A Christmas Carol in Chinook

STAVE ONE
MARLEY’S GHOST
Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘Change for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.


Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will, therefore, permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.


The mention of Marley’s funeral brings me back to the point I started from. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. If we were not perfectly convinced that Hamlet’s Father died before the play began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts, than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spot—say St. Paul’s Church-yard, for instance—literally to astonish his son’s weak mind.

Scrooge never painted out Old Marley’s name. There it stood, years afterwards, above the warehouse door: Scrooge and Marley. The firm was known as Scrooge and Marley. Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names. It was all the same to him.

Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.

External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often “came down” handsomely and Scrooge never did.

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, “My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?” No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and, when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, “No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!”





But what did Scrooge care? It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call “nuts” to Scrooge.

Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them. The City clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already—it had not been light all day—and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that, although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down, obscuring everything, one might have thought that nature lived hard by and was brewing on a large scale.

The door of Scrooge’s counting-house was open, that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. But he couldn’t replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of strong imagination, he failed.



“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge’s nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.




“Bah!” said Scrooge. “Humbug!”


He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge’s, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again. “Christmas a humbug, uncle!” said Scrooge’s nephew. “You don’t mean that, I am sure?”


“I do,” said Scrooge. “Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.”


“Come, then,” returned the nephew gaily. “What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough.”


Scrooge, having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said, “Bah!” again; and followed it up with “Humbug!”

“Don’t be cross, uncle!” said the nephew.

STIK IHHT
Marli yaka mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai
Ilep, Marli yaka mimaloos. Heilo mokwst-tumtum kopa okok. Mitlait kopa yaka mash-kopa-ilahi-peipa lepleit yaka ts’um, gavmint-taiyee yaka ts’um, pi man yaka mash yaka kopa ilahi, yaka ts’um. Yaawaa wuht Scrooge yaka ts’um mitlait. Pi Scrooge yaka neim tloosh kopa kanawei-ikta. Oleman Marli yaka mimaloos kakwa laport-nil.

Nanich! Heilo naika tikki wawa poos naika kumtuks, kopit-ihht, ikta-mamook laport-nil kakwa ilep-mimaloos kopa inglish. Poos naika wawa, naika tumtum poos okok mimaloos-lakasett-nil ilep-mimaloos kopa kanawei chikumin-iktas. Pi oleman tlaska wawa poos laport-nil ilep-mimaloos, pi tlaska kumtuks. Tloosh masaika patlach naika wawa wuht “Marli yaka mimaloos kakwa laport-nil”.


Scrooge yaka kumtuks poos Marli yaka mimaloos? Dleit kakwa! Poos kata heilo kakwa? Ankati, tl’oonas-kata-leili Scrooge pi Marli kanamowkst tlaska mamook. Kopa Marli kopitt Scrooge yaka siks pi tilihum, pi poos tlaska mash Marli yaka itluil kopa ilahi, yaawaa kopitt Scrooge mitlait. Pi wuht Scrooge heilo yaka klai poos tlaska mash Marli yaka itluil kopa ilahi, pi kakwa Scrooge tloosh bisnis-man yaka, yaka mamook-kopitt okok son kopa tloosh huy-huy.

Wawa kopa mash Marli yaka itluil kopa ilahi lolo naika yaawaa kah naika start. Heilo mokwst-tumtum poos Marli yaka mimaloos. Tloosh masaika kumtuks okok, spos masaika kumtuks okok syatsum atlki naika wawa kopa masaika. Poos nesaika heilo mamook-nawitka poos Hamlet yaka papa yaka alta mimaloos ankati kopa okok syatsum, poos heilo nesaika tumtum okok holoima spos yaka kooli kopa polakli.






Weik-kantzih Scrooge yaka mamook-pint kopa Marli yaka neim. Haiyoo sno mitlait yawaa yaka neim, sahali kopa laport kopa yaka hous, kah yaka mamook: Scrooge pi Marli. Sumtaims chhi-chako-tilihum tlaska wawa “Scrooge Scrooge”, pi sumtaims “Marli”, pi kaltash kopa yaka, yaka k’ilapai wawa kopa wuht “Scrooge”, pi “Marli”.

O! Kata heilo tloosh-tumtum yaka poos peyei kopa ikta, okok Scrooge! Haiyas heilo-patlach-tumtum, haiyas chikumin-tumtum, pi haiyas peltin yaka. Yaka mitlait dleit-tzish nos, pil seeyahoos, pi tanas lapoosh. Yaka kooli kultus, nanich kultus, pi wawa kultus. Haiyas kultus okok man, wuht kopa lanoel kultus yaka kopa kanawei tilihum. Kol-ilahi kwanisum yaka mamook haiyas-kol yaka ofis, pi wuht kopa lanoel heilo Scrooge yaka mamook tanas wam okok.







