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The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge 65

The Background of churchyard. his own, the room was his own. Best and
The Spirit stood among the graves, and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own,
Ebenezer Scrooge pointed down to One. to make amends in!
“Before I draw nearer to that stone to Running to the window, he opened it, and
which you point,” said Scrooge, “answer me put out his head. No fog, no mist, no night;
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one question. Are these the shadows of the clear, bright, stirring, golden Day.
things that Will be, or are they shadows of things “What’s to-day, my fine fellow?” said
that May be, only?” Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday
Scrooge listened to this dialogue in
Still the Ghost pointed downward to the clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look
horror.
grave by which it stood. about him.
“Spirit!” said Scrooge. “The case of
“Men’s courses will foreshadow certain “To-day! Why, Christmas Day.”
this unhappy man might be my own. My life
ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,” “It’s Christmas Day!” said Scrooge to
tends that way, now. Merciful Heaven, what is
said Scrooge. “But if the courses be departed himself. “I haven’t missed it. Hallo, my fine
this!”
from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with fellow! Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the next
“Spirit! Let me see some tenderness what you show me!” street but one, at the corner?” Scrooge inquired.
connected with a death, or this dark chamber, The Spirit was as immovable as ever. “I should hope I did,” replied the lad.
Spirit, will be for ever present to me,” said
Scrooge crept toward it, trembling as he went; “An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A
Scrooge.
and following the finger, read upon the stone of remarkable boy! Do you know whether they’ve
The Ghost conducted him to poor Bob
the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there?
Cratchit’s house; and found the mother and the
SCROOGE. Not the little prize Turkey, the big one?”
children seated round the fire.
“Am I that man who lay upon the bed?” “What, the one as big as me?”
Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little
he cried, upon his knees. “A delightful boy! It’s a pleasure to talk
Cratchits were as still as statues, and sat looking
The finger pointed from the grave to him, to him. Yes!”
up at Peter, who had a book before him. and back again. “It’s hanging there now,” replied the
“ ‘And He took a child, and set him in “No, Spirit! Oh no, no, Spirit, hear me! boy.
the midst of them.’ ”
I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I “Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it,
Where had Scrooge heard those words?
must have been but for this. Why show me this, and tell ’em to bring it here, that I may give them
He had not dreamed them. The boy must have
if I am past all hope! Assure me that I yet may the direction where to take it. Come back with
read them out, as he and the Spirit crossed the
change these shadows you have shown me, by the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back
threshold. Why did he not go on?
an altered life!” with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give
The mother laid her sewing upon the
For the first time, the kind hand faltered. you half-a-crown!”
table, and put her hand up to her face. “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and The boy was off like a shot.
“The color hurts my eyes,” she said. try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, “I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s!”
The color? Ah, poor Tiny Tim! the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all whispered Scrooge. “He sha’n’t know who sends
“They’re better now again,” said
Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim.”
Cratchit’s wife. “It makes them weak by candle-
the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may The hand in which he wrote the address
light; and I wouldn’t show weak eyes to your
sponge away the writing on this stone!” was not a steady one, but write it he did,
father when he comes home, for the world. It
Holding up his hands in one last prayer somehow, and went down-stairs to open the
must be near his time.”
to have his fate reversed, he saw an alteration in street door, ready for the coming of the
“Past it rather,” Peter answered,
the Phantom’s hood and dress. It shrunk, poulterer’s man. It was a Turkey! He never
shutting up his book. “But I think he has walked collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost. could have stood upon his legs, that bird. He
a little slower than he used to, these last few would have snapped ’em short off in a minute,
evenings, mother.” Old Marley predicted that Scrooge would have like sticks of sealing-wax.
“I have known him walk with - I have
visits from "Three Spirits," but he did not tell Scrooge dressed himself, and at last got
known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his
Ebenezer what would happen after that. Let's out into the streets. The people were by this time
shoulder, very fast indeed. But he was very light
find out whether those visits made a difference pouring forth. Walking with his hands behind
to carry,” she resumed, intent upon her work,
in Scrooge's life. him, Scrooge regarded every one with a
“and his father loved him so, that it was no
Scrooge awakens, on Christmas delighted smile.
trouble - no trouble. And there is your father at
morning, a changed man. He shocks everyone In the afternoon he turned his steps
the door!” who previously knew him with his Christmas- towards his nephew’s house.
She hurried out to meet him; and little Day actions. He passed the door a dozen times, before
Bob in his comforter - he had need of it, poor He anonymously sends Bob Cratchit and he had the courage to go up and knock. But he
fellow - came in. His tea was ready for him on
his family the "prize turkey," so they can enjoy a made a dash, and did it.
the hob, and they all tried who should help him
wonderful Christmas dinner. He more-than- “Is your master at home, my dear?” said
to it most. The two young Cratchits got upon his
generously gives to the poor (although he'd Scrooge to the girl.
knees and laid, each child a little cheek, against
previously refused to give anything at all). He “Yes, sir.”
his face, as if they said, “Don’t mind it, father.
surprises his nephew, Fred, by accepting the “Where is he, my love?” said Scrooge.
Don’t be grieved!”
invitation to share Christmas with his family. “He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with
Bob was very cheerful with them, and In short ... Scrooge is determined to live mistress.”
spoke pleasantly to all the family. a better life and learn from the ghostly visits. “He knows me,” said Scrooge, with his
“You went today, then, Robert?” said his With this story, Charles Dickens touched hand already on the dining-room lock. “I’ll go
wife.
a nerve with the people of his city (London), his in here, my dear. Fred!”
“Yes, my dear,” returned Bob. “I wish
country (England) and the rest of the world. “Why bless my soul!” cried Fred,
you could have gone. It would have done you
Instantly popular, the novella was already in its “who’s that?”
good to see how green a place it is. I promised
second printing weeks after its release. “It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come
him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My
Although Dickens did not reintroduce to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”
little, little child!” cried Bob. “My little child!”
Christmas celebrations, per se, he greatly Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake
He broke down all at once. He couldn’t contributed to the "spirit of the season" by his arm off. He was at home in five minutes.
help it. reminding everyone to think of others Nothing could be heartier. His niece looked just
“Spectre,” said Scrooge, “something (especially those who are less-fortunate). And the same. So did Topper when he came. So did
informs me that our parting moment is at hand.
so it continues to this day when this 1843-work the plump sister when she came. Wonderful
I know it, but I know not how. Tell me what man
remains part of the annual holiday celebrations. party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity,
that was whom we saw lying dead?”
won-der-ful happiness!
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come
Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was (Continued On Page 66)
conveyed him to a dismal, wretched, ruinous