Ebenezer Scrooge was the sole mourner In Jacob Marley's funeral as he was his executor and administrator, his sole friend, Scrooge only mourned the loss of an excellent man of business.
    Scrooge, seen to that the funeral was a bargain, than went on to more profitable business matters with out additional delay or remorse.
    Tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching. Hard, secret, and self-contained, and solitary. The cold within Scrooge froze his features, his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue.
    Scrooge, No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him and brought with him a special coldness that chilled the bones of all who knew him.

      Once upon a time on Christmas Eve, Scrooge sat busy in his cold, bleak, counting-house, the door open to keep his eye on his clerk, who copying letters and shivering from the cold, trying to get a little warmth from the candle.
    Scrooge's nephew, called in with a cheerful voice. "A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!"
    "Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug!"
    Scrooge said. "Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough'
    "Come, then," returned the nephew gaily. "What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morbid? You're rich enough"
    "Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug!" "keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine"
    "Keep it!" repeated Scrooge's nephew. "But you don't keep it."
    "Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug!"
    "Good afternoon," said Scrooge.
    Later a man came in asking Scrooge to help the poor.
    "Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
    "And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
    "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigor, then?" said Scrooge.
    "Many can't go there; and many would rather die"
    "If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
    Scrooge reluctantly let his clerk off Christmas only with the promise to be at work earlier the next day.

      Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual way, read newspapers, and some of his banker's book, went to his gloomy home to bed.
    Scrooge, his key in the lock of the door, saw in the knocker, not a knocker, but Marley's face. It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look. Marley's Ghost!
    A chain was clasped about his middle. It was long, and wound about him like a tail, and made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. His body was transparent.
    Scrooge felt the chilling influence of its death-cold eyes. "How now!" said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. "What do you want with me?"
    "Much!. In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley."
    The spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its chain. the phantom took off the bandage round its head, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast!
    Scrooge fell upon his knees in horror, and clasped his hands before his face. "Mercy!" he said. "Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?"
    The Ghost said: "It is required of every man's spirit walk abroad among his fellowmen, if that spirit has not found it's soul in life, it is condemned to do so after death". Oh, woe is me! -- "I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I crafted it of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"
    Scrooge trembled more and more.
    "You were always a good man of business, Jacob' said Scrooge, "Business!" interrupted the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. My trade was so small a part of my business!"
    "As part of my penance," pursued the Ghost. "I am here tonight to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope, Ebenezer"
    "You were always a good friend to me," said Scrooge. "Thank you!"
    "You will be haunted by Three Spirits"
    "Without their visits, you cannot hope to shun my path. Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls One. Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. "
    Look to see me no more; and for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!"
   

      The First of the Three Spirits
   

When Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, the chimes of a neighboring church struck the four quarters. So he listened for the hour. Scrooge found himself face to face with the unearthly visitor.
    It was a strange figure -- like a child, not big, Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age, yet the face had not a wrinkle and a bloom was on it's skin. The arms, hands and legs were very long and muscular.
    It wore a tunic of the purest white trimmed with summer flowers. , and lustrous belt. It held a branch of fresh green holly; from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light.
    In a low soft gentle. voice, it conveyed that it was the Ghost of Scrooge's Christmas Past and was there for his welfare.
    The gentle grasp of it's hand, Scrooge felt no cold, it was way below freezing. They passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road.
    "Good Heaven!" said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. "I was bred in this place. I was a boy here" He was conscious of a thousand odors floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten.
    The Spirit touched him on the arm, and pointed to his younger self, his friends and mentors. His pet Parrot, his dear sister and childhood glee. Apprenticeship with Old Fezziwig.
    Again Scrooge saw himself, a man in the prime of life. His face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years; but he had even than eager, greedy, restless eyes, He was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning-dress: in whose eyes sparkled.
    She said, softly. " Another idol has displaced me; and if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, I have no just cause to grieve"
    "What Idol has displaced you" he asked.
    "A golden one. The pursuit of wealth. You fear the world too much," "Our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both poor and content to be so, until, in good season, we could improve our worldly fortune by our patient industry. You are changed, you were another man"
    She left him, and they parted.
    "Spirit" said Scrooge," show me no more. Conduct me home. Why do you delight to torture me
    "One shadow more exclaimed the Ghost.
    "No more cried Scrooge. "No more, I don't wish to see it. Show me no more" But the relentless Ghost forced him to observe what happened next.
    They were in another scene and place; a room, not very large or handsome, but full of comfort, joy and love. Near the fire sat a beautiful young girl her mother who laughed heartily, enjoyed life very much. The other children playing.
    But now a knocking at the door was heard, and such a rush immediately ensued that she with laughing face and plundered dress was borne towards it the center of a flushed and boisterous group, just in time to greet The father, who came home laden with Christmas toys and presents. The children shouting with glee. hug him round his neck in irrepressible affection. The shouts of wonder and delight.
    The joy, and gratitude, and ecstasy. And now Scrooge looked on more attentively than ever, when the master of the house, having his daughter leaning fondly on him, sat down with her and her mother at his own fireside. "Belle," said the husband, turning to his wife with a smile," I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon" "Who was it"
    "Guess"
    "How can I. Tut, don't I know" she added in the same breath, laughing as he laughed. "Mr Scrooge"
    "Mr Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was not shut up, and he had a candle inside, I could scarcely help seeing him. His partner lies upon the point of death, I hear; and there he sat alone. Quite alone in the world, I do believe"
    Scrooge had measured everything by gain and gold. The elusive glitter had gotten into his blood, made his heart as hard and cold as the metal it self, and poisoned his soul.
    He would have given all the wealth of all the world to have a life of happiness and meaning.
    "Spirit" said Scrooge in a broken voice," remove me from this place" "Remove me" Scrooge exclaimed," I cannot bear it"
   

