"I body was transparent, so that Scrooge, looking through his waistcont, could see the
and
two buttons on his cent behind.”
the
whole
"A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears, God bless us!" youngest Which all the ceboed.
sufficient dinner for the family. Everyone had hed enough, Cratchits in particular, were steeped in sage and onion to the eyebrows! But now the platen being changed by Miss Belinda, Mis Cratchit left the room alone --too nervous to bear witneso to take the pudding up, and bring it in.
Suppose it should not be done enough; Suppose It should break in tuning oul Suppose some- body should have goi over the wall of the backyard, and stulet , while they were me.ry with thie g905€ supposition at which the two young Cratchits became livid!
LELP!
family
ro
"God bless us every one!" sak laty Tim. the Just of all,
Scrooge!" Sald Bob, raising his glass again, I'll give you the founder of the feasi?"
"The founder of the feast in- deed!" cried Mrs Cratchit. wish I had him here. I'd give him a piere of my mind to feast upon."
"My clear," said Bob, "Christ mas day."
"It should be Christmas day, 1 min sure," said she, on which one drinks the health of such on man. You odious, unfesting know he is faber!"
"My dear," was Bob's mild answer. Christmas day."
They all drank the toast to- gether.
Much: Scrooge and Bir Spra
Then saw, and far they went. the bell struck twelve.
Scrooge looked about him for the Ghost, and saw it not. As
each the last stroke ceased to vibrate.
Hallo! A great deal of steam! The pudding was cut of copper. A smell like washing day That was the cloth. A smell Jike ha enung-house and A pastyconk's next door to other, with a laundress's next door to that!! That was pudding In half a mute Mra Cratchit entered flushed, but omiling proudly with pudding, like a speckled cannon- ball, hard and Ann, blazing in bulf pi half-a-quarters Ignited brandy, and bedight with Christmas holly.
the
of
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER
Here is the Story That Was Instrumental in
·Saving Christmas for Future Generations
"I don't know
G. K. Chesterton
what to dol" games, wonderful unanimity.
He was early at the office next
cried Scrooge, laughing and cry- wonderful happinesst
ng in the same breath; and matting a perfeet Leocoon of himself with his stockings. #murning. He wanted to be there Brst, and catch Bob Cratchit coming latel
m as light is a feather, I am as happy a un angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am no *lddy RA a drunken man. A Merry Christmas to everybody!"
Running to the window, ha opened it, put out his head, and called downward to a boy in Sunday clothes: "What's today?"
"Today!" replied the boy.
"Why, CHRISTMAS DAY."
And he did 1; Bob was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time.
་
His hat was off, before he opened the door; his comforter, tou. He was on his stool in jiffy; driving away with his pen, As If he were trying to overtake Doolock.
"What do you mean by com- "It's Christmas Day!" said ing here at this time of day" Scrooge to himself, "I haven't growled Scrooge, in his accus-
iomed volce.
missed."
He sent the boy hurrylag to the pilleret's for а prize turkey he recalled sectag hang- ing in the window, and sent off to Bob Cratchit's in a cab, eller tipping the lad handsome- ly. And he didn't let Bob know who sent it.
He dressed himself "all in his best," and at last got out
the streets. The people by this time pouring forth, and irresistibly Scrooge looked so pleasant that three or four fel- lows said "Good morning, sirt A Berry Christmas to you!"
"It's only once a year, Air," pleaded Bob.
"I am not going to stand for this sort of thing any longer. And therefore," sald Scrooge, giving Bob a dig in the waist- coat, "I am about to raise your salary"
Bob trembled.
"A Merry
Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge. "I'll raise your to assist salary, and endeavour into your struggling family, and we Affairs this will discuss your were
a Christ- very afternoon, over mas bowl of smoking bishop!"
then Scrooge was better
his word. He did it all, and infinite- ly more. 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 men, as the good old city knew.
food uny other
old city. in town or borough,
the good old world, And it was always
to
He went to church, and walk- ed about the streels, and went to the home of his nephew, say humbly at the door. "I have come to dinner. Will you ist me in, Fred?"
Dear heari alive, how niece by marriage started!
or
hi said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man nitve possessed the know-
lodge. May that be truly sald of
as
God bless
he beheld a solemn Phantom. Let him In? It is a merey druped and hooded coming. Ike Fred didn't shake his arm off. us, and all of ust And so, analet along the ground towards He was at home in five minutes. Tiny Tim observed. him. Tala was the Ghost of Wonderful pravy. wonderful Us, Every One!
Christmas Yet to
Come,
I let him over-
ม know of
hear
operators on Ex- change discussing the death of Ebenezer Scrooge, without regret, and
him showed neglected gruve.
Scrooge could
Oh, a wonderful pudding! Bob Cratchit said, and calmly, 100, that he regarded as the greatest success achieved by Mrs Cratchit since Lieir marriage, Everybody had something to say about it, but nobody aald or thought it was at all a small stand no more.
pudding for a large family.
0
"Spirit!" he cried,
At Last the inner wus alt I am not the man I will nol done, the cloth was cleared, and I was. the are made up. The compound be the man i mus! have been but for in the jug being tasted, and con- sidered
this intercourse. pericet, apples and oranges were put upon the table, and shovel full of chestnuts on the fire. Then all the Cratchit
will honour Christmas in my heart, und try to
Iamily drew round the hearth; keeps
and at Bob Cratchit's elbow wil
11 all the year. live in the
stood the family display of glass. Past. the Present, Two tumblers and a custard-cup and the Future. without a handle.
These held the hot stuff from
the jug, however, as well
it out
SD
The Spirits of all
Three shall strive
within me!"
Je Spectre
shrank into a bed-
Yes!
and post.
the bedpost Was
golden gebiets would have done: Sereoge's and Bob served
with beaming looks, while the chest- nuis on the fire sputtered and crackled neislly. Then Bob pro- posed:
0 w n
his The bed was own, tho 700:3 was his own. A bright morning lay outside his window.
"Away they all went, twenty esuples at once, hands half around and
back again the other way". 1. Christmas at the Fozz{Wigs.
1958.
The
Dairy Farm
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Geese
American Oven – Ready Turkeys
Chickens
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"Daisy" Hams Primé Beef Roasts
Pork Legs
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Ice Cream Cakes
Stilton Cheese
Egg Nog
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Christmas Puddings Chocolate Gift Boxes Mixed Nuts
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Fruits and
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Apple Sauce
Cranberries Bird's Eye
Frozen Foods