i
sell.
10
BE HAPPY.
Hi
THE CHINA MAIL.
the dull conversation of the ghost, de the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose, went straight to bed, with out undressing, and fell asleep upon the instal
STAYE TWO;
-BATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. 1990,
*
their "Expect the second on the next being, from the emotion he had under-sented the same problem to be work-occasion of its using, in its daller him me that time. The grasp, though Merry Christmas, as they parted of night at the same hour. The third, gone, or the fatigues of the day, ored all through, Was it a dream or moments, a great extinguisher for a gentle as a woman's hand, was not to cross-roads and byways, for
exp, which it now held under its arm be resisted. He rose; but finding that several homes? - What was Merry Osz opon upon the next night when the last his glimpse of the invisible world, or not?"
Even this, though, when Scrooge the spirit male towards the window, Christmas to Scrooge? -(Continued from Page 5-)
stroke of wwelve has chased to vibrate
Scrooge lay in this state until the
ĮMerry Christmas 2 What good, had **I am a mortal," Scrooge remon-iterer dooo to him? space of regret can make amends for Look to see me no more: and look
chime had gone three quarters moce, looked at it with increasing steadiness, clasped its robe in supplication.
"The sch is not quite deserted,” boe life's opportunities misused: that, for your own sake, you rement
when he remembered, on a sudden, was not its strangest quality. For as
"Bear but a touch of my hand said the gh... "A solitary child," Yet such was 1: Oht such was 11"ber what has passed between us
that the ghost had warned him of its belt sparkled and glittered now in strated, and liable to fall." When it had said these words, the
visitation when the bell solled one. one part and now in another, and what "But you were always a good trian
He resolved to lie wake until the was light one instant, at another time there, said the spirit, laying it upon neglected, by his friends, is left there of business, Jacob," Faltered Scrooge, spectre took its wrapper from the
hoor was passed; and, considering was dark, so the figure itself fluctuat- his heart, and you shall be upheld still."
Scrooge said he knew it. And he who now began to apply this to him-table; and bound it round its head, as
that he could no more go to sleep thaned in its distinctness; being now, ain more than this?" before. Scrooge knew this, by the
go to heaven, this was perhaps the thing with one arm, now with ane leg.
As the words were spoken, they sobbed.. now with twenty legs, now a pair of passed through the wall, and stood They left the high-road, by a well- -"Business" cried the ghost, smart sound its teeth made, when the
THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS. wisest resolution in his powe wringing its hands again, Man-jaws were brought together by the
The quarter was so long, that he legs without a head, now a head with upon an open country road, with fields remembered lane, and soon approach- When Scrooge awoke, it was 50 kind was my business. The common bandage. He ventured to raise his
my business; charity, eyes again, and found his supernatural dark, that, looking out of bed, he was more than ance convinced he must out a body; of which dissolving parts, on either hand. The city had entirely edi masion of dull red brick, with mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, visitar confronting him in an erect could scarcely distinguish the transpar. have sunk into a dese unconsciously, no outline would be visible in the wished. Not a vestige of it was to a little weathercock-surmounted capola The deal-attitude, with its chain wound over (ent window from the opaque walls of and missed the clock. At length it dense gloom wherein they melted be seen. The darkness and the mist on the roof, and a bell hanging in it. away. And in the very wonder of had vanished with it, for it was 2 It was a large house, but one at broken were my business.
broke upon his listening ear.
this, it would be itself again; distinct clear, cold, winter day, with snow fortunes for the spacious offices were ings of my trade were but a drop stand about its arm.
The apparition walked backward
**Ding, dong!TM
Inle used, their walls were damp and upon the ground. water in the comprehensive ocean of
and clear as ever. from him and at every step it took,
nossy, their winbus broken, and "Are you the spirit, sir, whose my business5 ***
coming was foretold to me?" asked
and strutted in the stables; and the their gates decayed. Fowls clocked the window raised itsell a little, se
Strange. that when the spectre reached it, it When Was wide open. It beckoned Scrooge 110 approach, which be, did
they were within pro paces of each other, Marley's ghost held up its band, warning him Scrooge stopped.
welfare RES
It held up its chairs at arm's length, as if that were the base of all its un mailing grjet, and fung it heavily upon the ground again.
At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said. "I suffer most. Way Die 1 walk through crowds of fellow beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there to pur homes to which its light would have conduct
ed 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! flowery, Jacob Prav:"
.
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 per spiration from his brow.
to come no nearer.
Not so much in obedience, as in surprise and fear for on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wail- ings inexpressibly sorrowful and self- secusatory: The spectre, after listen-
out.
"A quarter past," said Scrooge,
**Ding, dong!"
his chamber. He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret, eyes when the chimes of a neigh-
wing church struck the four quar-counting. To his great astonishment the heavy ters. So he listered for the hour.
