MARLEY'S GHOST

Marley was dead: to
begin with. There is
no doubt whatever
about that. The
register of his
burial was signed
by the clergyman,
the clerk, the
undertaker, and the
chief mourner.
Scrooge signed it.
And Scrooge's name
was good upon
'Change, for
anything he chose
to put his hand to.
Old Marley was as
dead as a door-nail.
Mind! I don't mean
to say that I know,
of my own
knowledge, what
there is particularly
dead about a door-
nail. I might have
been inclined,
myself, to regard a
coffin-nail as the
deadest piece of
ironmongery in the
trade. But the
wisdom of our
ancestors is in the
simile; and my
unhallowed hands
shall not disturb it,
or the Country's
done for. You will
therefore permit me
to repeat,
emphatically, that
Marley was as dead
as a door-nail.
Scrooge knew he
was dead? Of
course he did. How
could it be
otherwise? Scrooge
and he were
partners for I don't
know how many
years. Scrooge was
his sole executor,
his sole
administrator, his
sole assign, his sole
residuary legatee,
his sole friend, and
sole mourner. And
even Scrooge was
not so dreadfully
cut up by the sad
event, but that he
was an excellent
man of business on
the very day of the
funeral, and
solemnised it with
an undoubted
bargain.
The mention of
Marley's funeral
brings me back to
the point I started
from. There is no
doubt that Marley
was dead. This
must be distinctly
understood, or
nothing wonderful
can come of the
story I am going to
relate. If we were
not perfectly
convinced that
Hamlet's Father
died before the
play began, there
would be nothing
more remarkable in
his taking a stroll
at night, in an
easterly wind, upon
his own ramparts,
than there would
be in any other
middle-aged
gentleman rashly
turning out after
dark in a breezy
spot -- say Saint
Paul's Churchyard
for instance --
literally to astonish
his son's weak
mind.
Scrooge never
painted out Old
Marley's name.
There it stood,
years afterwards,
above the ware-
house door: Scrooge
and Marley. The
firm was known as
Scrooge and Marley.
Sometimes people
new to the business
called Scrooge
Scrooge, and
sometimes Marley,
but he answered to
both names. It was
all the same to
him.
Oh! But he was a
tight-fisted hand at
the grindstone,
Scrooge! a
squeezing,
wrenching,
grasping, scraping,
clutching, covetous
old sinner! Hard
and sharp as flint,
from which no steel
had ever struck out
generous fire;
secret, and self-
contained, and
solitary as an
oyster. The cold
within him froze his
old features,
nipped his pointed
nose, shrivelled his
cheek, stiffened his
gait; made his eyes
red, his thin lips
blue; and spoke out
shrewdly in his
grating voice. A
frosty rime was on
his head, and on
his eyebrows, and
his wiry chin. He
carried his own low
temperature always
about with him; he
iced his office in
the dog-days; and
didn't thaw it one
degree at
Christmas.
External heat and
cold had little
influence on
Scrooge. No warmth
could warm, no
wintry weather chill
him. No wind that
blew was bitterer
than he, no falling
snow was more
intent upon its
purpose, no pelting
rain less open to
entreaty. Foul
weather didn't
know where to have
him. The heaviest
rain, and snow, and
hail, and sleet,
could boast of the
advantage over him
in only one respect.
They often came
down handsomely,
and Scrooge never
did.
Nobody ever
stopped him in the
street to say, with
gladsome looks,
``My dear Scrooge,
how are you. When
will you come to
see me.'' No
beggars implored
him to bestow a
trifle, no children
asked him what it
was o'clock, no man
or woman ever once
in all his life
inquired the way to
such and such a
place, of Scrooge.
Even the
blindmen's dogs
appeared to know
him; and when they
saw him coming on,
would tug their
owners into
doorways and up
courts; and then
would wag their
tails as though they
said, ``No eye at
all is better than
an evil eye, dark
master! ''
But what did
Scrooge care! It was
the very thing he
liked. To edge his
way along the
crowded paths of
life, warning all
human sympathy to
keep its distance,
was what the
knowing ones call
nuts to Scrooge.
Once upon a time --
of all the good days
in the year, on
Christmas Eve -- old
Scrooge sat busy in
his counting-house.
It was cold, bleak,
biting weather:
foggy withal: and
he could hear the
people in the court
outside, go
wheezing up and
down, beating their
hands upon their
breasts, and
stamping their feet
upon the pavement
stones to warm
them. The city
clocks had only just
gone three, but it
was quite dark
already: it had not
been light all day:
and candles were
flaring in the
windows of the
neighbouring
offices, like ruddy
smears upon the
palpable brown air.
The fog came
pouring in at every
chink and keyhole,
and was so dense
without, that
although the court
was of the
narrowest, the
houses opposite
were mere
phantoms. To see
the dingy cloud
come drooping
down, obscuring
everything, one
might have thought
that Nature lived
hard by, and was
brewing on a large
scale.
The door of
Scrooge's counting-
house was open
that he might keep
his eye upon his
clerk, who in a
dismal little cell
beyond, a sort of
tank, was copying
letters. Scrooge had
a very small fire,
but the clerk's fire
was so very much
smaller that it
looked like one
coal. But he
couldn't replenish
it, for Scrooge kept
the coal-box in his
own room; and so
surely as the clerk
came in with the
shovel, the master
predicted that it
would be necessary
for them to part.
Wherefore the clerk
put on his white
comforter, and tried
to warm himself at
the candle; in
which effort, not
being a man of a
strong imagination,
he failed.
``A merry
Christmas, uncle!
God save you!''
cried a cheerful
voice. It was the
voice of Scrooge's
nephew, who came
upon him so quickly
that this was the
first intimation he
had of his
approach.
``Bah!'' said
Scrooge,
``Humbug!''
He had so heated
himself with rapid
walking in the fog
and frost, this
nephew of
Scrooge's, that he
was all in a glow;
his face was ruddy
and handsome; his
eyes sparkled, and
his breath smoked
again.
``Christmas a
humbug, uncle!''
said Scrooge's
nephew. ``You
don't mean that, I
am sure.''
