i don't mean to say that i know , of my own knowledge , what there is particularly dead about a door-nail . i might have been inclined , myself , to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade . but the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile ; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it , or the country 's done for . you will , therefore , permit me to repeat , emphatically , that marley was as dead as a door-nail . scrooge knew he was dead ? of course he did . how could it be otherwise ? scrooge and he were partners for i don't know how many years . the mention of marley 's funeral brings me back to the point i started from . there is no doubt that marley was dead . this must be distinctly understood , or nothing wonderful can come of the story i am going to relate . scrooge never painted out old marley 's name . there it stood , years afterwards , above the warehouse door : scrooge and marley . the firm was known as scrooge and marley . sometimes people new to the business called scrooge scrooge , and sometimes marley , but he answered to both names . it was all the same to him . a frosty rime was on his head , and on his eyebrows , and his wiry chin . external heat and cold had little influence on scrooge . no warmth could warm , no wintry weather chill him . foul weather didn't know where to have him . the heaviest rain , and snow , and hail , and sleet could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect . they often " came down " handsomely and scrooge never did . nobody ever stopped him in the street to say , with gladsome looks , " my dear scrooge , how are you ? when will you come to see me ? " but what did scrooge care ? it was the very thing he liked . once upon a time of all the good days in the year , on christmas eve old scrooge sat busy in his counting-house . scrooge had a very small fire , but the clerk 's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal . " a merry christmas , uncle ! god save you ! " cried a cheerful voice . it was the voice of scrooge 's nephew , who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach . " bah ! " said scrooge . " humbug ! " " christmas a humbug , uncle ! " said scrooge 's nephew . " you don't mean that , i am sure ? " " i do , " said scrooge . " merry christmas ! what right have you to be merry ? what reason have you to be merry ? you 're poor enough . " " come , then , " returned the nephew gaily . " what right have you to be dismal ? what reason have you to be morose ? you 're rich enough . " " don't be cross , uncle ! " said the nephew . [ illustration : " a merry christmas , uncle ! god save you ! " cried a cheerful voice . ] " what else can i be , " returned the uncle , " when i live in such a world of fools as this ? merry christmas ! out upon merry christmas ! he should ! " " uncle ! " pleaded the nephew . " nephew ! " returned the uncle sternly , " keep christmas in your own way , and let me keep it in mine . " " keep it ! " repeated scrooge 's nephew . " but you don't keep it . " " let me leave it alone , then , " said scrooge . " much good may it do you ! much good it has ever done you ! " the clerk in the tank involuntarily applauded . becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety , he poked the fire , and extinguished the last frail spark for ever . " let me hear another sound from you , " said scrooge , " and you 'll keep your christmas by losing your situation ! you 're quite a powerful speaker , sir , " he added , turning to his nephew . " i wonder you don't go into parliament . " " don't be angry , uncle . come ! dine with us to-morrow . " scrooge said that he would see him yes , indeed he did . he went the whole length of the expression , and said that he would see him in that extremity first . " but why ? " cried scrooge 's nephew . " why ? " " why did you get married ? " said scrooge . " because i fell in love . " " good afternoon ! " " nay , uncle , but you never came to see me before that happened . why give it as a reason for not coming now ? " " good afternoon , " said scrooge . " i want nothing from you ; i ask nothing of you ; why cannot we be friends ? " " good afternoon ! " said scrooge . " i am sorry , with all my heart , to find you so resolute . we have never had any quarrel to which i have been a party . but i have made the trial in homage to christmas , and i 'll keep my christmas humour to the last . so a merry christmas , uncle ! " " good afternoon , " said scrooge . " and a happy new year ! " " good afternoon ! " said scrooge . his nephew left the room without an angry word , notwithstanding . i 'll retire to bedlam . " this lunatic , in letting scrooge 's nephew out , had let two other people in . they were portly gentlemen , pleasant to behold , and now stood , with their hats off , in scrooge 's office . they had books and papers in their hands , and bowed to him . " scrooge and marley 's , i believe , " said one of the gentlemen , referring to his list . " have i the pleasure of addressing mr scrooge , or mr marley ? " " mr marley has been dead these seven years , " scrooge replied . " he died seven years ago , this very night . " " we have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner , " said the gentleman , presenting his credentials . it certainly was ; for they had been two kindred spirits . at the ominous word " liberality " scrooge frowned , and shook his head , and handed the credentials back . many thousands are in want of common necessaries ; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts , sir . " " are there no prisons ? " asked scrooge . " plenty of prisons , " said the gentleman , laying down the pen again . " and the union workhouses ? " demanded scrooge . " are they still in operation ? " " they are . still , " returned the gentleman , " i wish i could say they were not . " " the treadmill and the poor law are in full vigour , then ? " said scrooge . " both very busy , sir . " " oh ! " i am very glad to hear it . " we choose this time , because it is a time , of all others , when want is keenly felt , and abundance rejoices . what shall i put you down for ? " " nothing ! " scrooge replied . " you wish to be anonymous ? " " i wish to be left alone , " said scrooge . " since you ask me what i wish , gentlemen , that is my answer . i don't make merry myself at christmas , and i can't afford to make idle people merry . i help to support the establishments i have mentioned they cost enough ; and those who are badly off must go there . " " many can't go there ; and many would rather die . " " if they would rather die , " said scrooge , " they had better do it , and decrease the surplus population . besides excuse me i don't know that . " " but you might know it , " observed the gentleman . " it 's not my business , " scrooge returned . " it 's enough for a man to understand his own business , and not to interfere with other people 's . mine occupies me constantly . good afternoon , gentlemen ! " seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point , the gentlemen withdrew . scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself , and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him . the cold became intense . the water-plug being left in solitude , its overflowings suddenly congealed , and turned to misanthropic ice . foggier yet , and colder ! piercing , searching , biting cold . " god bless you , merry gentleman , may nothing you dismay ! " at length the hour of shutting up the counting-house arrived . " you 'll want all day to-morrow , i suppose ? " said scrooge . " if quite convenient , sir . " " it 's not convenient , " said scrooge , " and it 's not fair . if i was to stop half-a-crown for it , you 'd think yourself ill used , i 'll be bound ? " the clerk smiled faintly . " and yet , " said scrooge , " you don't think me ill used when i pay a day 's wages for no work . " the clerk observed that it was only once a year . " a poor excuse for picking a man 's pocket every twenty-fifth of december ! " said scrooge , buttoning his great-coat to the chin . " but i suppose you must have the whole day . be here all the earlier next morning . " the clerk promised that he would ; and scrooge walked out with a growl . he lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner . the yard was so dark that even scrooge , who knew its every stone , was fain to grope with his hands . marley 's face . as scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon , it was a knocker again . but he put his hand upon the key he had relinquished , turned it sturdily , walked in , and lighted his candle . the sound resounded through the house