The End of It

Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!

Yes! And the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own. The room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the time ahead was his own, to make amends!

“I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!” Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. “The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees!”

“I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!” Scrooge repeated as he scrambled out of bed. “The Spirits of all Three will work within me. Oh, Jacob Marley! Praise Heaven and Christmas for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees!”

He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears.

He was so flustered and filled with warmth at his good intentions that he could hardly speak. His voice was unsteady. He had been sobbing violently during his struggle with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears.

“They are not torn down,” cried Scrooge, folding one of his bed-curtains in his arms, “they are not torn down, rings and all. They are here—I am here—the shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be. I know they will!”

“They haven’t been torn down,” cried Scrooge, gathering one of his bed curtains in his arms. “They haven’t been torn down, rings and all. The curtains are here. I am here. The shadows of what would have happened may be driven away. They will be. I know they will!”

His hands were busy with his garments all this time; turning them inside out, putting them on upside down, tearing them, mislaying them, making them parties to every kind of extravagance.

All this time, his hands were busy with his clothes. He turned them inside out, put them on upside down, tore them, misplaced them, and did all sorts of wild things with them.

“I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings. “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!”

“I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying at once. He tangled himself in his stockings like Laocoön tangled in the snakes. “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunk man. Merry Christmas to everybody! Happy New Year to all the world. Hello there! Whoop! Hello!”

He had frisked into the sitting-room, and was now standing there: perfectly winded.

He had skipped into the sitting room and was now standing there, completely out of breath.

“There’s the saucepan that the gruel was in!” cried Scrooge, starting off again, and going round the fireplace. “There’s the door, by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered! There’s the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, sat! There’s the window where I saw the wandering Spirits! It’s all right, it’s all true, it all happened. Ha ha ha!”

“There’s the saucepan that held the gruel!” cried Scrooge, starting off again and going around the fireplace. “There’s the door where the Ghost of Jacob Marley came in! There’s the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present sat! There’s the window where I saw the wandering Spirits! It’s all right. It’s all true. It all happened. Ha ha ha!”

Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs!

Really, for a man who had not laughed in so many years, it was a wonderful laugh, a truly magnificent laugh. It was the father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs!

“I don’t know what day of the month it is!” said Scrooge. “I don’t know how long I’ve been among the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby. Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!”

“I don’t know what day of the month it is!” said Scrooge. “I don’t know how long I’ve been with the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m just like a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby. Hello! Whoop! Hello there!”

He was checked in his transports by the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he had ever heard. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! Oh, glorious, glorious!

His excitement was interrupted by the church bells ringing more loudly than he had ever heard them. Clash, clang, hammer, ding, dong, bell. Bell, dong, ding, hammer, clang, clash! Oh, glorious, glorious!

Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious!

He ran to the window, opened it, and stuck his head out. There was no fog or mist. The air was clear, bright, cheerful, and full of life. It was cold, so cold it made the blood dance. Golden sunlight. A heavenly sky. Sweet, fresh air. Merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious!

“What’s to-day!” cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.

“What day is it!” Scrooge cried, calling down to a boy in Sunday clothes. The boy had perhaps wandered in to look around.

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

“Eh?” the boy replied, utterly astonished.

“What’s to-day, my fine fellow?” said Scrooge.

“What day is it today, my good fellow?” said Scrooge.

“To-day!” replied the boy. “Why, Christmas Day.”

“Today!” replied the boy. “Why, it’s Christmas Day.”

“It’s Christmas Day!” said Scrooge to himself. “I haven’t missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!”

“It’s Christmas Day!” Scrooge said to himself. “I haven’t missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they want. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hello, my good fellow!”

“Hallo!” returned the boy.

“Hello!” the boy replied.

“Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the next street but one, at the corner?” Scrooge inquired.

“Do you know the poultry shop on the corner, two streets over?” Scrooge asked.

“I should hope I did,” replied the lad.

“I certainly did,” the boy replied.

“An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they’ve sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there?—Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?”

“What a smart boy!” said Scrooge. “A remarkable boy! Do you know if they’ve sold the prize turkey that was hanging up there? Not the little prize turkey, the big one?”

“What, the one as big as me?” returned the boy.

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

“What a delightful boy!” said Scrooge. “It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck!”

“What a wonderful boy!” said Scrooge. “It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my boy!”

“It’s hanging there now,” replied the boy.

“It’s hanging there now,” the boy replied.

“Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it.”

“Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it.”

“Walk-er!” exclaimed the boy.

“You’re kidding!” the boy exclaimed.

“No, no,” said Scrooge, “I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell ’em to bring it here, that I may give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown!”

“No, no,” said Scrooge, “I’m serious. Go and buy it, and tell them to bring it here. Then I can tell them where to take it. Come back with the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes, and I’ll give you half a crown!”

The boy was off like a shot. He must have had a steady hand at a trigger who could have got a shot off half so fast.

The boy was off like a shot. Anyone who could fire a gun even half as fast would need a steady hand.

“I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s!” whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands, and splitting with a laugh. “He sha’n’t know who sends it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob’s will be!”

