第三章（1 / 2）

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Holly，mistletoe，redberries，ivy，turkeys，geese，game，poultry，brawn，meat，pigs，sausages，oysters，pies，puddings，fruit，andpunch，allvanishedinstantly。Sodidtheroom，thefire，theruddyglow，thehourofnight，andtheystoodinthecitystreetsonChristmasmorning，where（fortheweatherwassevere）thepeoplemadearough，butbriskandnotunpleasantkindofmusic，inscrapingthesnowfromthepavementinfrontoftheirdwellings，andfromthetopsoftheirhouses，whenceitwasmaddelighttotheboystoseeitcomeplumpingdownintotheroadbelow，andsplittingintoartificiallittlesnow-storms。

Thehousefrontslookedblackenough，andthewindowsblacker，contrastingwiththesmoothwhitesheetofsnowupontheroofs，andwiththedirtiersnowupontheground；whichlastdeposithadbeenploughedupindeepfurrowsbytheheavywheelsofcartsandwaggons；furrowsthatcrossedandrecrossedeachotherhundredsoftimeswherethegreatstreetsbranchedoff；andmadeintricatechannels，hardtotraceinthethickyellowmudandicywater。Theskywasgloomy，andtheshorteststreetswerechokedupwithadingymist，halfthawed，halffrozen，whoseheavierparticlesdescendedinashowerofsootyatoms，asifallthechimneysinGreatBritainhad，byoneconsent，caughtfire，andwereblazingawaytotheirdearhearts‘content。Therewasnothingverycheerfulintheclimateorthetown，andyetwasthereanairofcheerfulnessabroadthattheclearestsummerairandbrightestsummersunmighthaveendeavouredtodiffuseinvain。

For，thepeoplewhowereshovellingawayonthehousetopswerejovialandfullofglee；callingouttooneanotherfromtheparapets，andnowandthenexchangingafacetioussnowball--better-naturedmissilefarthanmanyawordyjest--laughingheartilyifitwentrightandnotlessheartilyifitwentwrong。Thepoulterers‘shopswerestillhalfopen，andthefruiterers’wereradiantintheirglory。Thereweregreat，round，round，pot-belliedbasketsofchestnuts，shapedlikethewaistcoatsofjollyoldgentlemen，lollingatthedoors，andtumblingoutintothestreetintheirapoplecticopulence。Therewereruddy，brown-faced，broad-girthedSpanishonions，shininginthefatnessoftheirgrowthlikeSpanishFriars，andwinkingfromtheirshelvesinwantonslynessatthegirlsastheywentby，andglanceddemurelyatthehung-upmistletoe。Therewerepearsandapples，clusteredhighinbloomingpyramids；therewerebunchesofgrapes，made，intheshopkeepers‘benevolence，todanglefromconspicuoushooks，thatpeople'smouthsmightwatergratisastheypassed；therewerepilesoffilberts，mossyandbrown，recalling，intheirfragrance，ancientwalksamongthewoods，andpleasantshufflingsankledeepthroughwitheredleaves；therewereNorfolkBiffins，squatandswarthy，settingofftheyellowoftheorangesandlemons，and，inthegreatcompactnessoftheirjuicypersons，urgentlyentreatingandbeseechingtobecarriedhomeinpaperbagsandeatenafterdinner。Theverygoldandsilverfish，setforthamongthesechoicefruitsinabowl，thoughmembersofadullandstagnant-bloodedrace，appearedtoknowthattherewassomethinggoingon；and，toafish，wentgaspingroundandroundtheirlittleworldinslowandpassionlessexcitement。

TheGrocers‘！oh，theGrocers’！nearlyclosed，withperhapstwoshuttersdown，orone；butthroughthosegapssuchglimpses！Itwasnotalonethatthescalesdescendingonthecountermadeamerrysound，orthatthetwineandrollerpartedcompanysobriskly，orthatthecanisterswererattledupanddownlikejugglingtricks，oreventhattheblendedscentsofteaandcoffeeweresogratefultothenose，oreventhattheraisinsweresoplentifulandrare，thealmondssoextremelywhite，thesticksofcinnamonsolongandstraight，theotherspicessodelicious，thecandiedfruitssocakedandspottedwithmoltensugarastomakethecoldestlookers-onfeelfaintandsubsequentlybilious。Norwasitthatthefigsweremoistandpulpy，orthattheFrenchplumsblushedinmodesttartnessfromtheirhighly-decoratedboxes，orthateverythingwasgoodtoeatandinitsChristmasdress；butthecustomerswereallsohurriedandsoeagerinthehopefulpromiseoftheday，thattheytumbledupagainsteachotheratthedoor，crashingtheirwickerbasketswildly，andlefttheirpurchasesuponthecounter，andcamerunningbacktofetchthem，andcommittedhundredsofthelikemistakes，inthebesthumourpossible；whiletheGrocerandhispeopleweresofrankandfreshthatthepolishedheartswithwhichtheyfastenedtheirapronsbehindmighthavebeentheirown，wornoutsideforgeneralinspection，andforChristmasdawstopeckatiftheychose。

Butsoonthesteeplescalledgoodpeopleall，tochurchandchapel，andawaytheycame，flockingthroughthestreetsintheirbestclothes，andwiththeirgayestfaces。Andatthesametimethereemergedfromscoresofbye-streets，lanes，andnamelessturnings，innumerablepeople，carryingtheirdinnerstothebaker‘shops。ThesightofthesepoorrevellersappearedtointeresttheSpiritverymuch，forhestoodwithScroogebesidehiminabaker'sdoorway，andtakingoffthecoversastheirbearerspassed，sprinkledincenseontheirdinnersfromhistorch。Anditwasaveryuncommonkindoftorch，foronceortwicewhentherewereangrywordsbetweensomedinner-carrierswhohadjostledeachother，heshedafewdropsofwateronthemfromit，andtheirgoodhumourwasrestoreddirectly。Fortheysaid，itwasashametoquarreluponChristmasDay。Andsoitwas。Godloveit，soitwas。

Intimethebellsceased，andthebakerswereshutup；andyettherewasagenialshadowingforthofallthesedinnersandtheprogressoftheircooking，inthethawedblotchofwetaboveeachbaker'soven；wherethepavementsmokedasifitsstoneswerecookingtoo。

`Isthereapeculiarflavourinwhatyousprinklefromyourtorch？‘askedScrooge。

`Thereis。Myown。‘

`Woulditapplytoanykindofdinneronthisday？‘askedScrooge。

`Toanykindlygiven。Toapooronemost。‘

`Whytoapooronemost？‘askedScrooge。

`Becauseitneedsitmost。‘

`Spirit，‘saidScrooge，afteramoment'sthought，`Iwonderyou，ofallthebeingsinthemanyworldsaboutus，shoulddesiretocrampthesepeople'sopportunitiesofinnocentenjoyment。’

`I？‘criedtheSpirit。

`Youwoulddeprivethemoftheirmeansofdiningeveryseventhday，oftentheonlydayonwhichtheycanbesaidtodineatall，‘saidScrooge。`Wouldn'tyou？’

`I？‘criedtheSpirit。

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