SCROOGE and MARLEY (Deceased) by Paul Curtis (the first e reader .txt) 📕

so gently to me
That I was not afraid to ask him and indeed felt no dread
To ask once more if you may come home, and yes he said
You should and he sent me in a coach to bring you there”
She clapped her hands and laughed "home, Ebeneezer!"
“And you're to be a man!" she said proud as a mother
"And you are never to come back here dear brother
But first, we're to be together for the whole Christmas
No one in the world will have a merriest time than us"
"You are quite a woman, little Fan!" exclaimed the boy
She clapped her hands and laughed to show her joy
Then she began to drag him, in childish eagerness
Towards the door; and he could feel her happiness
And the happy pair passed quickly through the door
And Master Scrooge's trunk was then duly called for
With the trunk tied on the carriage it was time to go
And the carriage was away spraying frost and snow
"She was Always a delicate creature”, the spirit offered
“A delicate creature whom a breath might have withered,"
"But she had a large heart!" the ghost added a complement
"So she had, you're right" cried Scrooge in total agreement
"She died a woman," said the Ghost, "and she had, children."
"One child," Ebeneezer Scrooge corrected the apparition
"Yes just one child" said the Ghost. "Your nephew! Fred"
Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind “Yes" he said


VERSE 4 - OLD FEZZIWIG’S

They had but that moment left the school’s vicinity
And were then in the busy thoroughfares of a city
Where shadowy figures passed this way and that way
And many varied carts and coaches battle in the Grey
It was plain enough to see by the mode of decoration
In the shop windows that it was Christmas time again
But it was the evening time and all the street were lit
Stopping by a door scrooge was asked if he knew it
"Know it!" said Scrooge. "Was I not apprenticed there?"
They went in and saw an old gentleman sat in a chair
At the sight of the old gentleman in the Welsh wig
Scrooge cried in great excitement giving a kind of jig
"Why, it's old Fezziwig! Bless his heart alive again!"
He adjusted his waistcoat as the clock struck seven
Fezziwig looked at the clock and laid down his pen
He laughed to himself and he closed his ledger then
Laughing in a manner benevolent and comfortable
Called out loudly in a voice oily, rich, fat and jovial
"Yo ho, there! Ebeneezer! Dick!" he said in a bellow
Young apprentice Scrooge appeared with his fellow
"Dick Wilkins" said Scrooge to the Ghost "Bless me”
There he is. He was much attached to me was Dicky"
"Yo ho, boys!" said Fezziwig. "No more work to-night.
Its Christmas Eve, Dick. Christmas, Ebeneezer all right”
“So Let's have the shutters up," old Fezziwig cried
"Before you can say Jack Robinson,” he said with pride
The two boys went about their task with great vigor
Pursued by the exuberant Fezziwigs jovial figure
He skipped about offering the occasional “Hilli- ho”
Or even a “Chirrup” whereever the boys had to go
The room was completely cleared of every moveable
Floor swept, lamps trimmed and fire made as desirable
Then no sooner was the room snug and warm in there
In came a fiddler with music and climbed upon a chair
Then came Mrs. Fezziwig, smiling vast and substantial
In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable
And the daughters suitors and then friends of the family
The cook and housemaid and various other employees
Until eventually the large room was full to overflowing
And the music began in earnest, which led to dancing
There was cold roast and boiled meat and beer a plenty
And the Fezziwigs danced as if they were only twenty
Shining in every part of the dance like stars in heaven
Then the ball broke up when the clock struck eleven
Either side of the door the Fezziwig took up stations
And shook hands with all offering seasons felicitations
When all the guests had departed from the premises
They wished the same to their two young apprentices
As the Fezziwigs made off chatting like they’d never stop
The lads went to their beds, which were in the back-shop
During the whole time of the unfolding merriment
His heart and soul were with his former embodiment
He corroborated everything, remembered everything
Enjoyed it all, but his agitation was the strangest thing
It was only went the boys bright faces turned away
That he remembered the spirit who lighted the way
"A small matter," it said "to fill them with gratitude."
"Small matter!" echoed Scrooge in a bemused attitude
The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices
Who were pouring out their hearts to Fezziwigs praises
Then the spirit added, "Why! Is it so praise worthy!
He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money
"It isn't that spirit" said Scrooge, heated by the remark
Speaking unconsciously like his former self as a clerk
"It isn't that, He has the power to make us happy or not
To make our working life light or burdensome in out lot
A pleasure or a toil. His words and looks could entune
The happiness he gives, is as great as if it cost a fortune"
He felt the Spirit's glance upon him and went silent
"What is the matter?" asked the Ghost in amusement
"Nothing in particular," said Scrooge quite abruptly
"Something, I think?" said the apparition insistently
"No," said Scrooge, "No. I should like to be able to
Speak to my clerk now that's all Just a word or two”
As the younger scrooge turned down the lamps light
The older and the Ghost stood side by side in the night
"My time grows short," observed the Spirit. "Quick!"
Then were once again removed like in a magic trick


