Charles Dickens

“ Bob. I am very happy. I am very happy! (Kisses Mrs C., Belinda, Young C. and shakes hands with Peter.) Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence is from above.
CURTAIN. STAVE FIVE.
SCENE I.—Scrooge's chamber. Scrooge discovered on his knees at the easy chair.
Scro. Spirit! Hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been, but for this intercourse. Why have shown me all that you have, if I am past all hope? Good Spirit, your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change the shadows you have shown me, by an altered life. ”

“ Enter Spirit and Scrooge, L.
Fred. He said Christmas was a humbug, as I live.
All. Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Fred. He believed it, too.
Mrs. M. More shame for him, Fred!
Fred. He's a comical old fellow, that's the truth; and not so pleasant as he might be; however, his offenses carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him.
Mrs. M. I'm sure he's very rich, Fred. At least you always tell me so.
Fred. What of that, my dear. His wealth is of no use to him. He don't do any good with it. He don't make himself comfortable with it. ”

“ Spirit, is there a peculiar flavor in what you sprinkle from your torch?
Spir. There is. My own.
Scro. I notice that you sprinkle it to restore good humor, and over dinners. Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?
Spir. To any kindly given. To a poor one most.
Scro. Why to a poor one most?
Spir. Because it needs it most.
Enter Ignorance and Want; approaching the Spirit, they kneel at his feet. Scrooge starts back appalled. ”

“ He never missed giving his employees a Christmas ball.
Spir. Why, is it not! He spent but a few pounds of money—three or four pounds, perhaps—. Is that so much that he deserves your praise?
Scro. It isn't that, Spirit. He had the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our services light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lives in words and looks; in things so light and unsignificant that it is impossible to add and count 'em up; what then? The happiness he gives is quite as great if it cost a fortune—oh, dear. ”

“ It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow men and travel far and wide, and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world—oh, woe is me—and witness what it can not share, but might have shared on earth, turned to happiness. ”

“ Welcome! welcome! My wife, your niece—Yes, you may. (Scrooge kisses her.) Our mother.
Scro. Belle! Heavens! What shall I do? (Aside.)
Mrs. K. I fear that our meeting will be painful. I beg your permission, my son, to retire.
Fred. No, no, no. This is Christmas Day. Everybody can be happy on this day that desires to be, and I know that your meeting can be made a pleasant and agreeable one if you both so will it. "Peace on earth and good will to man," is the day's golden maxim.
Scro. Although somewhat embarrassed, I concur most heartily in the wise and good-natured counsel of my dear nephew. ”

“ Enter Spirit and Scrooge L. A lamp-lighter with torch and ladder R; as he passes them, the spirit waves his torch, and the lamp-lighter exits singing a carol. Enter two men, quarreling.
First Man. But, I know better, it is not so.
Second Man. It is so, and I will not submit to contradiction.
(Spirit waves his torch over them.)
First Man. Well, I declare, here we are, old friends, quarreling on Christmas Day. It is a shame to quarrel on Christmas Day.
Second Man. So it is a shame to quarrel on this day. God love it, so it is ”

“ There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door, last night, I should like to have given him something, that's all.
[Young Scrooge rises and walks up and down. Door opens and Fanny Scrooge darts in and puts her arms about his neck and kisses him.]
Fanny. Dear, dear brother! I have come to bring you home, dear brother. (Clapping her hands and laughing gleefully.) To bring you home, home, home!
Young S. Home, little Fan?
Fan. Yes! Home for good, and all. Home for ever [19] and ever. Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home is like Heaven. ”

“ Bob. Yes, my dear; I wish you could have gone, it would have done you good to see how green a place it is. But you'll see it often. I promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little, little child! my little child! (Rises and retires up stage to compose himself; returns and resumes his place at the table.) Oh, I must tell you of the extraordinary kindness of Mr Scrooge's nephew, whom I have scarcely seen but once, and who, meeting me in the street, and seeing that I looked a little—just a little—down, you know, inquired what had happened to distress me. ”

“ Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live?
Spir. I see a vacant seat in the poor chimney-corner and a crutch without an owner carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, none other of my race will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Scro. (Hangs his head.) My very words.
Spir. Man—if man you be in heart, not adamant—forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered what the surplus is, and where it is. ”

“ Oh! captive, bound and double-ironed, not to know that ages of incessant labor by immortal creatures; for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find [16] its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness. Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused. ”

“ Never before have I experienced the joys common to this day, and never hereafter, while I am permitted to live, shall I miss them. In the past twenty-four hours I have undergone a complete revolution of ideas and desires, and have awakened unto a new life. Instead of a sordid, avaricious old man, I trust you will find a cheerful, liberal Christian, ever ready to extend to his fellow creatures a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Fred. Why! uncle, I wonder you don't go into Parliament. [45] I could dance for joy. (Embracing him.) You dear old man! You shall ever find a hearty welcome here. ”

“ A very little more is all that is permitted to me. I can not rest, I can not stay, I can not linger anywhere. My spirit never walked beyond our counting house, mark me!—in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money changing hole ”

