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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1988-12-21, Page 26Page 6A—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, December 21, 1988 Blessed Be He May This holiday season hold a specialmeaning for you. Askes Bros. Construction BERT, JENNY, MARIE AND KATHRYN WINGH.M 357-3053 PEACE Oti EARTH THIS CHRISTMAS ZO41glaat ntee/e, 9.c PICK UP IN LUCKNOW AT CH.ARMANS in hopes rot? a ChQastras ill€.t> with �lEaCE all() )Oy, WE. extol() C)UQ Clan TA Nllc:,s t.ht7 SEAS -On LO one aelzl all_ YOUR l.Q9El oshlp has 111aOE its ?Q010. �. G4. 93EaIE itti_pn2Eft Ltd. a,zd toff 599-7993 A Holiday Wish to One and All! May you enjoy a glad and glorious Yule. Thanks for your valued business. • yoraor; CLELAND VETERINARY SERVICES R.R. 1 LUCKNOW 528-3431 The Christmas Carol (An edited version of the Charles Dickens classic) One wintry Christmas eve, Scrooge sat in his counting house, amused by his clerk, who was dying letters awhile at- tempting to keep warm with comforter and candle_ Not once did he offer his employee a bat of coal for the warning fire_ Suddenly, the voice of Scrooge's nephew resounded, "Merry Christmas, Uncle"_ God save you!' ..Bah, Humbug!" replied the crotchety old man. "What's Christmas time to you bat a time for paying hills without money, ,one year older and not an hour richer." "Uncle," responded the nephew, enter- ing the doorway_ 'There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited_ Cluistinas is one of theme It is a good, kind, forgiv- ing, charitable time_ God bless it!'' ..Humb,ug ^ ," ed Scrooge_ "And good afternoon" as he observed his nephew leave_ This Christmas Eve found Sce at dinner w a nearby tavern, returning ear- ly to the quarters formerly occupied by his late partner, Marley. Suddenly, through the door descended Marley's ghost, who spoke to him, "In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. It is re- quired by every man that the spirit within should walk abroad among his fellow men. II that spirit goes forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death." Scrooge stood transfixed and answered., -Mercy' Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?" Marley's ghost replied, "I am here to' warn you that you have yet a chance of escaping my fate, You will be haarihted by three spirits. When this happens, you' will see me no more but look to remember this destiny and what has transpired bet- ween lis.." It was after one o'clock when Scrooge was awakened by the spirit of a child_ ..Who are you and what is your business`'" be derfhanded to know. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past - here for your reclamation. Take heed," said the Ghost_ "Rise up and walk with Throdgh time, they travelled to events immemorial_ Schoolboy. brother. appren- tice. young man - Scrooge relived his past life, devoid of charity and holiday spirit. The vision ellipsed by current facts, the painful reality of Scrooge's cruel behavior confronted him and he cr=ied. "Haunt me no longer," until sleep overtook him_ Awakening the next morning in the middle of a snore, Scrooge regained con- sciousness for the express purpose of con- ferring with a second messenger, dispat- ched to hiin throagh Marley's intervention_ ..Spirit." said Scrooge submissively. -Conduct me where you will_ I went forth last night on compulsion and learnt a lesson which is Working now. Tonight. of you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it_" The spirit answered. "I am the Ghost . of Christmas Present. Touch my robe." Scrooge did as he was told and held it fast. Invisible, they went into the town_ stopping before the tattered cottage of Scrooge's clerk. Bob Cratchit_ Mrs. Cratchit, two daughters and son Peter busied themselves with the preparation of a meager holiday meal and were soon joined by Bob and his crip- pled youngest. Tiny Tim. Scrooge was moved by the poor family's plight and questioned the Spirit. 'Tell me Tiny Tsrn will live_" The ghost replied, "I see a vacant seat_ And a crutch without an owner. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.'. It was then the dock struck twelve. Scrooge looked about the Ghost and saw it not_ Moments later. he felt a mysterious dread and observed a tall. stately figure beside him. This Spirit neither spoke nor moved_ Scroogequestioned, knowingly, You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not yet happened_ Is that so, Spirit? You are the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come_" The Spirit inclined his head, pointed forward and led his captive to the chur- chyard hicc hyard graves, pointing to the one mark- ed EBENEZER SCROOGE_ Horrified, the nme_rake addressed the Phantom, "Spirit., men's courses foreshadow certain ends to whim, if persevered, they must lead. But if the course must be departed from, the ends will gauge_ Say it is thus with what you show me!" The Spirit remained unmoved and pointed its hand from man to grave. "Spirit," Scree cried, "Pm 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! Good Spirit, your nature intercedes for the and pities me_ Assure me that I may change the shadows you have shown me in an altered life "_ "" The kind hand trembled_ Scrooge continued, "I will honor Christmas in all my heart and try to keep it all year. I will live in the past„ the pre- sent,and the future_The Spirit of all three hall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons they teadi_'" Scrooge saw the phantom hood and' dress shrink, collapse and dwindle into a bedpost The bedpost was his own. The bed his own The room his own Best and hap- piest of all, the time before him was his own to make amends in Scrooge spent Christmas visiting his nephew and saw to it that various charities provided food for their dependents_ WhenBob Cratdait came to work the day after Christmas, his employer greeted him: "Merry a ristmas, Bob" A merrier Christmas than I have given you for manyna year I11 raise your salary, and endeavour to asst your struggling family and we will discuss your affairs this afternoon:" 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 became as good a friend. as good a master and as good a man as the cava knew. He had no further intercourse with Spirits. but ever afterwards. it was always said he !new how to keep Christmas well. if any man alive posss- ed the knowledge_ May that truly be said of us and all of us' And so. as Tiny Tim observed_ God bless as everyone'