Chapter X: Stave THREE

SCROOGE'S _office, as before. Back curtains drawn. The_ GHOST OF
CHRISTMAS FUTURE _standing_, R., _pointing down_; SCROOGE _beside
him_, L. _Mournful music._

_Scrooge._ Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen; but as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I have borne you company, and did it with a thankful heart. Spectre, something informs me that our parting moment is at hand. I know it, but I know not how. Tell me who that man was with the covered face, whom we saw lying dead, of whom the merchants in the street spoke so carelessly, at whom the vultures of the dead sneered and jested. (_The_ SPIRIT _raises his hand, then points behind him_.) Before I draw near to that stone to which you point, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that will be? or are they shadows of things that _may_ be, only? (_The_ SPIRIT _points as before_.) Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead; but, if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me. (_The_ SPIRIT _moves to_ R., _turns, and points to back, where a gravestone leans against the wall, lettered_ "EBENEZER SCROOGE." _The position of the_ SPIRIT _should hide it till this_. SCROOGE _staggers back till he reaches chair_, L.) Am I that man who lay upon the bed? No, Spirit! Oh, no, no! 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 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. (_The_ SPIRIT _slowly lets his hand drop by his side_.) 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 these 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! (_Sinks into chair. The curtains slowly close. Bells outside ringing a merry peal. Music lively._ SCROOGE _starts from his chair_.) What's this, my own office! (_Runs across stage._) Hallo! what's to-day?

_Boy_ (_outside_, R.). Eh?

_Scrooge._ What's to-day, my fine fellow?

_Boy_ (_outside_, R.). To-day? Why, Christmas Day.

_Scrooge_ (_dancing about_). It's Christmas Day. I haven't missed
it. Hallo, my fine fellow!

_Boy_ (_entering_, R.). Hallo!

_Scrooge._ Do you know the poulterer's, in the next street but one,
at the corner?

_Boy._ I should hope I did.

_Scrooge._ An intelligent boy; a remarkable boy! Do you know whether they've sold the prize turkey that was hanging up there? Not the little prize turkey, the big one.

_Boy._ What! the one as big as me?

_Scrooge_ (_rubbing his hands_). Ha, ha, ha! What a delightful boy!
It's a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck.

_Boy._ It's hanging there now.

_Scrooge._ Is it? Go and buy it.

_Boy_ (_with finger to his nose_). Walk-er.

_Scrooge._ No, no: I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell 'em to bring it here, that I may give them the directions. Come back with the man, and I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes, and I'll give you half-a-crown. (_Exit boy in a hurry_, R.) What a delightful boy! See him run! I'll send him to Bob Cratchit's. He sha'n't know who sent it. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob's will be. I forget he's to be here to-day. Oh, if he'd only come late! (_Sits at desk_, L.) Here he is, sure enough! (_Enter_ BOB, R., _looking very dejected. Takes off his hat and comforter, and gets upon stool._) (_Gruffly._) Hallo! what do you mean by coming here at this time of day?

_Bob._ I am very sorry, sir. I _am_ behind my time.

_Scrooge._ You are? Yes, I think you are. Step this way, if you
please.

_Bob_ (_getting down from stool_). I'm very sorry—

_Scrooge._ Are you? What do you mean by coming here at this time? Now, I'll tell you what, my man; I'm not going to stand this thing any longer; and therefore (_jumps up, and gives_ BOB _a dig in the ribs_) I'm about to raise your salary. (BOB _runs to his desk, and gets a ruler, looking frightened_.) A merry Christmas, Bob! (_Slaps him in 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; and we'll discuss your affairs to-morrow over a Christmas bowl of sparkling bishop, Bob. Home to your family, and have a merry Christmas, and in the morning make up the fires, and buy a second coal-scuttle before you dot another _i_, Bob Cratchit.

_Fred_ (_outside_, R.). A merry Christmas! (_Enters_, R.) Here I
am again, uncle.

_Scrooge_ (_running to him, and shaking hands_). A merry Christmas,
Fred! I'm going to dine with you.

_Fred._ That's right, uncle. You'll find a merry company.

_Scrooge._ You can't tell me. I know 'em all. My niece, Plumper, the fat sister. Wonderful party! wonderful games! wonderful unanimity! wonderful happiness!

_Fred._ We'll have a merry Christmas.

_Scrooge._ Ay, that we will. Henceforth _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. (_Sinks to his knees._) God bless us all!

_Fred_ │(_sink to their knees_). God bless us all!
_Bob_ │

(_Music: curtains at back are drawn, disclosing "A Christmas
Picture." In the centre, the_ GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, _seated
as before, with his torch raised, red fire blazing in it. At his_
L., _the blindfolded gentleman, in the same position as before,
with the lady getting away from him; on his_ L., _the lady with
the fan_; R. _of_ CHRISTMAS PRESENT, MRS. CRATCHIT, _with the
pudding in her hands_; MARTHA _at her_ R., _with_ TINY TIM _in her
arms. Two of the children opposite them, looking at the pudding._
TINY TIM _speaks, when curtain is fairly drawn, "God bless us
every one!" "The Christmas Carol" [see p. 64] is then sung by an
invisible chorus; and the front curtain falls upon the whole
picture._)

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

1. Changed "Mrs. Trueworth" to "Mrs. T." on p. 42 to be consistent with other entries of the same character. 2. Changed "Mrs. Hartshorn" to "Mrs. H." on p. 109 to be consistent with other entries of the same character. 3. Corrected "Col." to "Rowell" on p. 68. 4. Corrected "Jenks" to "Hosea" on p. 71. 5. Corrected "Mr. G." to "Mrs. G." on p. 99. 6. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors. 7. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. 8. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.