1920-12-11 — Page 16

16

BE HAPPY.

Continued from Page 14.)

Scrooge.

"Because it needs it most.".

"Spirit." said Serge after a mament's thought wonder you, of all the beings in the many worlds about is, should desire to cramp these people's opportunities of innocent

enjoyment.

12" cried the spirit. You would deprive them of their mears of drink every seventh day, after the only day on which they can be said to dine & all." said Scrooge. "Wouldn't you?”

***1. cried the spirit.

**I scek?" exclaimed the spirit. "Forgive me il 1 sm wrong. I has been done in your name, or a: least in that of your family." said Scrooge..

own?

THE CHINA MAIL.

**A. Merry Chrisanas to us D, my dears. God bless us!"

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. 1920.

Year! He'll be very merry and very the house were running out into the happy. I have no doubt"

snow, to meet, their married "sisters, The children drank the roast after brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, and, her. It was the first of their proceed-be the first to greet them. Here ings which had no heartiness in it. again, were shadows on the window-" Tiny Tim drank it last plat, but he blind of guests assembling, and there didn't care twopence for it. Scrooge a group of handsome girls, all hooded. The and fur-booted, and all chattering at was the ogre of the family, mention of his name cast a dark sha-once, ripped lightly off to some near dow on the party," which was not dis-neighbour's house; where, voe'mpor.. pelled for full Eve minutes.

the single man who saw them enter. After it had passed away, they were-artfut witches, well they knew it ten times merrier than before, from in a glow!

น

goodly show for sixpence; and she came out prematurely from behind the wis such a goose cooked. Its tender- laid the cloth. assisted by Belinda closet door, and ran into his arms,ness ad flavour, size and cheapness,

Which all the family re-echoed. Cratchit, second of her daughters while the two young Craschits hustled were the themes of universal adımira-

"God bless us every one?" said also, brave in ribbons; while Master Tiny Tim, and bore him off into the ton. Eked out by apple-sauce and Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into wash-house, that be might hear the mashed potatges, it was a sufficient Tiny Tim, the last of all.

dinner for the whole family; indeed, He sat very close to his father's → Why to a poor one most?" asked the saucepan of potatoes, and letting pudding singing in the copper,

the corners of his monstrous shirt- "And how did finle Tim behave?" as Mrs-Cratchit said with great de side, upon his linte stool. Bob held collar (Bob's private property.con-asked Mrs Cratchit, when she light (surveying one small atom of a his withered linle` hand in his, as if ferred upon his son and heir in hon-ad rallied Bob on his credulity, and bone epon the dish, they hadn't ate he loved the child, and wished to keep our of the day) into his mouth, re- Bob had hugged his daughter to his it all at last: Yer every one had had him by his side, and dreaded in..

enough," and the youngest Cratchits might be taken from him. foiced to find himself so gallantly heart's content.

**As good is gold," said Beb, "and in particular, were steeped in sage Spirit," said Scrooge, with an in- attired, and yearned to show his linen

Somehow he gets thought-and onion to the eyebrows! Bat now,terest he had never felt before, "elf

the mere relic of Scrooge the Baleful But, it you had judged from the in the fashionable parks. And now bener. two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, ful sitting by himself so much, and the plates being changed by Miss Be-me it Tiny Tim will live."

**I see a vacant seat,” replied the being done with Bob Cratchit, told numbers" of people on their way o came tearing in, screaming that out thinks the strangest things you ever linda, Mrs Cratchit left the rooma side the baker's, they had smelled heard. He told me, coming home, alone too nervous to hear wimesses ghost, in the poor chimney-corner, them how he had a situation in his friendly gatherings, you might have the goose, and known it for their that he hoped the people saw him into take the pudding up, and bring and a cratch without an owner, care-eye for Master Peter, which would thought that no one was at home to fully preserved. If these shadows re-bring in, it obtained, full five-and-give them welcome when they got and' basking in luxurious the church, because he was a cripple, it in.

The two young there, instead of every house, expect. thoughts of sage and onion, these and it might be pleasant to them to Suppose it should not be done main unaltered by the future, the sixpence weekly.

Cratchits laughed tremendously at the ing company, and piling up its fires. young Cratchits danced about the remember upon Christmas Day who each Suppose it should break in child will die."

Suppose somebody **No, no,” said Scrooge. "Qh. idea of Peter's being a man of busi-half chimney high. Blessings on it, table and exalted Master Reter Crat-made lame beggars walk and blind turning out:

should have got over the wall of the no. Kind spirit say he will beness; and, Peter himself booked how the ghost exalted? How it bared You seek to close these places chit to the skies, while he (not proud, men see.".

thoughtfully at the fire from between its breadth of breast, and opened its Bob's voice was tremulous when he back-yard, and stolen it, while they spared."