``I do,'' said
Scrooge. ``Merry
Christmas! What
right have you to
be merry? what
reason have you to
be merry? You're
poor enough.''
``Come, then,''
returned the
nephew gaily.
``What right have
you to be dismal?
what reason have
you to be morose?
You're rich
enough.''
Scrooge having no
better answer ready
on the spur of the
moment, said,
``Bah!'' again; and
followed it up with
``Humbug.''
``Don't be cross,
uncle,'' said the
nephew.
``What else can I
be,'' returned the
uncle, ``when I live
in such a world of
fools as this Merry
Christmas! Out
upon merry
Christmas. What's
Christmas time to
you but a time for
paying bills without
money; a time for
finding yourself a
year older, but not
an hour richer; a
time for balancing
your books and
having every item
in 'em through a
round dozen of
months presented
dead against you?
If I could work my
will,'' said Scrooge
indignantly, ``every
idiot who goes
about with ``Merry
Christmas'' on his
lips, should be
boiled with his own
pudding, and
buried with a stake
of holly through his
heart. He should!''
``Uncle!'' pleaded
the nephew.
``Nephew!''
returned the uncle,
sternly, ``keep
Christmas in your
own way, and let
me keep it in
mine.''
``Keep it!''
repeated Scrooge's
nephew. ``But you
don't keep it.''
``Let me leave it
alone, then,'' said
Scrooge. ``Much
good may it do you!
Much good it has
ever done you!''
``There are many
things from which I
might have derived
good, by which I
have not profited, I
dare say,'' returned
the nephew:
``Christmas among
the rest. But I am
sure I have always
thought of
Christmas time,
when it has come
round -- apart from
the veneration due
to its sacred name
and origin, if
anything belonging
to it can be apart
from that -- as a
good time: a kind,
forgiving,
charitable, pleasant
time: the only time
I know of, in the
long calendar of the
year, when men and
women seem by one
consent to open
their shut-up
hearts freely, and to
think of people
below them as if
they really were
fellow-passengers to
the grave, and not
another race of
creatures bound on
other journeys. And
therefore, uncle,
though it has never
put a scrap of gold
or silver in my
pocket, I believe
that it has done me
good, and will do
me good; and I say,
God bless it!''
The clerk in the
tank involuntarily
applauded.
Becoming
immediately
sensible of the
impropriety, he
poked the fire, and
extinguished the
last frail spark for
ever.
``Let me hear
another sound from
you,'' said Scrooge,
`` and you'll keep
your Christmas by
losing your
situation. You're
quite a powerful
speaker, sir,'' he
added, turning to
his nephew. ``I
wonder you don't
go into Parliament.''
``Don't be angry,
uncle. Come! Dine
with us to-morrow.''
Scrooge said that
he would see him --
yes, indeed he did.
He went the whole
length of the
expression, and
said that he would
see him in that
extremity first.
``But why?'' cried
Scrooge's nephew.
``Why?''
``Why did you get
married?'' said
Scrooge.
``Because I fell in
love.''
``Because you fell
in love!'' growled
Scrooge, as if that
were the only one
thing in the world
more ridiculous
than a merry
Christmas. ``Good
afternoon!''
``Nay, uncle, but
you never came to
see me before that
happened. Why give
it as a reason for
not coming now?''
``Good afternoon,''
said Scrooge.
``I want nothing
from you; I ask
nothing of you; why
cannot we be
friends?''
``Good afternoon,''
said Scrooge.
``I am sorry, with
all my heart, to find
you so resolute. We
have never had any
quarrel, to which I
have been a party.
But I have made
the trial in homage
to Christmas, and
I'll keep my
Christmas humour
to the last. So A
Merry Christmas,
uncle!''
``Good afternoon!''
said Scrooge.
``And A Happy New
Year!''
``Good afternoon!''
said Scrooge.
His nephew left the
room without an
angry word,
notwithstanding. He
stopped at the
outer door to
bestow the greeting
of the season on
the clerk, who, cold
as he was, was
warmer than
Scrooge; for he
returned them
cordially.
``There's another
fellow,'' muttered
Scrooge; who
overheard him:
``my clerk, with
fifteen shillings a
week, and a wife
and family, talking
about a merry
Christmas. I'll retire
to Bedlam.''
This lunatic, in
letting Scrooge's
nephew out, had let
two other people
in. They were portly
gentlemen,
pleasant to behold,
and now stood, with
their hats off, in
Scrooge's office.
They had books and
papers in their
hands, and bowed
to him.
``Scrooge and
Marley's, I believe,''
said one of the
gentlemen,
referring to his list.
``Have I the
pleasure of
addressing Mr
Scrooge, or Mr
Marley?''
``Mr Marley has
been dead these
seven years,''
Scrooge replied.
``He died seven
years ago, this very
night.''
``We have no
doubt his liberality
is well represented
by his surviving
partner,'' said the
gentleman,
presenting his
credentials.
It certainly was; for
they had been two
kindred spirits. At
the ominous word
``liberality'',
Scrooge frowned,
and shook his head,
and handed the
credentials back.
``At this festive
season of the year,
Mr Scrooge,'' said
the gentleman,
taking up a pen,
``it is more than
usually desirable
that we should
make some slight
provision for the
Poor and destitute,
who suffer greatly
at the present time.
Many thousands
are in want of
common
necessaries;
hundreds of
thousands are in
want of common
comforts, sir.''
``Are there no
prisons?'' asked
Scrooge.
``Plenty of
prisons,'' said the
gentleman, laying
down the pen
again.
``And the Union
workhouses?''
demanded Scrooge.
``Are they still in
operation?''
``They are. Still,''
returned the
gentleman, `` I
wish I could say
they were not.''
``The Treadmill
and the Poor Law
are in full vigour,
then?'' said
Scrooge.
``Both very busy,
sir.''
``Oh! I was afraid,
from what you said
at first, that
something had
occurred to stop
them in their useful
course,'' said
Scrooge. ``I'm very
glad to hear it.''
``Under the
impression that
they scarcely
furnish Christian
cheer of mind or
body to the
multitude,''
returned the
gentleman, ``a few
of us are
endeavouring to
raise a fund to buy
the Poor some meat
and drink, and
means of warmth.
We choose this
time, because it is
