SCROOGE (_rising_). I will keep Christmas in the past, the present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. Heaven be praised for this Christmas warning. (_Laughing._) I don't know what to do. I'm as light as a feather, I'm as happy as an angel, I'm as merry as a schoolboy. A Merry Christmas to everybody. A happy New Year to all the world. Hip, hurrah! (_Christmas chimes heard outside. Waits singing in the distance._) WAITS (_singing louder, music, page 169_): Christ was born on Christmas Day, Wreathe the holly, twine the bay, Light and Life and Joy is He, The Babe, the Son, The Holy One Of Mary. SCROOGE (_rushes to the door_). Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. God bless ye! (_Flings them a handful of coins._) FIRST WAIT. Thankee, sir. SCROOGE (_grabs him and brings him down C._). What day is this, my merry lad? WAIT. Hey? SCROOGE. What day is this my lad? WAIT (_loudly_). Today! Why, Christmas Day! SCROOGE. Do you know the grocer's in the next street? WAIT. I should hope I did. SCROOGE. Do you know whether they've sold the prize turkey that was hanging up there? Not the little prize turkey, the big prize turkey? WAIT. What, the one as big as me? SCROOGE. Yes, my buck. WAIT. It's hanging there now. SCROOGE. Is it? Go and buy it. WAIT. Aw, go on! SCROOGE. No, no; I'm in earnest. Go and buy it and tell 'em to bring it here, that I may tell 'em where to take it. Come back with the man, and I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes, and I'll give you half-a-crown. WAIT. Watch me. (_Rushes out._) SCROOGE. What a fine little fellow. See him run. I'll send the turkey to Bob Cratchit's. He shan't know who sends it. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim. He should be here by now. _Enter_ CRATCHIT _from R._ CRATCHIT. Morning, sir. (_Takes off cap and muffler, goes to desk, starts to work._) SCROOGE (_at desk_). What do you mean by coming here at this time of day? CRATCHIT. I'm very sorry, sir. Very, very sorry. SCROOGE. Sorry? (_Sarcastically._) Yes, you are! Come here! Come here at once! Understand! CRATCHIT (_comes to Scrooge's desk_). If you please, sir-- SCROOGE. I'm not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore (_rises, dances toward_ CRATCHIT, _digs him in ribs_), and therefore I am about to raise your salary. CRATCHIT. Heavens! The master has gone plumb crazy. SCROOGE. I'm going to help you and your family. I'm going to be a Godfather to all of 'em. The two girls and Master Peter, Bob, Betty and to dear Tiny Tim. Home to your family, now. Home to them, Bob Cratchit--and merry Christmas to you and yours. God bless you. _Enter_ FRED _from R._ FRED. Here I am again, uncle. Merry Christmas.