If these shadows remain unalter his collars, as if he were deliberating capacious palms, and Boated on, out- of the seventh day?" said Scrooge.although his collar neatly choked,

him) blew the fire, until the simtold them this, and trembled more) were metry, with the goose—a sap- And it comes to the same thing

potatoes babling up. Knocket loudly when he said that Tiny Tim was grow-position at which the two young Crated by the future. cone other of my what particular investments he should pouring, with a generous hand, its chits became livid All sorts of race, returned the ghost. “will find savour when he came into the receipt bright and harmless mirth on every at the saucepan-lid to be let out and ing strong and hearty..

His active linte crutch was heard horrors were supposed. (

him here. What then? If he be like of that bewildering income. Martha. thing within its reach: The very peeled.

**What has ever gor your precious upon the Hoor, and back came Tiny Hollo: A great deal of steam: to die. he had better do it, and de- who was a poor apprentice et a mil-lamplighter, who ran on before, darting limer's. then told them what kind of the dusky street with specks of light, father then?" said Mrs. Cratchit. Tim before another word was spoken. The pudding was out of the copper, crease the surplus population."

Scrooge hung his head to hear his work she had to do, and how many and who was dressed to spend the And your brother, Tiny Tim: And escorted by his brother and sister to A smell like a washing-day? That Martha wasn't as late last Christmas his stood beside the fire and while, was the cloth. A smell like an eating own words quoted by the spirit, and hours she worked a stretch, and evening somewhere, laughed out loud Bob, turning up his cuffs-ss it. poor house and a pastrycook's next door to was overcome with penitence and now she meant to be abed to-morrow as the spirit passed, though little Day by hall an hour."

Fellow, they were capable of being each other, with a laundress's next grief.

morning, for a good long rest; to-kenned the lamplighter that he had made more shabby----compounded some thor to that t

"Man," said the ghost-it man; morrow, being a holiday she passed at any company but Christmas: That was the pod-

Also, how she had seen a

And now, without a word of warn hot mixture in a jug with gin and A la halla micute Mrs. Crat- you be in heart, nor adamant-forbear | nome. ferons, and stirred: Master Peter and £ entered-fushed. but smiling that wicked cant worl you have discountess and a lord some days before, ing from the ghost, they stood upon a the two ubiquitous young Cratchits proudly with the pudding like a covered what the surplus is, and and how the lord "was much about bleak and desert moor, where mon- Will you decide what as tali zs Peter": at which Peter strous masses of rude stone were cast went to fetch the goose, with which speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, where it is. they soon returned in high procession. blazing in half of ball a quartern of men shall live, what men shall die? pulled up his collars so high that you about, as though it were the burial- Such a bustle ensued that you ignited brandy. and bedight with It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, couldn't have seen his head if you place of giants: and water spread it- you are more worthless and less fit had been there. All this time the self wheresoever it listed, or would might have thought a goose the rarest Christmas holly stuck into the top. (of all birds; a feathered phenomenon, Oh, a wonderful pudding: Bob to live than millions like this poor chestnuts and the jug went round and have done so, but for the frost that to which a black swan was a matter Cretchit said, and calmly no, that he man's child God: to bear the in round; and by and by they had held in prisoner: and nothing grew but Isent on the leaf pronouncing on the song, about a hot child travelling in mess and furze, and coarse, rank

plaintive little voice, and sang very sum had left a streak of Bery red, well indeed.

this. They were not a handsome There was nothing of high mark in

family; they were not well dressed; proof; their clothes were scanty; and their shoes were far from being water

Peter might have known, and very "The founder of the Feast indeed!" likely did, the inside of a pawnbroke cried Mrs. Cratchit, reddening. "1er's Bar they were happy, grateful, labour in the bowels of the earth," wish I had him here. I'd give him pleased with one another, and con-

-There are some upon this "carth of sorts," returned the spirit."who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will harred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to s and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember:

that, and charge their doings on them seiras, not us."

Sercoge promised that he would; and they went on, invisible as they had been before, into the suburbs of the rows. It was a remarkable qual

"Here's Martha, mother" said a girl appearing as she spoke.

Here's Martha, mother!” cried "Hurrah! the two young Cratchits. There's such a goose, Martha !**

Why, bless your heart alive, my dear, how late you are said Mrs. Cratchit, kissing her a dozen times. and taking off her shant and honnet for her with officious zeal.

"We'd a deal of work to finish up

ity of the ghost (which Scrooge baa last night." replied the girl," and bad of course--and in truth it was some regarded it as the greatest success too much life among his hungry the snow from Tiny Timm, who had a grass. Down in the west the setting observed at the baker's) that, náwith. to clear away this morning. mother!" | thing very like it in that house. Ms. [ achieved by Mrs. Crarchir since their brothers in the dust!"

standing his gigantic size, he could accommodate himself to any place with case; and that he stood beneath a low root quite as-gracefully and like a sapernatural creature, as it was pos- sible he could have done in any logy rall.

Well: Never mind so long as you are come." said Mrs. Cratchit. Sit ve down before the fire, my dear, and have a warm. Lord bless ye!"

No. no: There's father coming, cried the two young Cratchits, who, were everywhere at once. Hide.

Martha. hide!"

