SATURDAY DECEMBER 11, 1920.
BE HAPPY.
SEASONABLE STORY BY GREAT NOVELIST.
'DICKENS' ̈“CHRISTMAS CAROL."
REMEMBER - MARLEY'S GHOST AND SCROOGE.
STAVE ONE...
MARLEY'S GHOST. "
THE CHINA MAIL.
thing, one might have thought that nephew. But you don't keep it." Nature lived hard by, and was brew- Let me leave it alone, then," said ing on a large scale.
Scrooge. "Moch good may it do The door of Scrooge's counting-you! Much good it has ever done bouse was open that he might keep you?"
bug:
"
Good-afternoon? " said Scrooge. others, when want is keenly felt, und His nephew left the room without abundance rejoices. What shall 1 put: an angry word, notwithstanding. He you down for?".
***Nothing?" Scrooge replied. stopped at the outer door to bestow :te"
**You wish to be anonymous?" greetings of the season on the clerk,
"1 wish to be felt alone," said his eye upon his clerk, who, in a "There are many things from who, cold as he was, was warmer than dismal little cell beyond, a sort of which I might have derived good, by Scrooge; for he returned them cor- Scrooge. "Since you ask me what. I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer, tank, was copying letters. Scrooge which I have not profited, I dare (dially. had a very small-fire, bar the clerk's say," returned the nephew Christ- "There's another fellow," mutter- I don't make merry myself at Christ- over-heard him; mas, and I can't afford to make Idle fire was so very much smaller that it mas among the rest. But I am sure ed Scrooge, who looked fire one coal. But he couldn't)I have always thought of Christmas"my clerk, with Biteen-shillings people merry. I help to support the replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-time, when it has come round-spart week, and a wile and family, talking establishments I have mentioned- bos in his own room; and so surely from the veneration due to its 'sacred shout a merry Christmas. I'll retire they cost enough; and those who are
badly of most go`there.". as the clerk came in with the shovel, Į name and origin, if anything belong to Bedlam." the master predicted that it would be ing to it can be apart from that s This lunatic, in terting Scrooge's "Many can't go there; and many necessary for them to part. Where- a good time; a kind, forgiving, charit-nephew out, had let two other people would rather die!"
They were portly gentlemen,
"If they would rather die," said Ifore the clerk put on his white com-able, pleasant time; the only time in.
forter, and tried to warm himself at know of, in the long calendar of the pleasant to behold, and now stood, Scrooge, they had better do it, and the candle; in which effort, not being year, when men and women seem by with their tats off, in Scrooge's office. decrease the simples population. Be a man of strong imagination, he failed. one consent to open their shut-up They had books and papers in their sides-excuse me don't know
|that.” "A Merry Chrismas, uncle: God hearts freely, and to think of people hands, and bowed to him
"Scrooge and Marley's, I believe," | **But you might know it," obsery-1) save you! cried a cheerful voice. below them as if they really were I was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, fellow-passengers to the grave, and said one of the gentlemen, referring ed the gentleman.
** Have I the pleasure of “It's not my business, Scrooge who came upon him so quickly that not another race of creatures bound to his list." this was the first intiraation he had off on other journeys. And therefore, addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. returned. "It's enough for a man jo understand his own business, and not uncle, though it has never pat a scrap Mackey?" that Hamlet's father died before the, and hail, and slect, could boest of the his approach.
Beh said Sooge. **Han- of gold or silver in my pocket, I be- "Mr. Marley has been dead these to interfere with other people's. Mine, play began, there would be nothing i advantage over him in only one re more remarkable in his taking a spec. "They often came down
feve that it has done me good, and seven years,” Scrooge replied. He occupies me constantly. Good-after- Fie had so heated himself with rapid will do me good; and I say, God bless died seven years ago, this very night." noon, gentlemen? ** stroll at night in an easterly wind, handsomely, and Scrooge never did.
We have no doubt his liberality is
Seeing clearly that it would be use upon his own pamparts than there i
Nobody ever stopped him in the walking in the fog and frost, this it?"
