SCROOGE and MARLEY (Deceased) – STAVE 5 – THE END OF IT – Verses 3 to 5

 

A POEM by Paul Curtis, BASED ON THE STORY by

Charles Dickens “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

 

VERSE 3 – CALLING ON A NEPHEW

 

In the afternoon he turned his steps in another direction

Towards his nephew's house to accept his invitation

He passed the door a dozen times before his visit

When he found the courage he made a dash at it

He asked the girl “Is your master at home, my dear?”

“Yes, sir.” She replied in a voice polite and clear

“Where is he, my love?” He said with some finesse.

“He's in the dining-room, along with my mistress

I'll show you up-stairs, if you please.” The girl said

“Thank you. He knows me, he’s my nephew Fred”

Scrooge said, his hand already on the dining-room lock.

“I'll go in here, my dear.” He entered without a knock

He sidled his face in, round the door silent and supple

Fred and his young wife were looking at the laden table

The table was spread in great array for the festivities

And the young housekeeper doubtful about her abilities

“Fred!” said Ebeneezer Scrooge a little fainthearted.

Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage started.

Scrooge forgot about her sitting in the quiet corner

With footstool, or he would not have startled her

“Why bless my soul!” cried Fred, “Who's that there?”

“It's I. Your Uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner.

Does the invitation hold? Will you let me in, Fred?”

“Let you in? I couldn’t be happier,” the nephew said 

When uncle and wife were introduced Scrooge hesitated

And said “May god forgive me for the years I’ve wasted”

Let him in indeed Fred could not have been happier

He was at home nothing could have been heartier

Scrooge saw that his niece looked just the same.

So did Topper and the plump sister when they came

There was wonderful happiness and much partying.

But he was early at his counting house next morning.

 

VERSE 4 – BACK TO THE COUNTING HOUSE

 

Oh he was early there. If he could only be there first

And catch Bob Cratchit come late! And see him cursed

That was the thing Scrooge had set his heart upon

And so he did and he sat and saw nine o’clock gone

The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob.

It was undoubtedly so that he was tardy for his job

He was full eighteen minutes behind his usual time

Bob knew that to Scrooge it was a cardinal crime

Bob’s hat was off even before he opened the door

His comforter too was taken off his neck before

Scrooge sat with his door wide open, so he might see

As Bob Cratchit crept in toward his desk silently

He was on his stool in a jiffy and picked up his pen

An accustomed voice growled “What time is this then?”

“What do you mean by coming here this time of day?”

Bob’s heart sank as he thought he was about to pay

“I am behind my time,” said Bob “I'm very sorry, sir”

“You are” observed Scrooge. “Yes. I think you are.

Step this way, if you please Mr. Cratchit” he said

“It's only once a year, sir, It shall not be repeated.

I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.” he pleaded

“Now, I'll tell you what, my friend,” Scrooge said

“I am not going to stand this sort of thing anymore”

He continued, leaping from his stool “And therefore,”

Then he dug Bob in the arm with his finger quite firmly

And said “And therefore I am about to raise your salary.”

Bob trembled, and thought about calling a constable

Then Scrooge smiled and he felt more uncomfortable

“A merry Christmas, Bob,” He smiled and laughed again

He spoke with an earnestness that could not be mistaken

“A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, I fear”

He continued “Than I have given you for many a year.

I'll raise your salary, and assist your struggling family

I am in earnest Bob and I mean to help you honestly

And we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon,

Over a Christmas bowl in the Saracens Head saloon

Make up the fires, and buy another coalscuttle Bob

Before you dot another I, cross another t or any job!”

 

VERSE 5 – THE END OF IT

 

He was better than his word. He did it all and more rather

And to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.

He became as good a friend, and master, and man

As anyone in any city, town, borough or world can

Some people laughed to see the great alteration in him,

But Scrooge let them laugh, and he little heeded them

He had no further intercourse with any sort of Spirit

It was said if any man alive had the knowledge of it

That scrooge knew very well how to keep Christmas

And may that always be truly said of us, and all of us!

