I was a clerk here

I was a clerk here ‘What's the matter？’asked the spirit．

‘There was a boy singing Christmas carols at my door yesterday．I'm sorry I didn't give him anything，that's all．’ I was a clerk here The ghost smiled，and lifted its hand，saying，‘Let's see another past Christmas！’

The schoolroom became darker and dirtier．There was the young Scrooge again，a little older and bigger than before．He was not reading this time，but was walking up and down， looking very unhappy．The door opened，and a little girl， much younger than him，came running in．Putting her arms round his neck，she said lovingly to him，‘I've come to bring you home，dear brother！Father is so much kinder than he used to be！The other day I asked him if you could come home，and he said yes！And we're going to spend Christmas together，and have the merriest time！’she was laughing delightedly as she began to pull him towards the door．They went out happily together，hand in hand． I was a clerk here ‘What a warm heart she had！’said the ghost．

‘You're right，’said Scrooge．‘I agree with you，spirit！’ I was a clerk here ‘She married，I understand，’continued the ghost，‘and had children，I think，before she died．’

‘One child，’answered Scrooge． I was a clerk here ‘True，’said the ghost．‘Your nephew！’ Scrooge did not answer at once．‘Yes，’he said at last．

Now the school had disappeared，and they were in the middle of a busy town，with shadowy crowds and carts all around them．Here it was Christmas time again，but it was evening， and there were lights in the shops and streets． I was a clerk here The ghost stopped at an office door．‘Do you know this place，Scrooge？’he asked．

‘Know it！’cried Scrooge．‘Why，I was a clerk here！’ I was a clerk here They went in，and when they saw a large，kind-looking old gentleman sitting at a high desk，Scrooge cried excitedly，‘Good Heavens，it's old Fezziwig！God bless him！It's Fezziwig alive again！’

Old Fezziwig put down his pen，and looked at the clock．Fastening his coat buttons over his fat stomach，he started laughing as he called out in a rich，deep，happy voice， ‘Ebenezer！Dick！Seven o'clock！No more work tonight！It'sChristmas Eve，remember！’