a time, of all others,
when Want is
keenly felt, and
Abundance rejoices.
What shall I put
you down for?''
``Nothing!'' Scrooge
replied.
``You wish to be
anonymous?''
``I wish to be left
alone,'' said
Scrooge. ``Since
you ask me what I
wish, gentlemen,
that is my answer. I
don't make merry
myself at Christmas
and I can't afford to
make idle people
merry. I help to
support the
establishments I
have mentioned:
they cost enough:
and those who are
badly off must go
there.''
``Many can't go
there; and many
would rather die.''
``If they would
rather die,'' said
Scrooge, ``they had
better do it, and
decrease the
surplus population.
Besides -- excuse
me -- I don't know
that.''
``But you might
know it,'' observed
the gentleman.
``It's not my
business,'' Scrooge
returned. ``It's
enough for a man
to understand his
own business, and
not to interfere
with other people's.
Mine occupies me
constantly. Good
afternoon,
gentlemen!''
Seeing clearly that
it would be useless
to pursue their
point, the
gentlemen
withdrew. Scrooge
resumed his
labours with an
improved opinion of
himself, and in a
more facetious
temper than was
usual with him.
Meanwhile the fog
and darkness
thickened so, that
people ran about
with flaring links,
proffering their
services to go
before horses in
carriages, and
conduct them on
their way. The
ancient tower of a
church, whose gruff
old bell was always
peeping slily down
at Scrooge out of a
gothic window in
the wall, became
invisible, and struck
the hours and
quarters in the
clouds, with
tremulous
vibrations
afterwards as if its
teeth were
chattering in its
frozen head up
there. The cold
became intense. In
the main street, at
the corner of the
court, some
labourers were
repairing the gas-
pipes, and had
lighted a great fire
in a brazier, round
which a party of
ragged men and
boys were gathered:
warming their
hands and winking
their eyes before
the blaze in
rapture. The water-
plug being left in
solitude, its
overflowings
sullenly congealed,
and turned to
misanthropic ice.
The brightness of
the shops where
holly sprigs and
berries crackled in
the lamp-heat of
the windows, made
pale faces ruddy as
they passed.
Poulterers' and
grocers' trades
became a splendid
joke: a glorious
pageant, with which
it was next to
impossible to
believe that such
dull principles as
bargain and sale
had anything to do.
The Lord Mayor, in
the stronghold of
the might Mansion
House, gave orders
to his fifty cooks
and butlers to keep
Christmas as a Lord
Mayor's household
should; and even
the little tailor,
whom he had fined
five shillings on the
previous Monday for
being drunk and
bloodthirsty in the
streets, stirred up
tomorrow's pudding
in his garret, while
his lean wife and
the baby sallied
out to buy the beef.
Foggier yet, and
colder! Piercing,
searching, biting
cold. If the good
Saint Dunstan had
but nipped the Evil
Spirit's nose with a
touch of such
weather as that,
instead of using his
familiar weapons,
then indeed he
would have roared
to lusty purpose.
The owner of one
scant young nose,
gnawed and
mumbled by the
hungry cold as
bones are gnawed
by dogs, stooped
down at Scrooge's
keyhole to regale
him with a
Christmas carol:
but at the first
sound of God bless
you, merry
gentleman! May
nothing you
dismay! Scrooge
seized the ruler
with such energy of
action that the
singer fled in terror,
leaving the keyhole
to the fog and even
more congenial
frost.
At length the hour
of shutting up the
counting-house
arrived. With an ill-
will Scrooge
dismounted from
his stool, and
tacitly admitted the
fact to the
expectant clerk in
the Tank, who
instantly snuffed
his candle out, and
put on his hat.
``You'll want all
day tomorrow, I
suppose?'' said
Scrooge.
``If quite
convenient, Sir.''
``It's not
convenient,'' said
Scrooge, ``and it's
not fair. If I was to
stop half-a-crown
for it, you'd think
yourself ill-used, I
'll be bound?''
The clerk smiled
faintly.
``And yet,'' said
Scrooge, ``you
don't think me ill-
used, when I pay a
day's wages for no
work.''
The clerk observed
that it was only
once a year.
``A poor excuse for
picking a man's
pocket every
twenty-fifth of
December!'' said
Scrooge, buttoning
his great-coat to
the chin. ``But I
suppose you must
have the whole day.
Be here all the
earlier next
morning!''
The clerk promised
that he would; and
Scrooge walked out
with a growl. The
office was closed in
a twinkling, and the
clerk, with the long
ends of his white
comforter dangling
below his waist (for
he boasted no
great-coat), went
down a slide on
Cornhill, at the end
of a lane of boys,
twenty times, in
honour of its being
Christmas Eve, and
then ran home to
Camden Town as
hard as he could
pelt, to play at
blindman's buff.
Scrooge took his
melancholy dinner
in his usual
melancholy tavern;
and having read all
the newspapers,
and beguiled the
rest of the evening
with his banker's-
book, went home to
bed. He lived in
chambers which
had once belonged
to his deceased
partner. They were
a gloomy suite of
rooms, in a lowering
pile of building up
a yard, where it had
so little business to
be, that one could
scarcely help
fancying it must
have run there
when it was a
young house,
playing at hide-and-
seek with other
houses, and have
forgotten the way
out again. It was
old enough now,
and dreary enough,
for nobody lived in
it but Scrooge, the
other rooms being
all let out as
offices. The yard
was so dark that
even Scrooge, who
knew its every
stone, was fain to
grope with his
hands. The fog and
frost so hung about
the black old
gateway of the
house, that it
seemed as if the
Genius of the
Weather sat in
mournful
meditation on the
threshold.
Now, it is a fact,
that there was
nothing at all
particular about the
knocker on the
door, except that it
was very large. It is
also a fact, that
Scrooge had seen it,
night and morning,
during his whole
residence in that
place; also that
Scrooge had as
little of what is
called fancy about
him as any man in
the City of London,
even including --
which is a bold
word -- the
corporation,
aldermen, and
livery. Let it also be
borne in mind that
Scrooge had not