Now our story of Ebeneezer Scrooge’s redemption is done

And as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

SCROOGE and MARLEY (Deceased) – STAVE 5 – THE END OF IT – Verses 1 to 2

 

A POEM by Paul Curtis, BASED ON THE STORY by

Charles Dickens “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

 

VERSE 1 - REDEMPTION

 

Yes! And the bedpost was his own as was the bed

The room was his and the curtains on the bedstead

But the Best and happiest of all and most amazing

The Time before him was his, to make amends in!

“I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!”

He repeated, as he scrambled out of bed “I assure”

“The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.

On my knees I say it on my knees, old Jacob Marley!

Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this

He was fluttered and glowing and brimful of bliss

He had sobbed hard in his struggle with the spirit

And his face was wet with tears as evidence of it

He folded a bed-curtain about him as if held in a spell

Then he cried “They are not torn down, rings as well

They are here, I am here and the would be shadow 

Will be dispelled all the shadows will be! That I know”

All this time his hands busied with his shirt and gown

Pulling them inside out and turning them upside down,

Scrooge was both laughing and crying simultaneously

And the said “I don't know what to do! I don’t really”

“I am as light as a feather,” he said skipping with joy

“I’m happy as an angel, I’m merry as a schoolboy

I’m giddy as a drunken man” he staggered and twirled  

“Merry Christmas and happy New Year to the world!”

He had danced off into the sitting room in his excess

And was now standing there winded and breathless

“There's the saucepan that the gruel was in!” he cried

Setting off again, and dancing around about the fireside

“There's the door, by which Marley’s Ghost entered at

And the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, sat

There's the window where I saw the wandering Spirits.

It’s all true, it all happened. And I haven’t lost my wits!”

He laughed heartily amazing for a man out of practice

It was a splendid illustrious laugh born of joy and bliss

Even he didn’t believe the brilliant laughter was his

Then he said, “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 anything. And I don't care.” He admits

He was halted suddenly by the church bells ringing out

The lustiest peals he had ever heard without any doubt

He ran to the window, opened it, and put out his head.

No fog, no mist, but clear, bright, stirring, cold instead

Golden sunlight; heavenly sky; sweet fresh air, glorious

And the merry-bells pealed out oh, glorious Christmas!

Scrooge called down to a boy in Sunday clothes, “Hey!”

Scrooge paused to chuckle “You boy what’s to-day?”

“Eh?” returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.

“What's to-day, my fine fellow?” Scrooge called louder

“To-day?” replied the boy. “Why, it’s Christmas Day.”

“I haven't missed it.” Scrooge said “it’s Christmas day!

The Spirits have managed to do it all in one night

Well they can do anything they like, that’s right

Yes of course they can. Hallo, my fine young fellow!”

“Hallo!” returned the boy still standing down below

“Do you know the Poulterer's, in the next street but one

On the corner?” he inquired smiling when he had done.

The boy replied a little puzzled “I should hope I did,”

“An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A remarkable kid!

Do you know whether they’ve sold the prize Turkey?

That was hanging up there, the great big one obviously?”

The boy replied smartly “What, the one as big as me?”

“What a delightful boy!” said Ebeneezer laughing-ly

“It's a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my young fellow”

“It's hanging their now,” replied the boy. “That I know”

“Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it my young lad”

“What!” exclaimed the boy “You must be raving mad”

“No, no,” said Scrooge, “I am in earnest, Go and buy it,

Tell them to bring it here, and I will give an address for it”

At first the boy seemed a little reluctant to do the job

“Then come back with the man, and I'll give you a “bob”.

Do it under five minutes and I'll make it half-a-crown.”

