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Chapter 5 The End of the Story

Ebenezer Scrooge was in his room again.

'I'll be kind at Christmas and all year,' he said again. He climbed out of bed.'The three ghosts will help me.'

He looked at his bed curtains.

' The bed curtains are there,' he thought.' The bed curtains are there and I'm here. That future, the future with the two women and the undertaker's man — it didn't happen!'

He went into another room.

' There's the door,' he said. ' Marley's ghost came in through that door. And the Ghost of Christmas Now sat there, and that's the window. I saw the Ghost of Future Christmases at that window. It all happened! Ha-ha-ha!'

This was Ebenezer's first laugh for many years. The first laugh of a new future.

' What day is it ?' thought Ebenezer.' How much time did I have with the ghosts ? I don't know.'

He heard the church clock. He ran to the window and opened it. There was no fog, only sun.

' What's today ?' called Ebenezer to a boy in the street.The boy was in his best clothes.

' Eh ?' said the boy.

' What's today ?' said Ebenezer.

' Today ?' answered the boy.' It's Christmas Day, of course!'

' It's Christmas Day!' said Ebenezer.' It's my Christmas Day! I was with the ghosts for one night. Only one night! Hello, my boy! Do you know that shop in the next street?There was a big goose in the window. A very big goose!'

' Was it as big as me ?' asked the boy.

'Yes, my boy,' said Scrooge.

' It's in the window now,' said the boy.

' Is it?' said Scrooge.' Well, go and buy it.The man can bring it here. Come back with him, and I'll give you ten pence. Come back in five minutes, and I'll give you twenty pence.'

The boy ran to the shop.

' I'll send the goose to Bob Cratchit's house,' Ebenezer thought. ' But not from me. I won't put my name on it. That goose is bigger than Tiny Tim!'

Ebenezer went to his bedroom and put on his best clothes. The man arrived with the goose. Ebenezer paid him and the boy. He gave the man Bob Cratchit's address, and then he went out into the streets. People started to come out of their houses. Ebenezer remembered them from his time with the Ghost of Christmas Now. Ebenezer walked with his hands behind him and looked at them with a big smile. Because he looked happy, three or four men said,' Good morning, sir. A Merry Christmas to you !' That ' Merry Christmas' was the happiest sound in his life.

Then he saw somebody.

' I know that man,' thought Ebenezer.' Sir, you were in my office yesterday' he said. 'You said "Scrooge and Marley's, I think? Am I speaking to Mr Scrooge or to Mr Marley?" Do you remember?'

Yes,' said the man,' that's right.'

' My dear sir,' said Ebenezer, and he took the man's hand,' how do you do ? I hope you got a lot of money yesterday. A Merry Christmas to you, sir!'

' Mr Scrooge ?' said the man.' Is that you ?'

'Yes,' said Ebenezer. ' That's my name. I know you don't like the sound of it. But I'm a new man now. Will you please Scrooge spoke very quietly.



' Oh!' said the man.' My dear Mr Scrooge, do you mean it ?'

' Oh yes!' said Ebenezer. ' Please, I want to give you that — every penny. And I'll give you more. Come to my office and I'll give you the money.'

' I will!' said the man.

Ebenezer went to church and then walked through the streets and watched people.

In the afternoon, he went to Fred's house. But he was afraid. He looked at the door for a long time before he went in. A girl came to the door.

' Is Fred at home ?' he asked.

'Yes, sir.'

'Where is he, my dear?' said Ebenezer.

' He's in the dining-room, sir.'

' Thank you. He knows me. I'll go in,' said Scrooge.

They were all at the table, and the food was in front of them.

' Fred!' said Ebenezer.

' Well, well, well!' cried Fred.' Who's this ?'

'It's your Uncle Ebenezer. I'm here for dinner. Can I come in, Fred?'

It was a wonderful party with lovely food and games, and everybody was very, very happy.

Ebenezer was early at the office next morning. It was nine o'clock, but Bob Cratchit wasn't there. A quarter past nine — and no Bob Cratchit. He was eighteen minutes late. Scrooge sat there with the door open. He wanted to see Bob when he arrived. Then Bob came in.

' Hello,' said Scrooge — the old Scrooge spoke.' Why are you late?'

' I'm sorry, sir,' said Bob. ' I am late, that's right. I had a very Merry Christmas yesterday'

'Well,' said Ebenezer,'I'm going to do something. I'm going to give you more money. And I'll help you with your family. We'11 talk about that this afternoon. Now please put more coal on the fire. And you can take some coal into your room, Bob Cratchit.'

Tiny Tim did not die. Ebenezer Scrooge was a second father to the family. He was a good man and a good friend. He always had a good time at Christmas, and he never said 'Humbug!' again.

 


 

 


Date: 2015-12-17; view: 940


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