Heilo wam mamook Scrooge wam, pi heilo kol mamook Scrooge kol. Dleit skookum win, pi haiyoo sno, pi haiyoo kol-snass, heilo tlaska kultus kakwa Scrooge yaka kultus. Wuht sumtaims tlaska kopitt, pi weik-kantzih Scrooge yaka kopitt kakwa.






Weik-kantzih tlaska-man yaka wawa kopa yaka kopa oihhat “O naika tloosh Scrooge, kata maika? Ka-sun maika chako nanich naika?”. Weik-kantzih tlahowyum-tilihum tlaska ask yaka kopa tanas chikumin, weik-kantzih tanaas tlaska ask yaka kantzih oklak, weik-kantzih ihht man pi ihht tloochman tlaska ask yaka kah mitlait oihhat kopa ihht-ihht ilahi. Wuht heilo-seeyahoos-man, yaka kamooks tlaska kumtuks Scrooge, pi, kah tlaska nanich yaka, tlaska pul tlaska taiyee kopa laport pi kopa hous, pi tlaska mamook-sheik tlaska tail, kakwa-poos wawa “ilep-tloosh mitlait heilo-seeyahoos poos nanich okok Scrooge!”.



Pi kopa Scrooge? Kultus kopa yaka! Yaka haiyas-tikki okok. Yaka tikki mitlait kopa okok ilahi, kopitt dleit saiyaaaa nanich tilihum.


Ankati, ihht son ilep kopa Lanoel, oleman Scrooge yaka mitlait, haiyoo-tumtum, kopa yaka mamook-kantzih-hous. Kol pi kaltash, pi haiyoo smok tlahani mitlait. Yaka kw’olaan tilihum tlaska kooli kah-kah, skookum mamook-mitlait tlaska lipiye kopa ilahi spos mamook-wam tlaska. Alta tloon oklak, pi alta wuht weik-saiyaa polakli – okok-son mitlait kopitt tanas lait, pi chhi-alta kopa ofis tlaska windo kantl tlaska paiya. Haiyoo smok chako kopa kanawei-kah-ilahi spos weik-saiyaa weik-tlaksta nanich ikta.

Laport kopa Scrooge yaka mamook-kantzih-hous, halak okok, spos Scrooge yaka nanich yaka ofis-man. Okok ofis-man yaka mitlait weik-saiyaa, pi yaka skookum mamook kopa ihht dleit-tanas-hous, yaka mamook-tz’um peipa. Scrooge yaka mitlait tanas-paiya, pi yaka ofis-man yaka paia wuht ilep-tanas, kakwa kopa okok paiya mitlait kopitt ihht stik! Pi weik-kata yaka mamook-mitlait wuht ihht tanas stik kopa yaka paiya, kakwa kopa Scrooge kopa yaka tanas-hous mitlait stik-lakaset, pi poos ofis-man yaka tlatawa mamook-iskum tanas-stik kopa yaka paiya, yaka taiyee mash yaka kopa yaka hous. Kakwa, okok ofis-man yaka trai poos mamook-wam yaka kopa ihht pasisi pi ihht kantl, pi weik-kata yaka tolo wam.

Ihht yootl-tumtum man yaka wawa “Tloosh Lanoel, naika mama yaka ow! Tloosh Sahali-Taiyee Yaka mamook-bliss maika!”. Okok man, yaka Scrooge yaka ats yaka tanas-man, pi chhi alta yaka kooli kopa Scrooge dleit-aiyak, spos tl’oonas heilo Scrooge yaka nanich yaka.


“Bah”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “Humbug!”


Kakwa haiyak yaka kooli kopa Scrooge yaka ofis, okok man, haiyas wam yaka, pi haiyas-tloosh. Mitlait lait kopa yaka seeyahoos, pi win kooli tlahani kopa yaka langs kakwa-poos smok.
“Humbug Lanoel, naika mama-yaka-ow!?”, wawa okok man. “Heilo maika tikki wawa kakwa, nawitka?!¨

“Naika tikki wawa kakwa”, Scrooge yaka wawa. “Tloosh Lanoel?! Ikta-mamook okok tloosh? Ikta-mamook yootl-tumtum maika kakwa? Maika kopitt-tlahowyum.”

