The 21 Gayt Christmas Songs | HuffPost Voic

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• THE 21 GAYT CHRISTMAS SONGS
• A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PART 3)CHARL DICKENSTRACK 4 ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL SCROOGE ENUNTERS THE SEND OF THE THREE SPIRS: THE ENORMO, JOLLY, YET STERNLY BLUNT GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT. THE GHOST SHOWS HIM THE CHISTMAS OF HIS NEPHEW AND… READ MORE 1 VIEWER95K VIEWS109 CONTRIBUTORSA CHRISTMAS CAROL (PART 3) LYRICSSTAVE 3: THE SEND OF THE THREE SPIRSAWAKG THE MIDDLE OF A PRODIGLY TOUGH SNORE, AND STG UP BED TO GET HIS THOUGHTS TOGETHER, SCROOGE HAD NO OCSN TO BE TOLD THAT THE BELL WAS AGA UPON THE STROKE OF ONE. HE FELT THAT HE WAS RTORED TO NSCNS THE RIGHT NICK OF TIME, FOR THE PECIAL PURPOSE OF HOLDG A NFERENCE WH THE SEND MSENGER SPATCHED TO HIM THROUGH JAB MARLEY’S TERVENTN. BUT, FDG THAT HE TURNED UNFORTABLY LD WHEN HE BEGAN TO WONR WHICH OF HIS CURTAS THIS NEW SPECTRE WOULD DRAW BACK, HE PUT THEM EVERY ONE ASI WH HIS OWN HANDS, AND LYG DOWN AGA, TABLISHED A SHARP LOOK-OUT ALL ROUND THE BED. FOR, HE WISHED TO CHALLENGE THE SPIR ON THE MOMENT OF S APPEARANCE, AND DID NOT WISH TO BE TAKEN BY SURPRISE, AND MA NERVO.GENTLEMEN OF THE EE-AND-EASY SORT, WHO PLUME THEMSELV ON BEG ACQUATED WH A MOVE OR TWO, AND BEG UALLY EQUAL TO THE TIME-OF-DAY, EXPRS THE WI RANGE OF THEIR PACY FOR ADVENTURE BY OBSERVG THAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR ANYTHG OM PCH-AND-TOSS TO MANSLGHTER; BETWEEN WHICH OPPOSE EXTREM, NO DOUBT, THERE LI A TOLERABLY WI AND PREHENSIVE RANGE OF SUBJECTS. WHOUT VENTURG FOR SCROOGE QUE AS HARDILY AS THIS, I DON’T MD LLG ON YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS READY FOR A GOOD BROAD FIELD OF STRANGE APPEARANC, AND THAT NOTHG BETWEEN A BABY AND RHOCEROS WOULD HAVE ASTONISHED HIM VERY MUCH.NOW, BEG PREPARED FOR ALMOST ANYTHG, HE WAS NOT BY ANY MEANS PREPARED FOR NOTHG; AND, NSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE BELL STCK ONE, AND NO SHAPE APPEARED, HE WAS TAKEN WH A VLENT F OF TREMBLG. FIVE MUT, TEN MUT, A QUARTER OF AN HOUR WENT BY, YET NOTHG ME. ALL THIS TIME, HE LAY UPON HIS BED, THE VERY RE AND CENTRE OF A BLAZE OF DDY LIGHT, WHICH STREAMED UPON WHEN THE CLOCK PROCLAIMED THE HOUR; AND WHICH, BEG ONLY LIGHT, WAS MORE ALARMG THAN A DOZEN GHOSTS, AS HE WAS POWERLS TO MAKE OUT WHAT MEANT, OR WOULD BE AT; AND WAS SOMETIM APPREHENSIVE THAT HE MIGHT BE AT THAT VERY MOMENT AN TERTG SE OF SPONTANEO BTN, WHOUT HAVG THE NSOLATN OF KNOWG . AT LAST, HOWEVER, HE BEGAN TO THK -- AS YOU OR I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AT FIRST; FOR IS ALWAYS THE PERSON NOT THE PREDIMENT WHO KNOWS WHAT OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN DONE , AND WOULD UNQUTNABLY HAVE DONE TOO -- AT LAST, I SAY, HE BEGAN TO THK THAT THE SOURCE AND SECRET OF THIS GHOSTLY LIGHT MIGHT BE THE ADJOG ROOM, OM WHENCE, ON FURTHER TRACG , SEEMED TO SHE. THIS IA TAKG FULL POSSSN OF HIS MD, HE GOT UP SOFTLY AND SHUFFLED HIS SLIPPERS TO THE DOOR.THE MOMENT SCROOGE’S HAND WAS ON THE LOCK, A STRANGE VOICE LLED HIM BY HIS NAME, AND BA HIM ENTER. HE OBEYED.IT WAS HIS OWN ROOM. THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT HAD UNRGONE A SURPRISG TRANSFORMATN. THE WALLS AND CEILG WERE SO HUNG WH LIVG GREEN, THAT LOOKED A PERFECT GROVE; OM EVERY PART OF WHICH, BRIGHT GLEAMG BERRI GLISTENED. THE CRISP LEAV OF HOLLY, MISTLETOE, AND IVY REFLECTED BACK THE LIGHT, AS IF SO MANY LTLE MIRRORS HAD BEEN STTERED THERE; AND SUCH A MIGHTY BLAZE WENT ROARG UP THE CHIMNEY, AS THAT DULL PETRIFITN OF A HEARTH HAD NEVER KNOWN SCROOGE’S TIME, OR MARLEY’S, OR FOR MANY AND MANY A WTER SEASON GONE. HEAPED UP ON THE FLOOR, TO FORM A KD OF THRONE, WERE TURKEYS, GEE, GAME, POULTRY, BRAWN, GREAT JOTS OF MEAT, SUCKG-PIGS, LONG WREATHS OF SSAG, MCE-PI, PLUM-PUDDGS, BARRELS OF OYSTERS, RED-HOT CHTNUTS, CHERRY-CHEEKED APPL, JUICY ORANG, LC PEARS, IMMENSE TWELFTH-K, AND SEETHG BOWLS OF PUNCH, THAT MA THE CHAMBER DIM WH THEIR LIC STEAM. IN EASY STATE UPON THIS UCH, THERE SAT A JOLLY GIANT, GLOR TO SEE, WHO BORE A GLOWG TORCH, SHAPE NOT UNLIKE PLENTY’S HORN, AND HELD UP, HIGH UP, TO SHED S LIGHT ON SCROOGE, AS HE ME PEEPG ROUND THE DOOR.`COME .’ EXCLAIMED THE GHOST. `COME , AND KNOW ME BETTER, MAN.’SCROOGE ENTERED TIMIDLY, AND HUNG HIS HEAD BEFORE THIS SPIR. HE WAS NOT THE DOGGED SCROOGE HE HAD BEEN; AND THOUGH THE SPIR’S EY WERE CLEAR AND KD, HE DID NOT LIKE TO MEET THEM.`I AM THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT,’ SAID THE SPIR. `LOOK UPON ME.’SCROOGE REVERENTLY DID SO. IT WAS CLOTHED ONE SIMPLE GREEN ROBE, OR MANTLE, BORRED WH WHE FUR. THIS GARMENT HUNG SO LOOSELY ON THE FIGURE, THAT S PAC BREAST WAS BARE, AS IF DISDAG TO BE WARD OR NCEALED BY ANY ARTIFICE. ITS FEET, OBSERVABLE BENEATH THE AMPLE FOLDS OF THE GARMENT, WERE ALSO BARE; AND ON S HEAD WORE NO OTHER VERG THAN A HOLLY WREATH, SET HERE AND THERE WH SHG ICICL. ITS DARK BROWN CURLS WERE LONG AND EE; EE AS S GENIAL FACE, S SPARKLG EYE, S OPEN HAND, S CHEERY VOICE, S UNNSTRAED MEANOUR, AND S JOYFUL AIR. GIRD ROUND S MIDDLE WAS AN ANTIQUE SBBARD; BUT NO SWORD WAS , AND THE ANCIENT SHEATH WAS EATEN UP WH ST.`YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LIKE OF ME BEFORE.’ EXCLAIMED THE SPIR.`NEVER,’ SCROOGE MA ANSWER TO .`HAVE NEVER WALKED FORTH WH THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF MY FAY; MEANG (FOR I AM VERY YOUNG) MY ELR BROTHERS BORN THE LATER YEARS.’ PURSUED THE PHANTOM.`I DON’T THK I HAVE,’ SAID SCROOGE. `I AM AAID I HAVE NOT. HAVE YOU HAD MANY BROTHERS, SPIR.’`MORE THAN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED,’ SAID THE GHOST.`A TREMENDO FAY TO PROVI FOR.’ MUTTERED SCROOGE.THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT ROSE.`SPIR,’ SAID SCROOGE SUBMISSIVELY,’ NDUCT ME WHERE YOU WILL. I WENT FORTH LAST NIGHT ON PULSN, AND I LEARNT A LSON WHICH IS WORKG NOW. TO-NIGHT, IF YOU HAVE GHT TO TEACH ME, LET ME PROF BY .’`TOUCH MY ROBE.’SCROOGE DID AS HE WAS TOLD, AND HELD FAST.HOLLY, MISTLETOE, RED BERRI, IVY, TURKEYS, GEE, GAME, POULTRY, BRAWN, MEAT, PIGS, SSAG, OYSTERS, PI, PUDDGS, U, AND PUNCH, ALL VANISHED STANTLY. SO DID THE ROOM, THE FIRE, THE DDY GLOW, THE HOUR OF NIGHT, AND THEY STOOD THE CY STREETS ON CHRISTMAS MORNG, WHERE (FOR THE WEATHER WAS SEVERE) THE PEOPLE MA A ROUGH, BUT BRISK AND NOT UNPLEASANT KD OF MIC, SCRAPG THE SNOW OM THE PAVEMENT ONT OF THEIR DWELLGS, AND OM THE TOPS OF THEIR HO, WHENCE WAS MAD LIGHT TO THE BOYS TO SEE E PLUMPG DOWN TO THE ROAD BELOW, AND SPLTG TO ARTIFICIAL LTLE SNOW-STORMS.THE HOE ONTS LOOKED BLACK ENOUGH, AND THE WDOWS BLACKER, NTRASTG WH THE SMOOTH WHE SHEET OF SNOW UPON THE ROOFS, AND WH THE DIRTIER SNOW UPON THE GROUND; WHICH LAST POS HAD BEEN PLOUGHED UP EP FURROWS BY THE HEAVY WHEELS OF RTS AND WAGGONS; FURROWS THAT CROSSED AND RECROSSED EACH OTHER HUNDREDS OF TIM WHERE THE GREAT STREETS BRANCHED OFF; AND MA TRITE CHANNELS, HARD TO TRACE THE THICK YELLOW MUD AND ICY WATER. THE SKY WAS GLOOMY, AND THE SHORTT STREETS WERE CHOKED UP WH A DGY MIST, HALF THAWED, HALF OZEN, WHOSE HEAVIER PARTICL SCEND SHOWER OF SOOTY ATOMS, AS IF ALL THE CHIMNEYS GREAT BRA HAD, BY ONE NSENT, UGHT FIRE, AND WERE BLAZG AWAY TO THEIR AR HEARTS’ NTENT. THERE WAS NOTHG VERY CHEERFUL THE CLIMATE OR THE TOWN, AND YET WAS THERE AN AIR OF CHEERFULNS ABROAD THAT THE CLEART SUMMER AIR AND BRIGHTT SUMMER SUN MIGHT HAVE ENAVOURED TO DIFFE VA.FOR, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOVELLG AWAY ON THE HOETOPS WERE JOVIAL AND FULL OF GLEE; LLG OUT TO ONE ANOTHER OM THE PARAPETS, AND NOW AND THEN EXCHANGG A FACET SNOWBALL -- BETTER-NATURED MISSILE FAR THAN MANY A WORDY JT -- LGHG HEARTILY IF WENT RIGHT AND NOT LS HEARTILY IF WENT WRONG. THE POULTERERS’ SHOPS WERE STILL HALF OPEN, AND THE UERERS’ WERE RADIANT THEIR GLORY. THERE WERE GREAT, ROUND, ROUND, POT-BELLIED BASKETS OF CHTNUTS, SHAPED LIKE THE WAISTATS OF JOLLY OLD GENTLEMEN, LOLLG AT THE DOORS, AND TUMBLG OUT TO THE STREET THEIR APOPLECTIC OPULENCE. THERE WERE DDY, BROWN-FACED, BROAD-GIRTHED SPANISH ONNS, SHG THE FATNS OF THEIR GROWTH LIKE SPANISH FRIARS, AND WKG OM THEIR SHELV WANTON SLYNS AT THE GIRLS AS THEY WENT BY, AND GLANCED MURELY AT THE HUNG-UP MISTLETOE. THERE WERE PEARS AND APPL, CLTERED HIGH BLOOMG PYRAMIDS; THERE WERE BUNCH OF GRAP, MA, THE SHOPKEEPERS’ BENEVOLENCE TO DANGLE OM NSPICUO HOOKS, THAT PEOPLE’S MOUTHS MIGHT WATER GRATIS AS THEY PASSED; THERE WERE PIL OF FILBERTS, MOSSY AND BROWN, RELLG, THEIR AGRANCE, ANCIENT WALKS AMONG THE WOODS, AND PLEASANT SHUFFLGS ANKLE EP THROUGH WHERED LEAV; THERE WERE NORFOLK BIFFS, SQUAB AND SWARTHY, SETTG OFF THE YELLOW OF THE ORANG AND LEMONS, AND, THE GREAT PACTNS OF THEIR JUICY PERSONS, URGENTLY ENTREATG AND BEECHG TO BE RRIED HOME PAPER BAGS AND EATEN AFTER DNER. THE VERY GOLD AND SILVER FISH, SET FORTH AMONG THE CHOICE US A BOWL, THOUGH MEMBERS OF A DULL AND STAGNANT-BLOOD RACE, APPEARED TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHG GOG ON; AND, TO A FISH, WENT GASPG ROUND AND ROUND THEIR LTLE WORLD SLOW AND PASSNLS EXCEMENT.THE GROCERS’. OH THE GROCERS’. NEARLY CLOSED, WH PERHAPS TWO SHUTTERS DOWN, OR ONE; BUT THROUGH THOSE GAPS SUCH GLIMPS. IT WAS NOT ALONE THAT THE SL SCENDG ON THE UNTER MA A MERRY SOUND, OR THAT THE TWE AND ROLLER PARTED PANY SO BRISKLY, OR THAT THE NISTERS WERE RATTLED UP AND DOWN LIKE JUGGLG TRICKS, OR EVEN THAT THE BLEND SCENTS OF TEA AND FFEE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO THE NOSE, OR EVEN THAT THE RAISS WERE SO PLENTIFUL AND RARE, THE ALMONDS SO EXTREMELY WHE, THE STICKS OF CNAMON SO LONG AND STRAIGHT, THE OTHER SPIC SO LIC, THE NDIED US SO KED AND SPOTTED WH MOLTEN SUGAR AS TO MAKE THE LST LOOKERS-ON FEEL FAT AND SUBSEQUENTLY BIL. NOR WAS THAT THE FIGS WERE MOIST AND PULPY, OR THAT THE FRENCH PLUMS BLHED MOST TARTNS OM THEIR HIGHLY-RATED BOX, OR THAT EVERYTHG WAS GOOD TO EAT AND S CHRISTMAS DRS; BUT THE CTOMERS WERE ALL SO HURRIED AND SO EAGER THE HOPEFUL PROMISE OF THE DAY, THAT THEY TUMBLED UP AGAST EACH OTHER AT THE DOOR, CRASHG THEIR WICKER BASKETS WILDLY, AND LEFT THEIR PURCHAS UPON THE UNTER, AND ME NNG BACK TO FETCH THEM, AND MTED HUNDREDS OF THE LIKE MISTAK, THE BT HUMOUR POSSIBLE; WHILE THE GROCER AND HIS PEOPLE WERE SO ANK AND H THAT THE POLISHED HEARTS WH WHICH THEY FASTENED THEIR APRONS BEHD MIGHT HAVE BEEN THEIR OWN, WORN OUTSI FOR GENERAL SPECTN, AND FOR CHRISTMAS DAWS TO PECK AT IF THEY CHOSE.BUT SOON THE STEEPL LLED GOOD PEOPLE ALL, TO CHURCH AND CHAPEL, AND AWAY THEY ME, FLOCKG THROUGH THE STREETS THEIR BT CLOTH, AND WH THEIR GAYT FAC. AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE EMERGED OM SR OF BYE-STREETS, LAN, AND NAMELS TURNGS, NUMERABLE PEOPLE, RRYG THEIR DNERS TO THE BAKER’ SHOPS. THE SIGHT OF THE POOR REVELLERS APPEARED TO TERT THE SPIR VERY MUCH, FOR HE STOOD WH SCROOGE BI HIM A BAKER’S DOORWAY, AND TAKG OFF THE VERS AS THEIR BEARERS PASSED, SPRKLED CENSE ON THEIR DNERS OM HIS TORCH. AND WAS A VERY UNMON KD OF TORCH, FOR ONCE OR TWICE WHEN THERE WERE ANGRY WORDS BETWEEN SOME DNER-RRIERS WHO HAD JOSTLED EACH OTHER, HE SHED A FEW DROPS OF WATER ON THEM OM , AND THEIR GOOD HUMOUR WAS RTORED DIRECTLY. FOR THEY SAID, WAS A SHAME TO QUARREL UPON CHRISTMAS DAY. AND SO WAS. GOD LOVE , SO WAS.IN TIME THE BELLS CEASED, AND THE BAKERS WERE SHUT UP; AND YET THERE WAS A GENIAL SHADOWG FORTH OF ALL THE DNERS AND THE PROGRS OF THEIR OKG, THE THAWED BLOTCH OF WET ABOVE EACH BAKER’S OVEN; WHERE THE PAVEMENT SMOKED AS IF S STON WERE OKG TOO.`IS THERE A PECULIAR FLAVOUR WHAT YOU SPRKLE OM YOUR TORCH.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`THERE IS. MY OWN.’`WOULD APPLY TO ANY KD OF DNER ON THIS DAY.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`TO ANY KDLY GIVEN. TO A POOR ONE MOST.’`WHY TO A POOR ONE MOST.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`BEE NEEDS MOST.’`SPIR,’ SAID SCROOGE, AFTER A MOMENT’S THOUGHT,’ I WONR YOU, OF ALL THE BEGS THE MANY WORLDS ABOUT , SHOULD SIRE TO CRAMP THE PEOPLE’S OPPORTUNI OF NOCENT ENJOYMENT.’`I.’ CRIED THE SPIR.`YOU WOULD PRIVE THEM OF THEIR MEANS OF DG EVERY SEVENTH DAY, OFTEN THE ONLY DAY ON WHICH THEY N BE SAID TO DE AT ALL,’ SAID SCROOGE. `WOULDN’T YOU.’`I.’ CRIED THE SPIR.`YOU SEEK TO CLOSE THE PLAC ON THE SEVENTH DAY.’ SAID SCROOGE. `AND TO THE SAME THG.’`I SEEK.’ EXCLAIMED THE SPIR.`FIVE ME IF I AM WRONG. IT HAS BEEN DONE YOUR NAME, OR AT LEAST THAT OF YOUR FAY,’ SAID SCROOGE.`THERE ARE SOME UPON THIS EARTH OF YOURS,’ RETURNED THE SPIR,’ WHO LAY CLAIM TO KNOW , AND WHO DO THEIR EDS OF PASSN, PRI, ILL-WILL, HATRED, ENVY, BIGOTRY, AND SELFISHNS OUR NAME, WHO ARE AS STRANGE TO AND ALL OUR KH AND K, AS IF THEY HAD NEVER LIVED. REMEMBER THAT, AND CHARGE THEIR DOGS ON THEMSELV, NOT .’SCROOGE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD; AND THEY WENT ON, VISIBLE, AS THEY HAD BEEN BEFORE, TO THE SUBURBS OF THE TOWN. IT WAS A REMARKABLE QUALY OF THE GHOST (WHICH SCROOGE HAD OBSERVED AT THE BAKER’S), THAT NOTWHSTANDG HIS GIGANTIC SIZE, HE ULD ACMODATE HIMSELF TO ANY PLACE WH EASE; AND THAT HE STOOD BENEATH A LOW ROOF QUE AS GRACEFULLY AND LIKE A SUPERNATURAL CREATURE, AS WAS POSSIBLE HE ULD HAVE DONE ANY LOFTY HALL.AND PERHAPS WAS THE PLEASURE THE GOOD SPIR HAD SHOWG OFF THIS POWER OF HIS, OR ELSE WAS HIS OWN KD, GENERO, HEARTY NATURE, AND HIS SYMPATHY WH ALL POOR MEN, THAT LED HIM STRAIGHT TO SCROOGE’S CLERK’S; FOR THERE HE WENT, AND TOOK SCROOGE WH HIM, HOLDG TO HIS ROBE; AND ON THE THRHOLD OF THE DOOR THE SPIR SED, AND STOPPED TO BLS BOB CRATCH’S DWELLG WH THE SPRKLG OF HIS TORCH. THK OF THAT. BOB HAD BUT FIFTEEN BOB A-WEEK HIMSELF; HE POCKETED ON SATURDAYS BUT FIFTEEN PI OF HIS CHRISTIAN NAME; AND YET THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT BLSED HIS FOUR-ROOMED HOE.THEN UP ROSE MRS CRATCH, CRATCH’S WIFE, DRSED OUT BUT POORLY A TWICE-TURNED GOWN, BUT BRAVE RIBBONS, WHICH ARE CHEAP AND MAKE A GOODLY SHOW FOR SIXPENCE; AND SHE LAID THE CLOTH, ASSISTED BY BELDA CRATCH, SEND OF HER DGHTERS, ALSO BRAVE RIBBONS; WHILE MASTER PETER CRATCH PLUNGED A FORK TO THE SCEPAN OF POTATO, AND GETTG THE RNERS OF HIS MONSTRO SHIRT LLAR (BOB’S PRIVATE PROPERTY, NFERRED UPON HIS SON AND HEIR HONOUR OF THE DAY) TO HIS MOUTH, REJOICED TO FD HIMSELF SO GALLANTLY ATTIRED, AND YEARNED TO SHOW HIS LEN THE FASHNABLE PARKS. AND NOW TWO SMALLER CRATCHS, BOY AND GIRL, ME TEARG , SCREAMG THAT OUTSI THE BAKER’S THEY HAD SMELT THE GOOSE, AND KNOWN FOR THEIR OWN; AND BASKG LUXUR THOUGHTS OF SAGE AND ONN, THE YOUNG CRATCHS DANCED ABOUT THE TABLE, AND EXALTED MASTER PETER CRATCH TO THE SKI, WHILE HE (NOT PROUD, ALTHOUGH HIS LLARS NEARLY CHOKED HIM) BLEW THE FIRE, UNTIL THE SLOW POTATO BUBBLG UP, KNOCKED LOUDLY AT THE SCEPAN-LID TO BE LET OUT AND PEELED.`WHAT HAS EVER GOT YOUR PREC FATHER THEN.’ SAID MRS CRATCH. `AND YOUR BROTHER, TY TIM. AND MARTHA WARN’T AS LATE LAST CHRISTMAS DAY BY HALF-AN-HOUR.’