"I am the Ghost of Christmas Past," it said.
Before Scrooge could complain, the spirit touched his arm. The bedroom vanished.
They stood on a country road covered with winter frost.
Scrooge knew it at once. "I was a boy here."
They visited an old schoolroom. There sat young Ebenezer, alone by a small fire while other children had gone home for Christmas. In his imagination, Ali Baba and Robinson Crusoe filled the empty room, but they vanished when Scrooge reached toward them.
Old Scrooge's eyes grew wet with tears.
"Poor boy," he whispered.
Then the scene changed. His little sister Fan burst into the room, laughing, and told him he could come home. Scrooge smiled despite himself.
Next came a happy warehouse, where kind Mr. Fezziwig gave a Christmas party for his workers. There was music, dancing, cake, and so much laughter that even the candles seemed cheerful. Mrs Fezziwig danced wonderfully, and young Scrooge joined every reel.
"He spent only a little money," said the spirit, "but gave great happiness."
Scrooge thought of Bob Cratchit and said nothing.
Last, the spirit showed him Belle, the woman he once loved. She was leaving him because money had become his greatest care.
"You have another master now," she said gently. "Gold."
Years flashed forward. Belle sat beside her husband in a noisy home, surrounded by children. Her husband told her he had seen Scrooge sitting alone while Marley lay dying. Scrooge watched the happy family and covered his face.
"No more," he begged.
The spirit brought him back to his room. Scrooge fell into bed, tired and trembling.
For the first time in many years, Scrooge remembered the lonely boy, the laughing apprentice, and the young man who had let a bag of coins crowd love out of his heart. When the clock struck two, another voice called his name.