Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits

Scrooge awoke in the middle of a loud snore. The clock was striking one again. He sat up in bed and waited for the second spirit. No spirit appeared, but a strange light came from the next room. Scrooge got up and shuffled to the door in his slippers. He opened it, and what he saw amazed him. His plain room had been transformed. The walls were covered with green holly, mistletoe, and red berries. A huge fire roared in the fireplace. On the floor was piled the most wonderful Christmas feast. There were turkeys, geese, sausages, pies, puddings, and fruits. Sitting on a throne of food was a jolly giant. He held a glowing torch shaped like a horn of plenty. The spirit wore a simple green robe trimmed with white fur. His feet were bare, and a wreath of holly sat upon his head. His face was cheerful and his eyes sparkled with joy. 'Come in!' cried the ghost. 'Come in and know me better, man!' 'I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,' said the spirit. 'Look upon me!' Scrooge did so, but could not meet the spirit's kind eyes. 'Spirit,' said Scrooge humbly, 'take me where you will.' 'Touch my robe!' said the ghost. Scrooge held on tight, and they flew through the wall. They stood on the snowy streets of London on Christmas morning. People were clearing the snow from their doorsteps. Children laughed and threw snowballs at each other. Church bells rang out joyfully. The spirit led Scrooge through the streets to a poor part of town. They stopped at a small, humble house. 'This is the home of your clerk, Bob Cratchit,' said the spirit. Inside, Mrs. Cratchit was setting the table. She wore a twice-turned dress, but it was decorated with cheap ribbons. Her daughter Belinda was helping her, wearing similar ribbons. Two smaller Cratchits came running in, shouting that they could smell the goose. 'Where is your father?' asked Mrs. Cratchit. 'And your brother Tiny Tim?' 'Here's father coming!' cried the children. Bob Cratchit came in, wearing his thin coat and long white scarf. On his shoulder sat Tiny Tim, a small boy with a little crutch. His legs were supported by an iron frame. 'How did little Tim behave?' asked Mrs. Cratchit. 'As good as gold, and better,' said Bob. 'He told me he hoped people saw him in church.' 'Because he is a cripple, and it might remind them of Jesus, who made the lame walk.' Bob's voice trembled as he spoke, and he held Tim's little hand tighter. Soon the goose was ready, and everyone sat down to eat. It was a small goose for such a big family, but nobody complained. They all said it was the best goose they had ever tasted. Then came the pudding, and it was a great success. At last, the dinner was done. The family gathered around the fire with apples and oranges. Bob raised his glass and said, 'A merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!' 'God bless us, every one!' said Tiny Tim, the last of all. He sat very close to his father on a little stool. Bob held his son's small hand, as if he feared he might lose him. 'Spirit,' said Scrooge with a new interest, 'tell me if Tiny Tim will live.' 'I see an empty chair,' said the ghost, 'and a crutch without an owner.' 'If these shadows remain unchanged, the child will die.' 'No, no!' cried Scrooge. 'Oh no, kind spirit! Say he will be spared!' 'Why care about him?' said the ghost. 'If he is to die, let him die and decrease the surplus population.' Scrooge hung his head in shame to hear his own words. Bob then proposed a toast to Mr. Scrooge, his employer. 'Mr. Scrooge!' said Mrs. Cratchit angrily. 'I wish I had him here!' 'My dear,' said Bob, 'the children! Christmas Day!' 'Very well,' she said. 'I'll drink to his health for your sake, not for his.' The spirit took Scrooge to many other places that day. Everywhere they went, people were celebrating Christmas. They visited miners in the mountains and sailors on the sea. All of them shared happiness, even in the hardest places. Finally, the spirit brought Scrooge to a bright and cheerful room. It was his nephew Fred's house. Fred and his wife were having a Christmas party with their friends. They were all laughing. 'He said Christmas was a humbug!' cried Fred. 'And he believed it too!' 'More shame on him, Fred!' said his wife. 'He's a funny old fellow,' said Fred, 'and not very pleasant.' 'But his bad behavior punishes only himself.' 'He misses out on pleasant dinners and good times.' 'I feel sorry for him. I couldn't be angry with him if I tried.' They played games and music until late into the evening. Scrooge watched and wished he could join them. At last, Fred raised his glass. 'A merry Christmas to the old man,' he said, 'wherever he is!' Everyone drank to Scrooge, though he did not deserve it. Scrooge noticed that the ghost was growing older. 'Spirit, are spirits' lives so short?' asked Scrooge. 'My life upon this earth is very brief,' replied the ghost. 'It ends tonight at midnight.' The clock began to strike twelve. 'Look here!' said the ghost, opening its robe. Beneath it, Scrooge saw two children, thin and ragged. Their faces were old and frightening. 'Spirit! Are they yours?' Scrooge asked in horror. 'They are Man's,' said the ghost. 'This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.' 'Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy.' 'Have they no place to go?' asked Scrooge. 'Are there no prisons?' said the ghost, using Scrooge's own words. 'Are there no workhouses?' The bell struck twelve, and the ghost vanished. Scrooge looked around and saw a dark figure coming toward him. It moved slowly and silently, like a mist along the ground.

Chapter Summary

Comprehension Questions

How did the Ghost of Christmas Present appear to Scrooge?

What is the name of Bob Cratchit's sick son?

What did the Ghost of Christmas Present show Scrooge about his own words?

What did the two children hidden under the Ghost's robe represent?

Vocabulary

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