Page Two THE CENTRE DEMOCRAT, BE FONTE, PA. December 26, 1940. A Christmas Carol By CHARLES DICKENS (Continued from First Page) ago. You have laboured on it, since Ii is a ponderous chain!” Scrooge glanced about him on the floor, in the expectation of finding himself, surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of iron cable, “At this time of the rolling year" the spectre sald. “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned | down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!" Scrooge was very much dismayed. “Hear me!" cried the Ghost, “My time is nearly gone.” “I will,” said Scrooge. “But don’. be hard upon me!” “How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, 1 may not tell, I have sat invisible beside you many and many a day I am here tonight to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. You will be haun ed by Three Spirits.” Scrooge’'s countenance fell, “Without their said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first tomorow, when he bell iolls One. “Couldn't I take ‘em all at once, and have it over? hinted Scrooge. “Expect the second on the nex night at the same hour. The third upon the next when the las: HAefte ™ Visits, ah usa stroke of Twelve has ceased to vi- | rate, Look to see me no more.” When i. hag sald these words, the rectre walked backwards from mm: and a: every step w raised itself a li.tle. Af er listening for a moment, it ited out upon the bleak night. *rooge closed the window, and xamined the door by which the inost had ente ed. It was double- d. as he had locked it and the were undi:turbed. He tried " but siopped at 0 o oS u u hiro! STAVE TWO i the Three Spirits When S.rooge awoke, {+ was dark ‘hur h ch.mes struck twelve. “Why, i. isn't possible” sald sept * i Sercoge, “that I can have t through a nhole day and {ar into ano her night. It isn't possible that anrthing has hap and this is twelve “Ding, dong!” ‘The hour itsel!” sald Scrooge riumphantly, “and nothing else!” He spoke belo e the hour bel sounded, which now did with a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy One Light flashed up in the room upon the instant, ang the curtains of his bed were drawn. The cur ain drawn aside, I t Scrooge, starting ened to the sun, a. noon! is of his found himself unearthly vis- drew them. It was a strange fizure—like chil € not go like a child as like an oid man. Is hair was white as { with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it and the tender- est bloom was on the skin, But the strangest think about i: was, that from the crown of its head ‘here sprung a bright clear jet of light. : “I am the Ghost of Christmas Pas ,” it said ‘Long Past?” inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature. “No. Your past.” Scrooge then made bold to in- quire what business brought him. Your wel’are!” said the Ghost. It put out its s.:ong band ag it poke, and clasped him gently by he arm. itor who A , Rise! ani walk with me!” The grasp. though gentle as a ¥oman’s hand, wa: no. to be resist d. He rose; but finding that the Spirl. made towards the widow. clasped his robe in supplication, “I am a mortal” Scrooge remon- strated, “and lable to fall” “Bear but a touch of my hand | there,” said the Spirit, laying it upon his heart, As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upan an open country road. “Good Heaven!” sald Scrooge, “I was a boy here!” The Spirit gazed upon him mildly. “Strange to have forgotten it for 50 many years!” observed the Ghost. ponies now were seen trotting towards them with boys upon their backs. it took, the! ! “These are but shadows of the | things that have been,” sald the | Ghost, | The jocund travelers came on; land as they came, Scrooge knew {and named them every one. Why | was he rejoiced beyond all bounds {to see them! Why was he filled | with gladness when he heard them | give each other Merry Christmas? | “The school is not quite desert- | ed,” sald the Ghost. “A solitary | child is left there still” | Scrooge said he knew it. And he | sobbed. They went, the Ghost and Scrooge, to a melancholy room. made bar- | er still by lines of plain deal forms | and desks, At one of these