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64 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge

The Background of

Ebenezer Scrooge

Continues From Page 61

In almshouse, hospital, and jail, in
misery’s every refuge, where vain man in his
little brief authority had not made fast the door,
and barred the Spirit out, he left his blessing,
and taught Scrooge his precepts.
“Forgive me,” said Scrooge, as they
stood together in an open place, “but I see
something strange, protruding from your skirts.
Is it a foot or a claw?”
From the foldings of its robe, the Spirit
brought two children; wretched, abject,
frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at
its feet, and clung upon the outside of its
garment. They were a boy and girl.
Scrooge started back, appalled.
“Spirit! are they yours?” Scrooge could from the darkness by which it was surrounded. accustomed corner, and though the clock
say no more. He felt that it was tall and stately when it pointed to his usual time of day for being there,
“They are Man’s,” said the Spirit, came beside him, and that its mysterious he saw no likeness of himself among the
looking down upon them. “This boy is presence filled him with solemn dread. He knew multitudes that poured in. It gave him little
Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor moved. surprise, however; for he had been revolving in
but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow “I am in the presence of the Ghost of his mind a change of life, and thought and hoped
I see that written which is Doom, unless the Christmas Yet To Come?” said Scrooge. “Ghost he saw his new-born resolutions carried out in
writing be erased.” of the Future!” he exclaimed, “I fear you more this.
“Have they no refuge or resource?” than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your They left the busy scene, and went into
cried Scrooge. purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live an obscure part of the town, to a shop where
“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, to be another man from what I was, I am iron, old rags, bottles, bones, and greasy offal,
turning on him for the last time with his own prepared to bear you company, and do it with a were bought by a grey-haired rascal.
words. “Are there no workhouses?” thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?” Scrooge and the Phantom came into the
The bell struck Twelve. It gave him no reply. The hand was presence of this man, just as a woman with a
Scrooge looked about him for the Ghost, pointed straight before them. heavy bundle slunk into the shop. But she had
and saw it not. As the last stroke ceased to “Lead on!” said Scrooge. “Lead on! The scarcely entered, when another woman,
vibrate, he remembered the prediction of old night is waning fast, and it is precious time to similarly laden, came in too; and she was
Jacob Marley, and beheld a solemn Phantom, me, I know. Lead on, Spirit!” closely followed by a man in faded black.
draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along They scarcely seemed to enter the city; “Let the charwoman be the first!” cried
the ground, toward him. for the city rather seemed to spring up about she who had entered first. “Let the laundress be
them. But there they were, in the heart of it, the second; and let the undertaker’s man be the
This "solemn Phantom" does not speak words to among the merchants. third.”
Scrooge, but its actions will cause old Ebenezer The Spirit stopped beside one little knot “What have you got to sell?” asked Joe.
to become very afraid. No longer will his of business men. Observing that the hand was “Half a minute’s patience, Joe, and you
favorite phrase - "Bah, Humbug!" - trip so easily pointed to them, Scrooge advanced to listen to shall see. Who’s the worse for the loss of a few
from his lips. their talk. things like these? Not a dead man, I suppose. If
The journey Ebenezer Scrooge takes “No,” said a great fat man with a he wanted to keep ’em after he was dead, a
with the "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be" is the monstrous chin, “I don’t know much about it, wicked old screw,” pursued the woman, “why
most-terrifying of all for the old miser. He sees either way. I only know he’s dead.” wasn’t he natural in his lifetime? If he had been,
the body of a man, lying on his bed, who “When did he die?” inquired another. he’d have had somebody to look after him when
obviously died alone and unloved. Who is that “Last night, I believe.” he was struck with Death, instead of lying
man? “Why, what was the matter with him?” gasping out his last there, alone by himself.
Scrooge hears a group of people talking asked a third. “I thought he’d never die.” Open that bundle, old Joe, and let me know the
about the dead man in a very disrespectful way. “God knows,” said the first, with a value of it. Speak out plain.”
He sees his belongings sold-off for next-to- yawn. Joe went down on his knees, and having
nothing. If the person had any money in life, it “What has he done with his money?” unfastened a great many knots, dragged out a
isn't helping him now. Who is that man? asked a red-faced gentleman. large and heavy roll of some dark stuff.
Ebenezer begins to worry that the man “I haven’t heard,” said the man with the “What do you call this?” said Joe.
might be him. Is this what his future holds? Can large chin, yawning again. “Left it to his “Bed-curtains!”
he change his ways? Why show him such company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to me. That’s “Ah!” returned the woman. “Bed-
scenes unless there is a hope of change? all I know.” Bye, bye!” curtains! Don’t drop that oil upon the blankets,
Scrooge was at first inclined to be now.”
The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, surprised that the Spirit should attach “His blankets?” asked Joe.
approached. When it came near him, Scrooge importance to conversations apparently so “Whose else’s do you think?” replied the
bent down upon his knee; for in the very air trivial; but feeling assured that they must have woman. “He isn’t likely to take cold without ’em,
through which this Spirit moved it seemed to some hidden purpose, he set himself to consider I dare say. Ah! you may look through that shirt
scatter gloom and mystery. what it was likely to be. It could scarcely be till your eyes ache; but you won’t find a hole in
It was shrouded in a deep black garment, supposed to have any bearing on the death of it, nor a threadbare place. It’s the best he had,
which concealed its head, its face, its form, and Jacob, his old partner, for that was Past, and and a fine one too.”
left nothing of it visible save one outstretched this Ghost’s province was the Future.
hand. But for this it would have been difficult to He looked about in that very place for (Continued On Page 65)
detach its figure from the night, and separate it his own image; but another man stood in his