`HERE’S MARTHA, MOTHER.’ SAID A GIRL, APPEARG AS SHE SPOKE.`HERE’S MARTHA, MOTHER.’ CRIED THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS. `HURRAH. THERE’S SUCH A GOOSE, MARTHA.’`WHY, BLS YOUR HEART ALIVE, MY AR, HOW LATE YOU ARE.’ SAID MRS CRATCH, KISSG HER A DOZEN TIM, AND TAKG OFF HER SHAWL AND BON FOR HER WH OFFIC ZEAL.`WE’D A AL OF WORK TO FISH UP LAST NIGHT,’ REPLIED THE GIRL,’ AND HAD TO CLEAR AWAY THIS MORNG, MOTHER.’`WELL. NEVER MD SO LONG AS YOU ARE E,’ SAID MRS CRATCH. `S YE DOWN BEFORE THE FIRE, MY AR, AND HAVE A WARM, LORD BLS YE.’`NO, NO. THERE’S FATHER G,’ CRIED THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS, WHO WERE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE. `HI, MARTHA, HI.’SO MARTHA HID HERSELF, AND ME LTLE BOB, THE FATHER, WH AT LEAST THREE FEET OF FORTER EXCLIVE OF THE GE, HANGG DOWN BEFORE HIM; AND HIS THREADBARE CLOTH DARNED UP AND BSHED, TO LOOK SEASONABLE; AND TY TIM UPON HIS SHOULR. ALAS FOR TY TIM, HE BORE A LTLE CTCH, AND HAD HIS LIMBS SUPPORTED BY AN IRON AME.`WHY, WHERE’S OUR MARTHA.’ CRIED BOB CRATCH, LOOKG ROUND.`NOT G,’ SAID MRS CRATCH.`NOT G.’ SAID BOB, WH A SUDN CLENSN HIS HIGH SPIRS; FOR HE HAD BEEN TIM’S BLOOD HORSE ALL THE WAY OM CHURCH, AND HAD E HOME RAMPANT. `NOT G UPON CHRISTMAS DAY.’MARTHA DIDN’T LIKE TO SEE HIM DISAPPOTED, IF WERE ONLY JOKE; SO SHE ME OUT PREMATURELY OM BEHD THE CLOSET DOOR, AND RAN TO HIS ARMS, WHILE THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS HTLED TY TIM, AND BORE HIM OFF TO THE WASH-HOE, THAT HE MIGHT HEAR THE PUDDG SGG THE PPER.`AND HOW DID LTLE TIM BEHAVE. ASKED MRS CRATCH, WHEN SHE HAD RALLIED BOB ON HIS CRLY, AND BOB HAD HUGGED HIS DGHTER TO HIS HEART’S NTENT.`AS GOOD AS GOLD,’ SAID BOB,’ AND BETTER. SOMEHOW HE GETS THOUGHTFUL, STG BY HIMSELF SO MUCH, AND THKS THE STRANGT THGS YOU EVER HEARD. HE TOLD ME, G HOME, THAT HE HOPED THE PEOPLE SAW HIM THE CHURCH, BEE HE WAS A CRIPPLE, AND MIGHT BE PLEASANT TO THEM TO REMEMBER UPON CHRISTMAS DAY, WHO MA LAME BEGGARS WALK, AND BLD MEN SEE.’BOB’S VOICE WAS TREMULO WHEN HE TOLD THEM THIS, AND TREMBLED MORE WHEN HE SAID THAT TY TIM WAS GROWG STRONG AND HEARTY.HIS ACTIVE LTLE CTCH WAS HEARD UPON THE FLOOR, AND BACK ME TY TIM BEFORE ANOTHER WORD WAS SPOKEN, RTED BY HIS BROTHER AND SISTER TO HIS STOOL BEFORE THE FIRE; AND WHILE BOB, TURNG UP HIS CUFFS -- AS IF, POOR FELLOW, THEY WERE PABLE OF BEG MA MORE SHABBY -- POUND SOME HOT MIXTURE A JUG WH G AND LEMONS, AND STIRRED ROUND AND ROUND AND PUT ON THE HOB TO SIMMER; MASTER PETER, AND THE TWO UBIQUO YOUNG CRATCHS WENT TO FETCH THE GOOSE, WH WHICH THEY SOON RETURNED HIGH PROCSN.SUCH A BTLE ENSUED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT A GOOSE THE RART OF ALL BIRDS; A FEATHERED PHENOMENON, TO WHICH A BLACK SWAN WAS A MATTER OF URSE -- AND TTH WAS SOMETHG VERY LIKE THAT HOE. MRS CRATCH MA THE GRAVY (READY BEFOREHAND A LTLE SCEPAN) HISSG HOT; MASTER PETER MASHED THE POTATO WH CREDIBLE VIGOUR; MISS BELDA SWEETENED UP THE APPLE-SCE; MARTHA DTED THE HOT PLAT; BOB TOOK TY TIM BI HIM A TY RNER AT THE TABLE; THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS SET CHAIRS FOR EVERYBODY, NOT FETTG THEMSELV, AND MOUNTG GUARD UPON THEIR POSTS, CRAMMED SPOONS TO THEIR MOUTHS, LT THEY SHOULD SHRIEK FOR GOOSE BEFORE THEIR TURN ME TO BE HELPED. AT LAST THE DISH WERE SET ON, AND GRACE WAS SAID. IT WAS SUCCEED BY A BREATHLS PSE, AS MRS CRATCH, LOOKG SLOWLY ALL ALONG THE RVG-KNIFE, PREPARED TO PLUNGE THE BREAST; BUT WHEN SHE DID, AND WHEN THE LONG EXPECTED GH OF STUFFG ISSUED FORTH, ONE MURMUR OF LIGHT AROSE ALL ROUND THE BOARD, AND EVEN TY TIM, EXCED BY THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS, BEAT ON THE TABLE WH THE HANDLE OF HIS KNIFE, AND FEEBLY CRIED HURRAH.THERE NEVER WAS SUCH A GOOSE. BOB SAID HE DIDN’T BELIEVE THERE EVER WAS SUCH A GOOSE OKED. ITS TENRNS AND FLAVOUR, SIZE AND CHEAPNS, WERE THE THEM OF UNIVERSAL ADMIRATN. EKED OUT BY APPLE-SCE AND MASHED POTATO, WAS A SUFFICIENT DNER FOR THE WHOLE FAY; ED, AS MRS CRATCH SAID WH GREAT LIGHT (SURVEYG ONE SMALL ATOM OF A BONE UPON THE DISH), THEY HADN’T ATE ALL AT LAST. YET EVERY ONE HAD HAD ENOUGH, AND THE YOUNGT CRATCHS PARTICULAR, WERE STEEPED SAGE AND ONN TO THE EYEBROWS. BUT NOW, THE PLAT BEG CHANGED BY MISS BELDA, MRS CRATCH LEFT THE ROOM ALONE -- TOO NERVO TO BEAR WNS -- TO TAKE THE PUDDG UP AND BRG .SUPPOSE SHOULD NOT BE DONE ENOUGH. SUPPOSE SHOULD BREAK TURNG OUT. SUPPOSE SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE GOT OVER THE WALL OF THE BACK-YARD, AND STOLEN , WHILE THEY WERE MERRY WH THE GOOSE -- A SUPPOSN AT WHICH THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS BEME LIVID. ALL SORTS OF HORRORS WERE SUPPOSED.HALLO. A GREAT AL OF STEAM. THE PUDDG WAS OUT OF THE PPER. A SMELL LIKE A WASHG-DAY. THAT WAS THE CLOTH. A SMELL LIKE AN EATG-HOE AND A PASTRYOK’S NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER, WH A LNDRS’S NEXT DOOR TO THAT. THAT WAS THE PUDDG. IN HALF A MUTE MRS CRATCH ENTERED -- FLHED, BUT SG PROUDLY -- WH THE PUDDG, LIKE A SPECKLED NNON-BALL, SO HARD AND FIRM, BLAZG HALF OF HALF-A-QUARTERN OF IGNED BRANDY, AND BEDIGHT WH CHRISTMAS HOLLY STUCK TO THE TOP.OH, A WONRFUL PUDDG. BOB CRATCH SAID, AND LMLY TOO, THAT HE REGARD AS THE GREATT SUCCS ACHIEVED BY MRS CRATCH SCE THEIR MARRIAGE. MRS CRATCH SAID THAT NOW THE WEIGHT WAS OFF HER MD, SHE WOULD NFS SHE HAD HAD HER DOUBTS ABOUT THE QUANTY OF FLOUR. EVERYBODY HAD SOMETHG TO SAY ABOUT , BUT NOBODY SAID OR THOUGHT WAS AT ALL A SMALL PUDDG FOR A LARGE FAY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FLAT HERY TO DO SO. ANY CRATCH WOULD HAVE BLHED TO HT AT SUCH A THG.AT LAST THE DNER WAS ALL DONE, THE CLOTH WAS CLEARED, THE HEARTH SWEPT, AND THE FIRE MA UP. THE POUND THE JUG BEG TASTED, AND NSIRED PERFECT, APPL AND ORANG WERE PUT UPON THE TABLE, AND A SHOVEL-FULL OF CHTNUTS ON THE FIRE. THEN ALL THE CRATCH FAY DREW ROUND THE HEARTH, WHAT BOB CRATCH LLED A CIRCLE, MEANG HALF A ONE; AND AT BOB CRATCH’S ELBOW STOOD THE FAY DISPLAY OF GLASS. TWO TUMBLERS, AND A CTARD-CUP WHOUT A HANDLE.THE HELD THE HOT STUFF OM THE JUG, HOWEVER, AS WELL AS GOLN GOBLETS WOULD HAVE DONE; AND BOB SERVED OUT WH BEAMG LOOKS, WHILE THE CHTNUTS ON THE FIRE SPUTTERED AND CRACKED NOISILY. THEN BOB PROPOSED:`A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, MY ARS. GOD BLS .’WHICH ALL THE FAY RE-ECHOED.`GOD BLS EVERY ONE.’ SAID TY TIM, THE LAST OF ALL.HE SAT VERY CLOSE TO HIS FATHER’S SI UPON HIS LTLE STOOL. BOB HELD HIS WHERED LTLE HAND HIS, AS IF HE LOVED THE CHILD, AND WISHED TO KEEP HIM BY HIS SI, AND DREAD THAT HE MIGHT BE TAKEN OM HIM.`SPIR,’ SAID SCROOGE, WH AN TERT HE HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE, `TELL ME IF TY TIM WILL LIVE.’`I SEE A VANT SEAT,’ REPLIED THE GHOST, ` THE POOR CHIMNEY-RNER, AND A CTCH WHOUT AN OWNER, REFULLY PRERVED. IF THE SHADOWS REMA UNALTERED BY THE FUTURE, THE CHILD WILL DIE.’`NO, NO,’ SAID SCROOGE. `OH, NO, KD SPIR. SAY HE WILL BE SPARED.’`IF THE SHADOWS REMA UNALTERED BY THE FUTURE, NONE OTHER OF MY RACE,’ RETURNED THE GHOST, `WILL FD HIM HERE. WHAT THEN. IF HE BE LIKE TO DIE, HE HAD BETTER DO , AND CREASE THE SURPL POPULATN.’SCROOGE HUNG HIS HEAD TO HEAR HIS OWN WORDS QUOTED BY THE SPIR, AND WAS OVERE WH PENENCE AND GRIEF. `MAN,’ SAID THE GHOST, `IF MAN YOU BE HEART, NOT ADAMANT, FORBEAR THAT WICKED NT UNTIL YOU HAVE DISVERED WHAT THE SURPL IS, AND WHERE IS. WILL YOU CI WHAT MEN SHALL LIVE, WHAT MEN SHALL DIE. IT MAY BE, THAT THE SIGHT OF HEAVEN, YOU ARE MORE WORTHLS AND LS F TO LIVE THAN LNS LIKE THIS POOR MAN’S CHILD. OH GOD. TO HEAR THE INSECT ON THE LEAF PRONOUNCG ON THE TOO MUCH LIFE AMONG HIS HUNGRY BROTHERS THE DT.’SCROOGE BENT BEFORE THE GHOST’S REBE, AND TREMBLG ST HIS EY UPON THE GROUND. BUT HE RAISED THEM SPEEDILY, ON HEARG HIS OWN NAME.`MR SCROOGE.’ SAID BOB; `I’LL GIVE YOU MR SCROOGE, THE FOUNR OF THE FEAST.’`THE FOUNR OF THE FEAST ED.’ CRIED MRS CRATCH, REDNG. `I WISH I HAD HIM HERE. I’D GIVE HIM A PIECE OF MY MD TO FEAST UPON, AND I HOPE HE’D HAVE A GOOD APPETE FOR .’`MY AR,’ SAID BOB, `THE CHILDREN. CHRISTMAS DAY.’`IT SHOULD BE CHRISTMAS DAY, I AM SURE,’ SAID SHE, `ON WHICH ONE DRKS THE HEALTH OF SUCH AN OD, STGY, HARD, UNFEELG MAN AS MR SCROOGE. YOU KNOW HE IS, ROBERT. NOBODY KNOWS BETTER THAN YOU DO, POOR FELLOW.’`MY AR,’ WAS BOB’S D ANSWER, `CHRISTMAS DAY.’`I’LL DRK HIS HEALTH FOR YOUR SAKE AND THE DAY’S,’ SAID MRS CRATCH, `NOT FOR HIS. LONG LIFE TO HIM. A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. HE’LL BE VERY MERRY AND VERY HAPPY, I HAVE NO DOUBT.’THE CHILDREN DRANK THE TOAST AFTER HER. IT WAS THE FIRST OF THEIR PROCEEDGS WHICH HAD NO HEARTS. TY TIM DRANK LAST OF ALL, BUT HE DIDN’T RE TWOPENCE FOR . SCROOGE WAS THE OGRE OF THE FAY. THE MENTN OF HIS NAME ST A DARK SHADOW ON THE PARTY, WHICH WAS NOT DISPELLED FOR FULL FIVE MUT.AFTER HAD PASSED AWAY, THEY WERE TEN TIM MERRIER THAN BEFORE, OM THE MERE RELIEF OF SCROOGE THE BALEFUL BEG DONE WH. BOB CRATCH TOLD THEM HOW HE HAD A SUATN HIS EYE FOR MASTER PETER, WHICH WOULD BRG , IF OBTAED, FULL FIVE-AND-SIXPENCE WEEKLY. THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS LGHED TREMENDOLY AT THE IA OF PETER’S BEG A MAN OF BS; AND PETER HIMSELF LOOKED THOUGHTFULLY AT THE FIRE OM BETWEEN HIS LLARS, AS IF HE WERE LIBERATG WHAT PARTICULAR VTMENTS HE SHOULD FAVOUR WHEN HE ME TO THE RECEIPT OF THAT BEWILRG E. MARTHA, WHO WAS A POOR APPRENTICE AT A LER’S, THEN TOLD THEM WHAT KD OF WORK SHE HAD TO DO, AND HOW MANY HOURS SHE WORKED AT A STRETCH, AND HOW SHE MEANT TO LIE ABED TO-MORROW MORNG FOR A GOOD LONG RT; TO-MORROW BEG A HOLIDAY SHE PASSED AT HOME. ALSO HOW SHE HAD SEEN A UNTS AND A LORD SOME DAYS BEFORE, AND HOW THE LORD WAS MUCH ABOUT AS TALL AS PETER; AT WHICH PETER PULLED UP HIS LLARS SO HIGH THAT YOU ULDN’T HAVE SEEN HIS HEAD IF YOU HAD BEEN THERE. ALL THIS TIME THE CHTNUTS AND THE JUG WENT ROUND AND ROUND; AND BY-AND-BYE THEY HAD A SONG, ABOUT A LOST CHILD TRAVELLG THE SNOW, OM TY TIM, WHO HAD A PLATIVE LTLE VOICE, AND SANG VERY WELL ED.THERE WAS NOTHG OF HIGH MARK THIS. THEY WERE NOT A HANDSOME FAY; THEY WERE NOT WELL DRSED; THEIR SHO WERE FAR OM BEG WATER-PROOF; THEIR CLOTH WERE SNTY; AND PETER MIGHT HAVE KNOWN, AND VERY LIKELY DID, THE SI OF A PAWNBROKER’S. BUT, THEY WERE HAPPY, GRATEFUL, PLEASED WH ONE ANOTHER, AND NTENTED WH THE TIME; AND WHEN THEY FAD, AND LOOKED HAPPIER YET THE BRIGHT SPRKLGS OF THE SPIR’S TORCH AT PARTG, SCROOGE HAD HIS EYE UPON THEM, AND PECIALLY ON TY TIM, UNTIL THE LAST.BY THIS TIME WAS GETTG DARK, AND SNOWG PRETTY HEAVILY; AND AS SCROOGE AND THE SPIR WENT ALONG THE STREETS, THE BRIGHTNS OF THE ROARG FIR KCHENS, PARLOURS, AND ALL SORTS OF ROOMS, WAS WONRFUL. HERE, THE FLICKERG OF THE BLAZE SHOWED PREPARATNS FOR A SY DNER, WH HOT PLAT BAKG THROUGH AND THROUGH BEFORE THE FIRE, AND EP RED CURTAS, READY TO BE DRAWN TO SHUT OUT LD AND DARKNS. THERE ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE HOE WERE NNG OUT TO THE SNOW TO MEET THEIR MARRIED SISTERS, BROTHERS, S, UNCL, NTS, AND BE THE FIRST TO GREET THEM. HERE, AGA, WERE SHADOWS ON THE WDOW-BLD OF GUTS ASSEMBLG; AND THERE A GROUP OF HANDSOME GIRLS, ALL HOOD AND FUR-BOOTED, AND ALL CHATTERG AT ONCE, TRIPPED LIGHTLY OFF TO SOME NEAR NEIGHBOUR’S HOE; WHERE, WOE UPON THE SGLE MAN WHO SAW THEM ENTER -- ARTFUL WCH, WELL THEY KNEW -- A GLOW.BUT, IF YOU HAD JUDGED OM THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO IENDLY GATHERGS, YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT NO ONE WAS AT HOME TO GIVE THEM WELE WHEN THEY GOT THERE, STEAD OF EVERY HOE EXPECTG PANY, AND PILG UP S FIR HALF-CHIMNEY HIGH. BLSGS ON , HOW THE GHOST EXULTED. HOW BARED S BREADTH OF BREAST, AND OPENED S PAC PALM, AND FLOATED ON, OUTPOURG, WH A GENERO HAND, S BRIGHT AND HARMLS MIRTH ON EVERYTHG WH S REACH. THE VERY LAMPLIGHTER, WHO RAN ON BEFORE, DOTTG THE DKY STREET WH SPECKS OF LIGHT, AND WHO WAS DRSED TO SPEND THE EVENG SOMEWHERE, LGHED OUT LOUDLY AS THE SPIR PASSED, THOUGH LTLE KENNED THE LAMPLIGHTER THAT HE HAD ANY PANY BUT CHRISTMAS.AND NOW, WHOUT A WORD OF WARNG OM THE GHOST, THEY STOOD UPON A BLEAK AND SERT MOOR, WHERE MONSTRO MASS OF STONE WERE ST ABOUT, AS THOUGH WERE THE BURIAL-PLACE OF GIANTS; AND WATER SPREAD SELF WHEROEVER LISTED, OR WOULD HAVE DONE SO, BUT FOR THE OST THAT HELD PRISONER; AND NOTHG GREW BUT MOSS AND FURZE, AND ARSE RANK GRASS. DOWN THE WT THE SETTG SUN HAD LEFT A STREAK OF FIERY RED, WHICH GLARED UPON THE SOLATN FOR AN STANT, LIKE A SULLEN EYE, AND OWNG LOWER, LOWER, LOWER YET, WAS LOST THE THICK GLOOM OF DARKT NIGHT.`WHAT PLACE IS THIS.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`A PLACE WHERE MERS LIVE, WHO LABOUR THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH,’ RETURNED THE SPIR. `BUT THEY KNOW ME. SEE.’A LIGHT SHONE OM THE WDOW OF A HUT, AND SWIFTLY THEY ADVANCED TOWARDS . PASSG THROUGH THE WALL OF MUD AND STONE, THEY FOUND A CHEERFUL PANY ASSEMBLED ROUND A GLOWG FIRE. AN OLD, OLD MAN AND WOMAN, WH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN, AND ANOTHER GENERATN BEYOND THAT, ALL CKED OUT GAILY THEIR HOLIDAY ATTIRE. THE OLD MAN, A VOICE THAT SELDOM ROSE ABOVE THE HOWLG OF THE WD UPON THE BARREN WASTE, WAS SGG THEM A CHRISTMAS SONG -- HAD BEEN A VERY OLD SONG WHEN HE WAS A BOY -- AND OM TIME TO TIME THEY ALL JOED THE CHOS. SO SURELY AS THEY RAISED THEIR VOIC, THE OLD MAN GOT QUE BLHE AND LOUD; AND SO SURELY AS THEY STOPPED, HIS VIGOUR SANK AGA.THE SPIR DID NOT TARRY HERE, BUT BA SCROOGE HOLD HIS ROBE, AND PASSG ON ABOVE THE MOOR, SPED -- WHHER. NOT TO SEA. TO SEA. TO SCROOGE’S HORROR, LOOKG BACK, HE SAW THE LAST OF THE LAND, A IGHTFUL RANGE OF ROCKS, BEHD THEM; AND HIS EARS WERE AFENED BY THE THUNRG OF WATER, AS ROLLED AND ROARED, AND RAGED AMONG THE DREADFUL VERNS HAD WORN, AND FIERCELY TRIED TO UNRME THE EARTH.BUILT UPON A DISMAL REEF OF SUNKEN ROCKS, SOME LEAGUE OR SO OM SHORE, ON WHICH THE WATERS CHAFED AND DASHED, THE WILD YEAR THROUGH, THERE STOOD A SOLARY LIGHTHOE. GREAT HEAPS OF SEA-WEED CLUNG TO S BASE, AND STORM-BIRDS -- BORN OF THE WD ONE MIGHT SUPPOSE, AS SEA-WEED OF THE WATER -- ROSE AND FELL ABOUT , LIKE THE WAV THEY SKIMMED.BUT EVEN HERE, TWO MEN WHO WATCHED THE LIGHT HAD MA A FIRE, THAT THROUGH THE LOOPHOLE THE THICK STONE WALL SHED OUT A RAY OF BRIGHTNS ON THE AWFUL SEA. JOG THEIR HORNY HANDS OVER THE ROUGH TABLE AT WHICH THEY SAT, THEY WISHED EACH OTHER MERRY CHRISTMAS THEIR N OF GROG; AND ONE OF THEM: THE ELR, TOO, WH HIS FACE ALL DAMAGED AND SRRED WH HARD WEATHER, AS THE FIGURE-HEAD OF AN OLD SHIP MIGHT BE: STCK UP A STURDY SONG THAT WAS LIKE A GALE SELF.AGA THE GHOST SPED ON, ABOVE THE BLACK AND HEAVG SEA -- ON, ON -- UNTIL, BEG FAR AWAY, AS HE TOLD SCROOGE, OM ANY SHORE, THEY LIGHTED ON A SHIP. THEY STOOD BI THE HELMSMAN AT THE WHEEL, THE LOOK-OUT THE BOW, THE OFFICERS WHO HAD THE WATCH; DARK, GHOSTLY FIGUR THEIR SEVERAL STATNS; BUT EVERY MAN AMONG THEM HUMMED A CHRISTMAS TUNE, OR HAD A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT, OR SPOKE BELOW HIS BREATH TO HIS PANN OF SOME BYGONE CHRISTMAS DAY, WH HOMEWARD HOP BELONGG TO . AND EVERY MAN ON BOARD, WAKG OR SLEEPG, GOOD OR BAD, HAD HAD A KR WORD FOR ANOTHER ON THAT DAY THAN ON ANY DAY THE YEAR; AND HAD SHARED TO SOME EXTENT S FTIVI; AND HAD REMEMBERED THOSE HE RED FOR AT A DISTANCE, AND HAD KNOWN THAT THEY LIGHTED TO REMEMBER HIM.IT WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO SCROOGE, WHILE LISTENG TO THE MOANG OF THE WD, AND THKG WHAT A SOLEMN THG WAS TO MOVE ON THROUGH THE LONELY DARKNS OVER AN UNKNOWN ABYSS, WHOSE PTHS WERE SECRETS AS PROFOUND AS DEATH: WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO SCROOGE, WHILE TH ENGAGED, TO HEAR A HEARTY LGH. IT WAS A MUCH GREATER SURPRISE TO SCROOGE TO REGNISE AS HIS OWN NEPHEW’S AND TO FD HIMSELF A BRIGHT, DRY, GLEAMG ROOM, WH THE SPIR STANDG SG BY HIS SI, AND LOOKG AT THAT SAME NEPHEW WH APPROVG AFFABILY.