Різдвяна історія

           Everymovablewaspackedoff,asifitweredismissedfrompubliclifeforevermore;thefloorwassweptandwatered,thelampsweretrimmed,fuelwasheapeduponthefire;andthewarehousewasassnug,andwarm,anddry,andbrightaball-room,asyouwoulddesiretoseeuponawinter’snight.

           Incameafiddlerwithamusic-book,andwentuptotheloftydesk,andmadeanorchestraofit,andtunedlikefiftystomach-aches.IncameMrsFezziwig,onevastsubstantialsmile.IncamethethreeMissFezziwigs,beamingandlovable.Incamethesixyoungfollowerswhoseheartstheybroke.Incamealltheyoungmenandwomenemployedinthebusiness.Incamethehousemaid,withhercousin,thebaker.Incamethecook,withherbrother’sparticularfriend,themilkman.Incametheboyfromovertheway,whowassuspectedofnothavingboardenoughfromhismaster;tryingtohidehimselfbehindthegirlfromnextdoorbutone,whowasprovedtohavehadherearspulledbyhermistress.Intheyallcame,oneafteranother;someshyly,someboldly,somegracefully,someawkwardly,somepushing,somepulling;intheyallcame,anyhowandeveryhow.Awaytheyallwent,twentycouplesatonce;handshalfroundandbackagaintheotherway;downthemiddleandupagain;roundandroundinvariousstagesofaffectionategrouping;oldtopcouplealwaysturningupinthewrongplace;newtopcouplestartingoffagain,assoonastheygotthere;alltopcouplesatlast,andnotabottomonetohelpthem.