a lonely | boy was reading near a feeble fire; and Scrooge wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be. { The Spirit touched him on the arm, and pointed to his younger self, inten: upon his reading. Sud- denly a man, in foreign garments; wanderfully real and distinct to look at; stood outside the window, | with an axe stuck in his belt, and leading by the bridle an ass laden with wood. | “Why, it's Alli Baba!" 8crooge ex- claimed in ecstasy. “I's dear old hones! All Baba! Yes, yes, I know! One Christmas time, when yonder | solitary child was left here all alone he did come. for the flist time just I'’ke that, Poor boy! And Valen- ne,’ sald Scrooge, “and his wild bro. her Orson; there they go! And ha 's his name. who was put down n his drawers, asleep, at the Gate | of Damascue: don't you see him' And the Sultan's Groom turned up- s.de down by the Genii; there he | hi: head! him right I'm glad of it. What business had he to be married to the Princess!” “I wish ™ Scrooge mut ered, dry- ng his eyes with his cuff: “but it's too late now.” “What?” asked ‘Nothing." said Serve upon the Spirit Scrooge. “Noth- ing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door las: ight. I should like to have given him some hing: that's all’ The Ghost smiled thoughtfully and waved its d, saying, “Let 8 see another Christmas!” Scrooge's former self grew larger at the words. There he was, alone again, when all the other boys had gone home for the jolly holidays Scrooge looked at the Ghost and glanced anxiously towards ‘he "door It opened; and a little girl. muen younger than the boy came dartin n, and puting her arms about hi neck, and often kissing him ad- dressed him her “Dear, dear brother.” “Home, little Fan?” Yes!” said the child, brimful of glee. “Home, good and all Home, for ever and ever. Father i 50 much kinder that I was not afraid to ask him once more if you might come home; and he said Yes. you should: and sent me in a coach to bring you. And you're to be a man!” sald the child, opening her eyes, “and are never to come back here; but first, we're to be together 3 and have Wa a 5 as for 11 the Christmas long. the merriest ‘ime in al] the world.” “You're quite a woman little Fan!” exclaimed the boy She clapped her hands lauched. “Always a delicate creature whom a breath micht have with- ered” sald the Ghost. “But she has a large heart!” “80 she had.” cried Scrooge “She died a woman” sald the Ghost. “an4 had. I think. children.” “One child™ Scrooee returned “True.” sald the Ghost. “Your nenhew!” Although they had but that mo- ment ‘eft ‘he schoo! behind them ‘hav were now in a busy city The Ohret stonned at a certain a-shanes door, and asked Seroogs tf Wa kreow it. “Know (+1 gala Serooge. annrenticed here!” Ther went In. At «ieht of an ol4 ~entleman in a Welsh wig, Scrooge eried In great excl'ement: “Why. It's o'd Pemriwig! Bless his heart: {t's Perziwig alive again!” Old Pezriwig laid down his pen. and looked up at the clock. which vointed to the hour of seven, and called out in a comfortable oily, rich. fat jovial voice: “Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! Dick!” 8Bcrooge’s former self, now grown and “Wag 1 & young man, came briskly In, ac- | companied by hig fellow-'prentice. “Dick Wilkins, to be sure!” said Serocoge to the Ghost. “Hilli-ho!™ cried old Pezzwig, skipping down from the high desk. with wonderful agility. “Clear away, lads, and let's have lotr of room.” In came a fiddler and tuned like fifty stomach-aches. In came Mrs. acs AA my E rox / 14, =20 a’ ¥ — | Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile, {In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and loveable, In eame the six young followers whose hearts they broke. In came all the young men and women employed in the business. | with her cousin the baker. In came the cook, with her brother's particu- lar friend, the milkman, the boy from over the way, who Wha AS HY In came the housemald. | In came | was suspected of not having beard | enough from his master; trying to | hide himself behind the girl from next door but one, who was proved to have had her ears pulled by her | mistress, In they all came, some | shyly, some boldly, some graceful- | ly, some awkwardly. Away they all went, twenty couple at once; hands | half round and back again the other | way; down the middle and again; round and round in various up | stages of affectionate grouping; old | | top couple always turning up in the | | wrong place, new top couple start- | ing off again, as soon as they got there; all top couples at last, and | not a bottom one to help them! There were more dances, there were forfeits, and more dances, and there was cake, and there was negus and there was a great plece of Cold Roast, and there wis a great piece of Oold Bolled, and there were mince-ples, and plenty of beer. But the great ef- fect of he evening came after the Roast and Bolled, when the fiddler (an artful dog. mind!) struck up “Sif Roger de Coverley.” Then old Fezziwig stood out to dance with Mrs, Fezziwig. Top couple, too; with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them; three or {our and .wenty pair of partners “A small matter,” sald the Ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.” “Small?” echoed Scrooge. “Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money.” “It isn't that” sald Scrooge, heat the rema:k, “It isn't that, He has the power to ren- r us happy or unhappy. to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a (oil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in hings s0 slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count 'em up: what the? The hap- he gives, is quile as great as a fortune.” K|nirit's glance, and pine:s Ziv iL IL cost He felt opped. “Wha Is it?” asked the Ghost, Nothing." sald Scrooge. “Someth.ng, I think?” the Ghost insisted, “No,” sald Scrooge, “No. I should like to be able (0 say a word or two © my clerk just now.” "My time grows short,” observed the Spirit. “Quick!” This produced an immediate ef- fec For again Scrooge saw He was older now. the * aime. self He was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in whose eves there were tears “I. matter little.” she said. softly “To you, very little. Another idol hag displaced me; ang if it can cheer and comior: you in time to come, as I would have tried to do I have no just cause to grieve.” What Idol has displaced he rejoined. ‘A golden one.’ ‘What then?” he retorted. “Even i I have grown so much wiser what then? I am not changed towards you" 8he shook her head, “Your own feeling tells you that you were no: what you are” she returned. “I am. That which prom- ised happinzss when we were one in heart, is fraught with misery now that we are two. It is enough that I have thought of it, and can release you." “Have I ever sought release?” “In words. No. Never.” “In what, then?” “In a changed nature: in an al- tered spirit. in another almosphere of life, another Hope as its grea! end. In everything that made my love of any worth or value in your sight, If this had pever been be- tween us.” said the girl, looking mildly, but with steadiness upon him; “Tell me, would you seek me out and try to win me now?” He seemed to yield to the justice of this supposition, in spite of him- self. But he sald with a struggle. “You think not.” “I would gladly think otherwise if 1 could,” she answered. “Spirit!” sald Scrooge, “show me no more! Conduct me home, Why | do you delight to torture me?” { "One shadow more!” the Ghost. They were in another scene and { place; a room, not very large or vou?’ | handsome, but full of comfort. Near | {to the winter fire sat a beautiful young girl, so like that last that | Scrooge believed it wag the same, {until he saw Ler, now a comely | matron, sitting opposite her daugh- ter. The noise in this room was perfectly tumultuous, for there were | more children there, than Scrooge in his agitated state could count. But now a knocking at the door was heard, and such a rush imme- diately ensued to greet the father, { who came home attended by a man | laden with Christmas toys and pres- (ents. Then the shouting and the | struggling and the onslaught that | was made on the defenseless por- | ter! The scaling him with chairs | for ladders to drive into his pock- | ets, despoil him of brown-paper par- icels, hold