"Come in!" boomed the Ghost of Christmas Present.
Scrooge looked around. His room had never been so cheerful. It seemed almost embarrassed by itself.
The spirit carried him through London, then far beyond it. They visited miners singing beside a fire, keepers in a lonely lighthouse, and sailors exchanging Christmas wishes on a dark sea. Wherever they went, the spirit scattered cheer from his torch.
They saw people buying food, greeting neighbors, laughing in doorways, and wishing one another Merry Christmas even when their coats were thin.
Then they visited Bob Cratchit's home.
It was small, and the dinner was not grand. But everyone helped. Mrs. Cratchit stirred. The children set the table. Tiny Tim, Bob's youngest son, came in on his father's shoulder with a small crutch and a bright smile.
"God bless us, every one," said Tiny Tim.
Scrooge listened quietly.
"Will the child live?" he asked.
The spirit's face grew serious. "If these shadows do not change, the child may not."
Scrooge lowered his head.
They visited Scrooge's nephew too, where people laughed about Uncle Scrooge's grumpiness but still wished him well.
“He is a funny old fellow,” said Fred, “but I mean to keep inviting him.” The guests played guessing games, and invisible Scrooge guessed so eagerly that he forgot nobody could hear his answers.
Scrooge felt a strange ache. It was not indigestion, though he first suspected that.
As the night ended, the spirit grew older before his eyes. From beneath its robe came two thin, frightened children. Their names were Ignorance and Want. The spirit warned Scrooge not to ignore either of them, especially Ignorance.
"Remember," said the spirit, "want and ignorance are dangerous when people refuse to see them."
The clock struck midnight.
The second spirit vanished.
A silent figure in a dark cloak now stood before Scrooge. It said nothing. One shadowy hand pointed into a future street, and Scrooge followed it with dread.