Рождественская история

           Theywerenotahandsomefamily;theywerenotwelldressed;theirshoeswerefarfrombeingwater-proof;theirclotheswerescanty;andPetermighthaveknown,andverylikelydid,theinsideofapawnbroker’s.But,theywerehappy,grateful,pleasedwithoneanother,andcontentedwiththetime;andwhentheyfaded,andlookedhappieryetinthebrightsprinklingsoftheSpirit’storchatparting,Scroogehadhiseyeuponthem,andespeciallyonTinyTim,untilthelast.

           Bythistimeitwasgettingdark,andsnowingprettyheavily;andasScroogeandtheSpiritwentalongthestreets,thebrightnessoftheroaringfiresinkitchens,parlours,andallsortsofrooms,waswonderful.Here,theflickeringoftheblazeshowedpreparationsforacosydinner,withhotplatesbakingthroughandthroughbeforethefire,anddeepredcurtains,readytobedrawntoshutoutcoldanddarkness.Thereallthechildrenofthehousewererunningoutintothesnowtomeettheirmarriedsisters,brothers,cousins,uncles,aunts,andbethefirsttogreetthem.Here,again,wereshadowsonthewindow-blindofguestsassembling;andthereagroupofhandsomegirls,allhoodedandfur-booted,andallchatteringatonce,trippedlightlyofftosomenearneighbour’shouse;where,woeuponthesinglemanwhosawthementer—artfulwitches,welltheyknewit—inaglow.