on tight by his cravat {bug him round his neck. pommel | his back, and kick hig legs in irre- pressible affection! The shouts of wonder and delight with which the in the act of putting a doll’s frying pan into hi= mouth, and wag more than suspected of having swallowed a fictitious turkey, glued on a wood- exclaimed | Scrooge did as he was told, and | and } “Tiny Tim upon his shoulder.” up to the top of the house; where they went to bed, and so subsided And now Scrooge looked on more attentively than ever, when the master of the house, having his daughter leaning fondly on him, sat down wih her and her mother at his own fireside; and then when he hought that such another creature quite as graceful and as full of promise. might have called him father, “Belle,” sald the husband ing to his wife with a smile an old friend of yours noon.” “Who was iL?" “Mr, Scrooge it was. 1 passed his office window, and as it was Dot shut up. and he had a candie in- side. I could scarcely help seeing him His pariner Lies upon the poin 3{ death, I hear: and thee he sa dlone, Quile alone in the world, I do believe “Spirit!” sald Scrooge ken voice, “remove me place.” “I told you he things that the Ghost. "That they are, blame “Remove me!” Bcrooge I cannot bear iL” He was conscious of being hausted, and overcome by an istible drowsiness; and, further, of being in his own bed:oom. He had barely time 10 reel to bed before he sank into a heavy sleep, turn- ‘1 saw aft ay alter. this © bro- this in a from these were shadows have been.” said they are what me!" exclaimed of ne im ry G0 hot ex irre- STAVE THREE The Second of the Three Spirits Awaking digion had beds be Lokd troke of One no occasion Lo that the again the Now his bed became the core and center of a blaze of rodgy Hight. which streamed } the clock proclaimed Ligh: might be in the room. He got ug ftly and shuffled in his &ip- BOL LAY pers to the dom upon yery P oon it uj oom. But it had transforma- It was his own 1 undergone a surprising Fheve ww Living green filled iL 4 ed a perfect grove of holly, mistietoe, back ‘he light as if #0 many little mirrors had been scatiered and heaped up on the floor, 10 form a kind of throne. were turkeys geese, game, poultry, brawn, grea: joints of meat, barrels of oysters. red-hot chestnuts, oranges, and seething bowls of punch. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, “I am the Ohost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit “You have never seen the like of me before!” it continued. “Never,” Borooge answered. “Have never walked forth with the younger members of my (amily; meaning (for I am very young) my elder brothers born in these later years?” pursued the Phantom, “I don't think I have” said Scrooge. “Have you had meny brothers, Spirit?” “More than eighteen hundred” said the Ghost. “Spirit,” sald Scrooge submissive- ly. "conduct me where you will, 1I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is work- ing now. Tonight, if you have aught | to teach me, let me profit by it” “Touch my robe!” rizp eaves and ivy reflects Were. { held it fast. They stood in the city | streets on Christmas morn. But soon the steeples called good i people all, to church, And at the same time there people, carrying their dinners to the bakers’ shops. The sight of | these poor revellers appeared to in- | terest Lhe Spirit very much, for he stood with Scrooge beside him in a | baker's doorway, and taking off the jcovers as their bearers passed, sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch. And it was a very uncommon kind of torch, for ongs | or twice when there were angry words between some dinner-carriers who had jostled each other, he shed | a Tew drops of water on them from {it and their good humour was re- | stored directly, For they said, it | was a shame to quarre] upon Christ. mas Day, And so it was! Gog lov- ed it! “Is there a peculiar flavour in ! what you sprinkle from your torch?” asked Scrooge. “There is. My own” | “Would it apply to any kind of { dinner on this day?” asked Scrooge. | “As any kindly given. To a poor { one most.” “Why to a poor one most?” askeq “Because iL needs it most” Perhaps it was the Spirit's