The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-12-03, Page 28'Pogo E0c3h4 Tho ithncardGno Nora GGfft GaGdo
h! Humbu
sys Scroo
But he learned differently in this Dickens' tale
Y C: ARLES DICKENS
One wintry Christmas eve, Scrooge sat in
his counting house, amused by his clerk,
who was copying letters while attempting to
keep warm with comforter and candle. Not
once did he offer his employee a bit of coal
for the warming fire.
Suddenly, the voice of Scrooge's nephew
resounded "Merry Christmas, Uncle! God
° save you!"
' ` ah, Humbug ! " replied the crotchety
old man. "What's Christmas time to you but
a time for paying bills without money, one
year older and not an hour richer."
"Uncle," responded the nephew, entering
the doorway. "There are many things from
which I might have derived good, by which I
have not profited. Christmas is one of them.
It is a good, kind, forgiving, charitable time.
God bless it!"
"Humbug ! " replied Scrooge. "And good
afternoon" as he observed his nephew
leave.
This Christmas eve found Scrooge at din-
ner in a nearby tavern, returning early to
the quarters fromerly 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 required by every man that the
spirit within should walk abroad among his
fellow men. If that spirit goes not 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 haunted by
three spirits. When this happens, you will
see me no more but look to remember this
destiny and what has transpired between
us."
It was after one o'clock when Scrooge was
awakened by the sight of a spirit Child.
"Who are you and what is your business?"
he demanded to know.
"I am the ghost of Christmas Past - here
for your reclamation.'Take heed," said the
Ghost, "Rise and walk with me."
Through time they traveled to events im-
memorial. Schoodboy, brother, apprentice,
young man - Scrooge relived his past life,
devoid of charity and holiday spirit. The vi-
sion eclipsed by current facts, the painful
reality of Scrooge's cruel behaviour con-
fronted him and he cried, "Haunt me no
longer," until sleep overtook him.
Awakening the next morning in the mid-
dle of a snore, Scrooge regained con-
sciousness for the express purpose of con-
ferring with a second messenger, despatch-
ed to him through 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, if 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 prepara-
tion of a meager holiday meal and were soon
joined by Bob and his crippled youngest,
Tinny Tim.
Scrooge was moved by the poor family's
plight and questioned the Spirit, "Tell me in
Tiny Tim 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 clock struck twelve.
Scrooge looked about for 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. Scrooge questioned, 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 for-
ward and led his captive to the churchyard
graves, pointing to the one marked
EBENEZER SCROOGE. Horrified, ' the
namesake addressed the Phantom, "Spirit,
men's courses foreshadow certain ends to
which, if persevered, they must lead. But if
the course must be departed from, the ends
will change. Say it is thus with what you
show me!"
The Spirit remained unmoved and pointed
its hand from man to grave.
"Spirit," Scrooge cried, "I'm 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 me and pities me. Assure me
jam.
iNK�,ATER
:uriture/w.
that I may change the shadows you have
shown me in an altered life ! "
The kind hand trembled.
Scrooge continued: "1 will honor
Christmas in all my heart and try to keep it
all year. I will live in the past, the present,
and the future. The Spirit of all three shall
strive within me. I will not shut out the
lessons they teach." Scrooge saw the phan-
tom hood and dress shrink, collapse, and
dwindle into a bedpost.
The bedpost was his own. The bed his own,
the room his own. :est and happiest 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.
When Bob Cratchit came to work the day
after Christmas, his employer greeted him:
"A Merry 'Christmas, Bob! A merrier
Christmas than I have given you for many a
year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavor to
assist your struggling family, and we will
discuss your affairs this very 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 city knew. He had
no further intercourse with Spirits, but ever
afterwards, it was always said he knew how
to keep Christmas well, if any man alive
possessed the knowledge. May that truly be
said of us and all of us!
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless
us everyone!'
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