The First of the Three Spirits
When Scrooge awoke, it was so dark that he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque[1] walls of his chamber, until suddenly the church clock tolled a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy ONE.
Light flashed, and the curtains of his bed were drawn aside by a strange figure — like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand. But the strangest thing about it was that from the crown of its head there was a bright clear jet of light by which all this was visible.
“Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?”
“I am!”
“Who and what are you?”
“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”
“Long past?”
“No. Your past.”
The grasp, though gentle as a woman’s hand, was not to be resisted. He rose; but finding that the Spirit moved towards the window, Scrooge grabbed his robe and fell to his knees.
“I am a mortal,[2] and likely will fall.”
“Let me touch my hand there,” said the Spirit, laying it upon his heart, “and you shall be upheld in more than this!”
As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road with fields on either side. The city had entirely vanished. Not a hint of it was to be seen. The darkness and the mist had vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground.
“Good Heaven!” said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. “I was a boy here!”
The Spirit gazed upon him mildly. Its gentle touch, though it had been light and instantaneous, appeared still present to the old man’s sense of feeling. He was conscious of a thousand smells floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten!
“Your lip is trembling,” said the Ghost. “And what is that upon your cheek?”
Scrooge muttered, with an unusual catching in his voice, that it was a pimple; and begged the Ghost to lead him where he would.
Discuss
“Do you remember the way?” inquired the Spirit.
“Remember it!” cried Scrooge; “I could walk it blindfold.”
“Strange to have forgotten it for so many years!” observed the Ghost. “Let us go on.”
They walked along the road, Scrooge recognizing every gate, and post, and tree until a little town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. Some small horses now were coming towards them with boys upon their backs, who called to others that they passed. All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it! They were leaving school for the jolly holidays. Scrooge wanted to wave to them.
“These are but shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost. “They have no consciousness of us.”
Scrooge knew and named them every one. Why was he so happy to