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“ Let me stay , Spirit , ” he begged , like a boy . “ One more game ! ” The next game was called Yes and No . Fred thought of something , and the others asked questions . He could only answer yes or no . It was an animal , a nasty , wild animal . It growled and grunted , and it lived in London . It was not a horse , a cow , a dog , a pig or a bear . At last the plump sister cried out , “ I know ! It’s your Uncle Scrooge ! ” And so it was . Everybody laughed , and Fred laughed most of all . “ He has given us plenty of fun , ” said Fred , “ so let’s drink to him . A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to the old man , wherever he is ! Uncle Scrooge ! ” Scrooge felt so light and happy that he wanted to thank them all . But the room faded , and the Spirit and he were travelling again . They visited sick beds and poor houses , prisons and hospitals , and everywhere the Spirit left his blessing . But as the night went on , the Spirit’s hair grew grey . “ My life on this earth is very short , ” he said . “ It ends tonight at midnight . ” Then Scrooge saw something strange under the Spirit’s robe . The Spirit opened his robe , and Scrooge saw two children , a boy and a girl . They were thin , pale and ragged , with old , hungry faces . They held on to the Spirit’s robe . Scrooge stepped back in horror . “ Spirit ! Are they yours ? ” “ They belong to all people , ” said the Spirit . “ This boy is Ignorance . He knows nothing , because nobody has taught him . This girl is Want . She has nothing , because nobody has helped her . Be afraid of them both , but most of all be afraid of this boy . ” “ Is there no help for them ? ” cried Scrooge . “ Have they no home ? ” “ Are there no prisons ? ” said the Spirit . He was using Scrooge’s own words . “ Are there no workhouses ? ” The bell struck twelve , and the Spirit was gone . Scrooge remembered old Jacob Marley’s warning . He looked up and saw a dark shape in a long robe . It was coming towards him slowly , like fog along the ground . IX . The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come The Phantom came slowly and silently . When it was near , Scrooge fell on his knees . It wore a long black robe that hid its head , its face and its whole body . Only one hand was showing , and the hand was pointing forward . “ Are you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come ? ” asked Scrooge . “ Are you going to show me shadows of things that have not happened yet ? ” The Phantom did not answer . It only moved its head a little . “ Ghost of the Future ! ” said Scrooge . “ I fear you more than any of the others . But I know that you want to do me good , and I hope to be a better man . Lead on ! ” Soon they were in the middle of the city , among rich businessmen . A few of them were standing together and talking . “ I only know he’s dead , ” said one .
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