like thunder . every room above , and every cask in the wine merchant 's cellars below , appeared to have a separate peal of echoes of its own . scrooge was not a man to be frightened by echoes . up scrooge went , not caring a button for that . darkness is cheap , and scrooge liked it . but , before he shut his heavy door , he walked through his rooms to see that all was right . he had just enough recollection of the face to desire to do that . sitting-room , bedroom , lumber-room . all as they should be . lumber-room as usual . old fire-guard , old shoes , two fish baskets , washing-stand on three legs , and a poker . quite satisfied , he closed his door , and locked himself in ; double locked himself in , which was not his custom . it was a very low fire indeed ; nothing on such a bitter night . " humbug ! " said scrooge ; and walked across the room . after several turns he sat down again . this might have lasted half a minute , or a minute , but it seemed an hour . the bells ceased , as they had begun , together . scrooge then remembered to have heard that ghosts in haunted houses were described as dragging chains . " it 's humbug still ! " said scrooge . " i won't believe it . " upon its coming in , the dying flame leaped up , as though it cried , " i know him ! marley 's ghost ! " and fell again . the same face : the very same . the chain he drew was clasped about his middle . scrooge had often heard it said that marley had no bowels , but he had never believed it until now . no , nor did he believe it even now . " how now ! " said scrooge , caustic and cold as ever . " what do you want with me ? " " much ! " marley 's voice , no doubt about it . " who are you ? " " ask me who i was . " " who were you , then ? " said scrooge , raising his voice . " you 're particular , for a shade . " he was going to say " to a shade , " but substituted this , as more appropriate . " in life i was your partner , jacob marley . " " can you can you sit down ? " asked scrooge , looking doubtfully at him . " i can . " " do it , then . " but the ghost sat down on the opposite side of the fire-place , as if he were quite used to it . " you don't believe in me , " observed the ghost . " i don't , " said scrooge . " what evidence would you have of my reality beyond that of your own senses ? " " i don't know , " said scrooge . " why do you doubt your senses ? " " because , " said scrooge , " a little thing affects them . a slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats . you may be an undigested bit of beef , a blot of mustard , a crumb of cheese , a fragment of an underdone potato . there 's more of gravy than of grave about you , whatever you are ! " scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes , nor did he feel in his heart by any means waggish then . there was something very awful , too , in the spectre 's being provided with an infernal atmosphere of his own . " i do , " replied the ghost . " you are not looking at it , " said scrooge . " but i see it , " said the ghost , " notwithstanding . " humbug , i tell you ; humbug ! " scrooge fell upon his knees , and clasped his hands before his face . " mercy ! " he said . " dreadful apparition , why do you trouble me ? " " man of the worldly mind ! " replied the ghost , " do you believe in me or not ? " " i do , " said scrooge . " i must . but why do spirits walk the earth , and why do they come to me ? " again the spectre raised a cry , and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands . " you are fettered , " said scrooge , trembling . " tell me why ? " " i wear the chain i forged in life , " replied the ghost . is its pattern strange to you ? " scrooge trembled more and more . " or would you know , " pursued the ghost , " the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself ? it was full as heavy and as long as this , seven christmas-eves ago . you have laboured on it since . it is a ponderous chain ! " " jacob ! " he said imploringly . " old jacob marley , tell me more ! speak comfort to me , jacob ! " " i have none to give , " the ghost replied . " it comes from other regions , ebenezer scrooge , and is conveyed by other ministers , to other kinds of men . nor can i tell you what i would . a very little more is all permitted to me . i cannot rest , i cannot stay , i cannot linger anywhere . it was a habit with scrooge , whenever he became thoughtful , to put his hands in his breeches pockets . pondering on what the ghost had said , he did so now , but without lifting up his eyes , or getting off his knees . " you must have been very slow about it , jacob , " scrooge observed in a business-like manner , though with humility and deference . " slow ! " the ghost repeated . " seven years dead , " mused scrooge . " and travelling all the time ? " " the whole time , " said the ghost . " no rest , no peace . incessant torture of remorse . " " you travel fast ? " said scrooge . " on the wings of the wind , " replied the ghost . " you might have got over a great quantity of ground in seven years , " said scrooge . not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life 's opportunities misused ! yet such was i ! oh , such was i ! " " but you were always a good man of business , jacob , " faltered scrooge , who now began to apply this to himself . " business ! " cried the ghost , wringing its hands again . " mankind was my business . the common welfare was my business ; charity , mercy , forbearance , and benevolence were , all , my business . the dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business ! " " at this time of the rolling year , " the spectre said , " i suffer most . were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me ? " scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going on at this rate , and began to quake exceedingly . " hear me ! " cried the ghost . " my time is nearly gone . " " i will , " said scrooge . " but don't be hard upon me ! don't be flowery , jacob ! pray ! " " how it is that i appear before you in a shape that you can see , i may not tell . i have sat invisible beside you many and many a day . " it was not an agreeable idea . scrooge shivered , and wiped the perspiration from his brow . " that is no light part of my penance , " pursued the ghost . " i am here to-night to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate . a chance and hope of my procuring , ebenezer . " " you were always a good friend to me , " said scrooge . " thankee ! " " you will be haunted , " resumed the ghost , " by three spirits . " scrooge 's countenance fell almost as low as the ghost 's had done . " is that the chance and hope you mentioned , jacob ? " he demanded in a faltering voice . " it is . " " i i think i 'd rather not , " said scrooge . " without their visits , " said the ghost , " you cannot hope to shun the path i tread . expect the first to-morrow when the bell tolls one . " " couldn't i take ' em all at once , and have it over , jacob ? " hinted scrooge . " expect the second on the next night at the same hour . the third , upon the next night when the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate . look to see me no more ; and look that , for your own sake , you remember what has passed between us ! " when it had said these words , the spectre took its wrapper from the table , and bound it round its head as before . scrooge knew this by the smart sound its teeth made when the jaws were brought together by the bandage . it beckoned scrooge to approach , which he did . when they were within two paces of each other , marley 's ghost held up its hand , warning him to come no nearer . scrooge stopped . the spectre , after listening for a moment , joined in the mournful dirge ; and floated out upon the bleak , dark night . scrooge followed to the window : desperate in his curiosity . he looked out . the air was filled with phantoms , wandering hither and thither in restless haste , and moaning as they went . many had been personally known to scrooge in their lives . whether these creatures faded into mist , or mist enshrouded them , he could not tell . but they and their spirit voices faded together ; and the night became as it had been when he walked home . scrooge closed the window , and examined the door by which the ghost had entered . it was double locked , as he had locked it with his own hands , and the bolts were undisturbed . he tried to say " humbug ! " but stopped at the first syllable . stave two the first of the three spirits he was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes , when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters . so he listened for the hour . twelve ! it was