bestowed one
thought on Marley,
since his last
mention of his
seven-year's dead
partner that
afternoon. And then
let any man explain
to me, if he can,
how it happened
that Scrooge, having
his key in the lock
of the door, saw in
the knocker, without
its undergoing any
intermediate
process of change:
not a knocker, but
Marley's face.
Marley's face. It
was not in
impenetrable
shadow as the
other objects in the
yard were, but had
a dismal light
about it, like a bad
lobster in a dark
cellar. It was not
angry or ferocious,
but looked at
Scrooge as Marley
used to look: with
ghostly spectacles
turned up upon its
ghostly forehead.
The hair was
curiously stirred, as
if by breath or hot-
air; and, though
the eyes were wide
open, they were
perfectly
motionless. That,
and its livid colour,
made it horrible;
but its horror
seemed to be in
spite of the face
and beyond its
control, rather than
a part of its own
expression.
As Scrooge looked
fixedly at this
phenomenon, it was
a knocker again.
To say that he was
not startled, or that
his blood was not
conscious of a
terrible sensation to
which it had been a
stranger from
infancy, would be
untrue. But he put
his hand upon the
key he had
relinquished,
turned it sturdily,
walked in, and
lighted his candle.
He did pause, with
a moment's
irresolution, before
he shut the door;
and he did look
cautiously behind it
first, as if he half
expected to be
terrified with the
sight of Marley's
pigtail sticking out
into the hall. But
there was nothing
on the back of the
door, except the
screws and nuts
that held the
knocker on, so he
said ``Pooh, pooh!''
and closed it with a
bang.
The sound
resounded through
the house like
thunder. Every
room above, and
every cask in the
wine-merchant's
cellars below,
appeared to have a
separate peal of
echoes of its own.
Scrooge was not a
man to be
frightened by
echoes. He fastened
the door, and
walked across the
hall, and up the
stairs, slowly too:
trimming his candle
as he went.
You may talk
vaguely about
driving a coach-
and-six up a good
old flight of stairs,
or through a bad
young Act of
Parliament; but I
mean to say you
might have got a
hearse up that
staircase, and taken
it broadwise, with
the splinter-bar
towards the wall
and the door
towards the
balustrades: and
done it easy. There
was plenty of width
for that, and room
to spare; which is
perhaps the reason
why Scrooge
thought he saw a
locomotive hearse
going on before him
in the gloom. Half-
a-dozen gas-lamps
out of the street
wouldn't have
lighted the entry
too well, so you may
suppose that it was
pretty dark with
Scrooge's dip.
Up Scrooge went,
not caring a button
for that: darkness is
cheap, and Scrooge
liked it. But before
he shut his heavy
door, he walked
through his rooms
to see that all was
right. He had just
enough recollection
of the face to desire
to do that.
Sitting-room, bed-
room, lumber-room.
All as they should
be. Nobody under
the table, nobody
under the sofa; a
small fire in the
grate; spoon and
basin ready; and
the little saucepan
of gruel (Scrooge
has a cold in his
head) upon the
hob. Nobody under
the bed; nobody in
the closet; nobody
in his dressing-
gown, which was
hanging up in a
suspicious attitude
against the wall.
Lumber-room as
usual. Old fire-
guard, old shoes,
two fish-baskets,
washing-stand on
three legs, and a
poker.
Quite satisfied, he
closed his door, and
locked himself in;
double-locked
himself in, which
was not his custom.
Thus secured
against surprise, he
took off his cravat;
put on his
dressing-gown and
slippers, and his
night-cap; and sat
down before the
fire to take his
gruel.
It was a very low
fire indeed; nothing
on such a bitter
night. He was
obliged to sit close
to it, and brood
over it, before he
could extract the
least sensation of
warmth from such a
handful of fuel. The
fireplace was an old
one, built by some
Dutch merchant
long ago, and paved
all round with
quaint Dutch tiles,
designed to
illustrate the
Scriptures. There
were Cains and
Abels, Pharaoh's
daughters, Queens
of Sheba, Angelic
messengers
descending through
the air on clouds
like feather-beds,
Abrahams,
Belshazzars,
Apostles putting off
to sea in butter-
boats, hundreds of
figures to attract
his thoughts; and
yet that face of
Marley, seven years
dead, came like the
ancient Prophet's
rod, and swallowed
up the whole. If
each smooth tile
had been a blank at
first, with power to
shape some picture
on its surface from
the disjointed
fragments of his
thoughts, there
would have been a
copy of old Marley's
head on every one.
``Humbug!'' said
Scrooge; and walked
across the room.
After several turns,
he sat down again.
As he threw his
head back in the
chair, his glance
happened to rest
upon a bell, a
disused bell, that
hung in the room,
and communicated
for some purpose
now forgotten with
a chamber in the
highest story of the
building. It was
with great
astonishment, and
with a strange,
inexplicable dread,
that as he looked,
he saw this bell
begin to swing. It
swung so softly in
the outset that it
scarcely made a
sound; but soon it
rang out loudly,
and so did every
bell in the house.
This might have
lasted half a
minute, or a
minute, but it
seemed an hour.
The bells ceased as
they had begun,
together. They were
succeeded by a
clanking noise,
deep down below;
as if some person
were dragging a
heavy chain over
the casks in the
wine-merchant's
cellar. Scrooge then
remembered to
have heard that
ghosts in haunted
houses were
described as
dragging chains.
The cellar-door flew
open with a
booming sound,
and then he heard
the noise much
louder, on the
floors below; then
coming up the
stairs; then coming
straight towards his
door.
``It's humbug
still!'' said Scrooge.
``I won't believe
it.''
His colour changed
though, when,
without a pause, it
came on through
the heavy door, and
passed into the
room before his
eyes. Upon its
coming in, the
dying flame leaped
up, as though it
cried, ``I know
him! Marley's
Ghost!'' and fell
again.
The same face: the
very same. Marley
in his pigtail, usual
waistcoat, tights,
and boots; the
tassels on the latter
