A Christmas Carol the Ghost of Christmas Present

Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator. This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John Leech 29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. " Look upon me!"

Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple deep green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.

" You have never seen the like of me before!" exclaimed the Spirit.

" Never," Scrooge made answer to it.

" Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am vt^y young) my elder brothers born in these later years ?" pursued the Phantom.

" I don't think I have," said Scrooge. " X am afraid I have not. Have you had many brothers, Spirit?"

'' More than eighteen hundred," said the Ghost.

" A tremendous family to provide for!" muttered Scrooge.