past two when he went to bed . the clock was wrong . an icicle must have got into the works . twelve ! he touched the spring of his repeater , to correct this most preposterous clock . its rapid little pulse beat twelve , and stopped . it isn't possible that anything has happened to the sun , and this is twelve at noon ! " the idea being an alarming one , he scrambled out of bed , and groped his way to the window . scrooge went to bed again , and thought , and thought , and thought it over and over , and could make nothing of it . the more he thought , the more perplexed he was ; and , the more he endeavoured not to think , the more he thought . marley 's ghost bothered him exceedingly . at length it broke upon his listening ear . " ding , dong ! " " a quarter past , " said scrooge , counting . " ding , dong ! " " half past , " said scrooge . " ding , dong ! " " a quarter to it , " said scrooge . " ding , dong ! " " the hour itself , " said scrooge triumphantly , " and nothing else ! " he spoke before the hour bell sounded , which it now did with a deep , dull , hollow , melancholy one . light flashed up in the room upon the instant , and the curtains of his bed were drawn . the curtains of his bed were drawn aside , i tell you , by a hand . not the curtains at his feet , nor the curtains at his back , but those to which his face was addressed . the arms were very long and muscular ; the hands the same , as if its hold were of uncommon strength . its legs and feet , most delicately formed , were , like those upper members , bare . it wore a tunic of the purest white ; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt , the sheen of which was beautiful . even this , though , when scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness , was not its strangest quality . and , in the very wonder of this , it would be itself again ; distinct and clear as ever . " are you the spirit , sir , whose coming was foretold to me ? " asked scrooge . " i am ! " the voice was soft and gentle . singularly low , as if , instead of being so close beside him , it were at a distance . " who and what are you ? " scrooge demanded . " i am the ghost of christmas past . " " long past ? " inquired scrooge ; observant of its dwarfish stature . " no . your past . " " what ! " exclaimed the ghost , " would you so soon put out , with worldly hands , the light i give ? scrooge reverently disclaimed all intention to offend or any knowledge of having wilfully " bonneted " the spirit at any period of his life . he then made bold to inquire what business brought him there . " your welfare ! " said the ghost . scrooge expressed himself much obliged , but could not help thinking that a night of unbroken rest would have been more conducive to that end . the spirit must have heard him thinking , for it said immediately : " your reclamation , then . take heed ! " it put out its strong hand as it spoke , and clasped him gently by the arm . " rise ! and walk with me ! " the grasp , though gentle as a woman 's hand , was not to be resisted . he rose : but , finding that the spirit made towards the window , clasped its robe in supplication . " i am a mortal , " scrooge remonstrated , " and liable to fall . " as the words were spoken , they passed through the wall , and stood upon an open country road , with fields on either hand . the city had entirely vanished . not a vestige of it was to be seen . " good heaven ! " said scrooge , clasping his hands together as he looked about him . " i was bred in this place . i was a boy here ! " the spirit gazed upon him mildly . its gentle touch , though it had been light and instantaneous , appeared still present to the old man 's sense of feeling . " your lip is trembling , " said the ghost . " and what is that upon your cheek ? " " you recollect the way ? " inquired the spirit . " remember it ! " cried scrooge with fervour ; " i could walk it blindfold . " " strange to have forgotten it for so many years ! " observed the ghost . " let us go on . " [ illustration : " you recollect the way ? " inquired the spirit . " remember it ! " cried scrooge with fervour ; " i could walk it blindfold . " ] " these are but shadows of the things that have been , " said the ghost . " they have no consciousness of us . " 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 them ? why did his cold eye glisten , and his heart leap up as they went past ? what was merry christmas to scrooge ? out upon merry christmas ! what good had it ever done to him ? " the school is not quite deserted , " said the ghost . " a solitary child , neglected by his friends , is left there still . " scrooge said he knew it . and he sobbed . fowls clucked and strutted in the stables ; and the coach-houses and sheds were overrun with grass . they went , the ghost and scrooge , across the hall , to a door at the back of the house . the spirit touched him on the arm , and pointed to his younger self , intent upon his reading . " why , it 's ali baba ! " scrooge exclaimed in ecstasy . " it 's dear old honest ali baba ! 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 boy ! and valentine , " said scrooge , " and his wild brother , orson ; there they go ! and the sultan 's groom turned upside down by the genii : there he is upon his head ! serve him right ! i 'm glad of it . what business had he to be married to the princess ? " [ illustration : " why , it 's ali baba ! " scrooge exclaimed in ecstasy . " it 's dear old honest ali baba . " ] " there 's the parrot ! " cried scrooge . poor robin crusoe he called him , when he came home again after sailing round the island . ' poor robin crusoe , where have you been , robin crusoe ? ' the man thought he was dreaming , but he wasn't . it was the parrot , you know . there goes friday , running for his life to the little creek ! halloa ! hoop ! halloo ! " " what is the matter ? " asked the spirit . " nothing , " said scrooge . " nothing . there was a 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 , as it did so , " let us see another christmas ! " scrooge 's former self grew larger at the words , and the room became a little darker and more dirty . he was not reading now , but walking up and down despairingly . scrooge looked at the ghost , and , with a mournful shaking of his head , glanced anxiously towards the door . " to bring you home , home , home ! " " home , little fan ? " returned the boy . " yes ! " said the child , brimful of glee . " home for good and all . home for ever and ever . father is so much kinder than he used to be , that home 's like heaven ! " you are quite a woman , little fan ! " exclaimed the boy . " always a delicate creature , whom a breath might have withered , " said the ghost . " but she had a large heart ! " " so she had , " cried scrooge . " you 're right . i will not gainsay it , spirit . god forbid ! " " she died a woman , " said the ghost , " and had , as i think , children . " " one child , " scrooge returned . " true , " said the ghost . " your nephew ! " scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind ; and answered briefly , " yes . " the ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door , and asked scrooge if he knew it . " know it ! " said scrooge . " was i apprenticed here ? " they went in . " why , it 's old fezziwig ! bless his heart , it 's fezziwig alive again ! " old fezziwig laid down his pen , and looked up at the clock , which pointed to the hour of seven . " yo ho , there ! ebenezer ! dick ! " scrooge 's former self , now grown a young man , came briskly in , accompanied by his fellow-'prentice . " dick wilkins , to be sure ! " said scrooge to the ghost . " bless me , yes . there he is . he was very much attached to me , was dick . poor dick ! dear , dear ! " " yo ho , my boys ! " said fezziwig . " no more work to-night . christmas-eve , dick . christmas , ebenezer ! you wouldn't believe how those two fellows went at it ! " hilli-ho ! " cried old fezziwig , skipping down from the high desk with wonderful agility . " clear away , my lads , and let's have lots of room here ! hilli-ho , dick ! chirrup , ebenezer ! " clear away ! there was nothing they wouldn't have cleared away , or couldn't have cleared away , with old fezziwig looking on . it was done in a minute . in came mrs . fezziwig , one vast substantial smile . in came the three miss fezziwigs , beaming and lovable . in came the six young followers whose hearts they broke . in came all the young men and women employed in the business . in came the housemaid , with her cousin the baker . in came the cook , with her brother 's particular friend the milkman . but the great effect of the evening came