hen Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber. He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters. So he listened for the hour.
To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped. Twelve. It was past two when he went to bed. The clock was wrong. An icicle must have got into the works. Twelve.
He touched the spring of his repeater, to correct this most preposterous clock. Its rapid little pulse beat twelve: and stopped.
"Why, it isn't possible," said Scrooge, "that I can have slept through a whole day and far into another night. It isn't possible that anything has happened to the sun, and this is twelve at noon."
The idea being an alarming one, he scrambled out of bed, and groped his way to the window. He was obliged to rub the frost off with the sleeve of his dressing-gown before he could see anything; and could see very little then. All he could make out was, that it was still very foggy and extremely cold, and that there was no noise of people running to and fro, and making a great stir, as there unquestionably would have been if night had beaten off bright day, and taken possession of the world. This was a great relief, because "three days after sight of this First of Exchange pay to Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge or his order," and so forth, would have become a mere United States' security if there were no days to count by.
Scrooge went to bed again, and thought, and thought, and thought it over and over and over, and could make nothing of it. The more he thought, the more perplexed he was; and the more he endeavored not to think, the more he thought. Marley's Ghost bothered him exceedingly. Every time he resolved within himself, after mature inquiry, that it was all a dream, his mind flew back again, like a strong spring released, to its first position, and presented the same problem to be worked all through, "Was it a dream or not?"
Scrooge lay in this state until the chimes had gone three quarters more, when he remembered, on a sudden, that the Ghost had warned him of a visitation when the bell tolled one. He resolved to lie awake until the hour was past; and, considering that he could no more go to sleep than go to Heaven, this was perhaps the wisest resolution in his power.
The quarter was so long, that he was more than once convinced he must have sunk into a doze unconsciously, and missed the clock. At length it broke upon his listening ear.
"Ding, dong!"
"A quarter past," said Scrooge, counting.
"Ding dong!"
"Half past!" said Scrooge.
"Ding dong!"
"A quarter to it," said Scrooge.
"Ding dong!"
"The hour itself," said Scrooge, triumphantly,
"and nothing else!"
He spoke before the hour bell sounded, which it now did with a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy One. Light flashed up in the room upon the instant, and the curtains of his bed were drawn.
The curtains of his bed were drawn aside, I tell you, by a hand. Not the curtains at his feet, nor the curtains at his back, but those to which his face was addressed. The curtains of his bed were drawn aside; and Scrooge, starting up into a half-recumbent attitude, found himself face to face with the unearthly visitor who drew them: as close to it as I am now to you, and I am standing in the spirit at your elbow.
It was a strange figure -- like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child's proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those upper members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white, and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.
Even this, though, when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness, was not its strangest quality. For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was light one instant, at another time was dark, so the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness: being now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the dense gloom wherein they melted away. And in the very wonder of this, it would be itself again; distinct and clear as ever.
"Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?" asked Scrooge.
"I am."
The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
"Who, and what are you?" Scrooge demanded.
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
"Long Past?" inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature.
"No. Your past."
Perhaps, Scrooge could not have told anybody why, if anybody could have asked him; but he had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap; and begged him to be covered.
"What!" exclaimed the Ghost, "Would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give? Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap, and force me through whole trains of years to wear it low upon my brow!"
Scrooge reverently disclaimed all intention to offend or any knowledge of having willfully bonneted the Spirit at any period of his life. He then made bold to inquire what business brought him there.
"Your welfare," said the Ghost.
Scrooge expressed himself much obliged, but could not help thinking that a night of unbroken rest would have been more conducive to that end. The Spirit must have heard him thinking, for it said immediately:
"Your reclamation, then. Take heed."
It put out its strong hand as it spoke, and clasped him gently by the arm.
"Rise. And walk with me."
It would have been in vain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes; that bed was warm, and the thermometer a long way below freezing; that he was clad but lightly in his slippers, dressing-gown, and nightcap; and that he had a cold upon him at that time. The grasp, though gentle as a woman's hand, was not to be resisted. He rose: but finding that the Spirit made towards the window, clasped his robe in supplication.
