1920-12-11 — Page 14

F: 0*

14

BE HAPPY.

(Continued from Page 12 One shadow more?" exclaimed

**No more!” cried Scrooge. more. I don't wish to see it.

the ghost.

me no more?"

The con

belief; but no one seemed to care; of

...

STAVE THREE.

THE CHINA MAIL.

the lock, a strange voice called him by The moment Scrooge's hand was on his name, and bade him enter. He

obeyed.

It was his own rooth. There was no doubt about that. But it had un-

"You have never seen the like of me before:" excisimed the spirit.

"Never," Scrooge made answer to

** Have never walked forth with the meaning tor 1 am very young) my younger members of my family: elder brothers born in these later poulterers"

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. 1920.

their

Nor

ders, to dive into his pockets, des- The spirit drooped beneath it, so was powerless to make out what it was bare, as it disdaining to be ward-streets were choked up with a dingy nose, or even that the raisins were sò poil hint of brown-paper parcels, hold that the extinguisher covered its whole meant, or would be at; and was some-ed or concealed by any aroffice. Its mist, half thawed, half truzen, whose plentiful and fare, the almonds so ex- on tight by his cravat, hug him round form; but though Scrooge pressed times apprehensive that he might be feet, observable beneath, the amply heavier particles descended in a tremely white, the sticks of cinnamon all his forme, heat that very mancat an interesting folds of the garment, were also bare shower of sooty atoms, as if all so long and straight, the other spices his neck ponnel his back, and kick it down with his legs in repressible affection: could not hide the light, which streams case of spontaneous combustion, and on its head it wore no other cover the chimneys in Great Britain had, so delicious, the candied fruits so cak- The shouts of wonder and delight with ed from under it. in an unbroken Bood without having the consolation of ing than a holly wreath, set here and by one consent, caught fire, and were ed and spotted with molten sugar as knowing it. At last, however, he be there with shining icicles. Its dark blazing away to their dear hearts to make the coldest lookers on feet which the development of every pack, upon the ground.

He was conscious of being exhaust, gan to think as you or I would have brown curls were long and tree; he content. There was nothing very faint and subsequently bilious. No age was received? The terrible so-

climate or the rown, was it that. the figs were moist and Show rouncement that the baby had been ed. and overcame by an irresistible thought at first: for it is always the as its genist face, its sparkling eye. cheerfat in

aken, in the act of putting a doll's drowsiness; ant. farther, of being in person not in the predicament who is open hand, its cheery woke, its un-and yet there was an air of cheerial palpy, or that the French plans blush- But the relentless ghost pinioned frying pan into his mouth, and was his own bedroom. He gave the cap/knows what ought to have been done constrained demeanour, and its joy-ness abroad that the clearest summered in modest martness from their. But the relentless, ghost rid him more than suspected of having swat-a parting socceze, in which his hand is it, and would unquestionable have ful air. Girded round its middle was air and brightest summer sun might highly-decorated boxes, or that every

lowed a Sctitious turkey, glued on relaxed; and had barely time to reel core it toomar last 1 say, he began to an autique scabbard; but no sword have endeavoured to diffuse in vain. thing was good to eat and in its to observe what happened next.

For the people who were shovelling | Christmas dress. But the customers They were in another scene and wooden platter: The immense rebel to bed, before he sank into a heavy think that the source and secret of was in it, and the ancient sheath was

this ghostly light might be in the ad eaten up with rust.

away on the house-mps were jovial) were all so hurried and so esger in place; a room, not very large or hand-finding this a lakse alarm: The sleep..

joining room, from whence, or further

and full of glee, calling out to one the hopeful promise of the day, that some, bur" fall of comfort. Near toy, and gratinode, and ecstasy: They are all indescribable alike. It is

racing it, it seemed to shine. This

another from the parapers, and now they tumbled up against each other at the winter re sat a beautiful young

idea mking full possession of his mind

and then exchanging a facetious the door, crashing their wicker baskets girl so like that last tha: Scroegenough that by degrees the children

knowball-better-natured missile far wildly, and left their purchases upon felieved it was the same, until he and their emotions got out of the par- THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS, he got up solity and shuffled in his

lour and by one stair at a time, up to

than many a wordy jess-laughing the counter, and care running back ste her. now a comely maron, sit the top of the house; where they went gously torgh shore, and sitting up in

heartily if it went Awaking in the middle of a prodi-slippers to the door.

heartily if it went right, and not less to fetch them, and committed hun The ting opposite her daughter.

to bed, and so subsided.

Wrong. The dreds of the like mistakes, in the best bed to get his thoughts together. raise in this reem was perfectly

shops were still half humour possible; while the grocer and turous. for there were Thore

And now Scrooge looked on more Scrooge, had no occasion to be

* years?" pursued the phantom.

open, and the fruiterers' were his people were so frank and fresh children there, than Scrooge in his attentively than ever, when the mas-that the bell was again upon the stroke He felt that he was restored

**I don't think I have," said radiant in

glory. There that the polished hearts with which agitated state of mind could count:ter of the house. having his daughter of one. and, unlike the celebrated herd in the leaning fondly on him, sat down with to consciousness in the right nick of dergone a surprising transformation. Scrooge. I am alraid I have not. were great, round, pot-bellied baskets they fastened their aprons Behind of chesmuts, shaped like the waist- might have been their own, worn out- poem, they were not forty children her and her mother at his own fire-time, for the especial purpose of hold. The walls and ceiling were so hung Have you had many brothers, spirit?