The boy was off like a shot to find the Poulterer’s in town

“I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's!” Scrooge whispered low

And laughed heartily as the boy ran off through the snow

“It will be a surprise it's twice the size of Tiny Tim”

Sadly he reflected Bob would not suspect it sent by him

 

VERSE 2 – A POULTRY SUM AND TWO PORTLY GENTLEMEN

 

The hand he wrote the address in was not a steady one

But he wrote it and went down-stairs when it was done

As he stood, awaiting arrival of the Poulterer’s man

The knocker caught his eye, he thought how it all began

He touched it gently and admired its kind expression

The Turkey arrived and he labeled it with its destination

The Poulterer’s man was dispatched to Camden in a cab

And Scrooge duly paid half a crown out to the lad

Throughout his dealings with the Turkey and the boy

Scrooge chuckled unable to suppress his obvious joy

After shaving he dressed himself up all in his best

And at last got out into the streets and felt well blessed

People were by this time pouring forth to great extent

As they had when with the Ghost of Christmas Present

Scrooge walked with his hands behind him for a while

And he regarded every one with a most delighted smile

He looked so irresistibly pleasant that more than a few

Said, “Good morning, sir. A merry Christmas to you.”

Scrooge had not gone very far along his way when

Coming towards him he beheld the portly gentlemen

Who walked into his counting house on Christmas Eve

And said to him, “Scrooge and Marley's, I believe.”

A pang of regret crossed his heart as he recalled it

They may wish to avoid him he was forced to admit

But their displeasure he would just have to face

“My dear sir,” said Scrooge, quickening his pace,

And taking the older gentleman by both his hands

“How do you do. I hope you succeeded in your plans”

He then turned his attention to the other man’s partner

“It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!”

“Mr. Scrooge?” the man said his dislike obvious to view

“That’s my name, and I fear not a pleasant one to you

Allow me to ask your pardon. And have the goodness” 

Here Scrooge whispered in his ear and eased his distress

“Lord bless me!” he cried as if his breath were taken

“My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious? Am I mistaken?”

“If you please,” said Scrooge. “And not a farthing less.

A great many back-payments are included in it, I confess

Will you do me that favor?” Scrooge asked of them

“My dear sir,” said the other, shaking hands with him

“We don't know what to say to such munificence. Sir”

“Please say nothing,” He retorted “I would prefer”

“Come and see me. Will you come and see me?”

“We will!” they both cried who would do it clearly

“Thank you both, I am much obliged Bless you!”

After his meeting it was the church that he went to

He walked the streets watching people come and go

Sharing smiles and hello’s as they hurried to and fro

Scrooge found that everything could yield him pleasure

A simple walk gave him happiness beyond measure

SCROOGE and MARLEY (Deceased) – STAVE 4 – THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS – Verses 6 to 7

 A POEM by Paul Curtis, BASED ON THE STORY by

Charles Dickens “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

 

VERSE 6 – BACK IN CAMDEN TOWN

 

Now the only emotion that the phantom could show

Caused by the death, was only one of pleasure though 

“Let me see some tenderness connected with a death,”

Said Scrooge; “Some tenderness spirit is my request”

The Ghost conducted him through alley and street

Road, lane and thoroughfare all of them familiar to his feet

And as they went along, Scrooge looked here and there

To find himself, but he could not see himself anywhere

They reached poor Bob Cratchit's humble house again 

And found around the fire sat mother and children

It was Quiet. Very quiet unnaturally so in Scrooges views

Even The noisy little Cratchit’s were as still as statues

Sat in a corner, looking up at Peter, who was reading

The mother and her daughters were engaged in sewing

It was very quiet as he read from the book before him

“And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them.”

The mother laid her work upon the table at her side

Put her hand to her face to hide the tear she’d cried

“The color hurts my eyes,” she said to the children 

Then Mrs. Cratchit said, “They're better now again,

Sewing by candlelight makes them weak rather

And I wouldn't want to show weak eyes to your father

Not for the world I wouldn’t” she heard a bell chime

“No not when he comes home, it must be near his time.”

“Past it rather,” Peter answered, shutting up his book.

Then he walked to the window so that he could look

Then he said “But I think he's walked a little slower

These last few evenings, than he used to, mother”

They were quiet again. Until she broke the silence

And in a steady, cheerful voice, only faltering once

“I have known him walk with Tiny Tim on his shoulder

Very fast indeed.” “And so have I, often” cried Peter

“And so have I,” exclaimed another. So had they all.

