Рождественская история

           Joiningtheirhornyhandsovertheroughtableatwhichtheysat,theywishedeachotherMerryChristmasintheircanofgrog;andoneofthem:theelder,too,withhisfacealldamagedandscarredwithhardweather,asthefigure-headofanoldshipmightbe:struckupasturdysongthatwaslikeaGaleinitself.

           AgaintheGhostspedon,abovetheblackandheavingsea—on,on—until,beingfaraway,ashetoldScrooge,fromanyshore,theylightedonaship.Theystoodbesidethehelmsmanatthewheel,thelook-outinthebow,theofficerswhohadthewatch;dark,ghostlyfiguresintheirseveralstations;buteverymanamongthemhummedaChristmastune,orhadaChristmasthought,orspokebelowhisbreathtohiscompanionofsomebygoneChristmasDay,withhomewardhopesbelongingtoit.Andeverymanonboard,wakingorsleeping,goodorbad,hadhadakinderwordforanotheronthatdaythanonanydayintheyear;andhadsharedtosomeextentinitsfestivities;andhadrememberedthosehecaredforatadistance,andhadknownthattheydelightedtorememberhim.

           ItwasagreatsurprisetoScrooge,whilelisteningtothemoaningofthewind,andthinkingwhatasolemnthingitwastomoveonthroughthelonelydarknessoveranunknownabyss,whosedepthsweresecretsasprofoundasDeath:itwasagreatsurprisetoScrooge,whilethusengaged,tohearaheartylaugh.