“ Love, to be lasting, must be mutual, and if it is not paramount to all other passions, it ends in misery or hate. Hence, being guided by judgment, I soon found by experience that true love can again exist if worthily bestowed.
Fred. Well, dear mother, I agree with your estimate of Uncle Scrooge. This is the sixth Christmas Day of our married life, and each Christmas Eve I have invited him to come and dine with us, but he has never yet honored us with his presence, and I suppose he never will. ”

“ In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.
Scro. Can you—can you sit down?
Gho. I can.
Scro. Do it, then.
Gho. You don't believe in me?
Scro. I don't.
Gho. What evidence do you require of my reality beyond that of your senses?
Scro. I don't know.
Gho. Why do you doubt your senses?
Scro. Because a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an under-done potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are. ”

“ Have you had many brothers, Spirit?
Spir. More than eighteen hundred.
Scro. A tremendous family to provide for. Spirit, conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learned a lesson which is working now. [24] To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.
Spir. Touch my robe, and remember that we are invisible, and unable to manifest our presence to those with whom we come in contact. Loose not your hold, lest you should lose yourself. [Exeunt L.]
SCENE II.—Bob Cratchit's home. ”

“ Here's Peter with the big goose.
Tiny Tim. Hurrah!
(Children place chairs around the table; Bob puts Tiny Tim in a high chair beside him, and Peter on his left, facing front, Belinda and Little Cratchit opposite. Mrs. C. and Martha at the end of the table. Bob carves and serves the goose, Mrs. C. the gravy and mashed potatoes, and Martha the apple-sauce.)
Little C. Oh! oh! Look at the stuffing.
Tiny T. Hurrah!
Bob. I don't believe there ever was such a goose as this cooked. It's more tender than a woman's love, and only cost two and sixpence. A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. ”

“ Bob. It's only once a year, sir.
Scro. A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December. (Buttoning up his great coat to the chin.) But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning. (Exit C.)
Bob. I will, sir. You old skinflint. If I had my way, I'd give you Christmas. I'd give it to you this way (Dumb show of pummelling Scrooge.) Now for a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honor of Christmas Eve, and then for Camden Town as hard as I can pelt. ”

“ If I was to stop half-a-crown for it you'd think yourself ill-used, I'll be bound? (Bob smiles faintly.) And yet you don't think me ill-used when I pay a day's wages for no work. ”

“ Will you decide what [26] men shall live, what men shall die. It may be, in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child. Oh, Heaven! to hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers of the dust!
Mrs. C. Now, Martha and Belinda, change the plates, while I bring the nuts, apples and oranges.
Bob. (Rising and placing the punch-bowl on the table.) Here is what will remind us it is Christmas. (Fills three tumblers and custard-cup without a handle, and passes them to Mrs. C., Peter and Martha.) ”

“ Joe. I always give too much to the ladies. It's a weakness of mine, and that's the way I ruin myself. Under-clothing, sheets, towels, sugar-tongs; these tea-spoons are old-fashioned, and the boots won't bear mending. One pound six, that's your account. If you asked me another penny, and made it an open question I'd repent of being liberal, and knock off half a crown.
Mrs. M. Now, undo my bundle, Joe.
Joe. (Opening bundle.) What do you call this? Bed curtains?
Mrs. M. Ah! (Laughing.) Bed curtains.
Joe. You don't mean to say you took 'em down, rings and all, with Old Scrooge lying there? ”

“ I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned; they cost enough, and those who are badly off must go there. ”

“ She claps her hands and laughs, tries to touch his head, but being too little, laughs again. Stands on tip-toe to embrace him, and in childish eagerness and glee, drags him willingly towards the door. ”

“ Kemper seated at table; their daughter Belle seated at fire, dressing a doll for one of the girls.
Mr. K. Belle, I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon.
Mrs. K. Who was it?
Mr. K. Guess?
Mrs. K. How can I? Tut, don't I know (laughingly) , Mr. Scrooge?
Mr. K. Mr. Scrooge it was—your old sweetheart (laughing) . 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, old Jacob Marley, lies upon the point of death, I hear. And there he sat, alone. Quite alone in the world, I do believe.
Mrs. K. Poor old man. ”

“ I don't know what day of the month it is. I don't know how long I've been among the Spirits. I don't know any thing. I'm quite a baby. Never mind; I don't care. I'd rather be a baby. ”

“ And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance, this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree; but most of all, beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is doom, unless the writing be erased. ”

“ Fred. Come, Uncle Scrooge, the oldest, first.
Scro. Do with me as you please; it is Christmas Day.
(They play a lively game, falling over chairs, etc. Scrooge catches each lady, and guesses wrong, until he gets Mrs. Merry, who, in turn, catches Topper, who pulls the bandage down and goes for Julia, and pretends that he tells who she is by the way the hair is fixed, etc. Scrooge and Mrs. Kemper retire up stage, and converse.) ”

“ I'll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and I'll be Tiny Tim's Godfather. Come along, my good fellow, we'll go to church together, and discuss your affairs on the way. Tiny Tim, what do you say to that?
Tiny Tim. I say God bless us, every one.
Bob. I would like to say something, sir, but you have deprived me of the power of speech.
Scro. Come on, then, we'll talk it over as we go. Come Tiny Tim, and go with your Godfather. (Takes Tim on his shoulder. Exeunt, L.)
SCENE III.—Drawing Room in Fred Merry's house. ”