More than eighteen hundred." coats of joliy old gentlemen, tolling side for general inspection, and for side; and when he thought that such ing a conference with the second mes-with living green, that it looked a conding itself like lorry.

said the ghost.

st the doors, and rumbling out into Christmas daws to peck at if they sequences were uproarious beyond another creature, quite as graceful and senger despatched to him through perfect grove; from every part of as fall of promise. might have called Jacob Marley's intervention. Bat.

which, bright gleaming berries glis.

"A tremendous family to provide the street in their spoplectic opulence. chose.

There were ruddy, brown-faced, But soon the steeples called 'good the contrary, the mother and daughter him father, and been a spring-time in finding that he tund uncomfortably end The crisp. leaves of belly, for?" muttered Scrooge. laughed heartily, and enjoyed it very the haggard winter of his life, his sign: cold when he began to wonder which mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the The Ghost of Christmas Present broad-girthed Spanish onions, shining people all to church and chapel, and

of his curtains this new spectre would ght, as it so many little mirrors bad rose.

in the famess of their growth like away they came, Rocking through the much; and the latter, soon beginning grew very dim indeed. to mingle in the sports, got pillaged

***Spirit," said Scrooge submissive Spanish friars, and winking from their streets in their best clothes, and with draw back, he put them every one been scattered there: and such a

mighty blaze went roaring up the ly, "condest me where you will shelves in wantan shyness at the girls their gayest faces. And at the same down again, established a good look chimney, as that da!! pettifaction of went forth last night on compulsion, ly at the hung up mistletoe. There by-streets, lanes, and nameless turn- as they went by, and glanced demure time there emerged from scores of 2 hearth had never known in and I learned a lesson which is work- to challenge the spirit on the moment Sercoge's time, or Marley's, or for ing now. Tonight, if you have sught in blooming pyramids; there were their dinners to the bakers shops. were pears and apples, clustered high Angs, innumerable people carrying of its appearance, and did not wish

benches of grapes, made in the The sight of these poor revellers to be taken by surprise, and made,

to teach me, let me profit by it."

shopkeepers benevolence, to dangle appeared to interest the spirit very from conspicuous hooks, that people's much. For he stood with Scrooge be mouths might water gratis. as they side him in a baker's doorway, and pissed: here were piles of fiberts taking off the covers as their bearers mossy and brown, recalling, in their passed, sprinkled incense on their fragrance. ancient walks among the dinners from his torch. woods, and pleasant shufflings arkle very uncommon kind of torch, for deep through withered leaves; there once or twice when there were angry were Norfolk biffins, squab and swar-words between some dinner-carriers thy setting off the yellow of the who had jostled each other, he shed oranges and lemons, and, in the great a few drops of water on them from

be carried home in paper-bags and was a shame to quarrel upon Chris urgently entreating and beseeching to stored directly.

For they said, it eaten after dinner. The very golds Day. And so it was! God and silver fish, set forth among these love it, so it was: fruits in a bowl, though members of a dull and stagnant-blooded race, a bakers were shut up; and yet there. In time the bells ceased, and the

thing going on; and, to a fish. went gasping round and round their little these dinners and the progress of their world in slow and passionless excite- cooking, in the thawed blotch of wer ment.

above each baker's over; where the

"Belle" said the husband, nering

old friend of yours this afternoon."

Who was it?"

** Guess!

"How can 17 Tut, don't I knot,”

she added in the same breath, laugh ing as he laughed. "Mr. Scrooge.

ou; all round the bed; for he wished

DEVOUS

יד

by the young brigands most ruthless-to his wife with a senile, "I saw inside with his own hands, and lying 1. What would I not have given to be one of them?. Though I never could have been so rude,-no, no! I wouldn't for the wealth of all the world have crushed that braided hair. and torn it down; and for the precious little shoe, I wouldn't have plucked it cf. God bless my soc!: to save my life. As to measuring her waist in sport, as they did. bold young c. I couldn't have done it, I Sees have expected my arm to have grown round it for a punishment, and rever certe straighi: again. And yet I'd have dearly liked. I own. have touched her lips: to have

her, that she migin have them; to have looked upon shes of her downcast eyes. and raised a blush: to have let loose waves of hair, an inch of which would

be keepsake beyond price: la short.

"Mr. Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was not shat up. and he had a candle inside, I could scarcely help seeing him. His partner hes upon the point of death, bears and here he sat alone. Quite alone in the world. I do believe,

"Spirit: " said Scrooge in a broken voice, “remave me from this place.

"Touch my robe?"

