The phantom came slowly and silently toward Scrooge. It was draped in a deep black garment that hid its face and body. Only one hand was visible, stretched out and pointing. 'I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?' said Scrooge. The spirit did not answer but only pointed forward. 'You are about to show me shadows of things that have not yet happened,' said Scrooge. 'Is that so, spirit?' The phantom gave no reply. 'Ghost of the Future!' cried Scrooge. 'I fear you more than any spirit I have seen.' 'But I know you want to do me good. Lead on!' They found themselves in the heart of the city, among the merchants. A group of businessmen were talking together. 'No, I don't know much about it,' said one man. 'I only know he's dead.' 'When did he die?' asked another. 'Last night, I believe.' 'What did he do with his money?' asked a red-faced man. 'I haven't heard,' said the first man with a yawn. 'It's likely to be a very cheap funeral,' said another. 'I don't know anyone who would go.' 'I'll go if lunch is provided!' said the red-faced man, and they all laughed. Scrooge knew these men but did not understand who they were discussing. The spirit led him to a dark part of town he had never seen before. The streets were dirty, the shops were broken, and the people were ugly. They entered an old shop filled with iron, bones, and dirty rags. An old man sat among his goods, smoking a pipe. Three people came in: a laundress, a cleaning woman, and an undertaker's man. 'Let the cleaning woman go first!' said the laundress. 'Let the undertaker's man go second, and me third.' The cleaning woman threw her bundle on the floor. 'Look at these bed curtains!' she said. 'You took them down while he was lying there dead?' asked the old man. 'Yes!' she laughed. 'Why not? He wasn't going to use them.' The laundress showed her bundle of sheets and towels. The undertaker's man had taken the shirt from the dead body itself. 'He frightened everyone away while he lived,' said the cleaning woman. 'So now that he's dead, we profit from it!' 'Spirit!' cried Scrooge, shaking from head to foot. 'I see. The fate of this unhappy man could be my own.' 'But if there is any person who feels emotion about this death, show me!' The ghost spread its dark robe like a wing. When it lowered the robe, they were in a room. A mother sat with her children, waiting anxiously. Her husband came in, looking tired and sad, but also strangely relieved. 'Is it good news or bad?' she asked. 'He is dead,' said the man. The woman's face showed relief, then shame. They had owed this man money and had feared his cruelty. Now they would have time to pay whoever took over the debt. 'Spirit,' said Scrooge, 'show me some tenderness connected to death.' The ghost took him to Bob Cratchit's house. It was very quiet inside. The children sat still, and no one spoke. Mrs. Cratchit was sewing by the fire. 'The color hurts my eyes,' she said, putting down her work. 'I wouldn't want your father to see them weak when he comes home.' 'He's late tonight,' said one of the children softly. 'He has walked slower these past few evenings,' said Mrs. Cratchit. There was a knock at the door. Bob came in and sat by the fire. 'I went to the churchyard today,' he said. 'It's such a nice green place. You'll see it often. I promised him I would.' His voice broke, and he began to cry. 'My little child!' cried Bob. 'My little child!' The children gathered around their father, trying to comfort him. Scrooge looked around for Tiny Tim but could not find him. 'Spirit,' said Scrooge with a heavy heart, 'tell me who that dead man was.' The ghost pointed away from the town to a churchyard. The spirit stood among the graves and pointed to one. 'Before I look at that stone, answer me one question,' said Scrooge. 'Are these shadows of things that will be, or things that may be?' The ghost still pointed at the grave. Scrooge crept toward it, trembling as he went. He read upon the stone his own name: EBENEZER SCROOGE. 'Am I that man who lay upon the bed?' cried Scrooge, falling to his knees. The finger pointed from the grave to him, and back again. 'No, spirit! Oh no, no!' 'Spirit!' cried Scrooge, clutching its robe. 'Hear me!' 'I am not the man I was!' 'Why show me this if I am past all hope?' 'Good spirit, I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.' 'I will live in the past, the present, and the future.' 'I will not shut out the lessons that the spirits have taught me.' 'Tell me I may change these shadows!' In his struggle, Scrooge held the ghost's hand. But the spirit pulled free and shrank away. The phantom grew smaller and smaller. It collapsed into a bedpost. And the bedpost was his own.
B1Chapter 4 / 5873 words87 sentences
Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits
Chapter 4 · A Christmas Carol · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge a dark future where he dies alone and unmourned, his possessions stolen and sold. Most devastatingly, Scrooge sees that Tiny Tim has also died, leaving the Cratchit family heartbroken.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How did the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appear?
2
What were the businessmen talking about in the future?
3
What did Scrooge see on the gravestone in the churchyard?
4