his mouth looked thin and mean. He was not alone, but was sitting beside a lovely young girl. The light that shone brightly from the ghost of Christmas Past showed that she was crying. know it doesn't matter very much to you, she said softly. "You care about gold more than you care about me. Perhaps I shouldn't be sad. Money will give you the happiness that I wanted to give you. "But I haven't changed towards you, have I? "You have changed. We promised to marry a long time ago, when we were both poor, and happy to be poor. I have stayed the same, but you have different hopes and dreams now. I loved the man that you used to be, but I know that you do not wish to marry me any more. So l've come to tell you that you're free. Be happy in the life that you've chosen!' And she left him. "Spirit!' cried Scrooge. "Show me no more! Take me home! This is too painful! "One shadow more!" said the ghost. No more!' cried Scrooge. "I don't wish to see any more! But the spirit held his arms, and he could not escape Now they were in another place, in a room which was not very large, but comfortable. Near the fire sat a beautiful young girl. Scrooge thought she was the girl that he had just seen, until he saw her, now a good-looking married lady, sitting opposite her daughter. The room was full of children, and noise, and shouting, and laughing. Just then the door opened, and the father entered, carrying a great