So Martha hid herself, and in came linle Bob, the father, with at least three feet of comforter exclusive of the fringe. hanging down before him: and his threadbare clothes darned na and brushed. to look seasonable; and Tiny Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny Tim. he bore a little crutch, and had his limbs supported by an iron frame:

And perhaps it was the pleasure the good spirit had in showing off this power of his, or else it was his own lind, generous. hearty mature, and his sympathy with all poor mes. that led him straight to Scrooge's clerk's: for there he went, and took Scrooge with him. holding to his robe; and on the threshold of the door the spirit sled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchit's dwelling with the sprink- lings of his torch. Think of that Bob had but fifteen "Boo a week

Yor coming." said Mrs. Cratchit. Himself, he pocketed on Saturdays but "Not coming!" said Bob, with a Sitech copies of his Christian name: saddes declension in his high spirits: and yet the Ghost of Christmas Pre- for he had been Tim's blood-horse all cent blessed his four-roomed house! the way from church and had come Then up rose Ms. Cratchit, Crashyme rampant. Not coming upon chit's wife, dressed out but poorly in Christmas Day!" a twice-turned gown, but brave in Martha didn't like to see him disap- ribbons, which are cheap and make a pointed. if it were only in joke: so she

Why, Where's our Martha?" cried Bob Cratchit, looking round.

marriage. Mrs. Crachit said that now the weight was off her mind, she would confess she had had her doubts about the quantity of four.

Every- body had something, to say about it, but nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family It would have been far heresy to do so. Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing.

rebake, and trembling, cast his eyes Scrooge bent before the ghost's upon the ground. But he raised than speedily, on hearing his own came. give you Mr. Scrooge, the founder of "Mr. Scrooge said Bob; "In the feast!"

·

which glared upon the desolation for frowning lower, lower, lower yet, was an tastant. like a sullen eye, and

lost in the thick gloom of darkest “ night.

asked

What place is this?" Scrooge."

"A place where miners live, who

"Bat they know

Cratchit made the gravy fready be forchand in a little saucepan) hissing hot: Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour: Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce: Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table; the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody, no: forgetting themselves, and mounting guard upon their posts, canned spoons into their

At last the dinner was all done, the a piece of my mind to feast upon, and tented with the time, and when they returned the spirit. mouths, lest they should shriek loc goose before their turn came, to be cloth was cleared, the hearth swept. 1 hope he'd have a good appetite for faded, and looked happier yet in the. See

A light shone from the window of The compound it.

bright sprinklings of the spirit's torch helped. At last the dishes were set and the fire made up. on, and grace was said. It was suc-; in the jug being tasted, and consider-

"My dear." said Bob, "the child-at parting, Scrooge had his eye upon but, and swiftly they advanced to- them and especially on Ticy Tim, wards it. Passing through the wall ceeded by a breathless pause, as Mrs.ed perfect, apples and oranges were ren! Christmas Day."

of mud and stone, they found a cheer- "It should be Christmas Day, until the-last. Cratchit, looking slowly all along the put upon the table, and a shovellut of

Then all the sure." said she, "on which one But this time it was getting dark, fel company assembled round a glos. carving-knife. prepared to plunge it in chestnuts on the fire.

An old, old the breast; bet when she did, and Cratchit family drew round the hearth, drinks the health of such an odious. and snowing pretty heavily; and asing bre. when the long expected gush of in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, stings, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge and the spirit went along the woman, with their children and their You know he is, Robert: streets. the brightness of the rearing children's children, and another gene- stuffing issued forth, one murmur of meaning half a one: and at Bob Crat- Scrooge. delight arose all round the board, and chit's elbow stood the family display Nobody knows it better than you do. Fires in kitchers, parlours, and all ration beyond that, all decked out

Two tumblers, and young Cratchits, beat on the table of glass.

pear fellow !**

sorts of rooms, was wonderful.. Here gaily in their holiday attire. My dear." was Bob's mild an- the flickering of the blaze showed pre- min. in a voice that seldom rose even Tiny Tim, excited by the two custard-cup without a handle..

parations for a cosy dinner, with harf above the howling of the wind upon the young Cratchits. beat on the table! These held the hot "sta from the swer. "Christmas Day." with the handle of his knife, and jug, however, as well as golden beat- | "I drink his health for your sake plates baking through and through the barren waste, was singing them a Christmas song-it-had been a very fcebly cried Hurrah!

ing looks, while the chesmets on the and the day's." said Mrs. Cratchit. before the fire, and deep red curtains. There never was such a goose. fire sputtered and cracked noisily. "not for his. Long like to him: A ready to be drawn to shut out cold and cld song when he was a boy-and

(Continned on Page 18.) Sob said he didn't believe there ever Then Bob proposed -

Merry Christmas and a Happy New darkness. There, all the children of

*

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man

and

The old

If

ONCE

AGAIN

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING

Why not be Wise and Select

ALL YOUR XMAS PRESENTS

BEFITTING THE SEASON

FROM

THE SINCERE Co., Ltd.

NOTHING BUT XMAS BARGAINS

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