The clerk in the tank involuntarily well represented by his surviving less to pursue their point, the gentle would be, in any other middle-aged street to say, with gladsome looks nephew of Scrooge's, that he was
labours with an improved opinion of Marley was dead, to begin with. gentleman rashly farming out after dark My dear Scrooge, how are your all in a glow, his eyes sparkled, and applauded. Becoming immediately parmer," said the gentleman, present-men withdrew. Scrooge resumed his
sersible of the-impropriety, he pokeding his credentials. There is no doubt whatever about that, in a breezy spor-say St. Paul's When will you come to see mes his breath smoked again..
It certainly was; for they had been himself, and in a more facetious tea The register of his burial was signed Churchyard for instance-literally to No beggus implored him to bestow
Christmas & humbug. uncle:" the fire, and extinguished the fast
two kindred spirits. At the ominous per than was usual with him. by the clergyman, the clerk, the astonish his son's weak mind. ja trifle, no children asked him what said Scrooge's nephew. You don't rail spark for ever. -
Meanwhile the fog and darkness "Let me bear another sound from word fiberrlity," Scrooge frowned, pradertaker, and the chief moerner.
Scrooge never painted out Old it was o'clock, no man or woman ever mean that. I am sure? Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's Marley's name. There it stood, years once in all his life inquired the way to
"I do," said Scrooge. "Merry you," said Scrooge. "and you'll keep and shook his head, and handed the, thickened so, that people ran about with flaring links, proffering their sere!! name was good upon "Change, for afterwards, above the warehouse door: such and such a place, of Scrooge.Christmas. What fight have you to your Christmas by losing your situa-credentials back.
You're quite 盘 powerful "At this festive season of the year, vices to go before horses in carriages, anything he chose to put his hand to. Scrooge and Marley. The im was Even the blind men's dogs appeared be merry? What reason have you to tion?
speaker, sir," he added, turning to Mr. Scrooge," said that gentleman, and conduct them on their way. The Old Marley was as dead as a door-known Scrooge and Marley to know him, and when they saw be merry? You're poor enough."
"I wonder you don't taking up a pen." is more than ancient tower of a church, whose grüff Sometimes people new to the bushim coming on would ng their **Come, then," returned the his nephew.
usually desirable that we should make old bell was always peeping slyly Mind" I don't mean to say that iness called Scrooge Scrooge, and owners into doorways and up courts: het gaily. What right have 5 into Parliament."
"Don't be angry, uncle. Come some slight provision for the poor and down at Scrooge out of a gothic win- know, of my own knowledge, what sometimes Maplex, but he answered and then would wag thei: tails as you to be dismal? What reason have
destitute, who suffer greatly at the dow in the wall, became invisible, It was all the same though they said. Ne eye at all is you to be morose? You're rich Dine with us tomorrow." there is particularly dead about a door to both names.
Scrooge said that he would see him present time. Many thousands are in and struck the hours and quarters fa to him.
better than an evil eye, dark master !" | enough."
the clouds, with tremulous vibrations nail, I might have been inclined.
Yes. indeed he did. He went want of common comforts, sir." Oh: But he was a right-fisted myself, to regard a coffin nail as the
the whole length of the expression, "Are there no prisons? asked afterwards, as if its teeth were chat- tering in its frozen head up there. deatest piece of itstumongery in the hand at the grindstone. Scrooge
In the trade. But the wisdom of our ances squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scrap
and said that he would see him in that Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the The cold became intense. extremity first. fors is in the simile; and my unhallowing clutching, covetous, old sinner
"But why cried Scrooge's gentleman, laying down the pen again. main street, at the corner of the court, ed hands shall not disturb it, or the Hard and sharp as flint, from which
nephew. "Why?"
"And the union workhouses?" de- some labourers were repairing the gas- country's done for. You will there- no steel had ever struck out generous
**Why did you get married?" said manded Scrooge."Are they still in pipes, and had lighted a great fire **What else can I be," returned the!
in a brazier, round which Once upon a time-of all the good
* party operation?" fore permit me to repeat emphatically, fire; secter and self-contained, and
The cold within days in the year on Christmas Eve- uncle, when I live in such a world Scrooge. that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. solitary as an oyster.
"Because I fell in love."
