小说园

tave five（第1页）

THEENDOFIT

Yes！andthebedpostwashisown。Thebedwashisown，theroomwashisown。Bestandhappiestofall，thetimebeforehimwashisown，tomakeamendsin！

“Iwillliveinthepast，thepresent，andthefuture！”Scroogerepeated，ashescrambledoutofbed。“Thespiritsofallthreeshallstrivewithinme。OJacobMarley！Heaven，andtheChristmastimebepraisedforthis！Isayitonmyknees，oldJacob；onmyknees！”

Hewassoflutteredandsoglowingwithhisgoodintentions，thathisbrokenvoicewouldscarcelyanswertohiscall。Hehadbeensobbingviolentlyinhisconflictwiththespirit，andhisfacewaswetwithtears。

“Theyarenottorndown，”criedScrooge，foldingoneofhisbed-curtainsinhisarms，“theyarenottorndown，ringsandall。Theyarehere—Iamhere—theshadowsofthethingsthatwouldhavebeen，maybedispelled。Theywillbe。Iknowtheywill！”

Hishandswerebusywithhisgarmentsallthistime；turningtheminsideout，puttingthemonupsidedown，tearingthem，mislayingthem，makingthempartiestoeverykindofextravagance。

“Idon’tknowwhattodo！”criedScrooge，laughingandcryinginthesamebreath，andmakingaperfectLaoco?nofhimselfwithhisstockings。Iamaslightasafeather，Iamashappyasanangel，Iamasmerryasaschoolboy。Iamasgiddyasadrunkenman。AMerryChristmastoeverybody！AHappyNewYeartoalltheworld。Hollo，here！Whoop！Hollo！

Hehadfriskedintothesitting-room，andwasnowstandingthereperfectlywinded。

“There’sthesaucepanthatthegruelwasin！”criedScrooge，startingoffagain，andgoingroundthefireplace。“There’sthedoor，bywhichtheghostofJacobMarleyentered！There’sthecornerwheretheghostofChristmasPresentsat！There’sthewindowwhereIsawthewanderingspirits！It’sallright，it’salltrue，itallhappened。Ha，ha，ha！”

Really，foramanwhohadbeenoutofpracticeforsomanyyears，itwasasplendidlaugh，amostillustriouslaugh。Thefatherofalong，longlineofbrilliantlaughs！

“Idon’tknowwhatdayofthemonthitis！”saidScrooge。“Idon’tknowhowlongI’vebeenamongthespirits。Idon’tknowanything。I’mquiteababy。Nevermind。Idon’tcare。I’dratherbeababy。Hollo！Whoop！Hollo，here！”

Hewascheckedinhistransportsbythechurchesringingoutthelustiestpealshehadeverheard。Clash，clang，hammer；ding，dong，bell。Bell，dong，ding；hammer，clang，clash！Oh，glorious，glorious！

Runningtothewindow，heopenedit，andputouthishead。Nofog，nomist；clear，bright，jovial，stirring，cold；cold，pipingforthebloodtodanceto；goldensunlight；heavenlysky；sweetfreshair；merrybells。Oh，glorious。Glorious！

“What’sto-day？”criedScrooge，callingdownwardtoaboyinSundayclothes，whoperhapshadloiteredintolookabouthim。

“Eh？”returnedtheboy，withallhismightofwonder。

“What’sto-day，myfinefellow？”saidScrooge。

“To-day！”repliedtheboy。“Why，ChristmasDay，

“It’sChristmasDay！”saidScroogetohimself。“Ihaven’tmissedit。Thespiritshavedoneitallinonenight。Theycandoanythingtheylike。Ofcoursetheycan。Ofcoursetheycan。Hollo，myfinefellow！”

“Hollo！”returnedtheboy。

“Doyouknowthepoulterer’sinthenextstreetbutone，atthecorner？”Scroogeinquired。

“IshouldhopeIdid，”repliedthelad。

“Anintelligentboy！”saidScrooge。“Aremarkableboy！Doyouknowwhetherthey’vesoldtheprizeturkeythatwashangingupthere？—Notthelittleprizeturkey：thebigone？”

“What，theoneasbigasme？”returnedtheboy。

“Whatadelightfulboy！”saidScrooge。“It’sapleasuretotalktohim。Yes，mybuck！”

“It’shangingtherenow，”repliedtheboy。

“Isit？”saidScrooge。“Goandbuyit。”

“Walk-ER！”exclaimedtheboy。

“No，no，”saidScrooge，“Iaminearnest。Goandbuyit，andtell’emtobringithere，thatImaygivethemthedirectionwheretotakeitComebackwiththeman，andI’llgiveyouashilling。Comebackwithhiminlessthanfiveminutes，andI’llgiveyouhalfacrown！”

Theboywasofflikeashot。Hemusthavehadasteadyhandatatriggerwhocouldhavegotashotoffhalfsofast。