SCENE I.--_Adjoining room in Scrooge's house. Flat to

represent piles of turkeys, geese, game, poultry, joints of meat, sucking-pigs, strings of sausages, oysters, mince pies, plum-puddings, pears, apples, oranges, cakes and bowls of punch; also holly, mistletoe and ivy._

_The Spirit of Christmas Present_ R. [_a giant_], _discovered holding a glowing torch--shaped like a cornucopia, to shed its light on Scrooge's entrance._

_Spir._ Come in!

_Enter Scrooge, timidly_, L.

_Spir._ Come in, and know me better, man. You have never seen the like of me before.

_Scro._ Never.

_Spir._ Have never walked forthwith the younger members of my family, meaning--for I am very young--my elder brothers, born in these later years?

_Scro._ I don't think I have. I am afraid I have not. Have you had many brothers, Spirit?

_Spir._ More than eighteen hundred.

_Scro._ A tremendous family to provide for. Spirit, conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learned a lesson which is working now. To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.

_Spir._ Touch my robe, and remember that we are invisible, and unable to manifest our presence to those with whom we come in contact. Loose not your hold, lest you should lose yourself. [_Exeunt_ L.]