"I am mortal," Scrooge remonstrated, "and liable to fall."
"Bear but a touch of my hand there," said the Spirit, laying it upon his heart, "and you shall be upheld in more than this."
As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either hand. The city had entirely vanished. Not a vestige of it was to be seen. The darkness and the mist had vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground.
"Good Heaven!" said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. "I was bred in this place. I was a boy here."
The Spirit gazed upon him mildly. Its gentle touch, though it had been light and instantaneous, appeared still present to the old man's sense of feeling. He was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten.
"Your lip is trembling," said the Ghost. "And what is that upon your cheek?"
Scrooge muttered, with an unusual catching in his voice, that it was a pimple; and begged the Ghost to lead him where he would.
"You recollect the way?" inquired the Spirit.
"Remember it!" cried Scrooge with fervour -- "I could walk it blindfold."
"Strange to have forgotten it for so many years," observed the Ghost. "Let us go on."
They walked along the road, Scrooge recognising every gate, and post, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. Some shaggy ponies now were seen trotting towards them with boys upon their backs, who called to other boys in country gigs and carts, driven by farmers. All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it.
"These are but shadows of the things that have been," said the Ghost. "They have no consciousness of us."
The jocund travellers came on; and as they came, Scrooge knew and named them every one. Why was he rejoiced beyond all bounds to see them. Why did his cold eye glisten, and his heart leap up as they went past? Why was he filled with gladness when he heard them give each other Merry Christmas, as they parted at cross-roads and-bye ways, for their several homes? What was merry Christmas to Scrooge? Out upon merry Christmas! What good had it ever done to him?
"The school is not quite deserted," said the Ghost. "A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still."
Scrooge said he knew it. And he sobbed.
They left the high-road, by a well-remembered lane, and soon approached a mansion of dull red brick, with a little weathercock-surmounted cupola, on the roof, and a bell hanging in it. It was a large house, but one of broken fortunes; for the spacious offices were little used, their walls were damp and mossy, their windows broken, and their gates decayed. F
ปลุกคนขี่เหนียวไก่ มันจึงมืด ที่มองจาก เขาอาจแทบแยกหน้าต่างโปร่งใสจากผนังทึบของห้องของเขา เขาถูก endeavouring ยอกความมืดกับตาเฟอร์เร็ต เมื่อตีระฆังของโบสถ์เพื่อนหลงไตรมาสสี่ เพื่อให้ เขาฟังในชั่วโมงการ astonishment ของเขาดี เบลล์หนักไป จากเจ็ด 6 และเจ็ดแปด และเป็นประจำถึง twelve แล้ว หยุด 12 ในอดีตเมื่อสองเขาเข้านอนได้ นาฬิกาไม่ถูกต้อง เสาน้ำแข็งต้องมีในงาน 12เขาสัมผัสฤดูใบไม้ผลิของ repeater ของเขา การแก้ไขนี้นาฬิกาสุด preposterous ของชีพจรเล็กเร็วชนะ twelve: และหยุด"ทำไม ไม่สามารถ กล่าวว่า คนขี่เหนียว, "ที่ฉันสามารถมีแหล่ง ผ่านทั้งวัน และ ในคืนที่อื่นไกล เขตข้อมูลยืนยันไม่ได้ว่า อะไรเกิดขึ้นกับดวงอาทิตย์ และนี้คือ twelve เที่ยง"ความคิดหนึ่งน่าเป็นห่วงอยู่ เขาแปลงจาก และ groped เขาไปหน้าต่าง เขาบ้านจะถูน้ำแข็งที่ปิด ด้วยแขนของชุดแต่งตัวของเขาก่อนที่เขาได้เห็นอะไร และได้เห็นนั้นน้อยมาก ทั้งหมดที่เขาสามารถทำได้ ก็ยังมีหมอกหนามาก และเย็นมาก และที่มีเสียงไม่มีคนทำไปโอนมา และทำให้คนดี ร้านจะมีถ้ามีตีปิดวันสดใส และครอบครองโลก นี้ไม่โล่งดี เนื่องจาก "สามวันหลังจากภาพแรกนี้แลกเงินจ่ายนาย Ebenezer คนขี่เหนียวหรือสั่งซื้อสินค้า" และอื่น ๆ forth จะได้กลายเป็นความปลอดภัยมีเพียงสหรัฐอเมริกาถ้ามีวันไม่มีการนับโดยการคนขี่เหนียวไปที่เตียงอีกครั้ง และ คิด คิด ว่า และคิดว่า มันกว่า และน่า และสามารถทำอะไรมัน เขาคิดมาก ยิ่งงง กำลัง และยิ่งเขาขะมักเขม้นไม่คิด มากกว่าที่เขาคิดว่า ผีของ Marley เองไป ทุกครั้งที่เขาได้รับการแก้ไขภายในตัวเอง หลังจากการสอบถามผู้ใหญ่ ก็ทุกความฝัน จิตใจของเขาบินไปอีก เช่นสปริงแข็งออก ใช้ ตำแหน่งแรก และนำเสนอปัญหาเดียวกันทำทั้งหมดถึง "เป็นความฝัน หรือไม่"คนขี่เหนียววางในสถานะนี้จนกว่าจะตีระฆังแล้วไตรมาส 3 เพิ่มเติม เมื่อเขาจำ ในทันที ว่า ผีได้เตือนเขาที่เยี่ยมชมเมื่อระฆัง tolled หนึ่ง เขาได้นอนตื่นจนกว่าชั่วโมงผ่านมา และ พิจารณาว่า เขาอาจไม่ขึ้นไปนอนไปสวรรค์ นี้อาจจะละเอียด wisest ในอำนาจนั้นไตรมาสได้นาน ว่า เป็นหลายครั้งมั่นใจเขาต้องจมเป็น doze รับ และพลาดนาฬิกา ยาว มันยากจนเมื่อหูฟัง"ดิง ดง""ไตร มา กล่าวว่า คนขี่เหนียว ตรวจนับ"ดิงดอง""ครึ่งอดีต" กล่าวว่า คนขี่เหนียว"ดิงดอง""หนึ่งในสี่นั้น กล่าวว่า คนขี่เหนียว"ดิงดอง""ชั่วโมงเอง กล่าวว่า คนขี่เหนียว ประสบความสำเร็จ"และอะไร"เขาพูดก่อนระฆังชั่วโมงแต่เพียงแห่ง ซึ่งตอนนี้มันละห้อยลึก หมองคล้ำ กลวง หนึ่ง ไฟถ่ายในห้องพักทันที และถูกดึงม่านเตียงของเขาผ้าม่านเตียงของเขาได้ออกเฉย ฉันบอกคุณ โดยมือ ไม่ม่านที่เท้าของเขา หรือม่านที่หลังของเขา แต่ผู้ที่ใบหน้าของเขาอยู่ ผ้าม่านเตียงของเขาถูกวาดไว้ และคนขี่เหนียว การเริ่มต้นในท่าครึ่ง recumbent พบตัวเองเผชิญหน้ากับชมพิสดารที่วาดไว้: เหมือนกับฉันตอนนี้เพื่อคุณ และฉันกำลังยืนอยู่ในวิญญาณศอกมันเป็นรูปแปลก ๆ - เช่นเด็ก: ยัง ไม่ได้เช่นเด็กชอบชายชรา ดูผ่านสื่อบางอย่างเหนือธรรมชาติ ซึ่งให้เขาลักษณะที่ปรากฏของมี receded จากมุมมอง และถูกลดลงให้สัดส่วนของเด็ก ผมของ ที่แขวน เกี่ยวกับคอของมัน และ ลงหลังของมัน มีสีขาวเหมือนกับอายุ ยัง หน้ามีริ้วรอยไม่มัน และบลูม tenderest อยู่บนผิวหนัง มีแขนยาว และกล้าม เนื้อ มือเดียว ว่าของค้างอยู่ที่แรงใช่ ของขาและเท้า สุดประณีตมีรูปแบบ ได้ เช่นบนสมาชิกเหล่า เปลือย มันสวมเสื้อคลุมสีขาวบริสุทธิ์ที่สุด และรอบเอวถูกผูกเข็มขัดษะ ชีนที่มีความสวยงาม เรื่องจัดสาขาของฮอลลี่สีเขียวสดของมือ ก ในความขัดแย้งเอกพจน์ของตราแผ่นดินที่ wintry มีชุดที่ตัด ด้วยดอกไม้ฤดูร้อน แต่สิ่งแปลกประหลาดเกี่ยวกับมัน ที่จากมงกุฎใหญ่ผุดมีสดใสล้างเจ็ทของแสง ซึ่งทั้งหมดนี้ถูกเห็น และอย่างไม่ต้องสงสัยซึ่งเป็นโอกาสที่ใช้ ในช่วงเวลาของ duller, extinguisher ดีสำหรับหมวก ซึ่งจะจัดขึ้นภายใต้แขนของEven this, though, when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness, was not its strangest quality. For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was light one instant, at another time was dark, so the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness: being now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the dense gloom wherein they melted away. And in the very wonder of this, it would be itself again; distinct and clear as ever."Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?" asked Scrooge."I am."The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance."Who, and what are you?" Scrooge demanded."I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.""Long Past?" inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature."No. Your past."Perhaps, Scrooge could not have told anybody why, if anybody could have asked him; but he had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap; and begged him to be covered."What!" exclaimed the Ghost, "Would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give? Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap, and force me through whole trains of years to wear it low upon my brow!"Scrooge reverently disclaimed all intention to offend or any knowledge of having willfully bonneted the Spirit at any period of his life. He then made bold to inquire what business brought him there."Your welfare," said the Ghost.Scrooge expressed himself much obliged, but could not help thinking that a night of unbroken rest would have been more conducive to that end. The Spirit must have heard him thinking, for it said immediately:"Your reclamation, then. Take heed."It put out its strong hand as it spoke, and clasped him gently by the arm."Rise. And walk with me."It would have been in vain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes; that bed was warm, and the thermometer a long way below freezing; that he was clad but lightly in his slippers, dressing-gown, and nightcap; and that he had a cold upon him at that time. The grasp, though gentle as a woman's hand, was not to be resisted. He rose: but finding that the Spirit made towards the window, clasped his robe in supplication."I am mortal," Scrooge remonstrated, "and liable to fall.""Bear but a touch of my hand there," said the Spirit, laying it upon his heart, "and you shall be upheld in more than this."As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either hand. The city had entirely vanished. Not a vestige of it was to be seen. The darkness and the mist had vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground."Good Heaven!" said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. "I was bred in this place. I was a boy here."The Spirit gazed upon him mildly. Its gentle touch, though it had been light and instantaneous, appeared still present to the old man's sense of feeling. He was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten."Your lip is trembling," said the Ghost. "And what is that upon your cheek?"Scrooge muttered, with an unusual catching in his voice, that it was a pimple; and begged the Ghost to lead him where he would."You recollect the way?" inquired the Spirit."Remember it!" cried Scrooge with fervour -- "I could walk it blindfold.""Strange to have forgotten it for so many years," observed the Ghost. "Let us go on."They walked along the road, Scrooge recognising every gate, and post, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. Some shaggy ponies now were seen trotting towards them with boys upon their backs, who called to other boys in country gigs and carts, driven by farmers. All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it."These are but shadows of the things that have been," said the Ghost. "They have no consciousness of us."The jocund travellers came on; and as they came, Scrooge knew and named them every one. Why was he rejoiced beyond all bounds to see them. Why did his cold eye glisten, and his heart leap up as they went past? Why was he filled with gladness when he heard them give each other Merry Christmas, as they parted at cross-roads and-bye ways, for their several homes? What was merry Christmas to Scrooge? Out upon merry Christmas! What good had it ever done to him?"The school is not quite deserted," said the Ghost. "A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still."Scrooge said he knew it. And he sobbed.They left the high-road, by a well-remembered lane, and soon approached a mansion of dull red brick, with a little weathercock-surmounted cupola, on the roof, and a bell hanging in it. It was a large house, but one of broken fortunes; for the spacious offices were little used, their walls were damp and mossy, their windows broken, and their gates decayed. F
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