bristling, like his
pigtail, and his
coat-skirts, and the
hair upon his head.
The chain he drew
was clasped about
his middle. It was
long, and wound
about him like a
tail; and it was
made (for Scrooge
observed it closely)
of cash-boxes, keys,
padlocks, ledgers,
deeds, and heavy
purses wrought in
steel. His body was
transparent; so that
Scrooge, observing
him, and looking
through his
waistcoat, could see
the two buttons on
his coat behind.
Scrooge had often
heard it said that
Marley had no
bowels, but he had
never believed it
until now.
No, nor did he
believe it even now.
Though he looked
the phantom
through and
through, and saw it
standing before
him; though he felt
the chilling
influence of its
death-cold eyes;
and marked the
very texture of the
folded kerchief
bound about its
head and chin,
which wrapper he
had not observed
before; he was still
incredulous, and
fought against his
senses.
``How now!'' said
Scrooge, caustic and
cold as ever.
``What do you
want with me?''
``Much!'' --
Marley's voice, no
doubt about it.
``Who are you?''
``Ask me who I
was.''
``Who were you
then.'' said Scrooge,
raising his voice.
``You're particular,
for a shade.'' He
was going to say
`` to a shade,'' but
substituted this, as
more appropriate.
``In life I was your
partner, Jacob
Marley.''
``Can you -- can
you sit down?''
asked Scrooge,
looking doubtfully
at him.
``I can.''
``Do it, then.''
Scrooge asked the
question, because
he didn't know
whether a ghost so
transparent might
find himself in a
condition to take a
chair; and felt that
in the event of its
being impossible, it
might involve the
necessity of an
embarrassing
explanation. But
the ghost sat down
on the opposite
side of the
fireplace, as if he
were quite used to
it.
``You don't believe
in me,'' observed
the Ghost.
``I don't,'' said
Scrooge.
``What evidence
would you have of
my reality beyond
that of your
senses?''
``I don't know,''
said Scrooge.
``Why do you
doubt your senses?''
``Because,'' said
Scrooge, ``a little
thing affects them.
A slight disorder of
the stomach makes
them cheats. You
may be an
undigested bit of
beef, a blot of
mustard, a crumb of
cheese, a fragment
of an underdone
potato. There's
more of gravy than
of grave about you,
whatever you are!''
Scrooge was not
much in the habit
of cracking jokes,
nor did he feel, in
his heart, by any
means waggish
then. The truth is,
that he tried to be
smart, as a means
of distracting his
own attention, and
keeping down his
terror; for the
spectre's voice
disturbed the very
marrow in his
bones.
To sit, staring at
those fixed, glazed
eyes, in silence for
a moment, would
play, Scrooge felt,
the very deuce with
him. There was
something very
awful, too, in the
spectre's being
provided with an
infernal atmosphere
of its own. Scrooge
could not feel it
himself, but this
was clearly the
case; for though
the Ghost sat
perfectly
motionless, its hair,
and skirts, and
tassels, were still
agitated as by the
hot vapour from an
oven.
``You see this
toothpick?'' said
Scrooge, returning
quickly to the
charge, for the
reason just
assigned; and
wishing, though it
were only for a
second, to divert
the vision's stony
gaze from himself.
``I do,'' replied the
Ghost.
``You are not
looking at it,'' said
Scrooge.
``But I see it,''
said the Ghost,
``notwithstanding.''
``Well!'' returned
Scrooge, ``I have
but to swallow this,
and be for the rest
of my days
persecuted by a
legion of goblins, all
of my own creation.
Humbug, I tell you;
humbug!''
At this the spirit
raised a frightful
cry, and shook its
chain with such a
dismal and
appalling noise,
that Scrooge held
on tight to his
chair, to save
himself from falling
in a swoon. But
how much greater
was his horror,
when the phantom
taking off the
bandage round its
head, as if it were
too warm to wear
in-doors, its lower
jaw dropped down
upon its breast!
Scrooge fell upon
his knees, and
clasped his hands
before his face.
``Mercy!'' he said.
``Dreadful
apparition, why do
you trouble me?''
``Man of the
worldly mind!''
replied the Ghost,
``do you believe in
me or not?''
``I do,'' said
Scrooge. ``I must.
But why do spirits
walk the earth, and
why do they come
to me?''
``It is required of
every man,'' the
Ghost returned,
``that the spirit
within him should
walk abroad among
his fellow-men, and
travel far and wide;
and if that spirit
goes not forth in
life, it is
condemned to do so
after death. It is
doomed to wander
through the world --
oh, woe is me! --
and witness what it
cannot share, but
might have shared
on earth, and
turned to
happiness!''
Again the spectre
raised a cry, and
shook its chain, and
wrung its shadowy
hands.
``You are fettered,''
said Scrooge,
trembling. ``Tell
me why?''
``I wear the chain
I forged in life,''
replied the Ghost.
``I made it link by
link, and yard by
yard; I girded it on
of my own free will,
and of my own free
will I wore it. Is its
pattern strange to
you?''
Scrooge trembled
more and more.
``Or would you
know,'' pursued the
Ghost, ``the weight
and length of the
strong coil you bear
yourself? It was full
as heavy and as
long as this, seven
Christmas Eves ago.
You have laboured
on it, since. It is a
ponderous chain!''
Scrooge glanced
about him on the
floor, in the
expectation of
finding himself
surrounded by
some fifty or sixty
fathoms of iron
cable: but he could
see nothing.
``Jacob,'' he said,
imploringly. ``Old
Jacob Marley, tell
me more. Speak
comfort to me,
Jacob.''
``I have none to
give,'' the Ghost
replied. ``It comes
from other regions,
Ebenezer Scrooge,
and is conveyed by
other ministers, to
other kinds of men.
Nor can I tell you
what I would. A
very little more, is
all permitted to me.
I cannot rest, I
cannot stay, I
cannot linger
anywhere. My spirit
never walked
beyond our
counting-house --
mark me! -- in life
my spirit never
roved beyond the
narrow limits of our
money-changing
hole; and weary
journeys lie before
me!''
It was a habit with
Scrooge, whenever
he became
thoughtful, to put
his hands in his
breeches pockets.
Pondering on what
the Ghost had said,
he did so now, but
without lifting up
