_Marley._ It is required of every man, that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. My spirit never walked beyond the counting-house. Mark me! in life my spirit never moved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole; and weary journeys lie before me. _Scrooge._ Seven years dead, and travelling all the time! You travel fast. _Marley._ On the wings of the wind. _Scrooge._ You might have got over a great quantity of ground in seven years. _Marley._ Oh, blind man! blind man! not to know that ages of incessant labor by immortal creatures for this earth, must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed; not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunities misused. Yet I was like this man. I once was like this man. _Scrooge._ But you were always a good man of business, Jacob. _Marley._ Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business. Charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business. Hear me; my time is nearly gone. _Scrooge._ I will; but don't be hard upon me. Don't be flowery, Jacob, pray. _Marley._ I am here to-night, to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate; a chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer. _Scrooge._ You were always a good friend to me. Thank'ee. _Marley_ (_rising_). You will be haunted by three spirits. _Scrooge._ Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob? I—I think I'd rather not. _Marley._ Without their visits you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first to-night, when the bell tolls one. Expect the second to-morrow night at the same hour; the third upon the next night, when the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us. (_Music as before._ MARLEY _walks backward to_ R., _followed by_ SCROOGE, _with the same slow step_. MARLEY _goes off_ R. _As_ SCROOGE _reaches the_ R., _bell tolls one: he turns. At the same moment, the_ SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST _appears_, C., _entering at the opening in back curtain_.) _Scrooge._ Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me? _Spirit._ I am. _Scrooge._ Who and what are you? _Spirit._ I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. _Scrooge._ Long past? _Spirit._ No: your past. The things that you will see with me are shadows of the things that have been. They will have no consciousness of us. _Scrooge._ What business brought you here? _Spirit._ Your welfare. Look! (_Steps_ L., SCROOGE R. _Music. The back curtains are drawn, showing a boy sitting at a desk_, R., _with an open book before him_.)