sym- | pathy with all poor men, that led {him straight to Scrooge's clerk's. On the threshold of the door the Spirit smiled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchit's dwelling with the sprinklings of his torch. appeared many | Then up rose Mrs, Cratchit Cratehit’s wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but ribbons, which are cheap make a goodly show for six- and she laid the cloth, by Belinda Cratchit, second her daughters, also brave in rib- while Master Peter Cra 'd a fork into the saucepan potatoes brave ang pence sis ed of in smaller Cratchits girl came tearing In that outside the baker's d smelt the goose, and known now two has ever got then?" ud your brother, Tiny Tim! ha want as | as Day by half an Here's Martha e two young Cralchits There's such a goose, Martha!” “Why bless your heart alive my how late you are!” said Mrs kissing her dozen times sald d ar “Well! Never 1 are come t ye down befor no! There's the two young Martha, hide!” No. n father comix Martha hig ttle Bob, his he bore a tle cru our Martha?” crieg ooking round. sald Mra. Cratchit said Bod N Not tmas Day!" S100. where's like (0 see hum dis- it were only In Joke, from { door, and ran int two young Tim, and wash-hous pudding prematurely the Tiny tine Wwe rood as gold.” said Bob, “and Somehow he gels thought- ting by himself so much, and 8 the strangest things you ever He told me, coming home hat he hoped the people saw him the church, becuase he Was a pie, and it might be pleasant 0 them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see” Bob's voice was tremulous when he told them this and trembied more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and heariv Master Pe'er, ang the two ubigqui- tous young Cratchits, went to fetch the goose, with which they soon re- turned in high procession. Buch a bustle ensued that you might have though: a goose the rar- est of all birds. Mrs, Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little sauceran) hissing hot: Mas- ter Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour: Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce; Mar- tha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny cor- ner at the table; the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody noi forgetting themselves, and | crammed spoons into their mouths { lest they should shriek for goose be- { fore thelr turn came to be helped | At last the dishes were set on, and grace was sald. It was succeeded iby a breathless pause, as Mrs { Cratchit, looking slowly all along the carvingknife, prepared to plunge it in the breast: but when she did and when the long expected gush of | stuffing issteg forth, one murmur | of delight arose all round the board and even Tiny Tim, exciteg by the two young cratchits, beat on the ta- bie with the handle of his knife, and | feebly eried Hurrah! There never was such & goose | Bob said he didn't believe there ever was such a goose cooked. Its tenderness and flavour, size and | cheapness, were the themes of uni- {versal admiration, Eked out by apple sauce and mashed potatoes it was a sufficient dinner for the | whole family. The youngest Cratch- | its in particular, were steeped in sage and onlon to the eyebrows. But now, the plates being changed by Miss Belinda, Mrs. Cratchit Jeft | the room alone--t00 nervous to bear | withesses—to take the pudding up ang bring it in. Hallo! A great deal of steam! The pudding was out of the copper Oh, a wonderful pudding! Bob Cratehit sald, and calmly too, that he regarded it as the greatest suec- cess achieved by Mrs, Cratchit since their marriage. Everybody had something to say about it, but no- body said or thought it was at all a 0 op on ————— | the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit | called a circle, meaning half a one; | land at Bob Crachit’s elbow stood the family display of glass. Two | tumblers, and a custard-cup with. out a handle. | These held the hot stuff from the | jug, however, as well as golden gob- Jets would have done. Then Bob a | proposed | “A Merry Christmas 0 | my dears. God bless us!" | Which all the family re-echoed. | “Cod bless us every one!” sald | | Tiny