From seven to eight, and regularly up bell went on from six to seven, and to twelve; they stopped. Twelve? was past run when he went to bed
The clock was wrong. An icicle must have got into the works. Twelve:
He touched the spring of his repea |
ter, to correct this most preposterous clock. Its rapid little pulse beat
***
very
יי
he
Half-past!" said Scrooge. **Ding: dong?"
A quarter to it," said Scrooge. **Ding, dong!"
"I am
tance.
"The hous itself," said Scrooge
** who, end what He spoke before the hour belli triumphantly, and nothing also: sounded, which it now did with a deep. Scrooge demanded. full, hollow, melancholy tore. Light | fashed up in the room upon the in Past."
The curtains of his bed were drawn
་
coach-houses and sheds were overrun Nor was it more reten-
cold, and vasi.
the
Your lip is trembling." said the candle-light, and not too much to eat. They went, the ghost and Scrooge, ghost. And what is that upon your across the hall, to a door at the back
him where he would.
**You recollect the way," inquired, the spirit.
"Remember it!" cried Scrooge,
of the house. It opened before them,
choly room, made barer still by Hees
of these a lonely boy was reading near a leeble fire; and Scrooge sat down upon a Form, and wept to see his poor forgotten sell as he had used to be.
Not a latent echo in the house, not a squeak and scuffle from the mite behind the panelling, not a drip from the half-thawed water-spout in the dull
* Good Heavens !' said -Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. was bred in y this place. I was a boy here!" The voice was soft and gentle. The spirit gazed upon him mildly. with crass. Singularly low, as if, instead of being Its gentle touch, though it had been five of its ancient state within; for so close beside him, it were at a dis-light and instantaneous, appeared still entering the dreary hall, and glancing present to the old man's sense of feel through the open doors of many rooms, are you?"ing. He was conscious of a thousand they found the poorly furnished, There was in earthly odours floating in the air, each one "1 am the "Ghost of Christmas comected with a thousand thoughts, your in the air a chilly bareness in place. which associated irsell and hopes, and joys, and cares long
isomehow with too much getting up by "Long past?" inquired Scrooge, long forgotten? stam, and the curtains of his bed were twelve: and stopped
observant of its dwarfish stature. Why it isn't possible," said Cent
Your past." No. can have slept Semoge.that I
„Perhaps Scroogë could not have told cheek?" ing for a moment. joined in the mo through a whole day and far into aside, I tell you, by z band. Not the
Scrooge muttered, with an unusual and sclosed long, bare, melan- another night. It isn't possible that curios at his feet, nor the curtains at anybody why, if, anybody could have tul dirge: and floated our upon the Meak, dark night.
Scrooge followed to the window:ything has happened to the sun, and his back. but those to which his face asked him, but he had a special desire catching in his voice, that it was a
was addressed. The curtains of his bed to see the spirit in his cap; and begged pimple; and begged the ghost to lead of plain deal forms and desks. At one The idea being an alarming one, he were drawn aside; and Scrooge, start-him to be covered. Don't be desperate in his curiosity. He looked this is twelve at noon?
“What?”. exclaimed the ghost, scrambled out of bed. and groped his ing up into a half-recumbent attitude, The air was filled with phamoms, way to the window. He was obliged! Found himself face to face with the" would you so soon. put out, with wandering hither and thither in rest to ruby the frost off with the sleeve unearthly visitor, who drew then as wordly hands," the light I give? Is it
he close to it as I am now to you, and I not enough that you are one of those with fervour; :: I could walk is blind less haste, and moaning as they went. of his dressing-gown before Every one of them wore chains like could
anything; and could am standing in the spirit at your elbow. whose passions made this cap, and fold.**
*Strange to have forgotten it for so little then. All
It was a strange figure-like a force me through whole trains of years Marley's ghost; some few (they might see
many years observed the ghost. be guilty governments) were linked could make out was, that it was child: yet not so like a child as like to wear it low upon my brow?”
Scrooge reverently disclaimed "all Let us go on.”” together; none were free. Many had stiff very loggy and extremely cold. an old man, viewed through some su-
They walked along the road-yard behind, not a sigh among the leat- less boughs of one despondent pop- That is no light part of my pen- been personally known to Scrooge in and that these was no noise of people pernatural medium, which gave him intention to offend or any knowledge ance," "pursued the ghost. I am their lives. He had been quite fami- running to and fro, and making a the appearance of having receded from of having wilfully bonneted" the Scrooge recognising every gate, and
storehouse door, no, not a clicking in here to-night to warn you, that yeu liar with one old ghost, in a white great stir. as there unquestionably the view, and being diminished to a spirit at any period of his life.. He post, and tree until a little markerlar, not the idle swinging of an empty have yet a chance and hope of escape waistcoat, with a monstrous iron sale would have been it night had beaten child's proportions. Its hair, which then made bald to inquire what busi- town appeared in the distance, with its the fire, but fell upon the heart of bridge, its church, and winding river. Scrooge with softening influence, and ing my fate. A chance and hope of attached to its ankle, who cried pite- í off bright day, and taken possession of hung show its rock and down its back,ness brought him there.