`HA, HA.’ LGHED SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HA, HA, HA.’IF YOU SHOULD HAPPEN, BY ANY UNLIKELY CHANCE, TO KNOW A MAN MORE BLT A LGH THAN SCROOGE’S NEPHEW, ALL I N SAY IS, I SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW HIM TOO. INTRODUCE HIM TO ME, AND I’LL CULTIVATE HIS ACQUATANCE.IT IS A FAIR, EVEN-HAND, NOBLE ADJTMENT OF THGS, THAT WHILE THERE IS FECTN DISEASE AND SORROW, THERE IS NOTHG THE WORLD SO IRRISTIBLY NTAG AS LGHTER AND GOOD-HUMOUR. WHEN SCROOGE’S NEPHEW LGHED THIS WAY: HOLDG HIS SIS, ROLLG HIS HEAD, AND TWISTG HIS FACE TO THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT NTORTNS: SCROOGE’S NIECE, BY MARRIAGE, LGHED AS HEARTILY AS HE. AND THEIR ASSEMBLED IENDS BEG NOT A B BEHDHAND, ROARED OUT LTILY.`HA, HA. HA, HA, HA, HA.’`HE SAID THAT CHRISTMAS WAS A HUMBUG, AS I LIVE.’ CRIED SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HE BELIEVED TOO.’`MORE SHAME FOR HIM, FRED.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NIECE, DIGNANTLY. BLS THOSE WOMEN; THEY NEVER DO ANYTHG BY HALV. THEY ARE ALWAYS EARNT.SHE WAS VERY PRETTY: EXCEEDGLY PRETTY. WH A DIMPLED, SURPRISED-LOOKG, PAL FACE; A RIPE LTLE MOUTH, THAT SEEMED MA TO BE KISSED -- AS NO DOUBT WAS; ALL KDS OF GOOD LTLE DOTS ABOUT HER CH, THAT MELTED TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN SHE LGHED; AND THE SUNNIT PAIR OF EY YOU EVER SAW ANY LTLE CREATURE’S HEAD. ALTOGETHER SHE WAS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE LLED PROVOKG, YOU KNOW; BUT SATISFACTORY.`HE’S A IL OLD FELLOW,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW,’ THAT’S THE TTH: AND NOT SO PLEASANT AS HE MIGHT BE. HOWEVER, HIS OFFENC RRY THEIR OWN PUNISHMENT, AND I HAVE NOTHG TO SAY AGAST HIM.’`I’M SURE HE IS VERY RICH, FRED,’ HTED SCROOGE’S NIECE. `AT LEAST YOU ALWAYS TELL ME SO.’`WHAT OF THAT, MY AR.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HIS WEALTH IS OF NO E TO HIM. HE DON’T DO ANY GOOD WH . HE DON’T MAKE HIMSELF FORTABLE WH . HE HASN’T THE SATISFACTN OF THKG -- HA, HA, HA. -- THAT HE IS EVER GOG TO BENEF WH .’`I HAVE NO PATIENCE WH HIM,’ OBSERVED SCROOGE’S NIECE. SCROOGE’S NIECE’S SISTERS, AND ALL THE OTHER LADI, EXPRSED THE SAME OPN.`OH, I HAVE.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `I AM SORRY FOR HIM; I ULDN’T BE ANGRY WH HIM IF I TRIED. WHO SUFFERS BY HIS ILL WHIMS. HIMSELF, ALWAYS. HERE, HE TAK TO HIS HEAD TO DISLIKE , AND HE WON’T E AND DE WH . WHAT’S THE NSEQUENCE? HE DON’T LOSE MUCH OF A DNER.’`INED, I THK HE LOS A VERY GOOD DNER,’ TERPTED SCROOGE’S NIECE. EVERYBODY ELSE SAID THE SAME, AND THEY MT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN PETENT JUDG, BEE THEY HAD JT HAD DNER; AND, WH THE SSERT UPON THE TABLE, WERE CLTERED ROUND THE FIRE, BY LAMPLIGHT.`WELL. I’M VERY GLAD TO HEAR ,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW, `BEE I HAVEN’T GREAT FAH THE YOUNG HOEKEEPERS. WHAT DO YOU SAY, TOPPER.’TOPPER HAD CLEARLY GOT HIS EYE UPON ONE OF SCROOGE’S NIECE’S SISTERS, FOR HE ANSWERED THAT A BACHELOR WAS A WRETCHED OUTST, WHO HAD NO RIGHT TO EXPRS AN OPN ON THE SUBJECT. WHEREAT SCROOGE’S NIECE’S SISTER -- THE PLUMP ONE WH THE LACE TUCKER: NOT THE ONE WH THE ROS -- BLHED.`DO GO ON, FRED,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NIECE, CLAPPG HER HANDS. `HE NEVER FISH WHAT HE BEGS TO SAY. HE IS SUCH A RIDICULO FELLOW.’SCROOGE’S NEPHEW REVELLED ANOTHER LGH, AND AS WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE FECTN OFF; THOUGH THE PLUMP SISTER TRIED HARD TO DO WH AROMATIC VEGAR; HIS EXAMPLE WAS UNANIMOLY FOLLOWED.`I WAS ONLY GOG TO SAY,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW,’ THAT THE NSEQUENCE OF HIS TAKG A DISLIKE TO , AND NOT MAKG MERRY WH , IS, AS I THK, THAT HE LOS SOME PLEASANT MOMENTS, WHICH ULD DO HIM NO HARM. I AM SURE HE LOS PLEASANTER PANNS THAN HE N FD HIS OWN THOUGHTS, EHER HIS MOULDY OLD OFFICE, OR HIS DTY CHAMBERS. I MEAN TO GIVE HIM THE SAME CHANCE EVERY YEAR, WHETHER HE LIK OR NOT, FOR I PY HIM. HE MAY RAIL AT CHRISTMAS TILL HE DI, BUT HE N’T HELP THKG BETTER OF -- I FY HIM -- IF HE FDS ME GOG THERE, GOOD TEMPER, YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND SAYG UNCLE SCROOGE, HOW ARE YOU. IF ONLY PUTS HIM THE VE TO LEAVE HIS POOR CLERK FIFTY POUNDS, THAT’S SOMETHG; AND I THK I SHOOK HIM YTERDAY.’IT WAS THEIR TURN TO LGH NOW AT THE NOTN OF HIS SHAKG SCROOGE. BUT BEG THOROUGHLY GOOD-NATURED, AND NOT MUCH RG WHAT THEY LGHED AT, SO THAT THEY LGHED AT ANY RATE, HE ENURAGED THEM THEIR MERRIMENT, AND PASSED THE BOTTLE JOYOLY.AFTER TEA. THEY HAD SOME MIC. FOR THEY WERE A MIL FAY, AND KNEW WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT, WHEN THEY SUNG A GLEE OR CATCH, I N ASSURE YOU: PECIALLY TOPPER, WHO ULD GROWL AWAY THE BASS LIKE A GOOD ONE, AND NEVER SWELL THE LARGE VES HIS FOREHEAD, OR GET RED THE FACE OVER . SCROOGE’S NIECE PLAYED WELL UPON THE HARP; AND PLAYED AMONG OTHER TUN A SIMPLE LTLE AIR (A MERE NOTHG: YOU MIGHT LEARN TO WHISTLE TWO MUT), WHICH HAD BEEN FAIAR TO THE CHILD WHO FETCHED SCROOGE OM THE BOARDG-SCHOOL, AS HE HAD BEEN REMD BY THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST. WHEN THIS STRA OF MIC SOUND, ALL THE THGS THAT GHOST HAD SHOWN HIM, ME UPON HIS MD; HE SOFTENED MORE AND MORE; AND THOUGHT THAT IF HE ULD HAVE LISTENED TO OFTEN, YEARS AGO, HE MIGHT HAVE CULTIVATED THE KDNS OF LIFE FOR HIS OWN HAPPS WH HIS OWN HANDS, WHOUT RORTG TO THE SEXTON’S SPA THAT BURIED JAB MARLEY.BUT THEY DIDN’T VOTE THE WHOLE EVENG TO MIC. AFTER A WHILE THEY PLAYED AT FORFES; FOR IS GOOD TO BE CHILDREN SOMETIM, AND NEVER BETTER THAN AT CHRISTMAS, WHEN S MIGHTY FOUNR WAS A CHILD HIMSELF. STOP. THERE WAS FIRST A GAME AT BLD-MAN’S BUFF. OF URSE THERE WAS. AND I NO MORE BELIEVE TOPPER WAS REALLY BLD THAN I BELIEVE HE HAD EY HIS BOOTS. MY OPN IS, THAT WAS A DONE THG BETWEEN HIM AND SCROOGE’S NEPHEW; AND THAT THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT KNEW . THE WAY HE WENT AFTER THAT PLUMP SISTER THE LACE TUCKER, WAS AN OUTRAGE ON THE CRLY OF HUMAN NATURE. KNOCKG DOWN THE FIRE-IRONS, TUMBLG OVER THE CHAIRS, BUMPG AGAST THE PIANO, SMOTHERG HIMSELF AMONG THE CURTAS, WHEREVER SHE WENT, THERE WENT HE. HE ALWAYS KNEW WHERE THE PLUMP SISTER WAS. HE WOULDN’T TCH ANYBODY ELSE. IF YOU HAD FALLEN UP AGAST HIM (AS SOME OF THEM DID), ON PURPOSE, HE WOULD HAVE MA A FET OF ENAVOURG TO SEIZE YOU, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AFONT TO YOUR UNRSTANDG, AND WOULD STANTLY HAVE SIDLED OFF THE DIRECTN OF THE PLUMP SISTER. SHE OFTEN CRIED OUT THAT WASN’T FAIR; AND REALLY WAS NOT. BUT WHEN AT LAST, HE UGHT HER; WHEN, SPE OF ALL HER SILKEN STLGS, AND HER RAPID FLUTTERGS PAST HIM, HE GOT HER TO A RNER WHENCE THERE WAS NO PE; THEN HIS NDUCT WAS THE MOST EXECRABLE. FOR HIS PRETENDG NOT TO KNOW HER; HIS PRETENDG THAT WAS NECSARY TO TOUCH HER HEAD-DRS, AND FURTHER TO ASSURE HIMSELF OF HER INTY BY PRSG A CERTA RG UPON HER FGER, AND A CERTA CHA ABOUT HER NECK; WAS VILE, MONSTRO. NO DOUBT SHE TOLD HIM HER OPN OF , WHEN, ANOTHER BLD-MAN BEG OFFICE, THEY WERE SO VERY NFINTIAL TOGETHER, BEHD THE CURTAS.SCROOGE’S NIECE WAS NOT ONE OF THE BLD-MAN’S BUFF PARTY, BUT WAS MA FORTABLE WH A LARGE CHAIR AND A FOOTSTOOL, A SNUG RNER, WHERE THE GHOST AND SCROOGE WERE CLOSE BEHD HER. BUT SHE JOED THE FORFES, AND LOVED HER LOVE TO ADMIRATN WH ALL THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET. LIKEWISE AT THE GAME OF HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE, SHE WAS VERY GREAT, AND TO THE SECRET JOY OF SCROOGE’S NEPHEW, BEAT HER SISTERS HOLLOW: THOUGH THEY WERE SHARP GIRLS TOO, AS ULD HAVE TOLD YOU. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TWENTY PEOPLE THERE, YOUNG AND OLD, BUT THEY ALL PLAYED, AND SO DID SCROOGE, FOR, WHOLLY FETTG THE TERT HE HAD WHAT WAS GOG ON, THAT HIS VOICE MA NO SOUND THEIR EARS, HE SOMETIM ME OUT WH HIS GUS QUE LOUD, AND VERY OFTEN GUSED QUE RIGHT, TOO; FOR THE SHARPT NEEDLE, BT WHECHAPEL, WARRANTED NOT TO CUT THE EYE, WAS NOT SHARPER THAN SCROOGE; BLUNT AS HE TOOK HIS HEAD TO BE.THE GHOST WAS GREATLY PLEASED TO FD HIM THIS MOOD, AND LOOKED UPON HIM WH SUCH FAVOUR, THAT HE BEGGED LIKE A BOY TO BE ALLOWED TO STAY UNTIL THE GUTS PARTED. BUT THIS THE SPIR SAID ULD NOT BE DONE.`HERE IS A NEW GAME,’ SAID SCROOGE. `ONE HALF HOUR, SPIR, ONLY ONE.’IT WAS A GAME LLED Y AND NO, WHERE SCROOGE’S NEPHEW HAD TO THK OF SOMETHG, AND THE RT MT FD OUT WHAT; HE ONLY ANSWERG TO THEIR QUTNS Y OR NO, AS THE SE WAS. THE BRISK FIRE OF QUTNG TO WHICH HE WAS EXPOSED, ELICED OM HIM THAT HE WAS THKG OF AN ANIMAL, A LIVE ANIMAL, RATHER A DISAGREEABLE ANIMAL, A SAVAGE ANIMAL, AN ANIMAL THAT GROWLED AND GNTED SOMETIM, AND TALKED SOMETIM, AND LIVED LONDON, AND WALKED ABOUT THE STREETS, AND WASN’T MA A SHOW OF, AND WASN’T LED BY ANYBODY, AND DIDN’T LIVE A MENAGERIE, AND WAS NEVER KILLED A MARKET, AND WAS NOT A HORSE, OR AN ASS, OR A W, OR A BULL, OR A TIGER, OR A DOG, OR A PIG, OR A T, OR A BEAR. AT EVERY H QUTN THAT WAS PUT TO HIM, THIS NEPHEW BURST TO A H ROAR OF LGHTER; AND WAS SO EXPRSIBLY TICKLED, THAT HE WAS OBLIGED TO GET UP OFF THE SOFA AND STAMP. AT LAST THE PLUMP SISTER, FALLG TO A SIAR STATE, CRIED OUT:`I HAVE FOUND OUT. I KNOW WHAT IS, FRED. I KNOW WHAT IS.’`WHAT IS .’ CRIED FRED.`IT’S YOUR UNCLE SCROOGE.’WHICH CERTALY WAS. ADMIRATN WAS THE UNIVERSAL SENTIMENT, THOUGH SOME OBJECTED THAT THE REPLY TO `IS A BEAR.’ OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN `Y;’ ASMUCH AS AN ANSWER THE NEGATIVE WAS SUFFICIENT TO HAVE DIVERTED THEIR THOUGHTS OM MR SCROOGE, SUPPOSG THEY HAD EVER HAD ANY TENNCY THAT WAY.`HE HAS GIVEN PLENTY OF MERRIMENT, I AM SURE,’ SAID FRED,’ AND WOULD BE UNGRATEFUL NOT TO DRK HIS HEALTH. HERE IS A GLASS OF MULLED WE READY TO OUR HAND AT THE MOMENT; AND I SAY, “UNCLE SCROOGE."’`WELL. UNCLE SCROOGE.’ THEY CRIED.`A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE OLD MAN, WHATEVER HE IS.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HE WOULDN’T TAKE OM ME, BUT MAY HE HAVE , NEVERTHELS. UNCLE SCROOGE.’UNCLE SCROOGE HAD IMPERCEPTIBLY BEE SO GAY AND LIGHT OF HEART, THAT HE WOULD HAVE PLEDGED THE UNNSC PANY RETURN, AND THANKED THEM AN DIBLE SPEECH, IF THE GHOST HAD GIVEN HIM TIME. BUT THE WHOLE SCENE PASSED OFF THE BREATH OF THE LAST WORD SPOKEN BY HIS NEPHEW; AND HE AND THE SPIR WERE AGA UPON THEIR TRAVELS.MUCH THEY SAW, AND FAR THEY WENT, AND MANY HOM THEY VISED, BUT ALWAYS WH A HAPPY END. THE SPIR STOOD BI SICK BEDS, AND THEY WERE CHEERFUL; ON FOREIGN LANDS, AND THEY WERE CLOSE AT HOME; BY STGGLG MEN, AND THEY WERE PATIENT THEIR GREATER HOPE; BY POVERTY, AND WAS RICH. IN ALMSHOE, HOSPAL, AND JAIL, MISERY’S EVERY REFUGE, WHERE VA MAN HIS LTLE BRIEF THORY HAD NOT MA FAST THE DOOR AND BARRED THE SPIR OUT, HE LEFT HIS BLSG, AND TGHT SCROOGE HIS PRECEPTS.IT WAS A LONG NIGHT, IF WERE ONLY A NIGHT; BUT SCROOGE HAD HIS DOUBTS OF THIS, BEE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS APPEARED TO BE NNSED TO THE SPACE OF TIME THEY PASSED TOGETHER. IT WAS STRANGE, TOO, THAT WHILE SCROOGE REMAED UNALTERED HIS OUTWARD FORM, THE GHOST GREW OLR, CLEARLY OLR. SCROOGE HAD OBSERVED THIS CHANGE, BUT NEVER SPOKE OF , UNTIL THEY LEFT A CHILDREN’S TWELFTH NIGHT PARTY, WHEN, LOOKG AT THE SPIR AS THEY STOOD TOGETHER AN OPEN PLACE, HE NOTICED THAT S HAIR WAS GREY.`ARE SPIRS’ LIV SO SHORT.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`MY LIFE UPON THIS GLOBE, IS VERY BRIEF,’ REPLIED THE GHOST. `IT ENDS TO-NIGHT.’`TO-NIGHT.’ CRIED SCROOGE.`TO-NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT. HARK. THE TIME IS DRAWG NEAR.’THE CHIM WERE RGG THE THREE QUARTERS PAST ELEVEN AT THAT MOMENT.`FIVE ME IF I AM NOT JTIFIED WHAT I ASK,’ SAID SCROOGE, LOOKG TENTLY AT THE SPIR’S ROBE,’ BUT I SEE SOMETHG STRANGE, AND NOT BELONGG TO YOURSELF, PROTDG OM YOUR SKIRTS. IS A FOOT OR A CLAW.’`IT MIGHT BE A CLAW, FOR THE FLH THERE IS UPON ,’ WAS THE SPIR’S SORROWFUL REPLY. `LOOK HERE.’FROM THE FOLDGS OF S ROBE, BROUGHT TWO CHILDREN; WRETCHED, ABJECT, IGHTFUL, HIO, MISERABLE. THEY KNELT DOWN AT S FEET, AND CLUNG UPON THE OUTSI OF S GARMENT.`OH, MAN. LOOK HERE. LOOK, LOOK, DOWN HERE.’ EXCLAIMED THE GHOST.THEY WERE A BOY AND A GIRL. YELLOW, MEAGRE, RAGGED, SWLG, WOLFISH; BUT PROSTRATE, TOO, THEIR HUY. WHERE GRACEFUL YOUTH SHOULD HAVE FILLED THEIR FEATUR OUT, AND TOUCHED THEM WH S HT TTS, A STALE AND SHRIVELLED HAND, LIKE THAT OF AGE, HAD PCHED, AND TWISTED THEM, AND PULLED THEM TO SHREDS. WHERE ANGELS MIGHT HAVE SAT ENTHRONED, VILS LURKED, AND GLARED OUT MENACG. NO CHANGE, NO GRADATN, NO PERVERSN OF HUMANY, ANY GRA, THROUGH ALL THE MYSTERI OF WONRFUL CREATN, HAS MONSTERS HALF SO HORRIBLE AND DREAD.SCROOGE STARTED BACK, APPALLED. HAVG THEM SHOWN TO HIM THIS WAY, HE TRIED TO SAY THEY WERE FE CHILDREN, BUT THE WORDS CHOKED THEMSELV, RATHER THAN BE PARTI TO A LIE OF SUCH ENORMO MAGNU.`SPIR. ARE THEY YOURS.’ SCROOGE ULD SAY NO MORE.`THEY ARE MAN’S,’ SAID THE SPIR, LOOKG DOWN UPON THEM. `AND THEY CLG TO ME, APPEALG OM THEIR FATHERS. THIS BOY IS IGNORANCE. THIS GIRL IS WANT. BEWARE THEM BOTH, AND ALL OF THEIR GREE, BUT MOST OF ALL BEWARE THIS BOY, FOR ON HIS BROW I SEE THAT WRTEN WHICH IS DOOM, UNLS THE WRG BE ERASED. DENY .’ CRIED THE SPIR, STRETCHG OUT S HAND TOWARDS THE CY. `SLANR THOSE WHO TELL YE. ADM FOR YOUR FACT PURPOS, AND MAKE WORSE. AND ABI THE END.’`HAVE THEY NO REFUGE OR ROURCE.’ CRIED SCROOGE.`ARE THERE NO PRISONS.’ SAID THE SPIR, TURNG ON HIM FOR THE LAST TIME WH HIS OWN WORDS. `ARE THERE NO WORKHO.’ THE BELL STCK TWELVE.SCROOGE LOOKED ABOUT HIM FOR THE GHOST, AND SAW NOT. AS THE LAST STROKE CEASED TO VIBRATE, HE REMEMBERED THE PREDICTN OF OLD JAB MARLEY, AND LIFTG UP HIS EY, BEHELD A SOLEMN PHANTOM, DRAPED AND HOOD, G, LIKE A MIST ALONG THE GROUND, TOWARDS HIM.14EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUT
• HALLMARK NIX ‘GAY’ OM CHRISTMAS ROL LYRIC ON ORNAMENT
• 25 CHRISTMAS SONGS ONLY GAY PEOPLE AND (INTELLIGENT) STRAIGHT PEOPLE KNOW ARE TLY GAY BOPS
• HALLMARK UNR FIRE FOR DROPPG 'GAY' FROM CHRISTMAS LYRIC