“I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s!” whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands and bursting into laughter. “He won’t know who sent it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe Miller never made a joke as good as sending it to Bob’s will be!”

The hand in which he wrote the address was not a steady one, but write it he did, somehow, and went down-stairs to open the street door, ready for the coming of the poulterer’s man. As he stood there, waiting his arrival, the knocker caught his eye.

His hand was unsteady as he wrote the address, but somehow he managed it. Then he went downstairs to open the street door, ready for the poultry seller’s delivery man. As he stood waiting for him, the door knocker caught his eye.

“I shall love it, as long as I live!” cried Scrooge, patting it with his hand. “I scarcely ever looked at it before. What an honest expression it has in its face! It’s a wonderful knocker!—Here’s the Turkey! Hallo! Whoop! How are you! Merry Christmas!”

“I’ll love it as long as I live!” cried Scrooge, patting it with his hand. “I hardly ever looked at it before. What an honest expression its face has! It’s a wonderful door knocker! Here’s the turkey! Hello! Whoop! How are you! Merry Christmas!”

It was a Turkey! He never could have stood upon his legs, that bird. He would have snapped ’em short off in a minute, like sticks of sealing-wax.

It was a turkey! That bird could never have stood on its legs. It would have snapped them right off in a minute, like sticks of sealing wax.

“Why, it’s impossible to carry that to Camden Town,” said Scrooge. “You must have a cab.”

“Why, it’s impossible to carry that to Camden Town,” said Scrooge. “You’ll need a cab.”

The chuckle with which he said this, and the chuckle with which he paid for the Turkey, and the chuckle with which he paid for the cab, and the chuckle with which he recompensed the boy, were only to be exceeded by the chuckle with which he sat down breathless in his chair again, and chuckled till he cried.

He chuckled as he said this, as he paid for the turkey, as he paid for the cab, and as he rewarded the boy. But he chuckled even more when he sat down in his chair again, breathless, and laughed until he cried.

Shaving was not an easy task, for his hand continued to shake very much; and shaving requires attention, even when you don’t dance while you are at it. But if he had cut the end of his nose off, he would have put a piece of sticking-plaister over it, and been quite satisfied.

Shaving was not easy because his hand was still shaking badly. And shaving takes concentration, even when you are not dancing while you do it. But if he had cut off the tip of his nose, he would have put a bandage over it and been perfectly satisfied.

He dressed himself “all in his best,” and at last got out into the streets. The people were by this time pouring forth, as he had seen them with the Ghost of Christmas Present; and walking with his hands behind him, Scrooge regarded every one with a delighted smile. He looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good-humoured fellows said, “Good morning, sir! A merry Christmas to you!” And Scrooge said often afterwards, that of all the blithe sounds he had ever heard, those were the blithest in his ears.

He dressed “all in his best” clothes and finally went out into the streets. People were pouring out by now, just as he had seen them with the Ghost of Christmas Present. Scrooge walked with his hands behind him, smiling with delight at everyone. He looked so irresistibly pleasant that three or four cheerful fellows said, “Good morning, sir! A merry Christmas to you!” Scrooge often said afterward that those were the happiest sounds he had ever heard.

He had not gone far, when coming on towards him he beheld the portly gentleman, who had walked into his counting-house the day before, and said, “Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe?” It sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met; but he knew what path lay straight before him, and he took it.

He had not gone far when he saw the portly gentleman coming toward him. The gentleman had entered his counting-house the day before and said, “Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe?” Scrooge felt a pang at the thought of how the old gentleman would look at him when they met. But he knew what he had to do, and he did it.

“My dear sir,” said Scrooge, quickening his pace, and taking the old gentleman by both his hands. “How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!”

“My dear sir,” said Scrooge, hurrying forward and taking both of the old gentleman’s hands. “How are you? I hope you succeeded yesterday. That was very kind of you. Merry Christmas to you, sir!”

“Mr. Scrooge?”

“Mr. Scrooge?”

“Yes,” said Scrooge. “That is my name, and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness”—here Scrooge whispered in his ear.

“Yes,” said Scrooge. “That is my name, and I’m afraid it may be unpleasant to you. Please forgive me. And would you be so kind as to...” Scrooge whispered in his ear.

“Lord bless me!” cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. “My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?”

“Oh my goodness!” cried the gentleman, as if he had lost his breath. “Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?”

“If you please,” said Scrooge. “Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour?”

“If you please,” said Scrooge. “Not a penny less. I assure you, that includes a great many missed payments. Will you do me that favor?”

“My dear sir,” said the other, shaking hands with him. “I don’t know what to say to such munifi—”

“My dear sir,” the other man said, shaking his hand. “I don’t know what to say to such generos...”

“Don’t say anything, please,” retorted Scrooge. “Come and see me. Will you come and see me?”

“Please don’t say anything,” Scrooge replied. “Come and see me. Will you come and see me?”

“I will!” cried the old gentleman. And it was clear he meant to do it.

“I will!” exclaimed the old man. And it was clear he meant to do it.

“Thank’ee,” said Scrooge. “I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times. Bless you!”

“Thank you,” said Scrooge. “I am very grateful to you. I thank you fifty times. Bless you!”