after the roast and boiled , when the fiddler ( an artful dog , mind ! then old fezziwig stood out to dance with mrs fezziwig . as to her , she was worthy to be his partner in every sense of the term . if that 's not high praise , tell me higher , and i 'll use it . a positive light appeared to issue from fezziwig 's calves . they shone in every part of the dance like moons . you couldn't have predicted , at any given time , what would become of them next . when the clock struck eleven , this domestic ball broke up . during the whole of this time scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits . his heart and soul were in the scene , and with his former self . he corroborated everything , remembered everything , enjoyed everything , and underwent the strangest agitation . " a small matter , " said the ghost , " to make these silly folks so full of gratitude . " " small ! " echoed scrooge . " why ! is it not ? he has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money : three or four , perhaps . is that so much that he deserves this praise ? " " it isn't that , " said scrooge , heated by the remark , and speaking unconsciously like his former , not his latter self . " it isn't that , spirit . he has the power to render us happy or unhappy ; to make our service light or burdensome ; a pleasure or a toil . the happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune . " he felt the spirit 's glance , and stopped . " what is the matter ? " asked the ghost . " nothing particular , " said scrooge . " something , i think ? " the ghost insisted . " no , " said scrooge , " no . i should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now . that 's all . " " my time grows short , " observed the spirit . " quick ! " this was not addressed to scrooge , or to any one whom he could see , but it produced an immediate effect . for again scrooge saw himself . he was older now ; a man in the prime of life . his face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years ; but it had begun to wear the signs of care and avarice . " it matters little , " she said softly . " to you , very little . " what idol has displaced you ? " he rejoined . " a golden one . " " this is the even-handed dealing of the world ! " he said . " you fear the world too much , " she answered gently . " all your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach . i have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one , until the master passion , gain , engrosses you . have i not ? " " what then ? " he retorted . " even if i have grown so much wiser , what then ? i am not changed towards you . " she shook her head . " am i ? " " our contract is an old one . you are changed . when it was made you were another man . " " i was a boy , " he said impatiently . " your own feeling tells you that you were not what you are , " she returned . " i am . that which promised happiness when we were one in heart is fraught with misery now that we are two . how often and how keenly i have thought of this i will not say . it is enough that i have thought of it , and can release you . " " have i ever sought release ? " " in words . no . never . " " in what , then ? " " in a changed nature ; in an altered spirit ; in another atmosphere of life ; another hope as its great end . in everything that made my love of any worth or value in your sight . ah , no ! " he seemed to yield to the justice of this supposition in spite of himself . but he said , with a struggle , " you think not . " " i would gladly think otherwise if i could , " she answered . " heaven knows ! when i have learned a truth like this , i know how strong and irresistible it must be . i do ; and i release you . with a full heart , for the love of him you once were . " he was about to speak ; but , with her head turned from him , she resumed . " you may the memory of what is past half makes me hope you will have pain in this . may you be happy in the life you have chosen ! " she left him , and they parted . " spirit ! " said scrooge , " show me no more ! conduct me home . why do you delight to torture me ? " " one shadow more ! " exclaimed the ghost . " no more ! " cried scrooge . " no more ! i don't wish to see it . show me no more ! " but the relentless ghost pinioned him in both his arms , and forced him to observe what happened next . they were in another scene and place ; a room , not very large or handsome , but full of comfort . what would i not have given to be one of them ! though i never could have been so rude , no , no ! then the shouting and the struggling , and the onslaught that was made on the defenceless porter ! the shouts of wonder and delight with which the development of every package was received ! the immense relief of finding this a false alarm ! the joy , and gratitude , and ecstasy ! they are all indescribable alike . " who was it ? " " guess ! " " how can i ? tut , don't i know ? " she added in the same breath , laughing as he laughed . " mr scrooge . " " mr scrooge it was . his partner lies upon the point of death , i hear ; and there he sat alone . quite alone in the world , i do believe . " " spirit ! " said scrooge in a broken voice , " remove me from this place . " " i told you these were shadows of the things that have been , " said the ghost . " that they are what they are , do not blame me ! " " remove me ! " scrooge exclaimed . " i cannot bear it ! " " leave me ! take me back ! haunt me no longer ! " he was conscious of being exhausted , and overcome by an irresistible drowsiness ; and , further , of being in his own bedroom . stave three the second of the three spirits five minutes , ten minutes , a quarter of an hour went by , yet nothing came . this idea taking full possession of his mind , he got up softly , and shuffled in his slippers to the door . the moment scrooge 's hand was on the lock , a strange voice called him by his name , and bade him enter . he obeyed . it was his own room . there was no doubt about that . but it had undergone a surprising transformation . " come in ! " exclaimed the ghost . " come in ! and know me better , man ! " scrooge entered timidly , and hung his head before this spirit . " i am the ghost of christmas present , " said the spirit . " look upon me ! " scrooge reverently did so . it was clothed in one simple deep green robe , or mantle , bordered with white fur . girded round its middle was an antique scabbard ; but no sword was in it , and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust . " you have never seen the like of me before ! " exclaimed the spirit . " never , " scrooge made answer to it . " i don't think i have , " said scrooge . " i am afraid i 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 submissively , " conduct me where you will . i went forth last night on compulsion , and i learnt a lesson which is working now . to-night , if you have aught to teach me , let me profit by it . " " touch my robe ! " scrooge did as he was told , and held it fast . the poulterers ' shops were still half open , and the fruiterers ' were radiant in their glory . for they said , it was a shame to quarrel upon christmas-day . and so it was ! god love it , so it was ! " is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle from your torch ? " asked scrooge . " there is . my own . " " would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day ? " asked scrooge . " to any kindly given . to a poor one most . " " why to a poor one most ? " asked scrooge . " because it needs it most . " " spirit ! " said scrooge after a moment 's thought . " i ! " cried the spirit . " i ! " cried the spirit . " you seek to close these places on the seventh day , " said scrooge . " and it comes to the same thing . " " i seek ! " exclaimed the spirit . " forgive me if i am wrong . it has been done in your name , or at least in that of your family , " said scrooge . remember that , and charge their doings on themselves , not us . " scrooge promised that he would ; and they went on , invisible , as they had been before , into the suburbs of the town . think of that ! " what has ever got your precious father , then ? " said mrs cratchit . " and your brother , tiny tim ? and martha warn't as late last christmas-day by half an hour ! " " here 's martha , mother ! " said a girl , appearing as she spoke . " here 's martha , mother ! " cried the two young cratchits . " hurrah ! there 's such a goose , martha ! " " well ! never mind so long as you are come , " said mrs cratchit . " sit ye down before the fire , my dear , and have a warm , lord bless ye ! " " no , no ! there 's father coming , " cried the two young cratchits , who were everywhere