     

The Second of the Three Spirits
   

      Scrooge was prepared for anything, it became strangely cold at the appointed time, but nothing appeared and Scrooge was not prepared for that. Eventually he went to check the door and a voice called him by name to come in.
    He entered and knew it was his own room, but decked out with Christmas ornaments and foods and treats of all kinds.
    "I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me"
    It was clothed in one simple green robe bordered with white fur and loosely fitting and on its head it wore a holly wreath with shining icicles.
    The Ghost of Christmas Present rose.
    "Spirit," said Scrooge, "bring me where you will. Last night I learned a lesson which is working now. Tonight, if you have something to teach me, let me profit by it"
    "Touch my robe"
    Scrooge did and held it fast.
    Instantly they were on the main street in a flurry of Christmas activities. Shops just getting ready to close, snow shovels scraping, singing, people were jovial and full of glee, jesting and full of merriment.
    Friendliness and charity to the poor and even Scrooge felt in his heart a compassion he had not known before and it put him in good spirits.
    Next they went to Scrooge's clerk, Bob Cratchit's dwelling which was sprinkling with good humor. Bob had but fifteen bob a-week and yet the Ghost of Christmas Present blessed his four-roomed house.
    Bob Cratchit's wife, dressed but poorly in a twice-turned gown Belinda and Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into the saucepan of potatoes. Bob's voice trembled when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty.
    At last the dinner was all done, Then Bob proposed: "A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us" Which all the family re-echoed.
    "God bless us every one' said Tiny Tim, the last of all.
    "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, none other of my race," returned the Ghost, "will find him here.
    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, and was overcome with penitence and grief.
    "Mr Scrooge" said Bob; "I'll give you Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast"
   

     

The Last of the Spirits
    The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached scattering gloom and mystery. Shrouded in a deep black garment which left nothing of it visible but one outstretched hand.
    "I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come" said Scrooge. The Spirit only pointed onward with its hand.
    "Ghost of the Future." he exclaimed," I fear you more than any spectre I have seen.
    The Phantom moved away as it had come towards him. Scrooge followed in the shadow of its dress, which bore him up, he thought, and carried him along.
    The Spirit stopped beside a group of business men. Scrooge advanced to listen to their talk.
    "When did he die." "Last night, I believe." "I thought he'd never die." "What has he done with his money." "It's likely to be a very cheap funeral," for upon my life I don't know of anybody to go to it. This pleasantry was received with a general laugh.
    The Phantom glided Scrooge to listened again there was a low-browed, beetling shop, Scrooge and the Phantom came in just as a woman with a heavy bundle slunk into the shop. But she had scarcely entered, when another woman, similarly laden, came in too.
    "Bed-curtains." "You don't mean to say you took them down, rings and all, with him lying there." "Yes I do," replied the woman. "Why not."
    Scrooge listened to this dialog in horror. As they sat grouped about their spoil.
    The Phantom showed Scrooge his corps, even his clothes had been stolen.
    At his funeral, few but his nephew and Bob Cratchit's family showed up.
    The Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood. Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge.
    "No, Spirit. Oh no, no."
    Why show me this, if I am past all hope."
    Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life."
    "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone."
    Holding up his hands in a last prayer to have his fate aye reversed, he saw an alteration in the Phantom's hood and dress. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost.
   
    The End of It
    Yes! and the bedpost, bed and room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!
    "I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future." Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. "The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley. Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this. I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees."
    He was fluttered and glowing with his good intentions and his face was wet with tears.
    "I don't know what to do." cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath. "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody. A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here. Whoop. Hallo."
    Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious.
    "What's to-day." cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.
    "What's to-day, my fine fellow." said Scrooge.
    "To-day." replied the boy. "Why, Christmas Day."
    "It's Christmas Day." said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Scrooge sent the boy for the big prize Turkey "I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's." whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands, and splitting with a laugh. "He shall not know who sends it. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim.
    With a chuckle, he paid for the Turkey, and the chuckle with which he paid for the cab to carry it to Bob Cratchit.
    At last got out into the streets where people were walking around Scrooge regarded every one with a delighted smile. He looked so irresistibly pleasant, saying," Good morning, sir. A merry Christmas to you." to all he met. Something he would not have done yesterday.
    He had not gone far, when gentleman, who had walked into his counting-house the day before asking for help for the poor, this tome making a generous gift.
    In the afternoon he turned his steps towards his nephew's house. "Is your master at home, my dear." said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl. "He's in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I'll show you up-stairs, if you please."
    "Fred." said Scrooge. Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage started. "It's I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred." Nothing could be heartier.
    Scrooge was early at the office next morning when Bob Cratchit came in. "A merry Christmas, Bob," said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year. I'll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family.
    Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and 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 a man,
    Scrooge lived in total harmony with the spirit of Christmas ever after, and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!
    And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!
   
   

     

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