Scrooge did as he was told. and held it fast.

And it was

ty and many a vinter season gone Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese. Gentlemen, of the free-and-easy game, poultry, brawn, great joints of corf, who plume themselves on being meat, socking pigs. long wreaths of

Holly, mistletoe red berries, ivy, acquainted with a move or two. 2nd sausages, mince pies, plum-puddings, turkeys. geese, game, poultry, brawn, being usually equal to the time of barrels of orsters, red hot chestnuts, meat, pigs, sausages. oysters pies day, express the wide range of their cherry-cheeked apples, inicy oranges. puddings, fruit, and punch, all vanish expacity for adventure by observing luscious pears, immerse twelfthed instantly. So did the room. the that they are good for anything from cakes, and seething bowls of punch. fire, the raddy glow, the hour of pitch-and-toss to manslaughter: be that made the chamber dim with their sight, and they stood in the city streets tween which opposite extremes, col delicious steam. In easy state upon on Christmas morning, where (for the I told you these were shadows of doubt, there lies-a tolerably wide and this couch. there, sát a jolly giant, weather was severe) the people made compactness of their juicy persons, it, and their good-humour was re- the things that have been," said the hout venturing for Sercoge quite torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's kind of music, in scraping the snow comprehensive range 0: subjects. glorious to see; who bore a glowing a rough, but brisk and no: unpleasant ghost. That they are what they are, do not blame me?"

as hardily as this, I don't mind calling horn, and held it up. lagh up. to shed from the pavement in front of their Remove me!" Scrooge exclaim on you to believe that he was ready its light on Scrooge, as he came peep-dwellings. and from the tops of their eg. "I cannot bear it: "

for a good broad field of strange aping round the door.

houses, whence it was mad delight Come in!" exclaimed the ghost to the boys to see it come plumping He turned upon the ghost, and see-pearances, and that nothing between a

into artificial little snow-sID.THIS. Scrooge entered timidly. And hung The house fronts looked black his head before this spin. He was enough, and the windows blacker, not the dogged Scrooge he had been: contrasting with the smooth white and though the spirit's'eves were clear | sheet of snow upon the roofs, and with

The grocers: on the grocers' and kind, he did not like to meet the dirtier snow upon the ground; nearly closed, with perhaps two shu- them.

which last deposit hat been ploughed) ters down, or one; but through those

I should have liked, I do confess, toing that it looked upon him with a face baby and rhinoceros would have - Come in and know me better, down into the road below, and splitting peared to know that there was some- | was a genial shadowing forth of all

have had the slightest license of a in which in some strange way there child, and yet to have been man were tragments of all the faces it had enough know.its value.

show him, wrestled with it.

Leave me! Take me Haunt me no longer!

back.

But now a knocking at the door was heard and such a rush immedi. ately.ensred that she with laughing In the struggle, if that can be called face and plundered dress was borne a struggle in which the ghost with no towards it the centre of a flushed and visible resistance on its own part was boisterous group. just in time to greet undisturbed by any effort of its adver- the father, who came home attended sary. Scrooge observed that, its light by a man laden with Christmas toys was burring high and bright and and presents. Then the shouting and dimly connecting that with is in the struggling, and the onslaught that fluence over him, he seized the ex- was made on the defenceless porter: tinguisher-cap, and by a sudden action The scaling hig, wiff chairs for ind-pressed it down upon its head.

|

tonished him very much.

Now, being prepared for almost anything. he was not by any means prepared for nothing; and, consequent ly when the bell struck one, and so shape appeared. he was taken with a violent Et of trembling. Five mines ten minutes, & quarter of an hour went by, yet nothing came. All this time, he lay upon his bed, the very core and centre of a blaze of ruddy light, which streamed upon it when the clock proclaimed the hour: and which, being cely fight, was more alarming then a dozen ghosts, as he

man: "*"*

*

I am the Ghost of Chrismas Pre-up: in deep fanovs by the heavy as such glimpses: It was not alone sent." said the spirit. Look upon wheels of carts and wagons: furrows that the scales descending on the coun- me?"

that crossed and recrossed each other į ter made a merry sound, or that the Scrooge reverently did so. It was hundreds of mines where the great twine and roller parted company so clothed in one simple. deep green streets branched off; and made in briskly, or that the canisters were robe, or mantle, bordered with white tricate channels, hard to trece, in the briskly, or that the canisters were rate. lur. This garment, hung so loosely thick yellow mud and icy water: The tied up and down like juggling tricks. on the figure, that its capacious breast sky was gloomy and the shortest and coffee were so grateful to the

Favement smoked as if its stones were

COOKING 100.

Is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle-from your forch?” asked Scrooge.

There is. My own.”

Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?" asked Scrooge.

"To any kindly given... To a'poor

one most.

Continued on Page 16.

"

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THIRD FLOOR, HOTEL MANSIONS, HONGKONG.

Cable. Address:-- NORTRAÇO.

Phone 2004.

SHANGHAI

46 NANKING ROAD

NEW YORK

233-BROADWA

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