THE 21 GAYT CHRISTMAS SONGS

[Verse 1]Deck the halls wh boughs of hollyFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la'Tis the season to be jollyFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laDon we now our gay apparelFa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laTroll the ancient Yule-ti rolFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la[Verse 2]See the blazg Yule before Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laStrike the harp and jo the chosFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laFollow me merry measureFa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laWhile I tell of Yule-ti treasureFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la[Verse 3]Fast away the old year passFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laHail the new year, lads and lassFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laSg we joyo, all togetherFa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laHeedls of the wd and weatherFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laHow to Format Lyrics:Type out all lyrics, even repeatg song parts like the chosLyrics should be broken down to dividual lUse sectn hears above different song parts like [Verse], [Chos], alics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distguish between different volists the same song partIf you don’t unrstand a lyric, e [?

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PART 3)CHARL DICKENSTRACK 4 ON A CHRISTMAS CAROL SCROOGE ENUNTERS THE SEND OF THE THREE SPIRS: THE ENORMO, JOLLY, YET STERNLY BLUNT GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT. THE GHOST SHOWS HIM THE CHISTMAS OF HIS NEPHEW AND… READ MORE 1 VIEWER95K VIEWS109 CONTRIBUTORSA CHRISTMAS CAROL (PART 3) LYRICSSTAVE 3: THE SEND OF THE THREE SPIRSAWAKG THE MIDDLE OF A PRODIGLY TOUGH SNORE, AND STG UP BED TO GET HIS THOUGHTS TOGETHER, SCROOGE HAD NO OCSN TO BE TOLD THAT THE BELL WAS AGA UPON THE STROKE OF ONE. HE FELT THAT HE WAS RTORED TO NSCNS THE RIGHT NICK OF TIME, FOR THE PECIAL PURPOSE OF HOLDG A NFERENCE WH THE SEND MSENGER SPATCHED TO HIM THROUGH JAB MARLEY’S TERVENTN. BUT, FDG THAT HE TURNED UNFORTABLY LD WHEN HE BEGAN TO WONR WHICH OF HIS CURTAS THIS NEW SPECTRE WOULD DRAW BACK, HE PUT THEM EVERY ONE ASI WH HIS OWN HANDS, AND LYG DOWN AGA, TABLISHED A SHARP LOOK-OUT ALL ROUND THE BED. FOR, HE WISHED TO CHALLENGE THE SPIR ON THE MOMENT OF S APPEARANCE, AND DID NOT WISH TO BE TAKEN BY SURPRISE, AND MA NERVO.GENTLEMEN OF THE EE-AND-EASY SORT, WHO PLUME THEMSELV ON BEG ACQUATED WH A MOVE OR TWO, AND BEG UALLY EQUAL TO THE TIME-OF-DAY, EXPRS THE WI RANGE OF THEIR PACY FOR ADVENTURE BY OBSERVG THAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR ANYTHG OM PCH-AND-TOSS TO MANSLGHTER; BETWEEN WHICH OPPOSE EXTREM, NO DOUBT, THERE LI A TOLERABLY WI AND PREHENSIVE RANGE OF SUBJECTS. WHOUT VENTURG FOR SCROOGE QUE AS HARDILY AS THIS, I DON’T MD LLG ON YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS READY FOR A GOOD BROAD FIELD OF STRANGE APPEARANC, AND THAT NOTHG BETWEEN A BABY AND RHOCEROS WOULD HAVE ASTONISHED HIM VERY MUCH.NOW, BEG PREPARED FOR ALMOST ANYTHG, HE WAS NOT BY ANY MEANS PREPARED FOR NOTHG; AND, NSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE BELL STCK ONE, AND NO SHAPE APPEARED, HE WAS TAKEN WH A VLENT F OF TREMBLG. FIVE MUT, TEN MUT, A QUARTER OF AN HOUR WENT BY, YET NOTHG ME. ALL THIS TIME, HE LAY UPON HIS BED, THE VERY RE AND CENTRE OF A BLAZE OF DDY LIGHT, WHICH STREAMED UPON WHEN THE CLOCK PROCLAIMED THE HOUR; AND WHICH, BEG ONLY LIGHT, WAS MORE ALARMG THAN A DOZEN GHOSTS, AS HE WAS POWERLS TO MAKE OUT WHAT MEANT, OR WOULD BE AT; AND WAS SOMETIM APPREHENSIVE THAT HE MIGHT BE AT THAT VERY MOMENT AN TERTG SE OF SPONTANEO BTN, WHOUT HAVG THE NSOLATN OF KNOWG . AT LAST, HOWEVER, HE BEGAN TO THK -- AS YOU OR I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AT FIRST; FOR IS ALWAYS THE PERSON NOT THE PREDIMENT WHO KNOWS WHAT OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN DONE , AND WOULD UNQUTNABLY HAVE DONE TOO -- AT LAST, I SAY, HE BEGAN TO THK THAT THE SOURCE AND SECRET OF THIS GHOSTLY LIGHT MIGHT BE THE ADJOG ROOM, OM WHENCE, ON FURTHER TRACG , SEEMED TO SHE. THIS IA TAKG FULL POSSSN OF HIS MD, HE GOT UP SOFTLY AND SHUFFLED HIS SLIPPERS TO THE DOOR.THE MOMENT SCROOGE’S HAND WAS ON THE LOCK, A STRANGE VOICE LLED HIM BY HIS NAME, AND BA HIM ENTER. HE OBEYED.IT WAS HIS OWN ROOM. THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT HAD UNRGONE A SURPRISG TRANSFORMATN. THE WALLS AND CEILG WERE SO HUNG WH LIVG GREEN, THAT LOOKED A PERFECT GROVE; OM EVERY PART OF WHICH, BRIGHT GLEAMG BERRI GLISTENED. THE CRISP LEAV OF HOLLY, MISTLETOE, AND IVY REFLECTED BACK THE LIGHT, AS IF SO MANY LTLE MIRRORS HAD BEEN STTERED THERE; AND SUCH A MIGHTY BLAZE WENT ROARG UP THE CHIMNEY, AS THAT DULL PETRIFITN OF A HEARTH HAD NEVER KNOWN SCROOGE’S TIME, OR MARLEY’S, OR FOR MANY AND MANY A WTER SEASON GONE. HEAPED UP ON THE FLOOR, TO FORM A KD OF THRONE, WERE TURKEYS, GEE, GAME, POULTRY, BRAWN, GREAT JOTS OF MEAT, SUCKG-PIGS, LONG WREATHS OF SSAG, MCE-PI, PLUM-PUDDGS, BARRELS OF OYSTERS, RED-HOT CHTNUTS, CHERRY-CHEEKED APPL, JUICY ORANG, LC PEARS, IMMENSE TWELFTH-K, AND SEETHG BOWLS OF PUNCH, THAT MA THE CHAMBER DIM WH THEIR LIC STEAM. IN EASY STATE UPON THIS UCH, THERE SAT A JOLLY GIANT, GLOR TO SEE, WHO BORE A GLOWG TORCH, SHAPE NOT UNLIKE PLENTY’S HORN, AND HELD UP, HIGH UP, TO SHED S LIGHT ON SCROOGE, AS HE ME PEEPG ROUND THE DOOR.`COME .’ EXCLAIMED THE GHOST. `COME , AND KNOW ME BETTER, MAN.’SCROOGE ENTERED TIMIDLY, AND HUNG HIS HEAD BEFORE THIS SPIR. HE WAS NOT THE DOGGED SCROOGE HE HAD BEEN; AND THOUGH THE SPIR’S EY WERE CLEAR AND KD, HE DID NOT LIKE TO MEET THEM.`I AM THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT,’ SAID THE SPIR. `LOOK UPON ME.’SCROOGE REVERENTLY DID SO. IT WAS CLOTHED ONE SIMPLE GREEN ROBE, OR MANTLE, BORRED WH WHE FUR. THIS GARMENT HUNG SO LOOSELY ON THE FIGURE, THAT S PAC BREAST WAS BARE, AS IF DISDAG TO BE WARD OR NCEALED BY ANY ARTIFICE. ITS FEET, OBSERVABLE BENEATH THE AMPLE FOLDS OF THE GARMENT, WERE ALSO BARE; AND ON S HEAD WORE NO OTHER VERG THAN A HOLLY WREATH, SET HERE AND THERE WH SHG ICICL. ITS DARK BROWN CURLS WERE LONG AND EE; EE AS S GENIAL FACE, S SPARKLG EYE, S OPEN HAND, S CHEERY VOICE, S UNNSTRAED MEANOUR, AND S JOYFUL AIR. GIRD ROUND S MIDDLE WAS AN ANTIQUE SBBARD; BUT NO SWORD WAS , AND THE ANCIENT SHEATH WAS EATEN UP WH ST.`YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LIKE OF ME BEFORE.’ EXCLAIMED THE SPIR.`NEVER,’ SCROOGE MA ANSWER TO .`HAVE NEVER WALKED FORTH WH THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF MY FAY; MEANG (FOR I AM VERY YOUNG) MY ELR BROTHERS BORN THE LATER YEARS.’ PURSUED THE PHANTOM.`I DON’T THK I HAVE,’ SAID SCROOGE. `I AM AAID I HAVE NOT. HAVE YOU HAD MANY BROTHERS, SPIR.’`MORE THAN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED,’ SAID THE GHOST.`A TREMENDO FAY TO PROVI FOR.’ MUTTERED SCROOGE.THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT ROSE.`SPIR,’ SAID SCROOGE SUBMISSIVELY,’ NDUCT ME WHERE YOU WILL. I WENT FORTH LAST NIGHT ON PULSN, AND I LEARNT A LSON WHICH IS WORKG NOW. TO-NIGHT, IF YOU HAVE GHT TO TEACH ME, LET ME PROF BY .’`TOUCH MY ROBE.’SCROOGE DID AS HE WAS TOLD, AND HELD FAST.HOLLY, MISTLETOE, RED BERRI, IVY, TURKEYS, GEE, GAME, POULTRY, BRAWN, MEAT, PIGS, SSAG, OYSTERS, PI, PUDDGS, U, AND PUNCH, ALL VANISHED STANTLY. SO DID THE ROOM, THE FIRE, THE DDY GLOW, THE HOUR OF NIGHT, AND THEY STOOD THE CY STREETS ON CHRISTMAS MORNG, WHERE (FOR THE WEATHER WAS SEVERE) THE PEOPLE MA A ROUGH, BUT BRISK AND NOT UNPLEASANT KD OF MIC, SCRAPG THE SNOW OM THE PAVEMENT ONT OF THEIR DWELLGS, AND OM THE TOPS OF THEIR HO, WHENCE WAS MAD LIGHT TO THE BOYS TO SEE E PLUMPG DOWN TO THE ROAD BELOW, AND SPLTG TO ARTIFICIAL LTLE SNOW-STORMS.THE HOE ONTS LOOKED BLACK ENOUGH, AND THE WDOWS BLACKER, NTRASTG WH THE SMOOTH WHE SHEET OF SNOW UPON THE ROOFS, AND WH THE DIRTIER SNOW UPON THE GROUND; WHICH LAST POS HAD BEEN PLOUGHED UP EP FURROWS BY THE HEAVY WHEELS OF RTS AND WAGGONS; FURROWS THAT CROSSED AND RECROSSED EACH OTHER HUNDREDS OF TIM WHERE THE GREAT STREETS BRANCHED OFF; AND MA TRITE CHANNELS, HARD TO TRACE THE THICK YELLOW MUD AND ICY WATER. THE SKY WAS GLOOMY, AND THE SHORTT STREETS WERE CHOKED UP WH A DGY MIST, HALF THAWED, HALF OZEN, WHOSE HEAVIER PARTICL SCEND SHOWER OF SOOTY ATOMS, AS IF ALL THE CHIMNEYS GREAT BRA HAD, BY ONE NSENT, UGHT FIRE, AND WERE BLAZG AWAY TO THEIR AR HEARTS’ NTENT. THERE WAS NOTHG VERY CHEERFUL THE CLIMATE OR THE TOWN, AND YET WAS THERE AN AIR OF CHEERFULNS ABROAD THAT THE CLEART SUMMER AIR AND BRIGHTT SUMMER SUN MIGHT HAVE ENAVOURED TO DIFFE VA.FOR, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOVELLG AWAY ON THE HOETOPS WERE JOVIAL AND FULL OF GLEE; LLG OUT TO ONE ANOTHER OM THE PARAPETS, AND NOW AND THEN EXCHANGG A FACET SNOWBALL -- BETTER-NATURED MISSILE FAR THAN MANY A WORDY JT -- LGHG HEARTILY IF WENT RIGHT AND NOT LS HEARTILY IF WENT WRONG. THE POULTERERS’ SHOPS WERE STILL HALF OPEN, AND THE UERERS’ WERE RADIANT THEIR GLORY. THERE WERE GREAT, ROUND, ROUND, POT-BELLIED BASKETS OF CHTNUTS, SHAPED LIKE THE WAISTATS OF JOLLY OLD GENTLEMEN, LOLLG AT THE DOORS, AND TUMBLG OUT TO THE STREET THEIR APOPLECTIC OPULENCE. THERE WERE DDY, BROWN-FACED, BROAD-GIRTHED SPANISH ONNS, SHG THE FATNS OF THEIR GROWTH LIKE SPANISH FRIARS, AND WKG OM THEIR SHELV WANTON SLYNS AT THE GIRLS AS THEY WENT BY, AND GLANCED MURELY AT THE HUNG-UP MISTLETOE. THERE WERE PEARS AND APPL, CLTERED HIGH BLOOMG PYRAMIDS; THERE WERE BUNCH OF GRAP, MA, THE SHOPKEEPERS’ BENEVOLENCE TO DANGLE OM NSPICUO HOOKS, THAT PEOPLE’S MOUTHS MIGHT WATER GRATIS AS THEY PASSED; THERE WERE PIL OF FILBERTS, MOSSY AND BROWN, RELLG, THEIR AGRANCE, ANCIENT WALKS AMONG THE WOODS, AND PLEASANT SHUFFLGS ANKLE EP THROUGH WHERED LEAV; THERE WERE NORFOLK BIFFS, SQUAB AND SWARTHY, SETTG OFF THE YELLOW OF THE ORANG AND LEMONS, AND, THE GREAT PACTNS OF THEIR JUICY PERSONS, URGENTLY ENTREATG AND BEECHG TO BE RRIED HOME PAPER BAGS AND EATEN AFTER DNER. THE VERY GOLD AND SILVER FISH, SET FORTH AMONG THE CHOICE US A BOWL, THOUGH MEMBERS OF A DULL AND STAGNANT-BLOOD RACE, APPEARED TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHG GOG ON; AND, TO A FISH, WENT GASPG ROUND AND ROUND THEIR LTLE WORLD SLOW AND PASSNLS EXCEMENT.THE GROCERS’. OH THE GROCERS’. NEARLY CLOSED, WH PERHAPS TWO SHUTTERS DOWN, OR ONE; BUT THROUGH THOSE GAPS SUCH GLIMPS. IT WAS NOT ALONE THAT THE SL SCENDG ON THE UNTER MA A MERRY SOUND, OR THAT THE TWE AND ROLLER PARTED PANY SO BRISKLY, OR THAT THE NISTERS WERE RATTLED UP AND DOWN LIKE JUGGLG TRICKS, OR EVEN THAT THE BLEND SCENTS OF TEA AND FFEE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO THE NOSE, OR EVEN THAT THE RAISS WERE SO PLENTIFUL AND RARE, THE ALMONDS SO EXTREMELY WHE, THE STICKS OF CNAMON SO LONG AND STRAIGHT, THE OTHER SPIC SO LIC, THE NDIED US SO KED AND SPOTTED WH MOLTEN SUGAR AS TO MAKE THE LST LOOKERS-ON FEEL FAT AND SUBSEQUENTLY BIL. NOR WAS THAT THE FIGS WERE MOIST AND PULPY, OR THAT THE FRENCH PLUMS BLHED MOST TARTNS OM THEIR HIGHLY-RATED BOX, OR THAT EVERYTHG WAS GOOD TO EAT AND S CHRISTMAS DRS; BUT THE CTOMERS WERE ALL SO HURRIED AND SO EAGER THE HOPEFUL PROMISE OF THE DAY, THAT THEY TUMBLED UP AGAST EACH OTHER AT THE DOOR, CRASHG THEIR WICKER BASKETS WILDLY, AND LEFT THEIR PURCHAS UPON THE UNTER, AND ME NNG BACK TO FETCH THEM, AND MTED HUNDREDS OF THE LIKE MISTAK, THE BT HUMOUR POSSIBLE; WHILE THE GROCER AND HIS PEOPLE WERE SO ANK AND H THAT THE POLISHED HEARTS WH WHICH THEY FASTENED THEIR APRONS BEHD MIGHT HAVE BEEN THEIR OWN, WORN OUTSI FOR GENERAL SPECTN, AND FOR CHRISTMAS DAWS TO PECK AT IF THEY CHOSE.BUT SOON THE STEEPL LLED GOOD PEOPLE ALL, TO CHURCH AND CHAPEL, AND AWAY THEY ME, FLOCKG THROUGH THE STREETS THEIR BT CLOTH, AND WH THEIR GAYT FAC. AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE EMERGED OM SR OF BYE-STREETS, LAN, AND NAMELS TURNGS, NUMERABLE PEOPLE, RRYG THEIR DNERS TO THE BAKER’ SHOPS. THE SIGHT OF THE POOR REVELLERS APPEARED TO TERT THE SPIR VERY MUCH, FOR HE STOOD WH SCROOGE BI HIM A BAKER’S DOORWAY, AND TAKG OFF THE VERS AS THEIR BEARERS PASSED, SPRKLED CENSE ON THEIR DNERS OM HIS TORCH. AND WAS A VERY UNMON KD OF TORCH, FOR ONCE OR TWICE WHEN THERE WERE ANGRY WORDS BETWEEN SOME DNER-RRIERS WHO HAD JOSTLED EACH OTHER, HE SHED A FEW DROPS OF WATER ON THEM OM , AND THEIR GOOD HUMOUR WAS RTORED DIRECTLY. FOR THEY SAID, WAS A SHAME TO QUARREL UPON CHRISTMAS DAY. AND SO WAS. GOD LOVE , SO WAS.IN TIME THE BELLS CEASED, AND THE BAKERS WERE SHUT UP; AND YET THERE WAS A GENIAL SHADOWG FORTH OF ALL THE DNERS AND THE PROGRS OF THEIR OKG, THE THAWED BLOTCH OF WET ABOVE EACH BAKER’S OVEN; WHERE THE PAVEMENT SMOKED AS IF S STON WERE OKG TOO.`IS THERE A PECULIAR FLAVOUR WHAT YOU SPRKLE OM YOUR TORCH.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`THERE IS. MY OWN.’`WOULD APPLY TO ANY KD OF DNER ON THIS DAY.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`TO ANY KDLY GIVEN. TO A POOR ONE MOST.’`WHY TO A POOR ONE MOST.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`BEE NEEDS MOST.’`SPIR,’ SAID SCROOGE, AFTER A MOMENT’S THOUGHT,’ I WONR YOU, OF ALL THE BEGS THE MANY WORLDS ABOUT , SHOULD SIRE TO CRAMP THE PEOPLE’S OPPORTUNI OF NOCENT ENJOYMENT.’`I.’ CRIED THE SPIR.`YOU WOULD PRIVE THEM OF THEIR MEANS OF DG EVERY SEVENTH DAY, OFTEN THE ONLY DAY ON WHICH THEY N BE SAID TO DE AT ALL,’ SAID SCROOGE. `WOULDN’T YOU.’`I.’ CRIED THE SPIR.`YOU SEEK TO CLOSE THE PLAC ON THE SEVENTH DAY.’ SAID SCROOGE. `AND TO THE SAME THG.’`I SEEK.’ EXCLAIMED THE SPIR.`FIVE ME IF I AM WRONG. IT HAS BEEN DONE YOUR NAME, OR AT LEAST THAT OF YOUR FAY,’ SAID SCROOGE.`THERE ARE SOME UPON THIS EARTH OF YOURS,’ RETURNED THE SPIR,’ WHO LAY CLAIM TO KNOW , AND WHO DO THEIR EDS OF PASSN, PRI, ILL-WILL, HATRED, ENVY, BIGOTRY, AND SELFISHNS OUR NAME, WHO ARE AS STRANGE TO AND ALL OUR KH AND K, AS IF THEY HAD NEVER LIVED. REMEMBER THAT, AND CHARGE THEIR DOGS ON THEMSELV, NOT .’SCROOGE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD; AND THEY WENT ON, VISIBLE, AS THEY HAD BEEN BEFORE, TO THE SUBURBS OF THE TOWN. IT WAS A REMARKABLE QUALY OF THE GHOST (WHICH SCROOGE HAD OBSERVED AT THE BAKER’S), THAT NOTWHSTANDG HIS GIGANTIC SIZE, HE ULD ACMODATE HIMSELF TO ANY PLACE WH EASE; AND THAT HE STOOD BENEATH A LOW ROOF QUE AS GRACEFULLY AND LIKE A SUPERNATURAL CREATURE, AS WAS POSSIBLE HE ULD HAVE DONE ANY LOFTY HALL.AND PERHAPS WAS THE PLEASURE THE GOOD SPIR HAD SHOWG OFF THIS POWER OF HIS, OR ELSE WAS HIS OWN KD, GENERO, HEARTY NATURE, AND HIS SYMPATHY WH ALL POOR MEN, THAT LED HIM STRAIGHT TO SCROOGE’S CLERK’S; FOR THERE HE WENT, AND TOOK SCROOGE WH HIM, HOLDG TO HIS ROBE; AND ON THE THRHOLD OF THE DOOR THE SPIR SED, AND STOPPED TO BLS BOB CRATCH’S DWELLG WH THE SPRKLG OF HIS TORCH. THK OF THAT. BOB HAD BUT FIFTEEN BOB A-WEEK HIMSELF; HE POCKETED ON SATURDAYS BUT FIFTEEN PI OF HIS CHRISTIAN NAME; AND YET THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT BLSED HIS FOUR-ROOMED HOE.THEN UP ROSE MRS CRATCH, CRATCH’S WIFE, DRSED OUT BUT POORLY A TWICE-TURNED GOWN, BUT BRAVE RIBBONS, WHICH ARE CHEAP AND MAKE A GOODLY SHOW FOR SIXPENCE; AND SHE LAID THE CLOTH, ASSISTED BY BELDA CRATCH, SEND OF HER DGHTERS, ALSO BRAVE RIBBONS; WHILE MASTER PETER CRATCH PLUNGED A FORK TO THE SCEPAN OF POTATO, AND GETTG THE RNERS OF HIS MONSTRO SHIRT LLAR (BOB’S PRIVATE PROPERTY, NFERRED UPON HIS SON AND HEIR HONOUR OF THE DAY) TO HIS MOUTH, REJOICED TO FD HIMSELF SO GALLANTLY ATTIRED, AND YEARNED TO SHOW HIS LEN THE FASHNABLE PARKS. AND NOW TWO SMALLER CRATCHS, BOY AND GIRL, ME TEARG , SCREAMG THAT OUTSI THE BAKER’S THEY HAD SMELT THE GOOSE, AND KNOWN FOR THEIR OWN; AND BASKG LUXUR THOUGHTS OF SAGE AND ONN, THE YOUNG CRATCHS DANCED ABOUT THE TABLE, AND EXALTED MASTER PETER CRATCH TO THE SKI, WHILE HE (NOT PROUD, ALTHOUGH HIS LLARS NEARLY CHOKED HIM) BLEW THE FIRE, UNTIL THE SLOW POTATO BUBBLG UP, KNOCKED LOUDLY AT THE SCEPAN-LID TO BE LET OUT AND PEELED.