“He was very light to carry,” she continued to recall

Resuming her work, “And his father loved him so,

That it was no trouble” she faltered “No trouble, no”

“There your father at the door!” continued the mother

She hurried to meet him as Bob stood in his comforter

He sat beside the fire as his wife prepared some tea

And they all tried to settle him down comfortably

Then the two young Cratchit’s got up on his knees

And each child kissed his cheek to set him at ease

He feigned good cheer and spoke to them all pleasantly

And Bob saw their work and he praised the industry

And the speed that Mrs. Cratchit and the girls display

He said they would be done long before next Sunday

“Sunday Robert! You went to-day, then?” she said

“Yes I went their today, my dear,” Bob responded

“I wish you had come, you could have seen It then

Seen how green a place it is but you'll see it often.

I promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday”

His words deserted him then and he could only say

“My little, little child!” cried Bob. “My little son!”

He broke down the loss was to great of his little one

He couldn't help it. It was the price of feeling love

He left the room, and went up to the room above,

Which was lit cheerfully, and hung with Christmas.

And he entered and saw the cause of his distress

There was a chair set close beside the child’s bed

And he composed himself and kissed the little head

When he was reconciled to the loss of his little son

He went down stairs content to be with everyone

They drew about the fire, and huddled against the chill

And talked at length the girls and mother working still

Bob told them of the act of extraordinary kindness

By Mr. Scrooge's nephew who witnessed his distress

When they had met that very day in Camden town

And noticing that Bob looked more than a little down

Inquired what had happened to distress Bob Cratchit

“And as he is a nice fellow” said Bob, “I told him all of it.

'I am heartily sorry for it, Mr. Cratchit’, he said to me,

'And heartily sorry for your good wife most heartily’.

“By the bye, how he ever knew that, I don't know.”

“Knew what, my dear?” she said continuing to sew

“Why, that you were a good wife,” Bob said warmly

“Everybody knows that,” said Peter very proudly

“Very well observed,” cried Bob. “I hope they do.

'Heartily sorry,' he said, 'sorry for the both of you.

If I can be of service to you in any way,' said he,

Giving me his card, 'I live here. Pray come to me.”

It really seemed as if he knew our Tiny Tim, and felt it”

“I'm sure he's a good dear soul,” said Mrs. Cratchit.

“I shouldn't be at all surprised so mark what I say,”

Bob said, “If he got Peter a better situation one day

And Peter will make his way in some way or other

But however and whenever we part from one another,

I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim”

“Never, father!” cried them all. “We’ll never forget him”

“I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient

And how mild he was and how happy and content

And although he was a little, little child we shall not

Easily quarrel, among ourselves” Bob said “and forget

Poor Tiny Tim in doing it.” “No, never!” they all said

“I am very happy,” said Bob, “I am very contented!”

Mrs. Cratchit kissed him; his daughters kissed him,

The two young Cratchit’s kissed him and he kissed them

Peter shook his father’s hands and gave a foppish nod

Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence was from God

 

VERSE 7 – WRITING ON THE STONE

 

“Spectre! Something tells me but I don’t know how”

Said Scrooge “That our parting moment is at hand now

Tell me what man that was whom we saw lying dead?”

The spirit did not speak yet conveyed him on instead

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come led him, as before

Through a different time, to another place in the future

“This court,” said Scrooge, “Is a very familiar location

And that’s my counting house and place of occupation

Spirit of the future let me behold what I shall be

In the days to come and see what becomes of me”

The Spirit stopped but the hand pointed elsewhere.

“It’s here” He exclaimed. “Why do you point there?”

But the bony spectral finger continued to point away

Scrooge rushed over to his office window anyway

He looked in, It was an office still, but not his own

The furniture was not the same and décor unknown

And the figure in the chair was not Scrooge clearly

The Phantom just pointed as before disinterestedly

Scrooge rejoined it once again and they continued

Until through iron gates a churchyard he viewed

Here than in a churchyard the man who lay dead

Under the sheet now lay beneath the earth instead

The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed to one

Scrooge advanced to it trembling, as it must be done

“Spirit before I draw nearer to that stone’s location,”

Pleaded Scrooge, “Answer me just one question.