Tim, the last of all, | He sat very close to his father's side upon his little stool. Bob held | his withered litle hand, as if he dread he might be taken from him “Spirit,” sald Scrooge, “tell me Tiny Tim will live.” “1 see a vacant seat,” replied Ghost, “in the poor chimney-cor- ner, and a crutch without an owner carefully preserved. If these shad- ows remain unaltered by the Future the child will die. “No, no,” sald Scrooge. “Oh no kind Spirit! say he will be spared “If these shadows remain unal- tered by the Future, none other of my race.” returned the Ghost. “will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it and decrease the surplus fmt od CIN Ltr i) bo ee [9 ROW ios / 4 } ot bow Ga us tl He always knew where the plump sister was, nours : worked atl JPon OW ter opinon on 10 an Pop Lia ’ i Scrooge hung his head to hea: his own words quoted by the Spiri! “Man.” sald the Ghost, “if man you be in heart, not adamant, for- bear hat wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is and Where Will you decide what men shal] live, what men shal ie? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and cas fit wo live than millions Lke th or man's child. Oh God! to hear 1 & shi ie Insect on the lea! pronouncing + the helmsman at t e Was a one ining between him & the mu life among his 5 that brothers in the dust!” Presenis knew rooge bent before the Ghost went aller and trembling cast his eyes in the Jace tucker or the hem speedily, name ney played at for- i R004 De never betler than at Ww children 5 rh Cal Loo that He plump sis- hh anybody UP aghinst he Tort L101 on hearing his own v ry AINLSLINIAS mas thought he yu Ad tn y . v ne ung ne aseG Christ SEZ YOU, which 1 affront 10 ¥¢ g woo ar instantly setion of cried + gupnial wale ang her IPG Jim. he g04 p Lhere was er In.0 no es- 1 was most pretending not is pretending that it touch head. ) assure himself qu Le her ; a Of Tiny Tim drank it ’ Eels ~ - e didn 83% Lwo-pence th would bring in. if ob- | five-and-sixpence week- two young Ci hits laugh- ¥ al the idea of Pe- man of business: and Peter himsels looked thought ly at he fire from between his collars as I he were deliberating what part cular inves ments when he came bewildering eA Lremer ers being a Ju ahould favour fans th Ny Gown nto the receipts of income. Martha W430 Was a poor apprentice al a m aner's, then animal some London and it the sirests. and wasnt nat 3 ia oto 3 in : “Oil them what kind of WOrk abe had to go. an how many ed abot Tepper (Continued on next page) STOCK UP HERE FOR CHRISTMAS CHEER! Christmas means plenty of festive foods . _ holiday treats at your A. & P. SUPER MARKET--100 Allegheny Street (OPEN MONDAY AND TUESDAY. DECZMBER 23 AND 24 UNTIL 8 P. M) SUNNYFIELD—fully TURKE w 91C The pick of the finest flocks in the country. Only perfect Young birds are selected for the SUNNYFIELD label. Sunnyfield Turkeys are cellophane wrapped and are ready to stuff and roast. » 35C Sidr! bh 33¢ -- on 29¢ - and it will mean plenty of savings, foo, if you buy your SUNNYFIELD, Fully Dressed dressed. Ready-to-cook Ready -to-Cook FOWL ody a yf 69¢ 21h 10 on~2 Ih 15 on... ea 9c Gov't Inspected Grade A 7-18 Ib Avg. Ducklings 4-5 lb avg. Ib 29¢ Center Chuck Roast - 1b 20¢ Quality Hamburger Ib 17¢ Fresh Stewing Oysters pt 25¢ Pilgrim Brand-—Presh, Pully Dressed 8-20 ib avg Turkeys Roasting Chickens Fresh, Fully Dressed, 4-6 1b avg Fancy Fowl PRODUCE: Fla. Oranges-200's - doz 19¢ Cranberries - 2 1b 35¢ Taongerines-200's - 2doz 25¢ Emperor Grapes 3 1b 23¢ Cocoanut Bon-Bons - 2 |b 25¢ Se 2 hh 13 Choc. Cov. Cherries |b box 19¢ §yeet Potatoes --51b23¢ DELICIOUSLY FRESH A. & P. BAKED GOODS Jane Parker Orange Sherbet Layer Cakes ™™" *™* 29¢ Jane Parker Fruit Cake - - - - - - - l-lbsize 33c 2.-POUND SIZE 5% A. & P. Bread-family or luncheon - - -3 loaves 20c (Buy an extra supply for stuffing) HOLLY WREATHS - - - - 2 for 25¢c SPRAYED CHRISTMAS TREES Holly Chocolates - 5-1b box 89¢ Plastic Mixed Candy - 2 |b 23¢ Hard Mixed Candy - 2 |b 19¢ Hershey Kisses 2 '2-1b pkgs 49¢ Chocolate Drops - - - 21b19¢ - - - We Wish You All a Merry, Merry Christmas.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers