A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVES 4 & 5

STAVE FOUR - THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS

Robed in black, the shade drew near
Scrooge was gripped by mortal fear,
A silent form, a dreadful host
"Spirit" said Scrooge "I fear thee most";
Yet by this phantom in darkness concealed
Christmas future would soon be revealed.
Still his companion had nothing to say
With one spectral hand it just pointed the way.

All of an instant the night disappeared
Before them the city in daylight appeared,
They stopped by some merchants whom Scrooge knew of old
They spoke of a death, yet their language was cold.
Clearly they'd known the fellow now dead
Clearly for this man no tears would they shed
(Mindful was Scrooge that this strange conversation
Might one day apply to his own situation).

Scrooge and his guide walked on through the town
To a part of the city, uncouth and run down,
There midst the filth and the rats and the gloom
They witnessed yet more of this wretched man's doom.
Sold were the drapes which had hung by the bed
Where at that same moment the poor wretch lay dead,
Sold were his blankets, his nightshirt as well
His life was picked clean in that oderous hell.

Scrooge turned to the spirit and bitterly said
"Does nobody care that this poor man is dead ?"
In answer it showed him a couple who cried
Who shed real tears for the one who had died.
It seemed for a moment that they were in grief
Yet these were but tears caused by their great relief
That their debts to this man they need not now repay
Thus great joy he brought them on his dying day.

By all of these visions was old Scrooge brought low
He turned to the spectre and begged him to show
That in a death there was tenderness too
They suddenly stood in a room that he knew.
A mother, her daughters and two of her boys
Sitting together with barely a noise,
The scant information his senses supplied
Spoke clearly to Scrooge that young Tim had now died.

At last came Bob Cratchit, the head of the clan
N'er could there be a more sorrowful man,
His pain and his sadness he just could not hide
As he told of the grave site he broke down and cried.
After a while his weeping was done
He spoke of the love that he felt for his son,
There was n'er a child as gentle as him
Alive in their hearts would e'er be Tiny Tim.

With a lump in his heart Scrooge had witnessed this scene
Tragic, and sad, and yet somehow serene.
He sensed that the spirit would very soon go
But first there was something he needed to know.
"Spectre" he said in a voice weak with fear
"Who was that poor fellow whose death brought such cheer?"

The ghost gave no answer, or no answer save
For the fact they now stood at the side of a grave.
Scrooge would not look at the name on the stone
But begged of the ghost if he could yet atone,
The spirits had shown him just what he must do
In changing himself would the future change too ?
The ghost stood in silence, Scrooge looked at the stone
He gasped at the name, for the name was his own.

In grief and in horror Scrooge fell to the floor
"I'm no more the person who I was before,
Spirit" he cried, "tell me some hope remains
That I may yet escape Marley's infernal chains!"
He held out his hands in a desperate prayer
But the ghost of the future was no longer there,
Gone was the graveyard and there in its stead
Was Scrooge's own bedroom, his blankets, his bed.

STAVE FIVE - THE END OF IT

The bed and the room, yes indeed, were his own
As was the chance he now had to atone,
Past, present and future, he'd live in all three
He thanked Marley greatly upon bended knee.
Like a giddy drunk man, or a merry schoolboy
He danced round the bedroom, a vision of joy;
"Happy Christmas" he cried "Happy Christmas to all !"
They most likey heard him, so loud was his call.

Scrooge rushed to the widow and opened it wide
He hailed a boy who was passing outside,
"What day is today?" Ebenezer called out
"It is Christmas Day!" came the answering shout.
Scrooge had not missed it ! His joy was complete,
He sent the boy quick to a neighbouring street,
To purchase a turkey stupendous in size
To give all those Cratchits a Christmas surprise.

As Scrooge stepped out on that fine morn.
Such sounds and smells to him were borne,
His heart was filled with Christmas cheer
A feeling he'd missed for so many a year.
Wreathed in a smile he passed down the street
Unreservedly greeting all those he did meet,
All who observed him as he passed their way
Saw a man fair caught up in the joy of this day.

As he walked through the town on a corner he saw
The men who had asked him for coin for the poor,
A donation he offered that left them aghast
For it also made up for those Christmas's past.
As Scrooge had intended, he soon found himself
At the door of a person of relative wealth,
He stood for a moment and quietly said
"I shall share this Christmas with my nephew Fred".

The very next morning old Scrooge lay in wait
Hoping Bob Cratchit would get to work late.
Well behind time Bob rushed in through the door
"Cratchit, I'll not stand for this anymore !
Therefore I'm going to …… increase your pay."
Bob gaped in amazement, unsure what to say.
Then all in earnest Scrooge promised to him
"We will make life better for young Tiny Tim".

So ends the story I came here to tell
Scrooge kept his promise and Tim was made well;
He also kept Christmas as Christian men should
For Christmas is special and Christmas is good,
And no better person could one hope to find
Decent and honest, generous and kind.
So with Tim's observation this story is done
"God bless us" he said "Bless us every one!"

COPYRIGHT D M PAMMENT 2009