Are these the shadows of the things that will be,

Or are they shadows of things that May be, only?”

Still the Ghost pointed to the grave it was stood by

Despite no response Scrooge was resigned to try

“Men's courses will foreshadow,” he began to plead

Certain ends, which, if persevered in, they must lead,”

“But if the courses be departed from, the ends will be

Changed, Say it is thus with what you show me.”

Scrooge crept towards the grave trembling madly

And read on the cold stone, Ebeneezer Scrooge. R.I.P. 

“Am I that man who lay upon the bed?” he cried,

Slumped to his knees he begged the spirit to confide 

The finger went from the grave to him and back again.

“No, Spirit! Please don’t send me to that dark domain”

“Good Spirit!” he cried, clutching at its robe tightly,

The finger still was there pointing. “Spirit hear me”

I’m not the man I was and I won’t be that man again

That I must have been but for this spiritual campaign

Why show me this, if I am past all hope good spirit?” 

“Oh Good Spirit,” he pursued and fell down before it

“Assure me that, by an altered life, you guarantee

I may change these shadows you have shown me.”

Then Scrooge with his hands trembling held his head

“I will honor Christmas in my heart”, Scrooge said

And I will try to keep it all the year you can be sure

I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future

And within me shall strive The Spirits of all Three

I will not shut out the lessons that they teach me

Oh, please tell me” Scrooge cried in a pleading tone

That I may sponge away the writing on this stone!”

In his agony, he caught the spectral hand of the spirit

It sought to free itself, but he was strong, and held it

The Spirit, stronger, shook him and left him prostrate

He held up his hands in a last prayer to save his fate

He saw a change in hood and dress of his spirit host

It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled into a bedpost

SCROOGE and MARLEY (Deceased) – STAVE 4 – THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS – Verses 3 to 5

 A POEM by Paul Curtis, BASED ON THE STORY by

Charles Dickens “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

 

VERSE 3 – OLD JOE’S

 

Scrooge had never been here before and it didn’t suit

Although he knew it’s situation, and its bad repute

The ways were foul and narrow the houses squalid

The people wretched, drunken, ugly and slipshod

Offensive smells were disgorged from every alley

The whole quarter reeked of crime, filth, and misery

Far in this den of infamy was a rag and bone shop

To Scrooges surprise it was here that he had to stop

The floor within the shop had piles and heaps upon

Of rusty keys, nails, chains, hinges, and refuse iron

Sitting in among what he dealt in, by a charcoal stove

Was a seventy five year old and gray-haired cove

Screened from the cold air behind a curtain of rags

And smoked his pipe amidst piles of clothes and bags

The Phantom entered with Scrooge close by his side

Just as a woman with a heavy bundle slunk inside

But she had scarcely entered, when another woman

Similarly laden came in closely followed by a man

It was clear that all four were known to each other

And they stood embarrassed eyeing one another 

Then after quite a short period of blank astonishment

They all three burst into a laugh of nervous merriment

“Let the charwoman go first!” cried the first woman

“The laundress second and third the undertaker's man

After all Joe here’s a chance that all three haven’t met”

She continued “All together without us meaning it!”

“You couldn't have met in a better place,” said old Joe

And removed his pipe from his mouth and said, “Let’s go

Come into the parlor, let me just shut the shop door

How it shrieks, there’s nothing here that’s rusted more

And I'm sure there's no bones here old as mine. Ha, ha!

We're suited to our calling, we're well matched we are

Come into the parlor then all it’s a cold, cold night 

Come into the parlor.” Joe said, “I’ll trim the light”

They all followed after the old rag and bone broker

The old man then raked the fire over with a poker

While he did this, the woman who had already spoken

Threw her bundle on the floor as a gesture or token

Then she sat down in a flaunting manner on a chair

And then she gave her two companions a defiant stare

“Well what odds then. Mrs. Dilber.” said the woman.

“Everyone has a right to look to themselves if they can.

He always did.” She said in a tone of self-righteousness

“True, indeed, No man more so” said the laundress

“Why then, who's to be the wiser? And who knows?