"Your welfare!" said the ghost. Some shaggy ponies now were seen This was a great relief. was white as if with age; and yet the to assist the world. my procuring. Ebenezer."
ously at being unable
Scrooge expressed himself much of-motting towards them with boys upon gave a freer passage to his tears.
The spirit touched him on the am, -You were always a good friend wretched woman with an infant, whom because three days after sight of face had not a wrinkle in it, and the To me." said Scrooge. Thank'ee it saw below, upon a doorstep. The this first of exchange pay to Mr tenderest bloom was on the skin. The liged, but could not help thinking that their backs, who called to other boys and pointed to his younger sell. in- tent upon his reading. Suddenly a You will be harmed. resumed misery with them all was, clearly, Ebenezer Scrooge or his order." and arms were very long and muscular; a night of unbroken rest would have in country gigs and carts, driven by
farmers. All these boys were in great man, in foreign garments--wonder- the ghost, "by three spirits," that they sought to interfere, for good, so forth. would have become a mere the hands the same, as if its hold were been more conducive to that end.
The spirit met have heard him spirits, and shouted to each other, fully real and distinct to look at Scrooge's countenance fell almost as in human matters, and had lost the United States security if there were of uncommon strength. Its legs and
until the broad Selds were so full of stood outside the window, with an are power for ever.
no days to count by... low as the ghost's had done."
Feet, most delicately formed, were, thinking, for it said immediately-—---
**Your reclamation, then.
Take merry music, that the crisp air laughstuck in his belt, and leading by the Whether these creantes faded into
Scrooge went to bed again, and like these upper members, bare. It
bridle an ass laden with wood. mist. or mist enshrouded them, he thought, and thought, and thought it wore a tunic of the pures: white; and heed!**
**These are but shadows of the "Why, it's Ali Baba!" Scrooge could not tell. But they and their lover and over and over, and could round is waist was bound a lustrous
things that have been." said the ghost-exclaimed in ecstasy. “It's dear old spirit voices faded together; and the make nothing of it. The more heel, the sheen of which was beauti-
They have no consciousness of us.", honest Ali Baba? Yes, yes, I know I -I think I'd rather not." said night became as it had been when he thought, the more perplexed he was: fel. It held a branch of fresh green
It would have been in vain for The jocund travellers came ou; and One Christmas hat, when yonder Scrooge.
walked home.
and the more he endeavoured not to holly in its hand and, in singular con- Without their visits," said the Scrooge closed the window and think. the more he thought.
tradiction of that wintry emblem, had Scrooge to plead that the weather and as they came, Scrooge knew. and solitary child was left here all alone, Marley's ghost bothered him ex-its dress trimmed with ghost, "you cannot hope to shum the examined the door by which the ghost
summer the bour were not adapted to pedes named them every out. Why was he he did come, for the first time, just But the strangest thing trian purposes; that bed was warm, rejoiced beyond all bounds to see like that. Poor boy: And Valen- path I tread. Expect the first to-mor" had entered. It was double-locked. įceedingly. Every time he resolved flowers. row, when the bell tolls one." as he had locked it with his own within himself, after mature inquiry, about it was, that from the crown of and the thermornetes a long way below them? Why did his cold eye glisten, tine," said Scrooge, and his wild Couldn't I take 'em all at once, hands, and the bolts were undisturb that it was all a dream, his mind flew its head there sprang a bright, clear freezing; that he was clad but lightly and his heart leap up as they went brother. Orson; there they go: And and have it over, Jacob?" hinted ed. He tried to say." Humbug:" back again like a strong spring re-jet of light, by which all this was in his slippers, dressing-gown, and past? Why was he filled with gladness! Scrooge.
but stopped at the first syllable. And leased, to jis firs: position, and pre-visible; and which was doubtless the nightcap; and that he had a cold upon when he heard them give each other
**Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?" he demanded, in a faltering voice.
"It is.
It put out its strong hand as it spoke, and clasped him gently by the arm. "Rise and walk with me!"
ed to hear it. »
(Continued on Page 12.)
ONCE
AGAIN
SANTA CLAUS IS COMINC
Why not be Wise and Select
ALL YOUR XMAS PRESENTS
BEFITTING THE SEASON
FROM
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