He went to church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed that any walk—that anything—could give him so much happiness. In the afternoon he turned his steps towards his nephew’s house.

He went to church and walked through the streets. He watched people hurrying back and forth, patted children on the head, and spoke to beggars. He looked down into the kitchens of houses and up at their windows. He found pleasure in everything. He had never imagined that a walk, or anything else, could make him so happy. In the afternoon, he headed toward his nephew’s house.

He passed the door a dozen times, before he had the courage to go up and knock. But he made a dash, and did it:

He passed the door twelve times before he found the courage to go up and knock. But then he rushed up and knocked:

“Is your master at home, my dear?” said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl! Very.

“Is your employer home, my dear?” Scrooge asked the girl. Nice girl! Very.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where is he, my love?” said Scrooge.

“Where is he, my love?” said Scrooge.

“He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I’ll show you up-stairs, if you please.”

“He’s in the dining room with the lady of the house, sir. I’ll show you upstairs, if you like.”

“Thank’ee. He knows me,” said Scrooge, with his hand already on the dining-room lock. “I’ll go in here, my dear.”

“Thank you. He knows me,” said Scrooge, already holding the dining-room door lock. “I’ll go in here, my dear.”

He turned it gently, and sidled his face in, round the door. They were looking at the table (which was spread out in great array); for these young housekeepers are always nervous on such points, and like to see that everything is right.

He turned it gently and slipped his face around the door. They were looking at the table, which was laid out in grand style. Young housekeepers are always nervous about such things and like to make sure everything is right.

“Fred!” said Scrooge.

“Fred!” said Scrooge.

Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage started! Scrooge had forgotten, for the moment, about her sitting in the corner with the footstool, or he wouldn’t have done it, on any account.

Good heavens, how his niece by marriage jumped! Scrooge had forgotten for a moment that she was sitting in the corner with the footstool. Otherwise, he would never have done it.

“Why bless my soul!” cried Fred, “who’s that?”

“Good heavens!” cried Fred, “who’s that?”

“It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”

“It’s me, your uncle Scrooge. I’ve come for dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”

Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off. He was at home in five minutes. Nothing could be heartier. His niece looked just the same. So did Topper when he came. So did the plump sister when she came. So did every one when they came. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, won-der-ful happiness!

Let him in! It was a mercy he didn't shake his arm off. He felt at home in five minutes. Nothing could have been warmer. His niece looked just as welcoming. So did Topper when he came. So did the plump sister when she came. So did everyone when they came. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful harmony, won-der-ful happiness!

But he was early at the office next morning. Oh, he was early there. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That was the thing he had set his heart upon.

But he was at the office early the next morning. Oh, he was early. If only he could get there first and catch Bob Cratchit arriving late! That was what he had set his heart on.

And he did it; yes, he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come into the Tank.

And he did it, yes, he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past nine. No Bob. He was a full eighteen and a half minutes late. Scrooge sat with his door wide open so he could see Bob come into the Tank.

His hat was off, before he opened the door; his comforter too. He was on his stool in a jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o’clock.

He took off his hat and scarf before he opened the door. He was on his stool in no time, writing furiously as if trying to catch up with nine o’clock.

“Hallo!” growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign it. “What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?”

“Hello!” growled Scrooge, trying as best he could to sound like himself. “What do you mean by coming here at this hour?”

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

“I’m very sorry, sir,” said Bob. “I am late.”

“You are?” repeated Scrooge. “Yes. I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please.”

“You are?” Scrooge repeated. “Yes. I think you are. Please come this way, sir.”

“It’s only once a year, sir,” pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. “It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.”

“It only happens once a year, sir,” Bob pleaded, emerging from the Tank. “It won’t happen again. I was having a little too much fun yesterday, sir.”

“Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,” said Scrooge, “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again; “and therefore I am about to raise your salary!”

“Now, let me tell you, my friend,” said Scrooge, “I’m not going to put up with this sort of thing any longer.” He leaped from his stool and gave Bob such a jab in the vest that he staggered back into the Tank. “So,” he continued, “I’m going to raise your salary!”

Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat.

Bob trembled and moved a little closer to the ruler. For a moment, he thought of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the courtyard for help and a straitjacket.

“A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!”

“Merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, clapping him on the back with unmistakable sincerity. “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I’ve given you in many years! I’ll raise your salary and try to help your struggling family. We’ll discuss your affairs this very afternoon over a Christmas bowl of hot smoking bishop, Bob! Build up the fires and buy another coal bucket before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!”

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

Scrooge did more than he had promised. He did it all, and infinitely more. He became a second father to Tiny Tim, who did not die. He became as good a friend, employer, and man as any in the good old city. The same was true of any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world. Some people laughed at the change in him, but he let them laugh and paid them little attention. He was wise enough to know that some people always laugh at first when something good happens in the world. He knew that such people would be blind to the good anyway. So he thought they might as well wrinkle their eyes with grins as show their blindness in less attractive ways. His own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

He had no further dealings with Spirits, but lived by the principle of total abstinence ever after. People always said he knew how to celebrate Christmas well, if any man alive knew how. May the same be truly said of us, every one of us! And so, as Tiny Tim said, God bless us, every one!