We're not going to pick holes in each other, I suppose?”

“No, indeed,” said Mrs. Dilber and the man together

“We should hope not.” Said the solemn old undertaker

“Very well, then! Who's the worse, goodness knows

For the loss of these things? Not a dead man, I suppose.”

“No, indeed,” said Mrs. Dilber, laughing nervously anew

“If he wanted to keep them after death, wicked old screw,”

Pursued the woman, “Why wasn't he more natural in life?

If he had been, he'd have had somebody in his strife

To look after him when he was struck with death,

Instead of lying alone gasping out his last breath”

“It's true it's a judgment on him,” said Mrs. Dilber.

The woman replied “I wish it had been a bit heavier

And it would have been, you may depend upon it,

If I could have lain my hands on more I will admit

Open the bundle, old Joe, and let me know the value

You can speak plain old Joe in front of those two

I'm not afraid to be the first, nor for them to see

Come on then old Joe open the bundle and tell me

We knew we were helping ourselves before we met

I believe. It's no sin. Open the bundle, Joe. Let’s see it”

But the gallantry of her friends would not allow her

And the man stepped forward and produced his plunder

It wasn’t much, a pair of sleeve-buttons, a seal or two

A pencil case and a brooch all of them no great value.

Old Joe severely examined and appraised them all

Then chalked the sum he was to give on the wall

“That's yours done, and not another penny or so

Not if I was to be boiled for not doing it.” Said Joe

“Who's next?” Mrs. Dilber was next. Sheets and towel,

Sugar tongs, silver tea spoons, a little wearing apparel,

Her account was stated on the wall in the same way

“I always give too much to ladies it’s the price I pay

It's my weakness and that's the way I ruined myself,

That's yours said Joe putting the goods on the shelf

If you asked me for a penny more than I’ve writ down

I'll repent of being so liberal and knock off half-a-crown.”

“And now undo my bundle, Joe,” said the first woman.

Joe went down on his knees difficult for an old man

And undid the bundle revealing something uncertain

“What do you call this?” said old Joe. “A Bed-curtain?”

“Ah”! She replied leaning forward her face cracking

“Bed-curtains Joe” continued the woman, laughing

“You don’t mean to say you took them down, so

Rings and all with him lying there?” asked old Joe

“Yes I do,” replied the woman. “Why not though?”

“You were born to make your fortune,” said Joe,

Joe laughed heartily “and you will certainly do it.”

“I certainly shan't hold my hand, when I can get

Anything in it by reaching, for the sake of a so and so

Such a man as he was, I promise you that old Joe,”

Returned the woman. Joe examined the next item

“Don't drop oil upon the blankets, don’t spoil them”

“His blankets?” asked Joe. “Whose would they be?”

She replied “He won’t get a chill without them, will he?”

“I hope he didn't die of anything catching. Eh?”

Said old Joe, stopping in his work, and looking at her

“Don't you be afraid of that, if he did” said the woman.

“I wasn’t so fond of him that I'd loiter with the man

And you may look through that shirt till your eyes ache

You’ll find no hole, nor threadbare place and no mistake

It's the very best he had, and a fine one too as you see

And they'd have wasted it, if it hadn't been for me.”

“And what do you call wasting of it?” asked old Joe.

“Putting it on him to be buried in, don’t you know”

She said with a laugh “Somebody was fool enough

To put it on, but I took it off and dressed him in rough

If calico ain't good enough for the purpose of burying

It isn't good enough for anything. It's quite as becoming”

She said, “He can't look uglier than he did in that one.”