his eyes, or getting
off his knees.
``You must have
been very slow
about it, Jacob,''
Scrooge observed,
in a business-like
manner, though
with humility and
deference.
``Slow!'' the Ghost
repeated.
``Seven years
dead,'' mused
Scrooge. ``And
travelling all the
time?''
``The whole time,''
said the Ghost.
``No rest, no
peace. Incessant
torture of remorse.''
``You travel fast?''
said Scrooge.
``On the wings of
the wind,'' replied
the Ghost.
``You might have
got over a great
quantity of ground
in seven years,''
said Scrooge.
The Ghost, on
hearing this, set up
another cry, and
clanked its chain so
hideously in the
dead silence of the
night, that the
Ward would have
been justified in
indicting it for a
nuisance.
``Oh! captive,
bound, and double-
ironed,'' cried the
phantom, ``not to
know, that ages of
incessant labour by
immortal creatures,
for this earth must
pass into eternity
before the good of
which it is
susceptible is all
developed. Not to
know that any
Christian spirit
working kindly in its
little sphere,
whatever it may be,
will find its mortal
life too short for its
vast means of
usefulness. Not to
know that no space
of regret can make
amends for one
life's opportunities
misused! Yet such
was I! Oh! such was
I!''
``But you were
always a good man
of business, Jacob,''
faultered Scrooge,
who now began to
apply this to
himself.
``Business!'' cried
the Ghost, wringing
its hands again.
``Mankind was my
business. The
common welfare
was my business;
charity, mercy,
forbearance, and
benevolence, were,
all, my business.
The dealings of my
trade were but a
drop of water in the
comprehensive
ocean of my
business!''
It held up its chain
at arm's length, as
if that were the
cause of all its
unavailing grief,
and flung it heavily
upon the ground
again.
``At this time of
the rolling year,''
the spectre said,
``I suffer most.
Why did I walk
through crowds of
fellow-beings with
my eyes turned
down, and never
raise them to that
blessed Star which
led the Wise Men
to a poor abode?
Were there no poor
homes to which its
light would have
conducted me! ''
Scrooge was very
much dismayed to
hear the spectre
going on at this
rate, and began to
quake exceedingly.
``Hear me!'' cried
the Ghost. ``My
time is nearly
gone.''
``I will,'' said
Scrooge. ``But
don't be hard upon
me! Don't be
flowery, Jacob!
Pray!''
``How it is that I
appear before you
in a shape that you
can see, I may not
tell. I have sat
invisible beside you
many and many a
day.''
It was not an
agreeable idea.
Scrooge shivered,
and wiped the
perspiration from
his brow.
``That is no light
part of my
penance,'' pursued
the Ghost. ``I am
here to-night to
warn you, that you
have yet a chance
and hope of
escaping my fate. A
chance and hope of
my procuring,
Ebenezer.''
``You were always
a good friend to
me,'' said Scrooge.
``Thank'ee!''
``You will be
haunted,'' resumed
the Ghost, ``by
Three Spirits.''
Scrooge's
countenance fell
almost as low as
the Ghost's had
done.
``Is that the
chance and hope
you mentioned,
Jacob?'' he
demanded, in a
faltering voice.
``It is.''
``I -- I think I'd
rather not,'' said
Scrooge.
``Without their
visits,'' said the
Ghost, ``you
cannot hope to
shun the path I
tread. Expect the
first to-morrow,
when the bell tolls
One.''
``Couldn't I take
'em all at once, and
have it over,
Jacob?'' hinted
Scrooge.
``Expect the
second on the next
night at the same
hour. The third
upon the next
night when the last
stroke of Twelve has
ceased to vibrate.
Look to see me no
more; and look that,
for your own sake,
you remember what
has passed
between us.''
When it had said
these words, the
spectre took its
wrapper from the
table, and bound it
round its head, as
before. Scrooge
knew this, by the
smart sound its
teeth made, when
the jaws were
brought together by
the bandage. He
ventured to raise
his eyes again, and
found his
supernatural visitor
confronting him in
an erect attitude,
with its chain
wound over and
about its arm.
The apparition
walked backward
from him; and at
every step it took,
the window raised
itself a little, so
that when the
spectre reached it,
it was wide open.
It beckoned Scrooge
to approach, which
he did. When they
were within two
paces of each other,
Marley's Ghost held
up its hand,
warning him to
come no nearer.
Scrooge stopped.
Not so much in
obedience, as in
surprise and fear:
for on the raising of
the hand, he
became sensible of
confused noises in
the air; incoherent
sounds of
lamentation and
regret; wailings
inexpressibly
sorrowful and self-
accusatory. The
spectre, after
listening for a
moment, joined in
the mournful dirge;
and floated out
upon the bleak,
dark night.
Scrooge followed to
the window:
desperate in his
curiosity. He looked
out.
The air was filled
with phantoms,
wandering hither
and thither in
restless haste, and
moaning as they
went. Every one of
them wore chains
like Marley's Ghost;
some few (they
might be guilty
governments) were
linked together;
none were free.
Many had been
personally known to
Scrooge in their
lives. He had been
quite familiar with
one old ghost, in a
white waistcoat,
with a monstrous
iron safe attached
to its ankle, who
cried piteously at
being unable to
assist a wretched
woman with an
infant, whom it saw
below, upon a door-
step. The misery
with them all was,
clearly, that they
sought to interfere,
for good, in human
matters, and had
lost the power for
ever.
Whether these
creatures faded into
mist, or mist
enshrouded them,
he could not tell.
But they and their
spirit voices faded
together; and the
night became as it
had been when he
walked home.
Scrooge closed the
window, and
examined the door
by which the Ghost
had entered. It was
double-locked, as
he had locked it
with his own hands,
and the bolts were
undisturbed. He
tried to say
``Humbug!'' but
stopped at the first
syllable. And being,
from the emotion
he had undergone,
or the fatigues of
the day, or his
glimpse of the
Invisible World, or
the dull
conversation of the
Ghost, or the
lateness of the
hour, much in need
of repose; went
straight to bed,
without undressing,
and fell asleep
upon the instant.

