The Spirit of Christmas part 10

"A Christmas Carol" (continued)
In the blink of an eye, Scrooge returned to this bed, and was met by a jolly spirit who said, "I am the good Ghost of Christmas Present. Follow me now to see something pelasant." In a flash, they were in Bob Cratchit's place, which looked very festive, depsite the cramped space. Scrooge watched the Cratchits sit down to eat their small Christmas dinner as if a great treat. "God Bless us, every one," Tiny Tim cried, as his family blessed him, smiling with pride. "Tiny Tim," said the Spirit, "will always be lame. But he is still cheerful, despite his great pain." As the Spirit departed, another took shape---a horrible creature in a hood and a cape. It spoke not a word and seemed to be dumb. It was the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. At the graveyard it showed Scrooge what lay ahead: misery and sorrow for Tiny Tim was dead. Then Scrooge saw his own grave, unloved and unkept, alone in a cemetery where noboby wept. As they wandered the streets, he heard people say, "The old miser's gone, but who cares anyway?" As the ghost disappeared Scrooge did something strange: he fell down and wept, "Now I know I must change!" (to be continued tomorrow).
"The Night before Christmas" (continued)
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack. His eyes----how they twinkled! His dimples----how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. (to be continued tomorrow).

Love,
Sara McMurdie