Scrooge listened to this horrified at what they’d done

As they sat grouped about their spoil, in the scanty light

He was filled with detestation and disgust at the sight

“Ha, ha!” laughed the same woman, as Joe paid out

Laughter still rang in his ears as they went without

“Spirit,” said Scrooge, shuddering from head to toe

“I see, the case of this man might be my own I know”

Shaking with rage and fear “I know” he began again

“My life tends that way, now. Oh Merciful Heaven,”

“What is this?” he said fearing that he was deranged

And he recoiled in terror, for the scene had changed

 

VERSE 4 – RIP

 

They stood in a room by a bare and un-curtained bed

On which, beneath a ragged sheet lay something dead

The room was very, very dark, too dark to see clear

But Scrooge glanced round anyway driven by fear

A shaft of pale moonlight fell straight upon the bed

The Phantom steady hand was pointed to the head

Scrooge looked at the phantom then again at the man

The plundered and bereft, unwept and uncared for man

The sheet was so loosely arranged that any movement

Would have exposed the cadaver’s embodiment

Scrooge thought of how easy it would be to do it

But was as powerless to do so as to dismiss the spirit

Though he was willing He could not expose the face

“Spirit,” Scrooge said, “This is a cold fearful place.

I shall not leave this lesson, trust me. Let us not linger.”

Still the Ghost pointed to the head with a bony finger

“I understand you,” Scrooge said “And I would do it,

If I only could. But I have not the power to, Spirit.”

The phantom seemed to look coldly down on him 

“If there is any person in the town, who has in them”

Scrooge said, “Any emotion caused by this man's death,

Show them to me, I beg you with my last breath.”

The Phantom spread its dark robe out like a wing

And then a new scene appeared on its withdrawing

 

VERSE 5 – A SHOW OF EMOTION

 

The scene revealed was a room illuminated by the day

Where a mother watched her children quietly play 

She was expecting some one with anxious eagerness

For she began pacing up and down in her distress

She started at every sound and looked out the window

Then glanced at the clock the tried in vain to sit and sew

She could hardly bear the noise of her playing children

But the expected and feared knock was heard then

Hurrying to the door she found her husband there

A young man who’s depressed face was full of care

But there was a remarkable expression in it now

A kind of serious delight about his eyes and brow

The feelings of delight of which he felt ashamed

And he struggled hard to repress the joy unnamed

He sat down near to his wife beside the fireside

Her obvious anxiety was quite impossible to hide

Then she asked him to tell her the news that he had

When he didn’t answer “Is it good.” she said, “or bad?”

“Bad,” he answered. “We are quite ruined.” Said she

“No. Caroline” he replied “There is hope yet you see”

“If he relents then nothing is past hope,” Caroline said

“He is past relenting,” said her husband. “He is dead.”

Caroline was mild and pleasant still in her youth

An open young creature whose face showed the truth

She was thankful in her soul to hear it and was happy

She prayed forgiveness next moment, and was sorry

“What the half-drunken woman actually said to me

About him being ill and not allowing me to see

When I tried to see him and obtain a week's delay

And I told you last night dear that I was sent away

I thought that it was an excuse and she was lying

Well it was true but he wasn’t only very ill, but dying”

“To whom will our debt be transferred to though?”

She asked him and he replied to her “I don't know.

But before that we shall have the money for them

And if not we’ll not find a successor as mean as him”

“Caroline we may sleep with lighter hearts tonight

Yes for the future does indeed look exceeding bright”

Even the children became brighter with each breath

And it was a much happier house for this man's death.

SCROOGE and MARLEY (Deceased) – STAVE 4 – THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS – Verses 1 to 2

 

A POEM by Paul Curtis, BASED ON THE STORY by

Charles Dickens “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

 

VERSE 1 – THE PHANTOM OF THE FUTURE

 

The Phantom approached slowly, gravely, silently

When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee

For the very air which this spirit moved through

It seemed to scatter gloom and mystery in his view

The phantom was shrouded in a deep black uniform

Which concealed its head and face its limbs and form

And left nothing visible save one outstretched hand

Scrooge managed to summon up the courage to stand

It was not easy to separate the figure from the night

By the virtue that it was surrounded by a lack of light

Though it was tall and stately fear filled Scrooge’s head

And the presence of it filled him with a solemn dread

Surprisingly it was a very motionless and silent spirit

And reluctantly Scrooge was prompted to question it 

“Are you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?” he said

The Spirit did not answer, but nodded with its head

“You will show me things that have not happened yet,

But will happen in the time before us, is that so, Spirit?”