`WHAT HAS EVER GOT YOUR PREC FATHER THEN.’ SAID MRS CRATCH. `AND YOUR BROTHER, TY TIM. AND MARTHA WARN’T AS LATE LAST CHRISTMAS DAY BY HALF-AN-HOUR.’`HERE’S MARTHA, MOTHER.’ SAID A GIRL, APPEARG AS SHE SPOKE.`HERE’S MARTHA, MOTHER.’ CRIED THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS. `HURRAH. THERE’S SUCH A GOOSE, MARTHA.’`WHY, BLS YOUR HEART ALIVE, MY AR, HOW LATE YOU ARE.’ SAID MRS CRATCH, KISSG HER A DOZEN TIM, AND TAKG OFF HER SHAWL AND BON FOR HER WH OFFIC ZEAL.`WE’D A AL OF WORK TO FISH UP LAST NIGHT,’ REPLIED THE GIRL,’ AND HAD TO CLEAR AWAY THIS MORNG, MOTHER.’`WELL. NEVER MD SO LONG AS YOU ARE E,’ SAID MRS CRATCH. `S YE DOWN BEFORE THE FIRE, MY AR, AND HAVE A WARM, LORD BLS YE.’`NO, NO. THERE’S FATHER G,’ CRIED THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS, WHO WERE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE. `HI, MARTHA, HI.’SO MARTHA HID HERSELF, AND ME LTLE BOB, THE FATHER, WH AT LEAST THREE FEET OF FORTER EXCLIVE OF THE GE, HANGG DOWN BEFORE HIM; AND HIS THREADBARE CLOTH DARNED UP AND BSHED, TO LOOK SEASONABLE; AND TY TIM UPON HIS SHOULR. ALAS FOR TY TIM, HE BORE A LTLE CTCH, AND HAD HIS LIMBS SUPPORTED BY AN IRON AME.`WHY, WHERE’S OUR MARTHA.’ CRIED BOB CRATCH, LOOKG ROUND.`NOT G,’ SAID MRS CRATCH.`NOT G.’ SAID BOB, WH A SUDN CLENSN HIS HIGH SPIRS; FOR HE HAD BEEN TIM’S BLOOD HORSE ALL THE WAY OM CHURCH, AND HAD E HOME RAMPANT. `NOT G UPON CHRISTMAS DAY.’MARTHA DIDN’T LIKE TO SEE HIM DISAPPOTED, IF WERE ONLY JOKE; SO SHE ME OUT PREMATURELY OM BEHD THE CLOSET DOOR, AND RAN TO HIS ARMS, WHILE THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS HTLED TY TIM, AND BORE HIM OFF TO THE WASH-HOE, THAT HE MIGHT HEAR THE PUDDG SGG THE PPER.`AND HOW DID LTLE TIM BEHAVE. ASKED MRS CRATCH, WHEN SHE HAD RALLIED BOB ON HIS CRLY, AND BOB HAD HUGGED HIS DGHTER TO HIS HEART’S NTENT.`AS GOOD AS GOLD,’ SAID BOB,’ AND BETTER. SOMEHOW HE GETS THOUGHTFUL, STG BY HIMSELF SO MUCH, AND THKS THE STRANGT THGS YOU EVER HEARD. HE TOLD ME, G HOME, THAT HE HOPED THE PEOPLE SAW HIM THE CHURCH, BEE HE WAS A CRIPPLE, AND MIGHT BE PLEASANT TO THEM TO REMEMBER UPON CHRISTMAS DAY, WHO MA LAME BEGGARS WALK, AND BLD MEN SEE.’BOB’S VOICE WAS TREMULO WHEN HE TOLD THEM THIS, AND TREMBLED MORE WHEN HE SAID THAT TY TIM WAS GROWG STRONG AND HEARTY.HIS ACTIVE LTLE CTCH WAS HEARD UPON THE FLOOR, AND BACK ME TY TIM BEFORE ANOTHER WORD WAS SPOKEN, RTED BY HIS BROTHER AND SISTER TO HIS STOOL BEFORE THE FIRE; AND WHILE BOB, TURNG UP HIS CUFFS -- AS IF, POOR FELLOW, THEY WERE PABLE OF BEG MA MORE SHABBY -- POUND SOME HOT MIXTURE A JUG WH G AND LEMONS, AND STIRRED ROUND AND ROUND AND PUT ON THE HOB TO SIMMER; MASTER PETER, AND THE TWO UBIQUO YOUNG CRATCHS WENT TO FETCH THE GOOSE, WH WHICH THEY SOON RETURNED HIGH PROCSN.SUCH A BTLE ENSUED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT A GOOSE THE RART OF ALL BIRDS; A FEATHERED PHENOMENON, TO WHICH A BLACK SWAN WAS A MATTER OF URSE -- AND TTH WAS SOMETHG VERY LIKE THAT HOE. MRS CRATCH MA THE GRAVY (READY BEFOREHAND A LTLE SCEPAN) HISSG HOT; MASTER PETER MASHED THE POTATO WH CREDIBLE VIGOUR; MISS BELDA SWEETENED UP THE APPLE-SCE; MARTHA DTED THE HOT PLAT; BOB TOOK TY TIM BI HIM A TY RNER AT THE TABLE; THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS SET CHAIRS FOR EVERYBODY, NOT FETTG THEMSELV, AND MOUNTG GUARD UPON THEIR POSTS, CRAMMED SPOONS TO THEIR MOUTHS, LT THEY SHOULD SHRIEK FOR GOOSE BEFORE THEIR TURN ME TO BE HELPED. AT LAST THE DISH WERE SET ON, AND GRACE WAS SAID. IT WAS SUCCEED BY A BREATHLS PSE, AS MRS CRATCH, LOOKG SLOWLY ALL ALONG THE RVG-KNIFE, PREPARED TO PLUNGE THE BREAST; BUT WHEN SHE DID, AND WHEN THE LONG EXPECTED GH OF STUFFG ISSUED FORTH, ONE MURMUR OF LIGHT AROSE ALL ROUND THE BOARD, AND EVEN TY TIM, EXCED BY THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS, BEAT ON THE TABLE WH THE HANDLE OF HIS KNIFE, AND FEEBLY CRIED HURRAH.THERE NEVER WAS SUCH A GOOSE. BOB SAID HE DIDN’T BELIEVE THERE EVER WAS SUCH A GOOSE OKED. ITS TENRNS AND FLAVOUR, SIZE AND CHEAPNS, WERE THE THEM OF UNIVERSAL ADMIRATN. EKED OUT BY APPLE-SCE AND MASHED POTATO, WAS A SUFFICIENT DNER FOR THE WHOLE FAY; ED, AS MRS CRATCH SAID WH GREAT LIGHT (SURVEYG ONE SMALL ATOM OF A BONE UPON THE DISH), THEY HADN’T ATE ALL AT LAST. YET EVERY ONE HAD HAD ENOUGH, AND THE YOUNGT CRATCHS PARTICULAR, WERE STEEPED SAGE AND ONN TO THE EYEBROWS. BUT NOW, THE PLAT BEG CHANGED BY MISS BELDA, MRS CRATCH LEFT THE ROOM ALONE -- TOO NERVO TO BEAR WNS -- TO TAKE THE PUDDG UP AND BRG .SUPPOSE SHOULD NOT BE DONE ENOUGH. SUPPOSE SHOULD BREAK TURNG OUT. SUPPOSE SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE GOT OVER THE WALL OF THE BACK-YARD, AND STOLEN , WHILE THEY WERE MERRY WH THE GOOSE -- A SUPPOSN AT WHICH THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS BEME LIVID. ALL SORTS OF HORRORS WERE SUPPOSED.HALLO. A GREAT AL OF STEAM. THE PUDDG WAS OUT OF THE PPER. A SMELL LIKE A WASHG-DAY. THAT WAS THE CLOTH. A SMELL LIKE AN EATG-HOE AND A PASTRYOK’S NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER, WH A LNDRS’S NEXT DOOR TO THAT. THAT WAS THE PUDDG. IN HALF A MUTE MRS CRATCH ENTERED -- FLHED, BUT SG PROUDLY -- WH THE PUDDG, LIKE A SPECKLED NNON-BALL, SO HARD AND FIRM, BLAZG HALF OF HALF-A-QUARTERN OF IGNED BRANDY, AND BEDIGHT WH CHRISTMAS HOLLY STUCK TO THE TOP.OH, A WONRFUL PUDDG. BOB CRATCH SAID, AND LMLY TOO, THAT HE REGARD AS THE GREATT SUCCS ACHIEVED BY MRS CRATCH SCE THEIR MARRIAGE. MRS CRATCH SAID THAT NOW THE WEIGHT WAS OFF HER MD, SHE WOULD NFS SHE HAD HAD HER DOUBTS ABOUT THE QUANTY OF FLOUR. EVERYBODY HAD SOMETHG TO SAY ABOUT , BUT NOBODY SAID OR THOUGHT WAS AT ALL A SMALL PUDDG FOR A LARGE FAY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FLAT HERY TO DO SO. ANY CRATCH WOULD HAVE BLHED TO HT AT SUCH A THG.AT LAST THE DNER WAS ALL DONE, THE CLOTH WAS CLEARED, THE HEARTH SWEPT, AND THE FIRE MA UP. THE POUND THE JUG BEG TASTED, AND NSIRED PERFECT, APPL AND ORANG WERE PUT UPON THE TABLE, AND A SHOVEL-FULL OF CHTNUTS ON THE FIRE. THEN ALL THE CRATCH FAY DREW ROUND THE HEARTH, WHAT BOB CRATCH LLED A CIRCLE, MEANG HALF A ONE; AND AT BOB CRATCH’S ELBOW STOOD THE FAY DISPLAY OF GLASS. TWO TUMBLERS, AND A CTARD-CUP WHOUT A HANDLE.THE HELD THE HOT STUFF OM THE JUG, HOWEVER, AS WELL AS GOLN GOBLETS WOULD HAVE DONE; AND BOB SERVED OUT WH BEAMG LOOKS, WHILE THE CHTNUTS ON THE FIRE SPUTTERED AND CRACKED NOISILY. THEN BOB PROPOSED:`A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, MY ARS. GOD BLS .’WHICH ALL THE FAY RE-ECHOED.`GOD BLS EVERY ONE.’ SAID TY TIM, THE LAST OF ALL.HE SAT VERY CLOSE TO HIS FATHER’S SI UPON HIS LTLE STOOL. BOB HELD HIS WHERED LTLE HAND HIS, AS IF HE LOVED THE CHILD, AND WISHED TO KEEP HIM BY HIS SI, AND DREAD THAT HE MIGHT BE TAKEN OM HIM.`SPIR,’ SAID SCROOGE, WH AN TERT HE HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE, `TELL ME IF TY TIM WILL LIVE.’`I SEE A VANT SEAT,’ REPLIED THE GHOST, ` THE POOR CHIMNEY-RNER, AND A CTCH WHOUT AN OWNER, REFULLY PRERVED. IF THE SHADOWS REMA UNALTERED BY THE FUTURE, THE CHILD WILL DIE.’`NO, NO,’ SAID SCROOGE. `OH, NO, KD SPIR. SAY HE WILL BE SPARED.’`IF THE SHADOWS REMA UNALTERED BY THE FUTURE, NONE OTHER OF MY RACE,’ RETURNED THE GHOST, `WILL FD HIM HERE. WHAT THEN. IF HE BE LIKE TO DIE, HE HAD BETTER DO , AND CREASE THE SURPL POPULATN.’SCROOGE HUNG HIS HEAD TO HEAR HIS OWN WORDS QUOTED BY THE SPIR, AND WAS OVERE WH PENENCE AND GRIEF. `MAN,’ SAID THE GHOST, `IF MAN YOU BE HEART, NOT ADAMANT, FORBEAR THAT WICKED NT UNTIL YOU HAVE DISVERED WHAT THE SURPL IS, AND WHERE IS. WILL YOU CI WHAT MEN SHALL LIVE, WHAT MEN SHALL DIE. IT MAY BE, THAT THE SIGHT OF HEAVEN, YOU ARE MORE WORTHLS AND LS F TO LIVE THAN LNS LIKE THIS POOR MAN’S CHILD. OH GOD. TO HEAR THE INSECT ON THE LEAF PRONOUNCG ON THE TOO MUCH LIFE AMONG HIS HUNGRY BROTHERS THE DT.’SCROOGE BENT BEFORE THE GHOST’S REBE, AND TREMBLG ST HIS EY UPON THE GROUND. BUT HE RAISED THEM SPEEDILY, ON HEARG HIS OWN NAME.`MR SCROOGE.’ SAID BOB; `I’LL GIVE YOU MR SCROOGE, THE FOUNR OF THE FEAST.’`THE FOUNR OF THE FEAST ED.’ CRIED MRS CRATCH, REDNG. `I WISH I HAD HIM HERE. I’D GIVE HIM A PIECE OF MY MD TO FEAST UPON, AND I HOPE HE’D HAVE A GOOD APPETE FOR .’`MY AR,’ SAID BOB, `THE CHILDREN. CHRISTMAS DAY.’`IT SHOULD BE CHRISTMAS DAY, I AM SURE,’ SAID SHE, `ON WHICH ONE DRKS THE HEALTH OF SUCH AN OD, STGY, HARD, UNFEELG MAN AS MR SCROOGE. YOU KNOW HE IS, ROBERT. NOBODY KNOWS BETTER THAN YOU DO, POOR FELLOW.’`MY AR,’ WAS BOB’S D ANSWER, `CHRISTMAS DAY.’`I’LL DRK HIS HEALTH FOR YOUR SAKE AND THE DAY’S,’ SAID MRS CRATCH, `NOT FOR HIS. LONG LIFE TO HIM. A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. HE’LL BE VERY MERRY AND VERY HAPPY, I HAVE NO DOUBT.’THE CHILDREN DRANK THE TOAST AFTER HER. IT WAS THE FIRST OF THEIR PROCEEDGS WHICH HAD NO HEARTS. TY TIM DRANK LAST OF ALL, BUT HE DIDN’T RE TWOPENCE FOR . SCROOGE WAS THE OGRE OF THE FAY. THE MENTN OF HIS NAME ST A DARK SHADOW ON THE PARTY, WHICH WAS NOT DISPELLED FOR FULL FIVE MUT.AFTER HAD PASSED AWAY, THEY WERE TEN TIM MERRIER THAN BEFORE, OM THE MERE RELIEF OF SCROOGE THE BALEFUL BEG DONE WH. BOB CRATCH TOLD THEM HOW HE HAD A SUATN HIS EYE FOR MASTER PETER, WHICH WOULD BRG , IF OBTAED, FULL FIVE-AND-SIXPENCE WEEKLY. THE TWO YOUNG CRATCHS LGHED TREMENDOLY AT THE IA OF PETER’S BEG A MAN OF BS; AND PETER HIMSELF LOOKED THOUGHTFULLY AT THE FIRE OM BETWEEN HIS LLARS, AS IF HE WERE LIBERATG WHAT PARTICULAR VTMENTS HE SHOULD FAVOUR WHEN HE ME TO THE RECEIPT OF THAT BEWILRG E. MARTHA, WHO WAS A POOR APPRENTICE AT A LER’S, THEN TOLD THEM WHAT KD OF WORK SHE HAD TO DO, AND HOW MANY HOURS SHE WORKED AT A STRETCH, AND HOW SHE MEANT TO LIE ABED TO-MORROW MORNG FOR A GOOD LONG RT; TO-MORROW BEG A HOLIDAY SHE PASSED AT HOME. ALSO HOW SHE HAD SEEN A UNTS AND A LORD SOME DAYS BEFORE, AND HOW THE LORD WAS MUCH ABOUT AS TALL AS PETER; AT WHICH PETER PULLED UP HIS LLARS SO HIGH THAT YOU ULDN’T HAVE SEEN HIS HEAD IF YOU HAD BEEN THERE. ALL THIS TIME THE CHTNUTS AND THE JUG WENT ROUND AND ROUND; AND BY-AND-BYE THEY HAD A SONG, ABOUT A LOST CHILD TRAVELLG THE SNOW, OM TY TIM, WHO HAD A PLATIVE LTLE VOICE, AND SANG VERY WELL ED.THERE WAS NOTHG OF HIGH MARK THIS. THEY WERE NOT A HANDSOME FAY; THEY WERE NOT WELL DRSED; THEIR SHO WERE FAR OM BEG WATER-PROOF; THEIR CLOTH WERE SNTY; AND PETER MIGHT HAVE KNOWN, AND VERY LIKELY DID, THE SI OF A PAWNBROKER’S. BUT, THEY WERE HAPPY, GRATEFUL, PLEASED WH ONE ANOTHER, AND NTENTED WH THE TIME; AND WHEN THEY FAD, AND LOOKED HAPPIER YET THE BRIGHT SPRKLGS OF THE SPIR’S TORCH AT PARTG, SCROOGE HAD HIS EYE UPON THEM, AND PECIALLY ON TY TIM, UNTIL THE LAST.BY THIS TIME WAS GETTG DARK, AND SNOWG PRETTY HEAVILY; AND AS SCROOGE AND THE SPIR WENT ALONG THE STREETS, THE BRIGHTNS OF THE ROARG FIR KCHENS, PARLOURS, AND ALL SORTS OF ROOMS, WAS WONRFUL. HERE, THE FLICKERG OF THE BLAZE SHOWED PREPARATNS FOR A SY DNER, WH HOT PLAT BAKG THROUGH AND THROUGH BEFORE THE FIRE, AND EP RED CURTAS, READY TO BE DRAWN TO SHUT OUT LD AND DARKNS. THERE ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE HOE WERE NNG OUT TO THE SNOW TO MEET THEIR MARRIED SISTERS, BROTHERS, S, UNCL, NTS, AND BE THE FIRST TO GREET THEM. HERE, AGA, WERE SHADOWS ON THE WDOW-BLD OF GUTS ASSEMBLG; AND THERE A GROUP OF HANDSOME GIRLS, ALL HOOD AND FUR-BOOTED, AND ALL CHATTERG AT ONCE, TRIPPED LIGHTLY OFF TO SOME NEAR NEIGHBOUR’S HOE; WHERE, WOE UPON THE SGLE MAN WHO SAW THEM ENTER -- ARTFUL WCH, WELL THEY KNEW -- A GLOW.BUT, IF YOU HAD JUDGED OM THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO IENDLY GATHERGS, YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT NO ONE WAS AT HOME TO GIVE THEM WELE WHEN THEY GOT THERE, STEAD OF EVERY HOE EXPECTG PANY, AND PILG UP S FIR HALF-CHIMNEY HIGH. BLSGS ON , HOW THE GHOST EXULTED. HOW BARED S BREADTH OF BREAST, AND OPENED S PAC PALM, AND FLOATED ON, OUTPOURG, WH A GENERO HAND, S BRIGHT AND HARMLS MIRTH ON EVERYTHG WH S REACH. THE VERY LAMPLIGHTER, WHO RAN ON BEFORE, DOTTG THE DKY STREET WH SPECKS OF LIGHT, AND WHO WAS DRSED TO SPEND THE EVENG SOMEWHERE, LGHED OUT LOUDLY AS THE SPIR PASSED, THOUGH LTLE KENNED THE LAMPLIGHTER THAT HE HAD ANY PANY BUT CHRISTMAS.AND NOW, WHOUT A WORD OF WARNG OM THE GHOST, THEY STOOD UPON A BLEAK AND SERT MOOR, WHERE MONSTRO MASS OF STONE WERE ST ABOUT, AS THOUGH WERE THE BURIAL-PLACE OF GIANTS; AND WATER SPREAD SELF WHEROEVER LISTED, OR WOULD HAVE DONE SO, BUT FOR THE OST THAT HELD PRISONER; AND NOTHG GREW BUT MOSS AND FURZE, AND ARSE RANK GRASS. DOWN THE WT THE SETTG SUN HAD LEFT A STREAK OF FIERY RED, WHICH GLARED UPON THE SOLATN FOR AN STANT, LIKE A SULLEN EYE, AND OWNG LOWER, LOWER, LOWER YET, WAS LOST THE THICK GLOOM OF DARKT NIGHT.`WHAT PLACE IS THIS.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`A PLACE WHERE MERS LIVE, WHO LABOUR THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH,’ RETURNED THE SPIR. `BUT THEY KNOW ME. SEE.’A LIGHT SHONE OM THE WDOW OF A HUT, AND SWIFTLY THEY ADVANCED TOWARDS . PASSG THROUGH THE WALL OF MUD AND STONE, THEY FOUND A CHEERFUL PANY ASSEMBLED ROUND A GLOWG FIRE. AN OLD, OLD MAN AND WOMAN, WH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN, AND ANOTHER GENERATN BEYOND THAT, ALL CKED OUT GAILY THEIR HOLIDAY ATTIRE. THE OLD MAN, A VOICE THAT SELDOM ROSE ABOVE THE HOWLG OF THE WD UPON THE BARREN WASTE, WAS SGG THEM A CHRISTMAS SONG -- HAD BEEN A VERY OLD SONG WHEN HE WAS A BOY -- AND OM TIME TO TIME THEY ALL JOED THE CHOS. SO SURELY AS THEY RAISED THEIR VOIC, THE OLD MAN GOT QUE BLHE AND LOUD; AND SO SURELY AS THEY STOPPED, HIS VIGOUR SANK AGA.THE SPIR DID NOT TARRY HERE, BUT BA SCROOGE HOLD HIS ROBE, AND PASSG ON ABOVE THE MOOR, SPED -- WHHER. NOT TO SEA. TO SEA. TO SCROOGE’S HORROR, LOOKG BACK, HE SAW THE LAST OF THE LAND, A IGHTFUL RANGE OF ROCKS, BEHD THEM; AND HIS EARS WERE AFENED BY THE THUNRG OF WATER, AS ROLLED AND ROARED, AND RAGED AMONG THE DREADFUL VERNS HAD WORN, AND FIERCELY TRIED TO UNRME THE EARTH.BUILT UPON A DISMAL REEF OF SUNKEN ROCKS, SOME LEAGUE OR SO OM SHORE, ON WHICH THE WATERS CHAFED AND DASHED, THE WILD YEAR THROUGH, THERE STOOD A SOLARY LIGHTHOE. GREAT HEAPS OF SEA-WEED CLUNG TO S BASE, AND STORM-BIRDS -- BORN OF THE WD ONE MIGHT SUPPOSE, AS SEA-WEED OF THE WATER -- ROSE AND FELL ABOUT , LIKE THE WAV THEY SKIMMED.BUT EVEN HERE, TWO MEN WHO WATCHED THE LIGHT HAD MA A FIRE, THAT THROUGH THE LOOPHOLE THE THICK STONE WALL SHED OUT A RAY OF BRIGHTNS ON THE AWFUL SEA. JOG THEIR HORNY HANDS OVER THE ROUGH TABLE AT WHICH THEY SAT, THEY WISHED EACH OTHER MERRY CHRISTMAS THEIR N OF GROG; AND ONE OF THEM: THE ELR, TOO, WH HIS FACE ALL DAMAGED AND SRRED WH HARD WEATHER, AS THE FIGURE-HEAD OF AN OLD SHIP MIGHT BE: STCK UP A STURDY SONG THAT WAS LIKE A GALE SELF.AGA THE GHOST SPED ON, ABOVE THE BLACK AND HEAVG SEA -- ON, ON -- UNTIL, BEG FAR AWAY, AS HE TOLD SCROOGE, OM ANY SHORE, THEY LIGHTED ON A SHIP. THEY STOOD BI THE HELMSMAN AT THE WHEEL, THE LOOK-OUT THE BOW, THE OFFICERS WHO HAD THE WATCH; DARK, GHOSTLY FIGUR THEIR SEVERAL STATNS; BUT EVERY MAN AMONG THEM HUMMED A CHRISTMAS TUNE, OR HAD A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT, OR SPOKE BELOW HIS BREATH TO HIS PANN OF SOME BYGONE CHRISTMAS DAY, WH HOMEWARD HOP BELONGG TO . AND EVERY MAN ON BOARD, WAKG OR SLEEPG, GOOD OR BAD, HAD HAD A KR WORD FOR ANOTHER ON THAT DAY THAN ON ANY DAY THE YEAR; AND HAD SHARED TO SOME EXTENT S FTIVI; AND HAD REMEMBERED THOSE HE RED FOR AT A DISTANCE, AND HAD KNOWN THAT THEY LIGHTED TO REMEMBER HIM.IT WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO SCROOGE, WHILE LISTENG TO THE MOANG OF THE WD, AND THKG WHAT A SOLEMN THG WAS TO MOVE ON THROUGH THE LONELY DARKNS OVER AN UNKNOWN ABYSS, WHOSE PTHS WERE SECRETS AS PROFOUND AS DEATH: WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO SCROOGE, WHILE TH ENGAGED, TO HEAR A HEARTY LGH. IT WAS A MUCH GREATER SURPRISE TO SCROOGE TO REGNISE AS HIS OWN NEPHEW’S AND TO FD HIMSELF A BRIGHT, DRY, GLEAMG ROOM, WH THE SPIR STANDG SG BY HIS SI, AND LOOKG AT THAT SAME NEPHEW WH APPROVG AFFABILY.