at once . " hide , martha , hide ! " alas for tiny tim , he bore a little crutch , and had his limbs supported by an iron frame ! " why , where 's our martha ? " cried bob cratchit , looking round . " not coming , " said mrs cratchit . " not coming upon christmas-day ! " " as good as gold , " said bob , " and better . somehow , he gets thoughtful , sitting by himself so much , and thinks the strangest things you ever heard . bob 's voice was tremulous when he told them this , and trembled more when he said that tiny tim was growing strong and hearty . at last the dishes were set on , and grace was said . there never was such a goose . bob said he didn't believe there ever was such a goose cooked . its tenderness and flavour , size and cheapness , were the themes of universal admiration . yet every one had had enough , and the youngest cratchits , in particular , were steeped in sage and onion to the eyebrows ! suppose it should not be done enough ! suppose it should break in turning out ! all sorts of horrors were supposed . hallo ! a great deal of steam ! the pudding was out of the copper . a smell like a washing-day ! that was the cloth . a smell like an eating-house and a pastrycook's next door to each other , with a laundress's next door to that ! that was the pudding ! oh , a wonderful pudding ! bob cratchit said , and calmly too , that he regarded it as the greatest success achieved by mrs cratchit since their marriage . mrs cratchit said that , now the weight was off her mind , she would confess she had her doubts about the quantity of flour . everybody had something to say about it , but nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family . it would have been flat heresy to do so . any cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing . at last the dinner was all done , the cloth was cleared , the hearth swept , and the fire made up . two tumblers and a custard cup without a handle . then bob proposed : " a merry christmas to us all , my dears . god bless us ! " which all the family re-echoed . " god bless us every one ! " said tiny tim , the last of all . he sat very close to his father 's side , upon his little stool . " spirit , " said scrooge with an interest he had never felt before , " tell me if tiny tim will live . " if these shadows remain unaltered by the future , the child will die . " " no , no , " said scrooge . " oh , no , kind spirit ! say he will be spared . " what then ? if he be like to die , he had better do it , and decrease the surplus population . " scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the spirit , and was overcome with penitence and grief . will you decide what men shall live , what men shall die ? oh god ! to hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust ! " scrooge bent before the ghost 's rebuke , and , trembling , cast his eyes upon the ground . but he raised them speedily on hearing his own name . " mr scrooge ! " said bob . " i 'll give you mr scrooge , the founder of the feast ! " " the founder of the feast , indeed ! " cried mrs cratchit , reddening . " i wish i had him here . i 'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon , and i hope he 'd have a good appetite for it . " " my dear , " said bob , " the children ! christmas-day . " you know he is , robert ! nobody knows it better than you do , poor fellow ! " " my dear ! " was bob 's mild answer . " christmas-day . " " i 'll drink his health for your sake and the day 's , " said mrs cratchit , " not for his . long life to him ! a merry christmas and a happy new year ! he 'll be very merry and very happy , i have no doubt ! " the children drank the toast after her . it was the first of their proceedings which had no heartiness in it . tiny tim drank it last of all , but he didn't care twopence for it . scrooge was the ogre of the family . the mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party , which was not dispelled for full five minutes . after it had passed away they were ten times merrier than before , from the mere relief of scrooge the baleful being done with . there was nothing of high mark in this . blessings on it , how the ghost exulted ! " what place is this ? " asked scrooge . " a place where miners live , who labour in the bowels of the earth , " returned the spirit . " but they know me . see ! " a light shone from the window of a hut , and swiftly they advanced towards it . passing through the wall of mud and stone , they found a cheerful company assembled round a glowing fire . the spirit did not tarry here , but bade scrooge hold his robe , and , passing on above the moor , sped whither ? not to sea ? to sea . " ha , ha ! " laughed scrooge 's nephew . " ha , ha , ha ! " introduce him to me , and i 'll cultivate his acquaintance . and their assembled friends , being not a bit behindhand , roared out lustily . " ha , ha ! ha , ha , ha , ha ! " " he said that christmas was a humbug , as i live ! " cried scrooge 's nephew . " he believed it , too ! " " more shame for him , fred ! " said scrooge 's niece indignantly . bless those women ! they never do anything by halves . they are always in earnest . she was very pretty ; exceedingly pretty . altogether she was what you would have called provoking , you know ; but satisfactory , too . oh , perfectly satisfactory ! " he 's a comical old fellow , " said scrooge 's nephew , " that 's the truth ; and not so pleasant as he might be . however , his offences carry their own punishment , and i have nothing to say against him . " " i 'm sure he is very rich , fred , " hinted scrooge 's niece . " at least , you always tell me so . " " what of that , my dear ? " said scrooge 's nephew . " his wealth is of no use to him . he don't do any good with it . he don't make himself comfortable with it . he hasn't the satisfaction of thinking ha , ha , ha ! that he is ever going to benefit us with it . " " i have no patience with him , " observed scrooge 's niece . scrooge 's niece 's sisters , and all the other ladies , expressed the same opinion . " oh , i have ! " said scrooge 's nephew . " i am sorry for him ; i couldn't be angry with him if i tried . who suffers by his ill whims ? himself always . here he takes it into his head to dislike us , and he won't come and dine with us . what 's the consequence ? he don't lose much of a dinner . " " indeed , i think he loses a very good dinner , " interrupted scrooge 's niece . " well ! i am very glad to hear it , " said scrooge 's nephew , " because i haven't any great faith in these young housekeepers . what do you say , topper ? " whereat scrooge 's niece 's sister the plump one with the lace tucker , not the one with the roses blushed . " do go on , fred , " said scrooge 's niece , clapping her hands . " he never finishes what he begins to say ! he is such a ridiculous fellow ! " i mean to give him the same chance every year , whether he likes it or not , for i pity him . it was their turn to laugh , now , at the notion of his shaking scrooge . after tea they had some music . but they didn't devote the whole evening to music . stop ! there was first a game at blindman's buff . of course there was . and i no more believe topper was really blind than i believe he had eyes in his boots . my opinion is , that it was a done thing between him and scrooge 's nephew ; and that the ghost of christmas present knew it . the way he went after that plump sister in the lace tucker was an outrage on the credulity of human nature . he always knew where the plump sister was . he wouldn't catch anybody else . she often cried out that it wasn't fair ; and it really was not . but she joined in the forfeits , and loved her love to admiration with all the letters of the alphabet . but this the spirit said could not be done . " here is a new game , " said scrooge . " one half-hour , spirit , only one ! " at last the plump sister , falling into a similar state , cried out : " i have found it out ! i know what it is , fred ! i know what it is ! " " what is it ? " cried fred . " it 's your uncle scro-o-o-o-oge ! " which it certainly was . here is a glass of mulled wine ready to our hand at the moment ; and i say , ' uncle scrooge ! ' " " well ! uncle scrooge ! " they cried . " a merry christmas and a happy new year to the old man , whatever he is ! " said scrooge 's nephew . " he wouldn't take it from me , but may he have it nevertheless . uncle scrooge ! " much they saw , and far they went , and many homes they visited , but always with a happy end . it was strange , too , that , while scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form , the ghost grew older , clearly older . " are spirits ' lives so short ? " asked scrooge . " my life upon this globe is very brief , " replied the ghost . " it ends to-night . " " to-night ! " cried scrooge . " to-night at midnight . hark ! the time is drawing near . " the chimes were ringing the three-quarters past eleven at that moment . is it a foot or a claw ? " " it might be a claw , for the flesh there is upon it , " was the spirit 's sorrowful reply . " look here . " from the foldings of its robe it brought two children ; wretched , abject , frightful , hideous , miserable . they knelt down at its feet , and clung upon the outside of its garment . " oh , man ! look here ! look , look , down here ! " exclaimed the ghost . they were a boy and girl . yellow , meagre , ragged , scowling , wolfish ; but prostrate , too , in their humility . where angels might have sat enthroned , devils lurked , and glared out menacing . scrooge started back , appalled . " spirit ! are they yours ? " scrooge could say no more . " they are man 's , " said the spirit , looking down upon them . " and they cling to me , appealing from their fathers . this boy is ignorance . this girl is want . deny it ! " cried the spirit , stretching out its hand towards the city . " slander those who tell it ye ! admit it for your factious purposes , and make it worse ! and bide the end ! " " have they no refuge or resource ? " cried scrooge . " are there no prisons ? " said the spirit , turning on him for the last time with his own words . " are there no workhouses ? " the bell struck twelve . scrooge looked about him for the ghost , and saw it not . stave four the last of the spirits the phantom slowly , gravely , silently approached . he felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him , and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread . he knew no more , for the spirit neither spoke nor moved . " i am in the presence of the ghost of christmas yet to come ? " said scrooge . the spirit answered not , but pointed onward with its hand . " is that so , spirit ? " the upper portion of the garment was contracted for an instant in its folds , as if the spirit had inclined its head . that was the only answer he received . the spirit paused a moment , as observing his condition , and giving him time to recover . but scrooge was all the worse for this . " ghost of the future ! " he exclaimed , " i fear you more than any spectre i have seen . will you not speak to me ? " it gave him no reply . the hand was pointed straight before them . " lead on ! " said scrooge . " lead on ! the night is waning fast , and it is precious time to me , i know . lead on , spirit ! " the phantom moved away as it had come towards him . scrooge followed in the shadow of its dress , which bore him up , he thought , and carried him along . the spirit stopped beside one little knot of business men . observing that the hand was pointed to them , scrooge advanced to listen to their talk . " no , " said a great fat man with a monstrous chin , " i don't know much about it either way . i only know he 's dead . " " when did he die ? " inquired another . " last night , i believe . " " i thought he 'd never die . " " god knows , " said the first with a yawn . " i haven't heard , " said the man with the large chin , yawning again . " left it to his company , perhaps . he hasn't left it to me . that 's all i know . " this pleasantry was received with a general laugh . suppose we make up a party , and volunteer ? " " i don't mind going if a lunch is provided , " observed the gentleman with the excrescence on his nose . " but i must be fed if i make one . " another laugh . but i 'll offer to go if anybody else will . bye , bye ! " speakers and listeners strolled away , and mixed with other groups . scrooge knew the men , and looked towards the spirit for an explanation . the phantom glided on into a street . its finger pointed to two persons meeting . scrooge listened again , thinking that the explanation might lie here . he knew these men , also , perfectly . they were men of business : very wealthy , and of great importance . " how are you ? " said one . " how are you ? " returned the other . " well ! " said the first . " old scratch has got his own at last , hey ? " " so i am told , " returned the second . " cold , isn't it ? " " seasonable for christmas-time . you are not a skater , i suppose ? " " no . no . something else to think of . good morning ! " not another word . that was their meeting , their conversation , and their parting . nor could he think of any one immediately connected with himself , to whom he could apply them . quiet and dark , beside him stood the phantom , with its outstretched hand . it made him shudder , and feel very cold . the ways were foul and narrow ; the shops and houses wretched ; the people half naked , drunken , slipshod , ugly . scrooge and the phantom came into the presence of this man , just as a woman with a heavy bundle slunk into the shop . " let the charwoman alone to be the first ! " cried she who had entered first . " let the laundress alone to be the second ; and let the undertaker 's man alone to be the third . look here , old joe , here 's a chance ! if we haven't all three met here without meaning it ! " " you couldn't have met in a better place , " said old joe , removing his pipe from his mouth . " come into the parlour . you were made free of it long ago , you know ; and the other two an't strangers . stop till i shut the door of the shop . ah ! how it skreeks ! ha ! ha ! we 're all suitable to our calling , we 're well matched . come into the parlour . come into the parlour . " the parlour was the space behind the screen of rags . " what odds , then ? what odds , mrs dilber ? " said the woman . " every person has a right to take care of themselves . he always did ! " " that 's true , indeed ! " said the laundress . " no man more so . " " why , then , don't stand staring as if you was afraid , woman ! who 's the wiser ? we 're not going to pick holes in each other 's coats , i suppose ? " " no , indeed ! " said mrs dilber and the man together . " we should hope not . " " very well , then ! " cried the woman . " that 's enough . who 's the worse for the loss of a few things like these ? not a dead man , i suppose ? " " no , indeed , " said mrs dilber , laughing . " it 's the truest word that ever was spoke , " said mrs dilber , " it 's a judgment on him . " open that bundle , old joe , and let me know the value of it . speak out plain . i 'm not afraid to be the first , nor afraid for them to see it . we knew pretty well that we were helping ourselves before we met here , i believe . it 's no sin . open the bundle , joe . " it was not extensive . a seal or two , a pencil-case , a pair of sleeve-buttons , and a brooch of no great value , were all . who 's next ? " mrs dilber was next . sheets and towels , a little wearing apparel , two old-fashioned silver tea-spoons , a pair of sugar-tongs , and a few boots . her account was stated on the wall in the same manner . " i always give too much to ladies . it 's a weakness of mine , and that 's the way i ruin myself , " said old joe . " that 's your account . " and now undo my bundle , joe , " said the first woman . " what do you call this ? " said joe . " bed-curtains ? " " ah ! " returned the woman , laughing and leaning forward on her crossed arms . " bed-curtains ! " " you don't mean to say you took ' em down , rings and all , with him lying there ? " said joe . " yes , i do , " replied the woman . " why not ? " " you were born to make your fortune , " said joe , " and you 'll certainly do it . " " don't drop that oil upon the blankets , now . " " his blankets ? " asked joe . " whose else's do you think ? " replied the woman . " he isn't likely to take cold without ' em , i dare say . " " i hope he didn't die of anything catching ? eh ? " said old joe , stopping in his work , and looking up . " don't you be afraid of that , " returned the woman . " i an't so fond of his company that i 'd loiter about him for such things , if he did . ah ! you may look through that shirt till your eyes ache ; but you won't find a hole in it , nor a threadbare place . it 's the best he had , and a fine one too . they 'd have wasted it , if it hadn't been for me . " " what do you call wasting of it ? " asked old joe . " putting it on him to be buried in , to be sure , " replied the woman with a laugh . " somebody was fool enough to do it , but i took it off again . if calico an't good enough for such a purpose , it isn't good enough for anything . it 's quite as becoming to the body . he can't look uglier than he did in that one . " scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror . " this is the end of it , you see ! he frightened every one away from him when he was alive , to profit us when he was dead ! ha , ha , ha ! " " spirit ! " said scrooge , shuddering from head to foot . " i see , i see . the case of this unhappy man might be my own . my life tends that way now . merciful heaven , what is this ? " scrooge glanced towards the phantom . its steady hand was pointed to the head . strike , shadow , strike ! and see his good deeds springing from the wound , to sow the world with life immortal ! no voice pronounced these words in scrooge 's ears , and yet he heard them when he looked upon the bed . he thought , if this man could be raised up now , what would be his foremost thoughts ? avarice , hard dealing , griping cares ? they have brought him to a rich end , truly ! a cat was tearing at the door , and there was a sound of gnawing rats beneath the hearth-stone . what they wanted in the room of death , and why they were so restless and disturbed , scrooge did not dare to think . " spirit ! " he said , " this is a fearful place . in leaving it , i shall not leave its lesson , trust me . let us go ! " still the ghost pointed with an unmoved finger to the head . " i understand you , " scrooge returned , " and i would do it if i could . but i have not the power , spirit . i have not the power . " again it seemed to look upon him . i beseech you . " at length the long-expected knock was heard . she hurried to the door , and met her husband ; a man whose face was careworn and depressed , though he was young . " is it good , " she said , " or bad ? " to help him . " bad , " he answered . " we are quite ruined ? " " no . there is hope yet , caroline . " " if he relents , " she said , amazed , " there is ! nothing is past hope , if such a miracle has happened . " " he is past relenting , " said her husband . " he is dead . " she prayed forgiveness the next moment , and was sorry ; but the first was the emotion of her heart . he was not only very ill , but dying , then . " " to whom will our debt be transferred ? " " i don't know . we may sleep to-night with light hearts , caroline ! " yes . soften it as they would , their hearts were lighter . the only emotion that the ghost could show him , caused by the event , was one of pleasure . they entered poor bob cratchit 's house , the dwelling he had visited before , and found the mother and the children seated round the fire . quiet . very quiet . the mother and her daughters were engaged in sewing . but surely they were very quiet ! " ' and he took a child , and set him in the midst of them . ' " where had scrooge heard those words ? he had not dreamed them . the boy must have read them out , as he and the spirit crossed the threshold . why did he not go on ? the mother laid her work upon the table , and put her hand up to her face . " the colour hurts my eyes , " she said . the colour ? ah , poor tiny tim ! " they 're better now again , " said cratchit 's wife . it must be near his time . " " past it rather , " peter answered , shutting up his book . " but i think he has walked a little slower than he used , these few last evenings , mother . " they were very quiet again . at last she said , and in a steady , cheerful voice , that only faltered once : " i have known him walk with i have known him walk with tiny tim upon his shoulder very fast indeed . " " and so have i , " cried peter . " often . " " and so have i , " exclaimed another . so had all . and there is your father at the door ! " she hurried out to meet him ; and little bob in his comforter he had need of it , poor fellow came in . his tea was ready for him on the hob , and they all tried who should help him to it most . don't be grieved ! " bob was very cheerful with them , and spoke pleasantly to all the family . he looked at the work upon the table , and praised the industry and speed of mrs cratchit and the girls . they would be done long before sunday , he said . " sunday ! you went to-day , then , robert ? " said his wife . " yes , my dear , " returned bob . " i wish you could have gone . it would have done you good to see how green a place it is . but you 'll see it often . i promised him that i would walk there on a sunday . my little , little child ! " cried bob . " my little child ! " he broke down all at once . he couldn't help it . if he could have helped it , he and his child would have been farther apart , perhaps , than they were . he left the room , and went up-stairs into the room above , which was lighted cheerfully , and hung with christmas . there was a chair set close beside the child , and there were signs of some one having been there lately . poor bob sat down in it , and , when he had thought a little and composed himself , he kissed the little face . he was reconciled to what had happened , and went down again quite happy . they drew about the fire , and talked ; the girls and mother working still . " on which , " said bob , " for he is the pleasantest-spoken gentleman you ever heard , i told him . ' i am heartily sorry for it , mr cratchit , ' he said , ' and heartily sorry for your good wife . ' by-the-bye , how he ever knew that i don't know . " " knew what , my dear ? " " why , that you were a good wife , " replied bob . " everybody knows that , " said peter . " very well observed , my boy ! " cried bob . " i hope they do . ' heartily sorry , ' he said , ' for your good wife . pray come to me . ' it really seemed as if he had known our tiny tim , and felt with us . " " i 'm sure he 's a good soul ! " said mrs cratchit . " you would be sure of it , my dear , " returned bob , " if you saw and spoke to him . i shouldn't be at all surprised mark what i say ! if he got peter a better situation . " " only hear that , peter , " said mrs cratchit . " get along with you ! " retorted peter , grinning . " never , father ! " cried they all . " no , never , father ! " they all cried again . " i am very happy , " said little bob , " i am very happy ! " mrs cratchit kissed him , his daughters kissed him , the two young cratchits kissed him , and peter and himself shook hands . spirit of tiny tim , thy childish essence was from god ! " spectre , " said scrooge , " something informs me that our parting moment is at hand . i know it , but i know not how . tell me what man that was whom we saw lying dead ? " i see the house . let me behold what i shall be in days to come . " the spirit stopped ; the hand was pointed elsewhere . " the house is yonder , " scrooge exclaimed . " why do you point away ? " the inexorable finger underwent no change . scrooge hastened to the window of his office , and looked in . it was an office still , but not his . the furniture was not the same , and the figure in the chair was not himself . the phantom pointed as before . he joined it once again , and , wondering why and whither he had gone , accompanied it until they reached an iron gate . he paused to look round before entering . a churchyard . here , then , the wretched man , whose name he had now to learn , lay underneath the ground . it was a worthy place . a worthy place ! the spirit stood among the graves , and pointed down to one . he advanced towards it trembling . the phantom was exactly as it had been , but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape . " before i draw nearer to that stone to which you point , " said scrooge , " answer me one question . are these the shadows of the things that will be , or are they shadows of the things that may be only ? " still the ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood . " men 's courses will foreshadow certain ends , to which , if persevered in , they must lead , " said scrooge . " but if the courses be departed from , the ends will change . say it is thus with what you show me ! " the spirit was immovable as ever . " am i that man who lay upon the bed ? " he cried upon his knees . the finger pointed from the grave to him , and back again . " no , spirit ! oh no , no ! " the finger still was there . " spirit ! " he cried , tight clutching at its robe , " hear me ! i am not the man i was . i will not be the man i must have been but for this intercourse . why show me this , if i am past all hope ? " for the first time the hand appeared to shake . assure me that i yet may change these shadows you have shown me by an altered life ? " the kind hand trembled . " i will honour christmas in my heart , and try to keep it all the year . i will live in the past , the present , and the future . the spirits of all three shall strive within me . i will not shut out the lessons that they teach . oh , tell me i may sponge away the writing on