Plastic rose for u

Thuppaki

Today she went to thuppaki film with her friends for evening show, the special thing is that this is the first she is seeing same movie for a second time in theatre, well done karadi

Karadiyin kaadhal 6

   One day there is a call from our classmate viji , regarding invitation for her sister marriage in calicut, viji is lover rajan who also my classmate working in nearby Bangalore , so we decided to go for that marriage.
  There is a 10 days gap between the marriage, our classmate sendil came to see me, I took him to hostel for lunch, that I over advantage her by calling her name very closely.

TRIP TO MAHE
One fine evening both of us joined together to go to majestic bus stand, by the way we pick anandhi classmate and rajan . It is around 8 in the evening , we roamed here and there for purchasing gift, but we didn't find good one, so we thought of buying in mahe itself. So we searched for buses, unfortunately we didn't get any bus. So we went to coimbatore, and took passenger train to reach mahe, it is a good journey we four talked a lot, I do many naughty things so that she always looks at me. I was like manic.
  We reached mahe and stayed in binni home for a nit , next day we went to marriage hall in a car, I did unnecessary joking, on the way we bought gift , there is a welcome party in bride's home, we wished her and gave the gift, then we took food, I like that chicken piece .
  Next we went to groom home for reception  , then we take bus to reach calicut beach, I didn't talk that much with her, I always teased her, we enjoyed a lot in beach, then we take train to reach banglore, it is fully loaded with people, that time rajan was sitting very close with her, I didn't like that instance .
We reached banglore bus stand, we took another bus for kolar, it was a mix up of happiness and experience .
   After that travel I started to go to her room, esp in the evening time. We will chat a while and I will return to my room for sleep. I told her all about my past life. She
Likes my story, she feels for me, then she started to like my character. Days passed slowly . That is a valentine day, she told me that opposite to our college one boy wearing green shirt and sighting the cow girl and laughed. But I didn't watch, then we used to eat in bakery in evening,
Next month is march , the Easter Sunday is on 23 march, so she started fasting of not eating non vegetarian foods. She regularly goes to church on Sundays .
College is closed for Easter holiday.  So we planned to go native for a week, on 18 Tuesday evening we went for shopping in m.g.road and we took her favourite snacks paanipoori, then we roamed a while, suddenly I got an idea to give gift for her . So we went to shop and I asked herself to select a gift, she selected a cute doll like her,we finished paying money and came to our room, next day is Wednesday the important day in our life, college is half working day , she is on her first day of periods which I don't know, so she is feeling very tired,
Much awaiting things  is on next part