`HA, HA.’ LGHED SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HA, HA, HA.’IF YOU SHOULD HAPPEN, BY ANY UNLIKELY CHANCE, TO KNOW A MAN MORE BLT A LGH THAN SCROOGE’S NEPHEW, ALL I N SAY IS, I SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW HIM TOO. INTRODUCE HIM TO ME, AND I’LL CULTIVATE HIS ACQUATANCE.IT IS A FAIR, EVEN-HAND, NOBLE ADJTMENT OF THGS, THAT WHILE THERE IS FECTN DISEASE AND SORROW, THERE IS NOTHG THE WORLD SO IRRISTIBLY NTAG AS LGHTER AND GOOD-HUMOUR. WHEN SCROOGE’S NEPHEW LGHED THIS WAY: HOLDG HIS SIS, ROLLG HIS HEAD, AND TWISTG HIS FACE TO THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT NTORTNS: SCROOGE’S NIECE, BY MARRIAGE, LGHED AS HEARTILY AS HE. AND THEIR ASSEMBLED IENDS BEG NOT A B BEHDHAND, ROARED OUT LTILY.`HA, HA. HA, HA, HA, HA.’`HE SAID THAT CHRISTMAS WAS A HUMBUG, AS I LIVE.’ CRIED SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HE BELIEVED TOO.’`MORE SHAME FOR HIM, FRED.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NIECE, DIGNANTLY. BLS THOSE WOMEN; THEY NEVER DO ANYTHG BY HALV. THEY ARE ALWAYS EARNT.SHE WAS VERY PRETTY: EXCEEDGLY PRETTY. WH A DIMPLED, SURPRISED-LOOKG, PAL FACE; A RIPE LTLE MOUTH, THAT SEEMED MA TO BE KISSED -- AS NO DOUBT WAS; ALL KDS OF GOOD LTLE DOTS ABOUT HER CH, THAT MELTED TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN SHE LGHED; AND THE SUNNIT PAIR OF EY YOU EVER SAW ANY LTLE CREATURE’S HEAD. ALTOGETHER SHE WAS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE LLED PROVOKG, YOU KNOW; BUT SATISFACTORY.`HE’S A IL OLD FELLOW,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW,’ THAT’S THE TTH: AND NOT SO PLEASANT AS HE MIGHT BE. HOWEVER, HIS OFFENC RRY THEIR OWN PUNISHMENT, AND I HAVE NOTHG TO SAY AGAST HIM.’`I’M SURE HE IS VERY RICH, FRED,’ HTED SCROOGE’S NIECE. `AT LEAST YOU ALWAYS TELL ME SO.’`WHAT OF THAT, MY AR.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HIS WEALTH IS OF NO E TO HIM. HE DON’T DO ANY GOOD WH . HE DON’T MAKE HIMSELF FORTABLE WH . HE HASN’T THE SATISFACTN OF THKG -- HA, HA, HA. -- THAT HE IS EVER GOG TO BENEF WH .’`I HAVE NO PATIENCE WH HIM,’ OBSERVED SCROOGE’S NIECE. SCROOGE’S NIECE’S SISTERS, AND ALL THE OTHER LADI, EXPRSED THE SAME OPN.`OH, I HAVE.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `I AM SORRY FOR HIM; I ULDN’T BE ANGRY WH HIM IF I TRIED. WHO SUFFERS BY HIS ILL WHIMS. HIMSELF, ALWAYS. HERE, HE TAK TO HIS HEAD TO DISLIKE , AND HE WON’T E AND DE WH . WHAT’S THE NSEQUENCE? HE DON’T LOSE MUCH OF A DNER.’`INED, I THK HE LOS A VERY GOOD DNER,’ TERPTED SCROOGE’S NIECE. EVERYBODY ELSE SAID THE SAME, AND THEY MT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BEEN PETENT JUDG, BEE THEY HAD JT HAD DNER; AND, WH THE SSERT UPON THE TABLE, WERE CLTERED ROUND THE FIRE, BY LAMPLIGHT.`WELL. I’M VERY GLAD TO HEAR ,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW, `BEE I HAVEN’T GREAT FAH THE YOUNG HOEKEEPERS. WHAT DO YOU SAY, TOPPER.’TOPPER HAD CLEARLY GOT HIS EYE UPON ONE OF SCROOGE’S NIECE’S SISTERS, FOR HE ANSWERED THAT A BACHELOR WAS A WRETCHED OUTST, WHO HAD NO RIGHT TO EXPRS AN OPN ON THE SUBJECT. WHEREAT SCROOGE’S NIECE’S SISTER -- THE PLUMP ONE WH THE LACE TUCKER: NOT THE ONE WH THE ROS -- BLHED.`DO GO ON, FRED,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NIECE, CLAPPG HER HANDS. `HE NEVER FISH WHAT HE BEGS TO SAY. HE IS SUCH A RIDICULO FELLOW.’SCROOGE’S NEPHEW REVELLED ANOTHER LGH, AND AS WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE FECTN OFF; THOUGH THE PLUMP SISTER TRIED HARD TO DO WH AROMATIC VEGAR; HIS EXAMPLE WAS UNANIMOLY FOLLOWED.`I WAS ONLY GOG TO SAY,’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW,’ THAT THE NSEQUENCE OF HIS TAKG A DISLIKE TO , AND NOT MAKG MERRY WH , IS, AS I THK, THAT HE LOS SOME PLEASANT MOMENTS, WHICH ULD DO HIM NO HARM. I AM SURE HE LOS PLEASANTER PANNS THAN HE N FD HIS OWN THOUGHTS, EHER HIS MOULDY OLD OFFICE, OR HIS DTY CHAMBERS. I MEAN TO GIVE HIM THE SAME CHANCE EVERY YEAR, WHETHER HE LIK OR NOT, FOR I PY HIM. HE MAY RAIL AT CHRISTMAS TILL HE DI, BUT HE N’T HELP THKG BETTER OF -- I FY HIM -- IF HE FDS ME GOG THERE, GOOD TEMPER, YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND SAYG UNCLE SCROOGE, HOW ARE YOU. IF ONLY PUTS HIM THE VE TO LEAVE HIS POOR CLERK FIFTY POUNDS, THAT’S SOMETHG; AND I THK I SHOOK HIM YTERDAY.’IT WAS THEIR TURN TO LGH NOW AT THE NOTN OF HIS SHAKG SCROOGE. BUT BEG THOROUGHLY GOOD-NATURED, AND NOT MUCH RG WHAT THEY LGHED AT, SO THAT THEY LGHED AT ANY RATE, HE ENURAGED THEM THEIR MERRIMENT, AND PASSED THE BOTTLE JOYOLY.AFTER TEA. THEY HAD SOME MIC. FOR THEY WERE A MIL FAY, AND KNEW WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT, WHEN THEY SUNG A GLEE OR CATCH, I N ASSURE YOU: PECIALLY TOPPER, WHO ULD GROWL AWAY THE BASS LIKE A GOOD ONE, AND NEVER SWELL THE LARGE VES HIS FOREHEAD, OR GET RED THE FACE OVER . SCROOGE’S NIECE PLAYED WELL UPON THE HARP; AND PLAYED AMONG OTHER TUN A SIMPLE LTLE AIR (A MERE NOTHG: YOU MIGHT LEARN TO WHISTLE TWO MUT), WHICH HAD BEEN FAIAR TO THE CHILD WHO FETCHED SCROOGE OM THE BOARDG-SCHOOL, AS HE HAD BEEN REMD BY THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST. WHEN THIS STRA OF MIC SOUND, ALL THE THGS THAT GHOST HAD SHOWN HIM, ME UPON HIS MD; HE SOFTENED MORE AND MORE; AND THOUGHT THAT IF HE ULD HAVE LISTENED TO OFTEN, YEARS AGO, HE MIGHT HAVE CULTIVATED THE KDNS OF LIFE FOR HIS OWN HAPPS WH HIS OWN HANDS, WHOUT RORTG TO THE SEXTON’S SPA THAT BURIED JAB MARLEY.BUT THEY DIDN’T VOTE THE WHOLE EVENG TO MIC. AFTER A WHILE THEY PLAYED AT FORFES; FOR IS GOOD TO BE CHILDREN SOMETIM, AND NEVER BETTER THAN AT CHRISTMAS, WHEN S MIGHTY FOUNR WAS A CHILD HIMSELF. STOP. THERE WAS FIRST A GAME AT BLD-MAN’S BUFF. OF URSE THERE WAS. AND I NO MORE BELIEVE TOPPER WAS REALLY BLD THAN I BELIEVE HE HAD EY HIS BOOTS. MY OPN IS, THAT WAS A DONE THG BETWEEN HIM AND SCROOGE’S NEPHEW; AND THAT THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRENT KNEW . THE WAY HE WENT AFTER THAT PLUMP SISTER THE LACE TUCKER, WAS AN OUTRAGE ON THE CRLY OF HUMAN NATURE. KNOCKG DOWN THE FIRE-IRONS, TUMBLG OVER THE CHAIRS, BUMPG AGAST THE PIANO, SMOTHERG HIMSELF AMONG THE CURTAS, WHEREVER SHE WENT, THERE WENT HE. HE ALWAYS KNEW WHERE THE PLUMP SISTER WAS. HE WOULDN’T TCH ANYBODY ELSE. IF YOU HAD FALLEN UP AGAST HIM (AS SOME OF THEM DID), ON PURPOSE, HE WOULD HAVE MA A FET OF ENAVOURG TO SEIZE YOU, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AFONT TO YOUR UNRSTANDG, AND WOULD STANTLY HAVE SIDLED OFF THE DIRECTN OF THE PLUMP SISTER. SHE OFTEN CRIED OUT THAT WASN’T FAIR; AND REALLY WAS NOT. BUT WHEN AT LAST, HE UGHT HER; WHEN, SPE OF ALL HER SILKEN STLGS, AND HER RAPID FLUTTERGS PAST HIM, HE GOT HER TO A RNER WHENCE THERE WAS NO PE; THEN HIS NDUCT WAS THE MOST EXECRABLE. FOR HIS PRETENDG NOT TO KNOW HER; HIS PRETENDG THAT WAS NECSARY TO TOUCH HER HEAD-DRS, AND FURTHER TO ASSURE HIMSELF OF HER INTY BY PRSG A CERTA RG UPON HER FGER, AND A CERTA CHA ABOUT HER NECK; WAS VILE, MONSTRO. NO DOUBT SHE TOLD HIM HER OPN OF , WHEN, ANOTHER BLD-MAN BEG OFFICE, THEY WERE SO VERY NFINTIAL TOGETHER, BEHD THE CURTAS.SCROOGE’S NIECE WAS NOT ONE OF THE BLD-MAN’S BUFF PARTY, BUT WAS MA FORTABLE WH A LARGE CHAIR AND A FOOTSTOOL, A SNUG RNER, WHERE THE GHOST AND SCROOGE WERE CLOSE BEHD HER. BUT SHE JOED THE FORFES, AND LOVED HER LOVE TO ADMIRATN WH ALL THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET. LIKEWISE AT THE GAME OF HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE, SHE WAS VERY GREAT, AND TO THE SECRET JOY OF SCROOGE’S NEPHEW, BEAT HER SISTERS HOLLOW: THOUGH THEY WERE SHARP GIRLS TOO, AS ULD HAVE TOLD YOU. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TWENTY PEOPLE THERE, YOUNG AND OLD, BUT THEY ALL PLAYED, AND SO DID SCROOGE, FOR, WHOLLY FETTG THE TERT HE HAD WHAT WAS GOG ON, THAT HIS VOICE MA NO SOUND THEIR EARS, HE SOMETIM ME OUT WH HIS GUS QUE LOUD, AND VERY OFTEN GUSED QUE RIGHT, TOO; FOR THE SHARPT NEEDLE, BT WHECHAPEL, WARRANTED NOT TO CUT THE EYE, WAS NOT SHARPER THAN SCROOGE; BLUNT AS HE TOOK HIS HEAD TO BE.THE GHOST WAS GREATLY PLEASED TO FD HIM THIS MOOD, AND LOOKED UPON HIM WH SUCH FAVOUR, THAT HE BEGGED LIKE A BOY TO BE ALLOWED TO STAY UNTIL THE GUTS PARTED. BUT THIS THE SPIR SAID ULD NOT BE DONE.`HERE IS A NEW GAME,’ SAID SCROOGE. `ONE HALF HOUR, SPIR, ONLY ONE.’IT WAS A GAME LLED Y AND NO, WHERE SCROOGE’S NEPHEW HAD TO THK OF SOMETHG, AND THE RT MT FD OUT WHAT; HE ONLY ANSWERG TO THEIR QUTNS Y OR NO, AS THE SE WAS. THE BRISK FIRE OF QUTNG TO WHICH HE WAS EXPOSED, ELICED OM HIM THAT HE WAS THKG OF AN ANIMAL, A LIVE ANIMAL, RATHER A DISAGREEABLE ANIMAL, A SAVAGE ANIMAL, AN ANIMAL THAT GROWLED AND GNTED SOMETIM, AND TALKED SOMETIM, AND LIVED LONDON, AND WALKED ABOUT THE STREETS, AND WASN’T MA A SHOW OF, AND WASN’T LED BY ANYBODY, AND DIDN’T LIVE A MENAGERIE, AND WAS NEVER KILLED A MARKET, AND WAS NOT A HORSE, OR AN ASS, OR A W, OR A BULL, OR A TIGER, OR A DOG, OR A PIG, OR A T, OR A BEAR. AT EVERY H QUTN THAT WAS PUT TO HIM, THIS NEPHEW BURST TO A H ROAR OF LGHTER; AND WAS SO EXPRSIBLY TICKLED, THAT HE WAS OBLIGED TO GET UP OFF THE SOFA AND STAMP. AT LAST THE PLUMP SISTER, FALLG TO A SIAR STATE, CRIED OUT:`I HAVE FOUND OUT. I KNOW WHAT IS, FRED. I KNOW WHAT IS.’`WHAT IS .’ CRIED FRED.`IT’S YOUR UNCLE SCROOGE.’WHICH CERTALY WAS. ADMIRATN WAS THE UNIVERSAL SENTIMENT, THOUGH SOME OBJECTED THAT THE REPLY TO `IS A BEAR.’ OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN `Y;’ ASMUCH AS AN ANSWER THE NEGATIVE WAS SUFFICIENT TO HAVE DIVERTED THEIR THOUGHTS OM MR SCROOGE, SUPPOSG THEY HAD EVER HAD ANY TENNCY THAT WAY.`HE HAS GIVEN PLENTY OF MERRIMENT, I AM SURE,’ SAID FRED,’ AND WOULD BE UNGRATEFUL NOT TO DRK HIS HEALTH. HERE IS A GLASS OF MULLED WE READY TO OUR HAND AT THE MOMENT; AND I SAY, “UNCLE SCROOGE."’`WELL. UNCLE SCROOGE.’ THEY CRIED.`A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE OLD MAN, WHATEVER HE IS.’ SAID SCROOGE’S NEPHEW. `HE WOULDN’T TAKE OM ME, BUT MAY HE HAVE , NEVERTHELS. UNCLE SCROOGE.’UNCLE SCROOGE HAD IMPERCEPTIBLY BEE SO GAY AND LIGHT OF HEART, THAT HE WOULD HAVE PLEDGED THE UNNSC PANY RETURN, AND THANKED THEM AN DIBLE SPEECH, IF THE GHOST HAD GIVEN HIM TIME. BUT THE WHOLE SCENE PASSED OFF THE BREATH OF THE LAST WORD SPOKEN BY HIS NEPHEW; AND HE AND THE SPIR WERE AGA UPON THEIR TRAVELS.MUCH THEY SAW, AND FAR THEY WENT, AND MANY HOM THEY VISED, BUT ALWAYS WH A HAPPY END. THE SPIR STOOD BI SICK BEDS, AND THEY WERE CHEERFUL; ON FOREIGN LANDS, AND THEY WERE CLOSE AT HOME; BY STGGLG MEN, AND THEY WERE PATIENT THEIR GREATER HOPE; BY POVERTY, AND WAS RICH. IN ALMSHOE, HOSPAL, AND JAIL, MISERY’S EVERY REFUGE, WHERE VA MAN HIS LTLE BRIEF THORY HAD NOT MA FAST THE DOOR AND BARRED THE SPIR OUT, HE LEFT HIS BLSG, AND TGHT SCROOGE HIS PRECEPTS.IT WAS A LONG NIGHT, IF WERE ONLY A NIGHT; BUT SCROOGE HAD HIS DOUBTS OF THIS, BEE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS APPEARED TO BE NNSED TO THE SPACE OF TIME THEY PASSED TOGETHER. IT WAS STRANGE, TOO, THAT WHILE SCROOGE REMAED UNALTERED HIS OUTWARD FORM, THE GHOST GREW OLR, CLEARLY OLR. SCROOGE HAD OBSERVED THIS CHANGE, BUT NEVER SPOKE OF , UNTIL THEY LEFT A CHILDREN’S TWELFTH NIGHT PARTY, WHEN, LOOKG AT THE SPIR AS THEY STOOD TOGETHER AN OPEN PLACE, HE NOTICED THAT S HAIR WAS GREY.`ARE SPIRS’ LIV SO SHORT.’ ASKED SCROOGE.`MY LIFE UPON THIS GLOBE, IS VERY BRIEF,’ REPLIED THE GHOST. `IT ENDS TO-NIGHT.’`TO-NIGHT.’ CRIED SCROOGE.`TO-NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT. HARK. THE TIME IS DRAWG NEAR.’THE CHIM WERE RGG THE THREE QUARTERS PAST ELEVEN AT THAT MOMENT.`FIVE ME IF I AM NOT JTIFIED WHAT I ASK,’ SAID SCROOGE, LOOKG TENTLY AT THE SPIR’S ROBE,’ BUT I SEE SOMETHG STRANGE, AND NOT BELONGG TO YOURSELF, PROTDG OM YOUR SKIRTS. IS A FOOT OR A CLAW.’`IT MIGHT BE A CLAW, FOR THE FLH THERE IS UPON ,’ WAS THE SPIR’S SORROWFUL REPLY. `LOOK HERE.’FROM THE FOLDGS OF S ROBE, BROUGHT TWO CHILDREN; WRETCHED, ABJECT, IGHTFUL, HIO, MISERABLE. THEY KNELT DOWN AT S FEET, AND CLUNG UPON THE OUTSI OF S GARMENT.`OH, MAN. LOOK HERE. LOOK, LOOK, DOWN HERE.’ EXCLAIMED THE GHOST.THEY WERE A BOY AND A GIRL. YELLOW, MEAGRE, RAGGED, SWLG, WOLFISH; BUT PROSTRATE, TOO, THEIR HUY. WHERE GRACEFUL YOUTH SHOULD HAVE FILLED THEIR FEATUR OUT, AND TOUCHED THEM WH S HT TTS, A STALE AND SHRIVELLED HAND, LIKE THAT OF AGE, HAD PCHED, AND TWISTED THEM, AND PULLED THEM TO SHREDS. WHERE ANGELS MIGHT HAVE SAT ENTHRONED, VILS LURKED, AND GLARED OUT MENACG. NO CHANGE, NO GRADATN, NO PERVERSN OF HUMANY, ANY GRA, THROUGH ALL THE MYSTERI OF WONRFUL CREATN, HAS MONSTERS HALF SO HORRIBLE AND DREAD.SCROOGE STARTED BACK, APPALLED. HAVG THEM SHOWN TO HIM THIS WAY, HE TRIED TO SAY THEY WERE FE CHILDREN, BUT THE WORDS CHOKED THEMSELV, RATHER THAN BE PARTI TO A LIE OF SUCH ENORMO MAGNU.`SPIR. ARE THEY YOURS.’ SCROOGE ULD SAY NO MORE.`THEY ARE MAN’S,’ SAID THE SPIR, LOOKG DOWN UPON THEM. `AND THEY CLG TO ME, APPEALG OM THEIR FATHERS. THIS BOY IS IGNORANCE. THIS GIRL IS WANT. BEWARE THEM BOTH, AND ALL OF THEIR GREE, BUT MOST OF ALL BEWARE THIS BOY, FOR ON HIS BROW I SEE THAT WRTEN WHICH IS DOOM, UNLS THE WRG BE ERASED. DENY .’ CRIED THE SPIR, STRETCHG OUT S HAND TOWARDS THE CY. `SLANR THOSE WHO TELL YE. ADM FOR YOUR FACT PURPOS, AND MAKE WORSE. AND ABI THE END.’`HAVE THEY NO REFUGE OR ROURCE.’ CRIED SCROOGE.`ARE THERE NO PRISONS.’ SAID THE SPIR, TURNG ON HIM FOR THE LAST TIME WH HIS OWN WORDS. `ARE THERE NO WORKHO.’ THE BELL STCK TWELVE.SCROOGE LOOKED ABOUT HIM FOR THE GHOST, AND SAW NOT. AS THE LAST STROKE CEASED TO VIBRATE, HE REMEMBERED THE PREDICTN OF OLD JAB MARLEY, AND LIFTG UP HIS EY, BEHELD A SOLEMN PHANTOM, DRAPED AND HOOD, G, LIKE A MIST ALONG THE GROUND, TOWARDS HIM.14EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUT

Last week an elementary school teacher Michigan me unr fire when she cid to remove the word "gay" om the classic Christmas rol "Deck The Halls. After parents and others the muny got wd of the change -- and outrage ensued -- the teacher re-serted the supposedly troublome word back to the here at HuffPost Gay Voic believe that when people are aaid of or unfortable wh LGBT people or issu or even words (whether or not the word qutn is actually beg ed relatn to the LGBT muny), sometim the bt tactic is ph for an even greater prence hop of showg we won't be timidated, terred, or, we dug through our rerd llectns (and YouTube) -- to fd the gayt Christmas songs we uld get our hands (and ears) on a lighthearted effort to make thgs a ltle merrier -- and gayer -- this mpy offergs om The Weather Girls and Lady Gaga to songs by gay artists and ins like Gee Michael and Dolly Parton, this is our ltle gift to you this holiday season -- and the perfect playlist for a ftive gay out our selectns the followg slishow, rank them om rnit to most classic, and tell if we missed one of your favor the ments sectn below. Have yourself a merry ltle Christmas, make the Yuleti gay.

Nor was that the figs were moist and pulpy, or that the French plums blhed most tartns om their highly-rated box, or that everythg was good to eat and s Christmas drs; but the ctomers were all so hurried and so eager the hopeful promise of the day, that they tumbled up agast each other at the door, crashg their wicker baskets wildly, and left their purchas upon the unter, and me nng back to fetch them, and mted hundreds of the like mistak, the bt humour possible; while the Grocer and his people were so ank and h that the polished hearts wh which they fastened their aprons behd might have been their own, worn outsi for general spectn, and for Christmas daws to peck at if they soon the steepl lled good people all, to church and chapel, and away they me, flockg through the streets their bt cloth, and wh their gayt fac.