They are. Sall." returned the or ragged men and boys were gather- Scrooge knew he was dead? O him froze his old features, nipped his old Scrooge sat busy is his counting of fools as this? Merry Christmas:
"Because you fell in love!" grow- gentleman. "I wish I could say they ed. warming their hands and winking their eyes before the blaze in rapture. It was cold, bleak. biting Our upon merry Christmas: What's course he did. How could it be other-pointed nose. shrivelled his cheek, house.
"The treadmill and the Poor Law The water-ping being left in solitude. wise? Scrooge and he were partners stiffened his gait: made his eyes red, weather: foggy withal: and he could Christmas time to you but a time for led Scrooge, as if that were the only were not."
said its overflowings sullenly congested, for I don't know how many years. his thin lips lie and spoke out hear the people in the court outside paying bills without money; a time one thing in the world more ridiculous
"Good- are in full vigour, then?
Scrooge. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole shrewdly in his grating voice, go wheezing up and down, beating for finding yourself a year older, and than a merry Christmas. administrator, his sole assign, his sole frostly rime was on his head, and on their hands upon their breasts, and not an hour richer, a time for balanc-afternoon
"Nay, uncle, but you never came residuary legaree, his sole friend, and his eyebrows, and his airy chin. He stamping their feet upon the pavement ing your books and having every item
And even Scrooge was carried his own low temperature always stones to warm them. The city clocks in 'em through a round dozen of to see me before that happened. Why not so dreadfully cut up by the sad about with him: he iced his office in had only just gone three, but it was months presented dead against you? give it as a reason for not coming event, but that he was an excellent the dog-days: and didn't thaw it one quite dark already-it had not been 1 I could work my will," said Scrooge! light all day and candles were flaring indignantly, every idiot who goes man of business on the very day of degree at Christmas, the funeral, and solemnised it with an External heat and cold had little in the windows of the neighbouring about with Merry Christmas' on his undoubted bargain.
influence on Scrooge! No warmth offices, like raddy smears upon the lips. should be boiled with his own The fog came pudding, and buried with a stake of The mention of Marley's funeral could warm, no wintry weather chill palpable brown air. "brings me back to the point I started him. No wind that blea was bitterer pouring in at every chink and keyhole. hotly through his heart. He should from. There is no doubt that Marley than he, no falling snow was more and was so dense without, that al- was dead.
This must be distinctly intent upon its purpose, no peiting though the court was of the narrow- Focl est. the hotises opposite were mere understood, or nothing wonderful can rain less open to entreaty.
To see the dingy cloud come of the story I am going to relate. weather didn't know where to have phantoms.
come dropping down, obscuring every. If we were not perfectly convinced him. The heaviest rain, and snow,
mail.
sole mourner.
29
:
A
'But what did Scrooge care! It was Scrooge, having no better loswer the very thing he liked. To edge his ready on the spur of the moment, way along the crowded paths of life. said Bah. again; and followed it warning all buman sympathy to keep up with Hembng."
is distance. was what the knowing. Don't be cross, uncle":" said the
nephew. ones call "ruts" to Scrooge.
"Uncle!" pleaded the nephew. "Nephew, returned the uncle tyemly, keep Christmas your own way, and let me keep it.in mine." "Keep repeated Scrooge's
Dow?"
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 But I have made the trial party. in homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas, ungie !”
"Good-aherr.com ! said, Scrooge. "And A Happy New Year?
**Both very busy, sh." "Oh!
| and turned to misanthropic ice. The brightness of the shops where holly
I was afraid, from what sprigs and berries crackled in the occurred to stop them in the, useful faces, ruddy as they passed. Foul- you said at first, that something had lamp heat of the windows, made pale terers and grocers' trades became i "I'm very course," said Scrooge.
| splendid jokes glorious pageant, glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they with which it was next to impossible scarcely furnish Christian cheer of, to believe that such dull principles as mind or body to the multitude" re-bargain and sale had anything to do. turned the gentleman, “a lew of us The Lord Mayor, in the stronghold of are endeavouring to raise a fund to the mighty Mansion House, gave buy the poor some meat and drink, orders to his fifty cooks and butlers-
We choose to keep Christmes as a Lord Mayor's and means of warmth. this time, because it is a time, of alli (Cominued on Page 8.)
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