Різдвяна історія

           Now,itwasn’t,’criedBob,‘forthesakeofanythinghemightbeabletodoforus,somuchasforhiskindway,thatthiswasquitedelightful.ItreallyseemedasifhehadknownourTinyTim,andfeltwithus.’

           ‘I’msurehe’sagoodsoul,’saidMrsCratchit.

           ‘Youwouldbesurerofit,mydear,’returnedBob,‘ifyousawandspoketohim.Ishouldn’tbeatallsurprised—markwhatIsay—ifhegotPeterabettersituation.’

           ‘Onlyhearthat,Peter,’saidMrsCratchit.

           ‘Andthen,’criedoneofthegirls,‘Peterwillbekeepingcompanywithsomeone,andsettingupforhimself.’

           ‘Getalongwithyou,’retortedPeter,grinning.

           ‘It’sjustaslikelyasnot,’saidBob,‘oneofthesedays;thoughthere’splentyoftimeforthat,mydear.Buthoweverandwheneverwepartfromoneanother,IamsureweshallnoneofusforgetpoorTinyTim—shallwe—orthisfirstpartingthattherewasamongus.’

           ‘Never,father!’criedtheyall.

           ‘AndIknow,’saidBob,‘Iknow,mydears,thatwhenwerecollecthowpatientandhowmildhewas;althoughhewasalittle,littlechild;weshallnotquarreleasilyamongourselves,andforgetpoorTinyTimindoingit.’

           ‘No,never,father!’theyallcriedagain.

           ‘Iamveryhappy,’saidlittleBob,‘Iamveryhappy.’

           MrsCratchitkissedhim,hisdaughterskissedhim,thetwoyoungCratchitskissedhim,andPeterandhimselfshookhands.SpiritofTinyTim,thychildishessencewasfromGod.