FIRST SPIRIT. I have shown shadows of times that are passed. Have you learned a lesson from the Spirit of Christmas Past? SCROOGE. I have, I have; a bitter, bitter lesson. FIRST SPIRIT. And will you see more? SCROOGE. No, no. Show me no more. Torture me no longer. FIRST SPIRIT. Remember the lesson you have learned. Remember the kindness of your old master. Remember the love of your old sweetheart. Your life is barren and bitter, but there is yet time for repentance. (_Bell tolls twice._) The signal! My hour is past. On the stroke of six my brother, the Spirit of the Christmas Present, will visit you. Remember! Repent! Believe! Farewell, farewell, farewell! FRONT CURTAIN SLOWLY FALLS. STAVE II. _Same scene as Stave I. Lights half up, but candles are not burning. Rear curtains closed._ SCROOGE _is discovered asleep at his desk. The_ SPIRIT _of_ CHRISTMAS PRESENT _sits at R., a red light shining on him. He carries a torch in which a red light burns. The bells toll six times._ SCROOGE _suddenly awakens and gazes at_ SECOND SPIRIT. SECOND SPIRIT. Arise, arise, Ebenezer Scrooge, and learn to know me better. SCROOGE (_frightened_). I don't believe I ever met you before. SECOND SPIRIT. Probably not. I am the Spirit of Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas Present. SCROOGE. The Ghost of Christmas Present? SECOND SPIRIT. I am a brother of the little Spirit of Christmas Past who visited you before. SCROOGE. And are you going to show me all my past misdeeds? SECOND SPIRIT. Not me. I am going to show you your present misdeeds. It is my mission to show you the love and comradeship of Christmas of today. I travel among the common people. My torch is their benediction. If there is a slight quarrel or any misunderstandings on Christmas Day, I simply throw on them the light of my torch. And then they say it is a shame to quarrel on Christmas Day--the Day of Peace and Love. And so it is! God bless it! God bless Christmas Day! SCROOGE. And what do you intend to show me? SECOND SPIRIT. I intend to show you the House of Happiness. SCROOGE. Is it a wonderful palace of gold? SECOND SPIRIT. It is a humble little kitchen. In fact, the kitchen of your poor clerk, Bob Cratchit. Bob, with his fifteen shillings a week--with his wife and six children--with his shabby clothes and his humble, shabby manners--Bob, with his little four-roomed house, and his struggle to keep the wolf from the door. The Ghost of the Christmas Present blesses his abode. Behold!