SCENE III.--_Drawing Room in Fred Merry's house. Fred,
Mrs. Fred and Mrs. Kemper discovered seated at table, conversing._
_Fred._ Is it possible! You surprise me. I never had the least idea that you had ever met Uncle Scrooge, much less that he was an old admirer of yours.
_Mrs. M._ Oh! do tell us all about it, dear mother; I'm dying to hear it.
_Mrs. K._ Well, you must know, my dear children, that Fanny Scrooge--your mother, Fred--was my earliest friend and schoolmate, and through her I became acquainted with her brother--your uncle; at that time a noble spirited boy, fresh from his studies. Our friendship soon ripened into love, and a betrothal. I cannot describe to you how happy and light hearted I was, and how true and devoted your uncle continued. Our marriage was deferred until such time as he should be in a position to provide us a suitable home. After he left Mr. Fezziwig's, where he had served his time, he entered the service of Jacob Marley, and subsequently became his partner. It was at this time I observed a change in him; he was not less ardent than before, but I soon discovered that avarice had become the guiding passion of his nature, and that our love was subservient to its influence. Foreseeing that only misery could ensue from our union, I released him from the engagement. And now after the lapse of many years, with the exception of the day, five years ago, when he attended your father's funeral, we have not met or exchanged a word with each other.
_Mrs M._ But, mother, did you really love him?
_Mrs. K._ I did, my dear--previous to the discovery of the change in him.
_Mrs. M._ And did you not sacrifice your love in releasing him?
_Mrs. K._ I merely sacrificed my desires to common sense. Love, to be lasting, must be mutual, and if it is not paramount to all other passions, it ends in misery or hate. Hence, being guided by judgment, I soon found by experience that true love can again exist if worthily bestowed.
_Fred._ Well, dear mother, I agree with your estimate of Uncle Scrooge. This is the sixth Christmas Day of our married life, and each Christmas Eve I have invited him to come and dine with us, but he has never yet honored us with his presence, and I suppose he never will.
_Scro._ (_Gently opening the door and putting in his head._) Fred! may I come in? (_All start and rise, and Fred rushes toward the door with both hands extended._)
_Fred._ Why, bless my soul! who's that?
_Scro._ It's I, your Uncle Scrooge. I have accepted your invitation. Will you let me in?
_Fred._ Let you in! (_Shaking him heartily by both hands._) Dear heart alive! Why not! Welcome! welcome! My wife, your niece--Yes, you may. (_Scrooge kisses her._) Our mother.
_Scro._ Belle! Heavens! What shall I do? (_Aside._)
_Mrs. K._ I fear that our meeting will be painful. I beg your permission, my son, to retire.
_Fred._ No, no, no. This is Christmas Day. Everybody can be happy on this day that desires to be, and I know that your meeting can be made a pleasant and agreeable one if you both so will it. "Peace on earth and good will to man," is the day's golden maxim.
_Scro._ Although somewhat embarrassed, I concur most heartily in the wise and good-natured counsel of my dear nephew. Never before have I experienced the joys common to this day, and never hereafter, while I am permitted to live, shall I miss them. In the past twenty-four hours I have undergone a complete revolution of ideas and desires, and have awakened unto a new life. Instead of a sordid, avaricious old man, I trust you will find a cheerful, liberal Christian, ever ready to extend to his fellow creatures a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
_Fred._ Why! uncle, I wonder _you_ don't go into Parliament. I could dance for joy. (_Embracing him._) You dear old man! You shall ever find a hearty welcome here.
_Mrs. M._ I join with my husband in his earnest congratulations.
_Mrs. K._ I confess, Mr. Scrooge, that I am rejoiced to find your nephew's assertions so quickly verified, and that an opportunity is offered to renew an acquaintance which I hope will end in uninterrupted friendship. (_They shake hands._)
_Fred._ Ah, here comes Topper and the girls.
_Enter Topper and Julia Kemper, Snapper and Sarah Kemper._
_Fred._ Come, girls, hug and kiss your Uncle Scrooge, he has come to make merry with us. (_Takes the girls to Scrooge, and endeavors to make them hug, doing most of the hugging himself._) Hug him hard! This is Topper, and this is Snapper, they are both sweet on the girls. (_All laugh._)
_Julia and Sarah._ Oh, you bad man.
