STAVE FIVE.
SCENE I.—Scrooge's chamber. Scrooge discovered on his knees at the easy chair.
Scro. Spirit! Hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been, but for this intercourse. Why have shown me all that you have, if I am past all hope? Good Spirit, your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change the shadows you have shown me, by an altered life. Your hand trembles. I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present and the Future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh! tell me I may sponge away the shadows of the future. (Grasps the easy chair in his agony, as if struggling to detain it.) Do not go, I entreat you. It shrinks, it has collapsed, it has dwindled down into an easy chair. Yes! my own chair, my own room and best—and happiest of all—my own time before me to make amends in. Oh, Jacob Marley, Heaven and the Christmas time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees! (Rises and goes and opens door R., 2d E.) They are not torn down—the bed curtains are not torn down, rings and all. They are there—I am here—the shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be; I know they will! (Commences to dress himself, putting everything on wrong, etc.) I don't know what to do! (Laughing and crying.) I am as light as a feather; I am as happy as an angel; I am as merry as a school boy; I am as giddy as a drunken man. A Merry Christmas to every body! A Happy New year to all the world! Halloo here! Waoop! Halloo! (Dancing and capering around the room.) There's the saucepan that the gruel was in; there's the door by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered; there's the corner (pointing into adjoining room) where the Ghost of Christmas Past sat. It's all right; it's all true; it all happened. Ha, ha, ha! (Laughing heartily.) I don't know what day of the month it is. I don't know how long I've been among the Spirits. I don't know any thing. I'm quite a baby. Never mind; I don't care. I'd rather be a baby. Haloo! whoop! Halloo here! (Bells or chimes commences to ring. Goes to window and opens it.) No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; golden sunlight, heavenly sky; sweet, fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! glorious! (Looking out of window) Hey! you boy in your Sunday clothes, what's to-day?
Voice outside. Eh?
Scro. What's to day my fine fellow?
Voice outside. To-day! why. Christmas Day.
Scro. It's Christmas Day; I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do any thing they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. (Returns to window.) Halloo, my fine fellow!
Voice outside. Halloo!
Scro. Do you know the poulterers in the next street but one, at the corner?
Voice outside. I should hope I did.