Різдвяна історія
Chapter 3
Thebriskfireofquestioningtowhichhewasexposed,elicitedfromhimthathewasthinkingofananimal,aliveanimal,ratheradisagreeableanimal,asavageanimal,ananimalthatgrowledandgruntedsometimes,andtalkedsometimes,andlivedinLondon,andwalkedaboutthestreets,andwasn’tmadeashowof,andwasn’tledbyanybody,anddidn’tliveinamenagerie,andwasneverkilledinamarket,andwasnotahorse,oranass,oracow,orabull,oratiger,oradog,orapig,oracat,orabear.Ateveryfreshquestionthatwasputtohim,thisnephewburstintoafreshroaroflaughter;andwassoinexpressiblytickled,thathewasobligedtogetupoffthesofaandstamp.Atlasttheplumpsister,fallingintoasimilarstate,criedout:
‘Ihavefounditout!Iknowwhatitis,Fred!Iknowwhatitis!’
‘Whatisit?’criedFred.
‘It’syourUncleScrooge!’
Whichitcertainlywas.Admirationwastheuniversalsentiment,thoughsomeobjectedthatthereplyto‘Isitabear?’oughttohavebeen‘Yes;’inasmuchasananswerinthenegativewassufficienttohavedivertedtheirthoughtsfromMrScrooge,supposingtheyhadeverhadanytendencythatway.
‘Hehasgivenusplentyofmerriment,Iamsure,’saidFred,‘anditwouldbeungratefulnottodrinkhishealth.Hereisaglassofmulledwinereadytoourhandatthemoment;andIsay,"UncleScrooge!"’
‘Well!UncleScrooge!’theycried.
‘AMerryChristmasandaHappyNewYeartotheoldman,whateverheis.’saidScrooge’snephew.