Karadiyin kaadhal 9

She went to home and sms that she had reached safely, then I said good night. Next day we were talking in sms, the day has passed . Her sister also came to home for leave, it may be around night 10 o'clock, I expressed my feeling in sms, many confusion are going in my thoughts, though I develop some gut and I told her
   """"I LOVE YOU :'(""""

I was waiting for her reply, oh no, she too said the same, I never expected in my life. That is the moment she engaged fully in my heart. For the whole night we talked like anything.

Next morning there is lot of pimple in her face, there is some different in her talks, eyes are roaming here and there, she is more active, legs are always running, feeling appetite but forget to take food, she is not talking that much time  with sister. Everything was noted by her sister . Finally she revealed about her love to sister.

As like any other sister she said stop loving me, it will spoil the family peace and future as I was Hindu, they are Christian, then she was in confused state,

Karadi face became dull, all her energy went down, so her sister advice, let dont love for 2 years , live without any contact with me, after 2 years if the same feeling present, then she herself helps in our marriage.

She told everything to me, I too feel sad , then the day goes very slowly, then I have booked ticket for our return , as usual she boarded in her native, she came and sat beside me. She told to keep distance between both, I didn't like that, I feel anger on myself . As the bus started moving, I talked with her, slowly she became convinced after a while.
To be cont.

Karadiyin kaadhal 8

What a fantastic travel that was? Then we reached hosur bus stand, we took one bus for tiruvannamalai, we sat in two chair seat like a newly wedded couple, bus started coming out of the bus stand as soon she started to lie on my shoulder without my intervent, I too feel nausea, but because of her my hormones peaked and I forget about thinking nausea, after 20 min interval she lied once again on my lap, I liked it very much.

   I prayed god to make the bus to go slowly, so that she lie more time in my lap, but fate the time is going more speed than the bus, we reached bus stand,

She wants to go toilet, so I keep her bag and standing outside the public toilet, she finished and came, after that we took one biscuit and maaza bottle for snacks, then we boarded to our native.

Once again we took another bus, locking like a couple, after sometime bus became very rush, though she didn't wake from my lap, that time I thought she may also loving me.

The time came to reach, first time we are going to miss each other like never before. Everything is like a dream, I never had such a wonderful life in my life.
Next part cont

Karadiyin kaadhal 7

அன்று சனிக்கிழமை கல்லூரி அறை நாள், மதிய உணவை முடித்தபின் நானு அவளும் ஒரு ஆட்டோவில் ஏறி பேருந்து நிலயைத்திற்குச் சென்றோம்.பின் மாளூர் சென்று ஓசூர் பேருந்தில் ஏறினோம். என் காதலும் அந்த பேருந்தில் தான் அரங்கேறியது.

என்ன ஒரு இதமான மாலை நேரம், வழியெங்கும் பச்சபைசேல் என்று நெற்கதிர்களும், சிவப்பு கம்பளம் விரிதது போல தக்காளி தோட்டங்களும், திராட்சை கொடிகளும் என் கண்களுக்கு விருந்தளித்தது. இயற்கையால் என் கண்ணுக்குமட்டும் தானே, என் மனதிற்கு விருந்தளிக்க அவளால் தானே முடியும்♥♥

நெருப்பும் பக்கத்தில் இருப்பது போல ,அவள் என் பக்கத்தில் ஒரு மென்மையான மலராய் தோன்றினால், நானும் ஒரு வண்டை போல அவளை மொய்க்க நினைத்தேன். அவள் மிகவும் அசதியாக இருந்தால், அவள் அசதி எனக்கு வசதியாக இருந்தது.

அவளிடம் மெல்லிய குரலில் "அன்பே உனக்கு மிகவும் அசதியாக ருந்தாள் என் தோள் மீது சாய்ந்துகொள்ளும்படி கேட்டேன், ஆனால் அவளின் பண்பு அதற்கு இடம் தரவில்லை. ஆகவே நானே அவளின் தலையை என் தோல் மீது சாய்த்தேன்.

   எனன ஒரு மணம்? அவளின் கூந்தல் இய்கையிலே இத்தனை மணம் வீசுதே என்றேன்.ஆனால் அவள் கூறினால் head  &  shoulder  பய்படுத்துவதாக!!

  பேருந்து மிதவேகத்தில் சென்றது.
  பின் என்மடி மீது ஒரு பேக்கை வைத்து அவளை படுக்கவைத்தேன். அவளும் சிறிது நேரம் உறங்கினால். அவள் போட்டிருந்த சுடிதாரின் தோலபட்டையின் ஓரமாக அவள் அணிந்தருந்த பிராவின் ஸ்டேரப் தெரிந்தது, அது என்மனதில் உணர்ச்சியை தூண்டியது. என் உடலில் இர்தஅழுத்தம் எகிரியது.என் ஐம்புலண்களையும் கட்டுபடுத்தியபின்  சுடிதாரின் ஷாலைகொண்டு மறைத்தேன். அவளுக்கே தெரியாமல் அவளின் கூந்தலை முத்தமிட்டேன். என் பிறவி பலனை அடைந்தேன்.