Різдвяна історія
Chapter 1
‘Keepit!’repeatedScrooge’snephew.‘Butyoudon’tkeepit.’
‘Letmeleaveitalone,then,’saidScrooge.‘Muchgoodmayitdoyou!Muchgoodithaseverdoneyou!’
‘TherearemanythingsfromwhichImighthavederivedgood,bywhichIhavenotprofited,Idaresay,’returnedthenephew.‘Christmasamongtherest.ButIamsureIhavealwaysthoughtofChristmastime,whenithascomeround—apartfromthevenerationduetoitssacrednameandorigin,ifanythingbelongingtoitcanbeapartfromthat—asagoodtime;akind,forgiving,charitable,pleasanttime:theonlytimeIknowof,inthelongcalendaroftheyear,whenmenandwomenseembyoneconsenttoopentheirshut-upheartsfreely,andtothinkofpeoplebelowthemasiftheyreallywerefellow-passengerstothegrave,andnotanotherraceofcreaturesboundonotherjourneys.Andtherefore,uncle,thoughithasneverputascrapofgoldorsilverinmypocket,Ibelievethatithasdonemegood,andwilldomegood;andIsay,Godblessit!’
TheclerkintheTankinvoluntarilyapplauded.Becomingimmediatelysensibleoftheimpropriety,hepokedthefire,andextinguishedthelastfrailsparkforever.
‘Letmehearanothersoundfromyou,’saidScrooge,‘andyou’llkeepyourChristmasbylosingyoursituation!You’requiteapowerfulspeaker,sir,’headded,turningtohisnephew.‘Iwonderyoudon’tgointoParliament.’
‘Don’tbeangry,uncle.Come!Dinewithustomorrow.’
Scroogesaidthathewouldseehim—yes,indeedhedid.