this stone ! " in his agony , he caught the spectral hand . it sought to free itself , but he was strong in his entreaty , and detained it . the spirit , stronger yet , repulsed him . holding up his hands in a last prayer to have his fate reversed , he saw an alteration in the phantom 's hood and dress . it shrunk , collapsed , and dwindled down into a bedpost . stave five the end of it yes ! and the bedpost was his own . the bed was his own , the room was his own . best and happiest of all , the time before him was his own , to make amends in ! " i will live in the past , the present , and the future ! " scrooge repeated as he scrambled out of bed . " the spirits of all three shall strive within me . oh , jacob marley ! heaven and the christmas time be praised for this ! i say it on my knees , old jacob ; on my knees ! " he was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions , that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call . he had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the spirit , and his face was wet with tears . they are here i am here the shadows of the things that would have been may be dispelled . they will be . i know they will ! " " i am as light as a feather , i am as happy as an angel , i am as merry as a school-boy . i am as giddy as a drunken man . a merry christmas to everybody ! a happy new year to all the world ! hallo here ! whoop ! hallo ! " he had frisked into the sitting-room , and was now standing there : perfectly winded . " there 's the saucepan that the gruel was in ! " cried scrooge , starting off again , and going round the fire-place . " there 's the door by which the ghost of jacob marley entered ! there 's the corner where the ghost of christmas present sat ! there 's the window where i saw the wandering spirits ! it 's all right , it 's all true , it all happened . ha , ha , ha ! " the father of a long , long line of brilliant laughs ! " i don't know what day of the month it is , " said scrooge . " i don't know how long i have been among the spirits . i don't know anything . i 'm quite a baby . never mind . i don't care . i 'd rather be a baby . hallo ! whoop ! hallo here ! " he was checked in his transports by the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he had ever heard . clash , clash , hammer ; ding , dong , bell ! bell , dong , ding ; hammer , clang , clash ! oh , glorious , glorious ! running to the window , he opened it , and put out his head . oh , glorious ! glorious ! " eh ? " returned the boy with all his might of wonder . " what 's to-day , my fine fellow ? " said scrooge . " to-day ! " replied the boy . " why , christmas day . " " it 's christmas day ! " said scrooge to himself . " i haven't missed it . the spirits have done it all in one night . they can do anything they like . of course they can . of course they can . hallo , my fine fellow ! " " hallo ! " returned the boy . " do you know the poulterer 's in the next street but one , at the corner ? " scrooge inquired . " i should hope i did , " replied the lad . " an intelligent boy ! " said scrooge . " a remarkable boy ! do you know whether they 've sold the prize turkey that was hanging up there ? not the little prize turkey : the big one ? " " what ! the one as big as me ? " returned the boy . " what a delightful boy ! " said scrooge . " it 's a pleasure to talk to him . yes , my buck ! " " it 's hanging there now , " replied the boy . " is it ? " said scrooge . " go and buy it . " " walk-er ! " exclaimed the boy . " no , no , " said scrooge , " i am in earnest . go and buy it , and tell ' em to bring it here , that i may give them the directions where to take it . come back with the man , and i 'll give you a shilling . come back with him in less than five minutes , and i 'll give you half-a-crown ! " the boy was off like a shot . he must have had a steady hand at a trigger who could have got a shot off half so fast . " i 'll send it to bob cratchit 's , " whispered scrooge , rubbing his hands , and splitting with a laugh . " he shan't know who sends it . it 's twice the size of tiny tim . joe miller never made such a joke as sending it to bob 's will be ! " as he stood there , waiting his arrival , the knocker caught his eye . " i shall love it as long as i live ! " cried scrooge , patting it with his hand . " i scarcely ever looked at it before . what an honest expression it has in its face ! it 's a wonderful knocker ! here 's the turkey . hallo ! whoop ! how are you ? merry christmas ! " it was a turkey ! he never could have stood upon his legs , that bird . he would have snapped ' em short off in a minute , like sticks of sealing-wax . " why , it 's impossible to carry that to camden town , " said scrooge . " you must have a cab . " he dressed himself " all in his best , " and at last got out into the streets . he looked so irresistibly pleasant , in a word , that three or four good-humoured fellows said , " good morning , sir ! a merry christmas to you ! " and scrooge said often afterwards that , of all the blithe sounds he had ever heard , those were the blithest in his ears . i hope you succeeded yesterday . it was very kind of you . a merry christmas to you , sir ! " " mr scrooge ? " " yes , " said scrooge . " that is my name , and i fear it may not be pleasant to you . allow me to ask your pardon . and will you have the goodness " here scrooge whispered in his ear . " lord bless me ! " cried the gentleman , as if his breath were taken away . " my dear mr scrooge , are you serious ? " " if you please , " said scrooge . " not a farthing less . a great many back-payments are included in it , i assure you . will you do me that favour ? " " don't say anything , please , " retorted scrooge . " come and see me . will you come and see me ? " " i will ! " cried the old gentleman . and it was clear he meant to do it . " thankee , " said scrooge . " i am much obliged to you . i thank you fifty times . bless you ! " he had never dreamed that any walk that anything could give him so much happiness . in the afternoon he turned his steps towards his nephew 's house . he passed the door a dozen times before he had the courage to go up and knock . but he made a dash , and did it . " is your master at home , my dear ? " said scrooge to the girl . nice girl ! very . " yes sir . " " where is he , my love ? " said scrooge . " he 's in the dining-room , sir , along with mistress . i 'll show you up-stairs , if you please . " " thankee . he knows me , " said scrooge , with his hand already on the dining-room lock . " i 'll go in here , my dear . " he turned it gently , and sidled his face in round the door . " fred ! " said scrooge . dear heart alive , how his niece by marriage started ! " why , bless my soul ! " cried fred , " who 's that ? " " it 's i your uncle scrooge . i have come to dinner . will you let me in , fred ? " let him in ! it is a mercy he didn't shake his arm off . he was at home in 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 , wonderful games , wonderful unanimity , won-der-ful happiness ! but he was early at the office next morning . oh , he was early there ! if he could only be there first , and catch bob cratchit coming late ! that was the thing he had set his heart upon . and he did it ; yes , he did ! the clock struck nine . no bob . a quarter past . no bob . he was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time . scrooge sat with his door wide open , that he might see him come into the tank . his hat was off before he opened the door ; his comforter too . he was on his stool in a jiffy ; driving away with his pen , as if he were trying to overtake nine o'clock . " 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 ? " " i am very sorry , sir , " said bob . " i am behind my time . " " you are ! " repeated scrooge . " yes . i think you are . step this way , sir , if you please . " " it 's only once a year , sir , " pleaded bob , appearing from the tank . " it shall not be repeated . i was making rather merry yesterday , sir . " " now , i 'll tell you what , my friend , " said scrooge . " i am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer . bob trembled , and got a little nearer to the ruler . " a merrier christmas , bob , my good fellow , than i have given you for many a year ! make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i , bob cratchit ! " 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 . his own heart laughed : and that was quite enough for him . may that be truly said of us , and all of us ! and so , as tiny tim observed , god bless us , every one ! end of the project gutenberg ebook of a christmas carol , by charles dickens