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4 The C-gnadian Statesman. Bowrnanville, December 20, 1978 Section Three Dickens, "Christmas Carol" Recounted. at Holiday Time A Condensed Version of the Beloved Classic One wintry Christmas Eve, Scrooge sat in bis; counting bouse, amuscd-by bis clerk, who was copying letters while attempting to keep warm with comforter and candle. Not once did he: offer bis employee a bit of! coalfor a warmingfire. Suddenly, the voice of Scrooge's nephew resound-: ed, "Merry Christmas, Un-ý dle! God save you!" "Bah, Humbug!" repliedi the crotcbety oid man.: "What's Christmas time tol you but a time for paying bills witbout moncy, one year older and not an hour richer." "Uncle," r7,sponded the nephew, entering the door- way, -There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited.; Christ- mas is one of them. It is a good, kind, forgiving, char- itable time. God biess it!" "Humbug!" replied Scrooge. "And good'after-: noon," as be observed bis nephew leave. This Christmas Eve found Scrooge at dinner in a near- by tavern, returning carly to the quarters formeriy occu- pied by bis late partner, Marley. Suddenly, through the door descended Mar- ley's ghost, who spoke to him. "In life I was your partncr, Jacob Marley. It is required by every man that the spirit within should walk abroad among bis fellow men. If that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemn- ed to do so after death." -Scrooge stood transfixed and answered, "Mercy! Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?" Marley's ghost replicd, "I arn bere to wamn you that you have yet a chance of es- caping my fate. You will be haunted by thrce spirits.ý When, this happens, you will sec me no more, but look to remember this destiny and what has transpired be- tween us." It was after onc o'clock whn Scrooge was awaken- cd'by the sight of a Spirit- Child. "Who are you and wbat is your business?" he demandcd to know. -1 arn the ghost of Christ- mas Past - here for your reclamation. Take heed," ~2' IOIDAY1 Doing businesswith you has been a pleasure! From al of us to ail of you: a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! From the Management and Staff Stock's SlieII Service and Snack Sar 2n3220 said the ghost, "Rise and walk with me." Through time they traveled to events immemo- rial. Scboolboy, brother, ap- prentice, young man - Scrooge relived bis past 1 'ife, devoid of charity and holi- day spirit. The vision eciip- sed by current faces, the painful reality of Scrooqe's cruel behavior confronted him and he cried, "Haunt me no longer," until sleep overtook him. * Awaking the -next aiorn- ing in the middle of a snore, Scrooge regained con- sciousness for the express purpose of conferring with a second messenger, dis- patched to him through Mariey's intervention. "Spirit," said, Scrooge submissively, "Conduct me where you will. 1 went forth last night on compulsion and learnt a lesson which is working now. Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me pr ofit by it." The Spirit answered, "I arn the ghost of Christmas Present. Touch my robe." Scrooge did as he was told and heid it fast. Invisible, they went into the town, stopping before the tattered cottage of Scrooge's cierk, Bob Cratchit. Mrs. Cratchit, two daughters, and son Peter busied themsgeives with the preparation of a meager holiday meal and were soon joined by Bob and bis crip- pied youngest, Tiny Tim. Scrooge was moved by the poor famiiy's plight, and questioned the Spirit, "Tell me if Tiny Tim will live." The ghost repiied, "I see a vacant seat. And a crutch without an owner. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die." It was then the dlock struck twelve. Scrooge look- ed about for the Ghost and saw it not. Moments later, he feit a mysterious dread and observed a, tail, stately figure beside him. This Spirit neither spoke nor .moved. Scrooge question- ed, knowingiy, "You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not yet happened. Is that so, Spirit? You are the ghost of Christmas Yet To Corne." The Spirit inciined his head, pointed forward and lead his captive to the churchyard graves, point- ing to the one marked EBENEZER SCROOGE. Horrified, the namesake ad- dressed the Phantom, "Spirit, men's courses fore- shadow certain ends to which, if persevered, they must iead. But if the course must be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is ithus with what you show me!" The Spirit rcmained un- moved and pointed its hand from man to grave. 1 "Spirit," Scrooge cried, "I'm not the man 1 was. I will not be the man 1 must have been but for this inter- course. Why show me this if I am past ail hope! Good Spirit, your nature inter- cedes for me and pities me. 1Assure me that I may change the shadows you have shown me in an alter- ed life!" The kind hand trernbled. Scrooge continued: -1 will honor Christmas in ail my heart and try.to keep it ail year. 1 will live in the past, the present, and the future. The Spirits of ail three shah 'strive within me. 1 will not shut out the les- sons they teach." Scrooge saw the phantomn hood and dress shrink, collapse, and dwindle into a bedpost. The bedpost was his own. The bed bis own, the room bis own. Best and happiest of all, the time before him was bis own to make amends in! Scrooge spent Christmas visiting his nephew and saw to it that various charities provided food for their dependents. 'M M M M M M M M M M Il When Bob Cratchit came to work the day after Christ- mas, bis employer greeted him: "A Merry Christmas, Bob! A merrier Christmas than 1 have given you for many a year! l'Il raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very after-, noon.,, Scrooge was better than bis word. He did it all and infinitely more; and to Tiny' Tim who did NOT die, he was a second father., He be- came as good a friend, as' good a master, and as good a man as the city knew. H-e had no further intercourse with Spirits, but ever after- wards, it was always said he knew how to keep Christ- mas well, if any man alive possessed that knowledge., May that truly be said of us, and al of us! And so, as Tiny T im ob- served, God bless us every- one! HOLIDAY FOOD CUSTOMS FROM AROUND WORLD Among the greatest pleasures of the holiday season are the many delicious foods prepared at this time. Old World recipes make Christmas meals and holi- day parties truly special. Handed down, from genera- tion to generation, such festive treats are holiday traditions in many American homes as well. Austrians are famous for creating Salsburger Nockerl. Like a souffle, the iemon-fiavored egg-and- butter cake should be served straight frorn the oven. Top- ped with powderçd sugar, Nockerl is a delightful breakfast or dessert treat. Steam-baked Regal Plum Pudding is a British holiday tradition. The bread, suet, fruit, and nut mixture is gen- erally baked in a decorative mold, making a lovely cen- terpiece before serving. Popular Norwegian treats at Christmastimeý ar, the cookies known as "Medal- jer," or medallions. These cherry-decorated cookies and butter cookies are Nor- wegian favorites for the holi- days. 1 / 1 Aitbough the Greek Christmas Day begins with fasting, evening dininer is by no means a meager meal. "Ovo-Lemono," :a savory egg-lemon, soup, lis servcd with Christoposomo, an elaborately shaped ycast bread that's a rnust in cvcry Greek househ-old at holiday time. The New World has its own holiday food tradition, of course. For a main course, American roast turkey and chestnut stuff- ing is a popularly featured entree. May your holidays be hies wlth dreanis tulfIlledl and1 hopes renewed. Fmom the Fred Obrisi FamiIy of Fred's Fru it Mark Hwy. 115 and 35 M M M M ~sed M M M M M et I 983.5628 M Piling up stacks ofm m Yuletide wishes for a warm and festive Iholiday! Serving you ~is a privlege . . . thanks] Doug and Chris Pingle and Staff PQntypool gOeneral Store Hampton