The Ontario Readers: Fourth Book - Ontario. Department of Education

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      "He's in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I'll show you upstairs, if you please."

      "Thank'ee. He knows me," said Scrooge, with his hand already on the dining-room lock. "I'll go in here, my dear."

      He turned it gently, and sidled his face in, round the door. They were looking at the table (which was spread out in great array); for these young housekeepers are always nervous on such points, and like to see that everything is right.

      "Fred!" said Scrooge. Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage started! …

      "Why, bless my soul!" cried Fred, "Who's that?"

      "It's I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?"

      Let him in! It is a mercy he didn't shake his arm off. He was at home in five minutes. Nothing could be heartier. His niece looked just the same. So did Topper when he came. So did the plump sister when she came. So did everybody when they came. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, won-der-ful happiness!

      But he was early at the office next morning. Oh, he was early there. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That was the first thing he had set his heart upon.

      And he did it; yes, he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come into the Tank.

      His hat was off, before he opened the door, his comforter, too. He was on his stool in a jiffy, driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o'clock.

      "Hallo!" growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign it. "What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?"

      "I am very sorry, sir," said Bob. "I am behind my time."

      "You are!" repeated Scrooge. "Yes, I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please."

      "It's only once a year, sir," pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. "It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir."

      "Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," said Scrooge, "I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore," he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in his waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again—"and, therefore, I am about to raise your salary!"

      Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat.

      "A Merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A Merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we'll discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop. Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another scuttle of coal before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!"

      Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind any way, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for him.

      He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!

      Dickens: "A Christmas Carol."

       Table of Contents

      First pledge our Queen this solemn night,

       Then drink to England, every guest;

       That man's the best Cosmopolite

       Who loves his native country best.

       May freedom's oak for ever live

       With stronger life from day to day;

       That man's the true Conservative

       Who lops the moulder'd branch away.

       Hands all round!

       God the traitor's hope confound!

       To this great cause of Freedom drink, my friends,

       And the great name of England, round and round.

      To all the loyal hearts who long

       To keep our English Empire whole!

       To all our noble sons, the strong

       New England of the Southern Pole!

       To England under Indian skies,

       To those dark millions of her realm!

       To Canada whom we love and prize,

       Whatever statesman hold the helm.

       Hands all round!

       God the traitor's hope confound!

       To this great name of England drink, my friends,

       And all her glorious empire, round and round.

      To all our statesmen so they be

       True leaders of the land's desire!

       To both our Houses, may they see

       Beyond the borough and the shire!

       We sail'd wherever ship could sail,

       We founded many a mighty state;

       Pray God our greatness may not fail

       Through craven fears of being great.

       Hands all round!

       God the traitor's hope confound!

       To this great cause of Freedom drink, my friends,

       And the great name of England, round and round.

      Tennyson

       Table of Contents

      And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; and he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found. And he said, God forbid that I should do so: the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

      Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father,

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