VERSE 5 – SWEET YOUNG BELLE


Again Scrooge saw himself a young man but older
A man in the prime of life but His face was harsher
It did not wear the rigid lines that his own face did
But there were signs of avarice that could not be hid
He was not alone, but sat beside a girl young and fair
Tears filled her eyes and light sparkled on them there
"It matters little," she said, softly. "Very little to you”
“Another idol has displaced me clearly in your view
And if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come
As I would have tried to do, then your idol is welcome
I have no just cause to grieve. For what you have done"
"What Idol?" he demanded she replied "A golden one."
The younger scrooge turned away from the girl smartly
"This is the great hypocrisy of life!" he said sharply
"There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty
Yet condemns pursuit of wealth with such severity”
"You fear the world too much," she answered, gently
"All your other hopes have merged together singly
I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one
The master-passion, Gain, fills you. Have I not done?"
"What then? Even if I have grown much wiser, he said
I am not changed towards you." She shook her head
"Am I?" his question hung unanswered in the air
For a few moments she sat thoughtfully silent there
She said, "Our contract is an old one made long ago
Made when we were both poor and content to be so,
Until in good season we could” she continued softly
“Improve our worldly fortune by our patient industry”
You are changed. For when our contract was made
You were another man entirely Ebeneezer I’m afraid
"I was a boy," he said impatiently. “We were children”
“But you are different now to what you were then
Your own feelings tell you that this is indeed true
With all this understood Ebeneezer I can release you."
"Have I ever sought release?" angrily he turned on her
She returned in equal measure "In words? No. Never."
"In what, then?" "In a changed nature and a spirit altered
In another different atmosphere of life” she answered
In everything that made my love of value in your sight
And In everything that made your love of me feel right”
“Tell me Ebeneezer If this had never been between us,"
The girl said looking mildly at him but with steadiness
"Would you seek me out and try to win me now? Ah, no!"
He seemed to agree with her but he tried not to show
After a moments thought "You think not?" he countered
"I would gladly think otherwise if I could," she answered
"Heaven knows. When I have learned a Truth like this
I know how strong and irresistible it must be to resist.
But if you were free to-day, to-morrow, yesterday,
Can I believe you would choose a dowerless girl, say?
You who weigh everything by gain would not rebuff
In choosing her, if for a moment you were false enough
To your one guiding principle to do so, do I not know
That your repentance and regret would surely follow?”
Then she said sadly “I do; and I release you Ebeneezer
With a full heart, for the love of him you once were."
He was about to speak; but with her head turned away
She resumed. "You may have pain in this yes you may
But only for the briefest time, and then it will seem
Its memory will be dismissed as an unprofitable dream
From which it happened well that you had awoken.
So may you be happy in the life you have chosen."
Then She left him, and he stood gazing at the floor
"Spirit!" said Scrooge; "I beg you show me no more!
Conduct me home why do you delight to torture me?"
The ghost then exclaimed "One more shadow to see!"
"No more!" cried Scrooge! “I don't wish to see it!
Show me no more! I beg of you oh merciful spirit"


VERSE 6 – MATRONLY BELLE


Despite his appeals the spirit would have none
And they were once again removed and it was done
They were then in another scene and place, in a room
Not very large or handsome, but a comfort filled room
Near to the winter fire sat the beautiful girl again
Though not so young the signs of beauty still remain
Now she was a comely matron sat opposite her daughter
There were other children all making the noise of forty
All was happy the mother and daughter laughed heartily
The scene was then disturbed by a knocking at the door
And such a rush immediately ensued across the floor
Then the flushed and boisterous group returned rather
Louder than ever, just in time to greet their father
Who came home attended amid the great excitements
By a man laden with Christmas toys and presents
Then the shouting and struggling began in earnest
Under the onslaught the poor porter did his best
To stand his ground and to repel their advances
As they tried to separate him from his packages
A good time was had by all in the family parlor
As the noise was lowered to an acceptable roar
"Belle," said the husband,