{"id":31704,"date":"2020-11-28T21:47:23","date_gmt":"2020-11-29T04:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/?page_id=31704"},"modified":"2020-11-28T23:01:21","modified_gmt":"2020-11-29T06:01:21","slug":"dead","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/dickens-in-days\/dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 17 – Dead"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dickens<\/a>He recoiled in terror, for the scene had changed, and now he almost touched a bed: a bare, uncurtained bed: on which, beneath a ragged sheet, there lay a something covered up, which, though it was dumb, announced itself in awful language.<\/p>\n

The room was very dark, too dark to be observed with any accuracy, though Scrooge glanced round it in obedience to a secret impulse, anxious to know what kind of room it was. A pale light, rising in the outer air, fell straight upon the bed; and on it, plundered and bereft, unwatched, unwept, uncared for, was the body of this man.<\/p>\n

Scrooge glanced towards the Phantom. Its steady hand was pointed to the head. The cover was so carelessly adjusted that the slightest raising of it, the motion of a finger upon Scrooge\u2019s part, would have disclosed the face. He thought of it, felt how easy it would be to do, and longed to do it; but had no more power to withdraw the veil than to dismiss the spectre at his side.<\/p>\n

Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine altar here, and dress it with such terrors as thou hast at thy command: for this is thy dominion! But of the loved, revered, and honoured head, thou canst not turn one hair to thy dread purposes, or make one feature odious. It is not that the hand is heavy and will fall down when released; it is not that the heart and pulse are still; but that the hand was open, generous, and true; the heart brave, warm, and tender; and the pulse a man\u2019s. Strike, Shadow, strike! And see his good deeds springing from the wound, to sow the world with life immortal!<\/p>\n

No voice pronounced these words in Scrooge\u2019s ears, and yet he heard them when he looked upon the bed. He thought, if this man could be raised up now, what would be his foremost thoughts? Avarice, hard-dealing, griping cares? They have brought him to a rich end, truly!<\/p>\n

He lay, in the dark empty house, with not a man, a woman, or a child, to say that he was kind to me in this or that, and for the memory of one kind word I will be kind to him. A cat was tearing at the door, and there was a sound of gnawing rats beneath the hearth-stone. What they wanted in the room of death, and why they were so restless and disturbed, Scrooge did not dare to think.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit!\u201d he said, \u201cthis is a fearful place. In leaving it, I shall not leave its lesson, trust me. Let us go!\u201d<\/p>\n

Still the Ghost pointed with an unmoved finger to the head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand you,\u201d Scrooge returned, \u201cand I would do it, if I could. But I have not the power, Spirit. I have not the power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again it seemed to look upon him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by this man\u2019s death,\u201d said Scrooge quite agonised, \u201cshow that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Phantom spread its dark robe before him for a moment, like a wing; and withdrawing it, revealed a room by daylight, where a mother and her children were.<\/p>\n

She was expecting some one, and with anxious eagerness; for she walked up and down the room; started at every sound; looked out from the window; glanced at the clock; tried, but in vain, to work with her needle; and could hardly bear the voices of the children in their play.<\/p>\n

At length the long-expected knock was heard. She hurried to the door, and met her husband; a man whose face was careworn and depressed, though he was young. There was a remarkable expression in it now; a kind of serious delight of which he felt ashamed, and which he struggled to repress.<\/p>\n

He sat down to the dinner that had been hoarding for him by the fire; and when she asked him faintly what news (which was not until after a long silence), he appeared embarrassed how to answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it good?\u201d she said, \u201cor bad?\u201d\u2014to help him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBad,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are quite ruined?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. There is hope yet, Caroline.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he relents,\u201d she said, amazed, \u201cthere is! Nothing is past hope, if such a miracle has happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is past relenting,\u201d said her husband. \u201cHe is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was a mild and patient creature if her face spoke truth; but she was thankful in her soul to hear it, and she said so, with clasped hands. She prayed forgiveness the next moment, and was sorry; but the first was the emotion of her heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the half-drunken woman whom I told you of last night, said to me, when I tried to see him and obtain a week\u2019s delay; and what I thought was a mere excuse to avoid me; turns out to have been quite true. He was not only very ill, but dying, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo whom will our debt be transferred?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. But before that time we shall be ready with the money; and even though we were not, it would be a bad fortune indeed to find so merciless a creditor in his successor. We may sleep to-night with light hearts, Caroline!\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes. Soften it as they would, their hearts were lighter. The children\u2019s faces, hushed and clustered round to hear what they so little understood, were brighter; and it was a happier house for this man\u2019s death! The only emotion that the Ghost could show him, caused by the event, was one of pleasure.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see some tenderness connected with a death,\u201d said Scrooge; \u201cor that dark chamber, Spirit, which we left just now, will be for ever present to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ghost conducted him through several streets familiar to his feet; and as they went along, Scrooge looked here and there to find himself, but nowhere was he to be seen. They entered poor Bob Cratchit\u2019s house; the dwelling he had visited before; and found the mother and the children seated round the fire.<\/p>\n

Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little Cratchits were as still as statues in one corner, and sat looking up at Peter, who had a book before him. The mother and her daughters were engaged in sewing. But surely they were very quiet!<\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

Where had Scrooge heard those words? He had not dreamed them. The boy must have read them out, as he and the Spirit crossed the threshold. Why did he not go on?<\/p>\n

The mother laid her work upon the table, and put her hand up to her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe colour hurts my eyes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The colour? Ah, poor Tiny Tim!<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re better now again,\u201d said Cratchit\u2019s wife. \u201cIt makes them weak by candle-light; and I wouldn\u2019t show weak eyes to your father when he comes home, for the world. It must be near his time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPast it rather,\u201d Peter answered, shutting up his book. \u201cBut I think he has walked a little slower than he used, these few last evenings, mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were very quiet again. At last she said, and in a steady, cheerful voice, that only faltered once:<\/p>\n

\u201cI have known him walk with\u2014I have known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder, very fast indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so have I,\u201d cried Peter. \u201cOften.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so have I,\u201d exclaimed another. So had all.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he was very light to carry,\u201d she resumed, intent upon her work, \u201cand his father loved him so, that it was no trouble: no trouble. And there is your father at the door!\u201d<\/p>\n

She hurried out to meet him; and little Bob in his comforter\u2014he had need of it, poor fellow\u2014came in. His tea was ready for him on the hob, and they all tried who should help him to it most. Then the two young Cratchits got upon his knees and laid, each child a little cheek, against his face, as if they said, \u201cDon\u2019t mind it, father. Don\u2019t be grieved!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bob was very cheerful with them, and spoke pleasantly to all the family. He looked at the work upon the table, and praised the industry and speed of Mrs. Cratchit and the girls. They would be done long before Sunday, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunday! You went to-day, then, Robert?\u201d said his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my dear,\u201d returned Bob. \u201cI wish you could have gone. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is. But you\u2019ll see it often. I promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little, little child!\u201d cried Bob. \u201cMy little child!\u201d<\/p>\n

He broke down all at once. He couldn\u2019t help it. If he could have helped it, he and his child would have been farther apart perhaps than they were.<\/p>\n

He left the room, and went up-stairs into the room above, which was lighted cheerfully, and hung with Christmas<\/a>. There was a chair set close beside the child, and there were signs of some one having been there, lately. Poor Bob sat down in it, and when he had thought a little and composed himself, he kissed the little face. He was reconciled to what had happened, and went down again quite happy.<\/p>\n

They drew about the fire, and talked; the girls and mother working still. Bob told them of the extraordinary kindness of Mr. Scrooge\u2019s nephew, whom he had scarcely seen but once, and who, meeting him in the street that day, and seeing that he looked a little\u2014\u201cjust a little down you know,\u201d said Bob, inquired what had happened to distress him. \u201cOn which,\u201d said Bob, \u201cfor he is the pleasantest-spoken gentleman you ever heard, I told him. \u2018I am heartily sorry for it, Mr. Cratchit,\u2019 he said, \u2018and heartily sorry for your good wife.\u2019 By the bye, how he ever knew that, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKnew what, my dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, that you were a good wife,\u201d replied Bob.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody knows that!\u201d said Peter.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well observed, my boy!\u201d cried Bob. \u201cI hope they do. \u2018Heartily sorry,\u2019 he said, \u2018for your good wife. If I can be of service to you in any way,\u2019 he said, giving me his card, \u2018that\u2019s where I live. Pray come to me.\u2019 Now, it wasn\u2019t,\u201d cried Bob, \u201cfor the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful. It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s a good soul!\u201d said Mrs. Cratchit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would be surer of it, my dear,\u201d returned Bob, \u201cif you saw and spoke to him. I shouldn\u2019t be at all surprised\u2014mark what I say!\u2014if he got Peter a better situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly hear that, Peter,\u201d said Mrs. Cratchit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then,\u201d cried one of the girls, \u201cPeter will be keeping company with some one, and setting up for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet along with you!\u201d retorted Peter, grinning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just as likely as not,\u201d said Bob, \u201cone of these days; though there\u2019s plenty of time for that, my dear. But however and whenever we part from one another, I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim\u2014shall we\u2014or this first parting that there was among us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever, father!\u201d cried they all.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I know,\u201d said Bob, \u201cI know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, never, father!\u201d they all cried again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very happy,\u201d said little Bob, \u201cI am very happy!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Cratchit kissed him, his daughters kissed him, the two young Cratchits kissed him, and Peter and himself shook hands. Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence was from God!<\/p>\n

\u201cSpectre,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201csomething informs me that our parting moment is at hand. I know it, but I know not how. Tell me what man that was whom we saw lying dead?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ghost of Christmas<\/a> Yet To Come conveyed him, as before\u2014though at a different time, he thought: indeed, there seemed no order in these latter visions, save that they were in the Future\u2014into the resorts of business men, but showed him not himself. Indeed, the Spirit did not stay for anything, but went straight on, as to the end just now desired, until besought by Scrooge to tarry for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis court,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201cthrough which we hurry now, is where my place of occupation is, and has been for a length of time. I see the house. Let me behold what I shall be, in days to come!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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