The slightest movement of its head could be perceived

An inclination was the only answer Scrooge received

Although by this time well used to ghostly company

Scrooge feared the dark and silent phantom greatly

So much so that his legs trembled beneath his body

And when he prepared to follow it his steps were heavy

Scrooge exclaimed, “I fear you Ghost of the Future!”

More than any spirit I have seen more than any specter

But as I know spirit that to do me good is your plan

And as I hope to live my life and to be another man

From what I was, I am prepared to bear you company,

And do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?”

It gave him no reply. The hand pointed straight on

“Lead on spirit,” said Scrooge tiredly. “Just Lead on.

The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me,

So lead on” The Phantom moved off effortlessly

 

VERSE 2 – THE PLACE OF MERCHANT’S

 

The phantom’s shadow seemed to carry Scrooge along

Then suddenly they were in amongst the city’s throng

They didn’t enter it they just seemed to enter the city

The city actually sprang up about them in reality

But they were in its heart amongst the merchants

With the chinking of money and mongers chants

The Spirit stopped beside a knot of businessmen

They were known to Scrooge who’d met them often

Observing the spirit stop Scrooge halted his walk

The spirit pointed so Scrooge listened to their talk.

“No,” said a great fat man with an even fatter head,

“I don't know much about it, I only know he's dead.”

“When did he die?” inquired another. “Last night”

The general tone was not at all grave but rather light

“What was the matter with him?” asked a third,

“I thought he'd never die.” Not even a little absurd

“God knows,” said the first, yawning in assent

“What about his money?” asked a red-faced gent

“I haven't heard, perhaps he left it to his company”

He said “All I know is that he hasn't left it to me.”

They responded with a laugh to this pleasantry

“It will be a very cheap funeral more than likely,”

Said the same speaker “For on my life I don't know

Of anybody who knew him who would want to go, 

I suppose we could make up a party and volunteer?”

“Only if a lunch is provided,” said one with a sneer

And then another laugh echoed around the mall

“Well, I am the most disinterested of you, after all,”

Said the first speaker, “I never ever eat lunch and

Black gloves are never ever seen upon my hand

But I will offer to go, if somebody else will also

I think I was his most particular friend you know”

With that the group broke up going separate ways

And the speakers and the listeners strolled away

To mix with other groups. Scrooge knew the men

And looked towards the Spirit for some explanation

 

The Phantom did not speak yet glided on to a street

Its finger pointed to where two persons would meet

Scrooge listened, thinking it maybe the explanation

He knew these men who were now in conversation

They were great men of business and very wealthy

Of great importance and of good opinion worthy

Scrooge made a point of standing well in their esteem

But only in a business point of view it would seem

“How are you?” said one of the men “How are you?”

Returned the other. “Well!” said the first to be true

“Well Old Scratch has got his own at last, then hey.” 

“So I’m told,” returned the second. “And so they say”

“Cold, isn't it?” Said the first of the business men

“Seasonable for Christmas. Do you like skating”?

“No. No. Something else to think of. Good morning.”

Not another word was said, that was their meeting,

That was their conversation, and then their parting.

Scrooge was surprised the Spirit thought important

Conversations apparently so trivial and insignificant

But feeling assured they must have some relevancy

He set himself to consider what it was likely to be

He reasoned they had no bearing on Marley’s demise

Jacob died in the past so he didn’t see how it applies

He could not think of any person connected to him

And was at a loss to explain what had provoked them

But he did not doubt there was in the scenes content

Some moral to be learned for his own improvement

He resolved to treasure what he saw and every word

And to observe his shadow and act on what he heard

For he decided that the conduct of his future entity

Would render him the solution of these riddles easy

He looked about the merchants for his own figure

But another man stood in his corner in the future

But before the significance of this could sink in

The phantom stood beside him its hand pointing

When he roused himself from his thoughtful quest

And turned his full attention to his phantom guest

He felt the unseen eyes were looking at him keenly

It made him shudder, and feel very cold suddenly

They left the busy scene both familiar and renowned

And went instantly into an obscure part of the town