ThE mineR
December 2, 2015 |
1B
Mak y r r e ing Christmas M A Christmas Carol STAVE 3 - THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS By Charles Dickens Edited for public reading by Theresa Race Hoffman. This version Copyright © 2006 by Theresa Race Hoffman. All Rights Reserved.
N
ow, when the Bell struck One, a quarter of an hour went by, yet nothing came. At last, he began to notice a ghostly light coming from the adjoining room. He shuffled in his slippers to the door. A strange voice called him by his name, and bade him enter. It was his own room. But the walls and ceiling were hung with berries, holly, mistletoe, and ivy, and a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, sausages, mincepies, plum-puddings, red-hot chestnuts, apples, oranges, pears, cakes, and seething bowls of punch. Upon this food couch, there sat a jolly Giant, who bore a glowing torch, and held it high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. “Come in!” exclaimed the Ghost. “Come in! and know me better, man!” Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head. Though the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit. “Look upon me!” Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in a simple green robe, bordered with white fur. Its feet were bare; and on its head it wore a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free as its cheery voice, and its joyful air. “You have never seen the like of me before!” exclaimed the Spirit. “Spirit,” said Scrooge, “conduct me where you will. I went forth last night and I learnt a lesson which is working now. To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.” “Touch my robe!”
Scrooge did as he was told, and held it fast. Feast, fire, room all vanished instantly and they stood in the city streets on a snowy Christmas morning. The sky was gloomy, and yet was there an air of cheerfulness abroad like a summer day. Soon the steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes, and with their gayest faces. They went on, invisible, as they had been before, into the suburbs of the town. The good Spirit led him straight to Scrooge’s clerk’s, holding to his robe; and on the threshold of the door the Spirit smiled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchit’s dwelling. Think of that! Bob had but fifteen shillings a-week himself; and yet the Ghost of Christmas Present blessed his fourroomed house! Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, dressed poorly in a worn dress. And now two smaller Cratchits danced about the table. “What has ever got your precious father then?” said Mrs. Cratchit. “And your brother, Tiny Tim.” In came Bob, the father, with his threadbare clothes darned up and brushed, to look seasonable; and Tiny Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch! “And how did little Tim behave?” asked Mrs. Cratchit. “As good as gold,” said Bob. “He told me, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.” His active little crutch was heard upon the floor, and back came Tiny Tim. At last the dishes were set on, and grace was said. Bob said he didn’t believe there ever was such a goose cooked. Eked out by apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family. Mrs.
Cratchit left the room to bring the pudding, like a speckled cannon-ball, blazing in ignited brandy, and with Christmas holly stuck into the top. A wonderful pudding! At last the dinner was all done, all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, and Bob proposed a toast: “A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!” “God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim, the last of all. He sat very close to his father’s side upon his little stool. Bob held his withered little hand in his, as if he loved the child, and wished to keep him by his side, and dreaded that he might be taken from him. “Spirit,” said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, “tell me if Tiny Tim will live.” “I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, “in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.” “No, no,” said Scrooge. “Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.” “If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, he will die this year,” repeated the Ghost. “What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit. “Man,” said the Ghost, “will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child!” Scrooge bent before the Ghost’s rebuke, and trembling cast his eyes upon the ground. But he raised them speedily, on hearing his own name. “Mr. Scrooge!” toasted Bob; “I’ll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of
the Feast!” “The Founder of the Feast indeed!” cried Mrs. Cratchit, reddening. “My dear,” said Bob, “the children! Christmas Day.” “It should be Christmas Day, I am sure,” said she, “on which one drinks the health of such a stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, Robert! Nobody knows it better than you do!” “My dear,” was Bob’s mild answer, “Christmas Day.” “I’ll drink his health for your sake and the Day’s,” said Mrs. Cratchit, “not for his. Long life to him! A merry Christmas and a happy new year!” The children drank the toast after her, but they didn’t care for it. Scrooge was the Ogre of the famSee CAROL, 2B
The
Largest
Trampoline Park in Mr. Coffee $2499
Washington
Crock Pots 1999- & Up
• Dunk Hoops • Dodgeball Courts • Kiddie Court • Arcade • FunLandia Kids Play System • Foam Pit & Rope Swing • Birthday Parties • Group events • Free Style Court
$
Great Assortment of Holiday Snow Globes Assorted Boxed Chocolates 509-447-2484 336 S. Washington Ave.
M-F 8am-6pm • Sat. 8am-4pm
MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS BRIGHT. .
BONNER MALL HAS IT ALL
& Che ese
& its Spir
Holiday Specials Tues. - Sat. • 10 am to 6 pm 208.765.8576 • 1411 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene
UNIQUE & SPECIAL ELEGANT & PRACTICAL GIFTS FOR EVRYONE ON YOUR LIST SANTA’S HERE SAT 10-3, SUN 11-3 EXTENDED SHOPPING HOURS
BONNER MALL ���-���-���� • Ponderay, ID bonnermall.com
Coeur d’Alene
208-765-3311
Colville
509-684-3776
Sandpoint
208-263-1016
Spokane
509-535-7794
Coupon not valid with any other promotional offer or discount. Only one coupon per purchase. Valid through 12/31/15