HALLMARK NIX ‘GAY’ OM CHRISTMAS ROL LYRIC ON ORNAMENT

’Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly bee so gay and light of heart, that he would have pledged the unnsc pany return, and thanked them an dible speech, if the Ghost had given him time.

25 CHRISTMAS SONGS ONLY GAY PEOPLE AND (INTELLIGENT) STRAIGHT PEOPLE KNOW ARE TLY GAY BOPS

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Don we now our gay apparel Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la. Hallmark, the Kansas Cy greetg rd pany, eded the lyrics of "Deck the Halls" on one of s 2013 ornaments to om the word 'gay' and has received cricism on s Facebook page that puts the pany an unfaiar posn of fendg a product.

The origal rol verse go: "Don we now our gay apparel. One post read, "Hallmark is suatg that gay people drs differently than anyone else.

HALLMARK UNR FIRE FOR DROPPG 'GAY' FROM CHRISTMAS LYRIC

If I were gay, I would be more upset wh that.

Everyone will be on the joke, " the webse's scriptn pany, which is more known for apolil greetg rds wishg a boss a happy retirement, issued a statement to media outlets explag the history of the song datg back to the 1880s, a time "when "gay" meant ftive or merry. Don we now our gay apparel. They say Christmas is jt 'Straight Halloween, ' but the gays also do our fair share of celebratg!

From classics to brand new songs, om tradnal vers to the gayt lyrics you n thk of, here are 23 of our favore Christmas songs by LGBTQ+ artists to get you the spir this holiday season! The ultimate gay Christmas classic.

Make the Yule-ti gay.

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la la la la! ”Back to the listHave Yourself a Merry Ltle ChristmasHave yourself a merry ltle ChristmasLet your heart be lightFrom now onour troubl will be out of sightHave yourself a merry ltle ChristmasMake the Yule-ti gayFrom now on your troubl will be awayHere were are as oln dayshappy goln days of yoreFahful iends who are ar to to gather near to once moreThrough the years we all will be togetherIf the Fat allowHang a shg star upon the hight boughAnd have yourself a merry ltle Christmas to the listSpecial Christmas Songs Wh LyricsHere Com Santa ClsHere Santa Cls, here Santa Cls, Right down Santa Cls laneVixen and Blzen and all his reerPull’ on the resBells are rg’, children sg’All is merry and brightHang your stockgs and say your prayers‘Cse Santa Cls tonight! Back to the listThe Ltle Dmmer BoyCome they told mePa m pum pum pumA new born Kg to seePa m pum pum pumOur ft gifts we brgPa m pum pum pumTo lay before the KgPa m pum pum pum, m pum pum pum, m pum pum pumSo to honor HimPa m pum pum pumWhen we eLtle babyPa m pum pum pumI am a poor boy tooPa m pum pum pumI have no gift to brgPa m pum pum pumThat’s f to give our KgPa m pum pum pum, m pum pum pum, m pum pum pumShall I play for youPa m pum pum pumOn my dmMary noddPa m pum pum pumThe ox and lamb kept timePa m pum pum pumI played my dm for HimPa m pum pum pumI played my bt for HimPa m pum pum pum, m pum pum pum, m pum pum pumThen He sed at mePa m pum pum pumMe and my dmBack to the listIt’s The Most Wonrful Time of the YearIt’s the most wonrful time of the yearWh the kids jgle bellgAnd everyone tellg you “Be of good cheer”It’s the most wonrful time of the yearIt’s the hap-happit season of allWh those holiday greetgs and gay happy meetgsWhen iends e to llIt’s the hap- happit season of allThere’ll be parti for hostgMarshmallows for toastgAnd rolg out the snowThere’ll be sry ghost storiAnd tal of the glori ofChristmas long, long agoIt’s the most wonrful time of the yearThere’ll be much mistletoegAnd hearts will be glowgWhen love on are nearIt’s the most wonrful time of the yearThere’ll be parti for hostgMarshmallows for toastgAnd rolg out the snowThere’ll be sry ghost storiAnd tal of the glori ofChristmas long, long agoIt’s the most wonrful time of the yearThere’ll be much mistletoegAnd hearts will be glowgWhen love on are nearIt’s the most wonrful timeIt’s the most wonrful timeIt’s the most wonrful timeIt’s the most wonrful time of the yearBack to the listO Christmas TreeO Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!