Scr. I do—I must! But why do spirits walk the earth? Why do they come to me?
Ghost. It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow men, and travel far and wide—if not in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world, oh, woe is me!—and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness.
Scr. You are fettered!
Ghost. I wear the chain I forged in life—I made it link by link. Is its pattern strange to you? Oh, no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunities misused.
Scr. But you were always a man of business——
Ghost. Business! Mankind was my business—charity, mercy, were all my business. At this time of the year I suffered most, for I neglected most. Hear me! I am here to-night to warn you that you have a chance and a hope of escaping my fate. You will be haunted by three spirits——
Scr. I—I'd rather be excused!
Ghost. Without their visits you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first when the clock strikes one. Look to see me no more. For your own sake, remember what has passed between us. (Binds wrapper round its head once more—slowly approaches the door and disappears. Scrooge follows the phantom towards the door.)
Scr. It is gone. The air seems filled with phantoms—shades of many I knew when living—they all wear chains like Marley—they strive to assist the poor and stricken, but in vain—they seek to interfere for good in human nature, but have lost the power forever. (The clock strikes one—Scrooge staggers to a chair—the room is filled with a blaze of light—the Ghost of Christmas Past rises through trap—As described in Work, page 43.) Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me?
1st Spirit. I am!