chapter_2_page_18-24

2. The Spirit of Christmas Pass

Scrooge wakes up in the middle of the night. The church bells are ringing, and the church

clock strikes one. He sits up in the bed in fear. Suddenly, an invisible hand opens the

bed curtains. Scrooge sees a spirit standing near the bed. It is a very small ghost, like

a child, but he has the face of an old man. He has long white hair. He is wearing a long

white tunic with a big belt on it. There is light coming out of his head. This light makes

him visible.

2. Who are you? As Scrooge in fear, pulling the bedclothes up to his neck.

I am the ghost of Christmas past. I want to show your past to you, Ebenezer. I don't

want to see my past. Go away.

Get up and come with me, says the ghost, and holds Scrooge's hand. He takes Scrooge to

the window. Scrooge says, I can't come with you. I will fall down.

The little ghost is kind and soft. He says, don't worry. Just hold my hand. And they fly

out of the window. Soon afterwards, Scrooge finds himself on a country road together with

the ghost. There are fields on the sides of the road. It is not night time. It is a sunny,

but cold winter day. There is snow on the ground. Scrooge is not afraid anymore. He

is very excited because he recognizes the houses, gates, and even the trees. Oh, I know

this place.

In the distance, there is a small town with a church in the center. There is a small river

with a small bridge over it. Near the town, boys are playing and riding little horses.

There are happy people everywhere. They are talking and saying Merry Christmas to each other.

Scrooge knows many of these people. He remembers their names too.

Don't talk to anyone because they can't see us. We're invisible, says the ghost. Then they walk

toward a very old, red building. Scrooge is more excited now.

That's my school. He shouts an excitement.

Yes, it is empty now, but there is a lonely boy in it. I will show him to you, says the

ghost. Scrooge walks into the schoolhouse with the spirit. He gets sad, and his eyes are

filled with tears. He remembers his sad, lonely school years. It is very cold and damp inside

the school, and there is no one. All the boys are in their hometowns for the Christmas holiday.

The ghost takes Scrooge to an empty classroom. On a bench near the fire, a little boy is reading

a book. Look, you are a nice little boy, but you are very lonely, says the ghost.

Yes, and I am very sad. I remember this day. It is terrible for a little boy. All my friends are

in their homes for Christmas. Old Scrooge watches the young boy. Then he begins to cry

quietly. Why are you in tears? asks the ghost.

Little boys often come to my office on Christmas. They want to sing carols. But I send them away.

I never give them anything. Now I am sorry about that.

Suddenly, the ghost and Scrooge are outside the schoolhouse. They see a carriage waiting

in front of the building. A beautiful young girl and a young boy are walking towards the

carriage. They are very happy because they are together after several years. The boy

is carrying a small suitcase. This is another Christmas, and the boy is two years older

now. Look, you are very happy, and your sister looks so kind and beautiful. My lovely, loving

sister Fan. She is taking me home in that carriage. My father is kinder now, and wants

to see me at home for Christmas. This is a very happy moment in my life.

Too bad your sister is dead, says the ghost. Yes, I miss her very much. I often think about

her. She has children, I suppose, says the ghost. Yes, one son. He is a married man now.

He is your nephew Fred, I think. Yes, says Scrooge, and thinks about Fred's Christmas dinner

invitation, sadly. A moment later, Scrooge and the ghost are in the busy streets of London.

It is Christmas time again. It is late in the evening, and people are shopping. There

are carriages and carts in the streets. The ghost stops in front of a warehouse, and asks

Scrooge, do you know this place? Of course I do, shouts Scrooge with joy. It is my master's

warehouse. They go into the warehouse, and Scrooge is very happy to see Mr. Fezziwig,

his old boss. Two young apprentices are preparing the place for a Christmas party. One of these

young clerks is Scrooge, and the other one is Dick, a friend of young Scrooge. Mr. Fezziwig

is shouting at them. Hurry up, my boys. The guests are coming soon.

Mr. Fezziwig is a kind boss. I like him very much. He is like a father to me, old Scrooge

says to the ghost. And in a minute, the warehouse becomes filled with many people. Scrooge can

see the butcher, the milkman, and Fezziwig's housemate among them. In one corner, Mrs.

Fezziwig is sitting with her daughters. A fiddler is playing music. The guests are singing,

dancing, or playing games. There is a lot of food on the table. Young Scrooge and Dick are

having a very good time. What are you thinking about, Ebenezer? asks the ghost, because old

Scrooge is quiet now. I am not a good boss. I must be nicer to my clerk, Bob. Come with

me now, Ebenezer. I want to show you another memory of Christmas. And now Scrooge and

the spirit are in the woods. They see a young man and a woman. Scrooge feels pain in his

heart, because the woman is his first love. There are tears in her eyes. Old Scrooge goes

near the couple and listens to them. You don't love me anymore, because you are a rich man

now. Oh, Belle, I still love you, but I must go away and earn more money. For you, money

is more important than love. I am leaving you, Ebenezer. Farewell, says Belle, and walks

away. Young Scrooge looks sadly after her. He will never see her again. This scene makes

Scrooge very sad. He says, Spirit, take me home. I don't want to see anything else.

But there is one more scene. It is important. You must see it. This time, they are in a

comfortable living room. Scrooge's first love, Belle, is an older woman now. She is sitting

around the fire with her children. One of the children, the eldest daughter, looks exactly

like her mother, Belle. Then, Belle's husband, a kind -looking gentleman, enters the room with

many packages in his hands. The children run to him happily. He gives a Christmas present

to each one, and the children open them joyfully. Belle, the partner of your old friend Scrooge

is dying. He is very ill. I sometimes pass by their counting house. I see Scrooge sitting

all alone under the candlelight. I am not surprised. He is all alone in this world, says

Belle, and laughs. When old Scrooge hears this, he says, Spirit, this is too painful for me.

Take me away. Suddenly, Scrooge is back in his bed again. He falls into deep sleep.