_Fred._ Come, let us lose no time. What do you say to a game? Shall it be blind man's buff?
_All._ Agreed.
_Fred._ Come, Uncle Scrooge, the oldest, first.
_Scro._ Do with me as you please; it is Christmas Day.
(_They play a lively game, falling over chairs, etc. Scrooge catches each lady, and guesses wrong, until he gets Mrs. Merry, who, in turn, catches Topper, who pulls the bandage down and goes for Julia, and pretends that he tells who she is by the way the hair is fixed, etc. Scrooge and Mrs. Kemper retire up stage, and converse._)
_Julia._ Ah, that's not fair, you peeped. I won't play any more. (_Goes up stage with Topper._)
_Fred._ Well, I could have guessed that catch, and it's nothing more than fair that he should peep before making it. It seems, my dear, that our company have divided into couples. Ought we not demand an explanation?
_Mrs. M._ As master of the house, it is your duty.
_Fred._ Mr. Thomas Topper and others, we have long suspected you of some horrible design against the peace and happiness of this family. What say you to the charge?
_Julia._ On behalf our clients, we plead guilty.
_Sarah._ And urge extenuating circumstances.
_Fred._ Then nothing more remains, but for the Court to pronounce sentence, which is, that you be placed under the bonds of matrimony, at such time and place as may suit your convenience. But, Madam Belle Kemper and Ebenezer Scrooge, what have you to say in your defense.
_Mrs. K._ Only this, that Christmas works wonders.
_Scro._ In other words, Mrs. Kemper finds that Christmas has restored me to a primitive condition, and leaves it to time to test the merits of the happy change. (_To audience._) We all have cause to bless Christmas, and it shall always be my delight to wish you A Merry Christmas, and A Happy New Year, with Tiny Tim's addition of "God bless us every one."
_CURTAIN._
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Corrections were made in the text where part of a phrase or name was only partially italic. For example, on page 34, the "F." of _Mr. F._ on one part of dialogue had been printed as "_Mr._ F." These things were repaired.
Page iii, "peice" changed to "piece" (piece can be performed)
Page vi, "past" changed to "Past" (hearth for the Spirit of Christmas Past)
Page vii, "Suit" changed to "Suite" (Fireplace L. Suite of)
Page vii, "dressar" changed to "dresser" (oranges on dresser)
Page viii, "Windew" changed to "Window" (G. Window L. C.)
Page viii, "Cratchet's" changed to "Cratchit's" (SCENE V.--Bob Cratchit's)
Page 10, "calender" changed to "calendar" (the long calendar of)
Page 12, "Sch." changed to "Scro." (_Scro._. Oh! I was afraid)
Page 15, "make" changed to "made" (I made it link)
Page 16, "invisable" changed to "invisible" (sat invisible beside)
Page 19, "use" changed to "used" (than he used to be)
Page 19, "Gho." changed to "Scro." (_Scro._ Know it!)
Page 20, "to" changed to "too" (the world too much)
Page 21, "chosing" changed to "choosing" (or choosing her)
Page 23, "mistleto" changed to "mistletoe" (also holly, mistletoe)
Page 25, "Hurrrh" changed to "Hurrah" (Hurrah! Hurrah! Here's)
Page 26, "ahd" changed to "and" (than before, and Tiny)
Page 28, "Scro." changed to "Spir." (_Spir._ Begone! hideous)
Page 28, "desert" changed to "dessert" (around the dessert table)
Page 29, "househeepers" changed to "housekeepers" (these young housekeepers)
Page 29, "vain" changed to "vein" (puts him in the vein)
Page 31, "prepered" changed to "prepared" (I am prepared to)
Page 31, "be ore" changed to "before" (before us. Lead)
Page 32, "That" changed to "That's" (That's all I know)
Page 33, "skrieks" changed to "shrieks" (how it shrieks!)
Page 34, "mysel" changed to "myself" (I ruin myself)
Page 45, "Suapper" changed to "Snapper" (and this is Snapper)