Різдвяна історія

           ‘Oh!Iwasafraid,fromwhatyousaidatfirst,thatsomethinghadoccurredtostopthemintheirusefulcourse,’saidScrooge.‘I’mverygladtohearit.’

           ‘UndertheimpressionthattheyscarcelyfurnishChristiancheerofmindorbodytothemultitude,’returnedthegentleman,‘afewofusareendeavouringtoraiseafundtobuythePoorsomemeatanddrink,andmeansofwarmth.Wechoosethistime,becauseitisatime,ofallothers,whenWantiskeenlyfelt,andAbundancerejoices.WhatshallIputyoudownfor?’

           ‘Nothing!’Scroogereplied.

           ‘Youwishtobeanonymous?’

           ‘Iwishtobeleftalone,’saidScrooge.‘SinceyouaskmewhatIwish,gentlemen,thatismyanswer.Idon’tmakemerrymyselfatChristmasandIcan’taffordtomakeidlepeoplemerry.IhelptosupporttheestablishmentsIhavementioned—theycostenough;andthosewhoarebadlyoffmustgothere.’

           ‘Manycan’tgothere;andmanywouldratherdie.’

           ‘Iftheywouldratherdie,’saidScrooge,‘theyhadbetterdoit,anddecreasethesurpluspopulation.Besides—excuseme—Idon’tknowthat.’

           ‘Butyoumightknowit,’observedthegentleman.

           ‘It’snotmybusiness,’Scroogereturned.‘It’senoughforamantounderstandhisownbusiness,andnottointerferewithotherpeople’s.Mineoccupiesmeconstantly.Goodafternoon,gentlemen!’

           Seeingclearlythatitwouldbeuselesstopursuetheirpoint,thegentlemenwithdrew.