“Nanich, tloosh” wawa okok man. “Ikta-mamook sik-tumtum maika kakwa? Ikta lateit kopa okok sik-tumtum? Maika mitlait kopitt-haiyoo chikumin spos mitlait yootl-tumtum.”

Scrooge, kakwa heilo yaka kumtuks tloosh-ikta spos wawa, wawa wuht “Bah!”, pi alta, “Humbug!”

“Tloosh heilo sik-tumtum maika, naika-mama-yaka-ow!”, wawa okok man.

“What else can I be,” returned the uncle, “when I live insuch a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What’s Christmas-time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books, and having every item in ’em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!”

“Uncle!” pleaded the nephew.

“Nephew!” returned the uncle sternly, “keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.”

“Keep it!” repeated Scrooge’s nephew. “But you don’t keep it.”

“Let me leave it alone, then,” said Scrooge. “Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!”

“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew; “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas-time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”

The clerk in the tank involuntarily applauded. Becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever.

“Let me hear another sound from you,” said Scrooge, “and you’ll keep your Christmas by losing your situation! You’re quite a powerful speaker, sir,” he added, turning to his nephew. “I wonder you don’t go into Parliament.”

“Don’t be angry, uncle. Come! Dine with us to-morrow.”

Scrooge said that he would see him——Yes, indeed he did. He went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him in that extremity first.

“But why?” cried Scrooge’s nephew. “Why?”

“Why did you get married?” said Scrooge.

“Because I fell in love.”

“Because you fell in love!” growled Scrooge, as if that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a merry Christmas. “Good afternoon!”

“Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that happened. Why give it as a reason for not coming now?”

“Good afternoon,” said Scrooge.

“I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?”


“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge.


“I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. We have never had any quarrel to which I have been a party. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I’ll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas, uncle!”

“Good afternoon,” said Scrooge.

“And A Happy New Year!”

“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge.

His nephew left the room without an angry word, notwithstanding. He stopped at the outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk, who, cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for he returned them cordially.

“There’s another fellow,” muttered Scrooge, who overheard him: “my clerk, with fifteen shillings a week, and a wife and family, talking about a merry Christmas. I’ll retire to Bedlam.”

This lunatic, in letting Scrooge’s nephew out, had let two other people in. They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to behold, and now stood, with their hats off, in Scrooge’s office. They had books and papers in their hands, and bowed to him.


“Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe,” said one of the gentlemen, referring to his list. “Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?”

“Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years,” Scrooge replied. “He died seven years ago, this very night.”



“We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner,” said the gentleman, presenting his credentials.

It certainly was; for they had been two kindred spirits. At the ominous word “liberality” Scrooge frowned, and shook his head, and handed the credentials back.


“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”

“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.


“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.


“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”

“They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.”


“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge.

“Both very busy, sir.”

“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I am very glad to hear it.”

“Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,” returned the gentleman, “a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?”

“Nothing!” Scrooge replied.

“You wish to be anonymous?”

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas, and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.”


“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides—excuse me—I don’t know that.”

“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman.

“It’s not my business,” Scrooge returned. “It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!”


Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him.

Meanwhile the fog and darkness thickened so, that people ran about with flaring links, proffering their services to go before horses in carriages, and conduct them on their way. The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in the wall, became invisible, and struck the hours and quarters in the clouds, with tremulous vibrations afterwards, as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up there. The cold became intense.

In the main street, at the corner of the court, some labourers were repairing the gas-pipes, and had lighted a great fire in a brazier, round which a party of ragged men and boys were gathered: warming their hands and winking their eyes before the blaze in rapture. The water-plug being left in solitude, its overflowings suddenly congealed, and turned to misanthropic ice. The brightness of the shops, where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows, made pale faces ruddy as they passed. Poulterers’ and grocers’ trades became a splendid joke: a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. The Lord Mayor, in the stronghold of the mighty Mansion House, gave orders to his fifty cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayor’s household should; and even the little tailor, whom he had fined five shillings on the previous Monday for being drunk and blood-thirsty in the streets, stirred up to-morrow’s pudding in his garret, while his lean wife and the baby sallied out to buy the beef.

Foggier yet, and colder! Piercing, searching, biting cold. If the good St. Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirit’s nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge’s keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol; but, at the first sound of

“God bless ye merry gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay”

Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog, and even more congenial frost.

At length the hour of shutting up the counting-house arrived.

With an ill-will Scrooge dismounted from his stool, and tacitly admitted the fact to the expectant clerk in the tank, who instantly snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat.

“You’ll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?” said Scrooge.

“If quite convenient, sir.”

“It’s not convenient,” said Scrooge, “and it’s not fair. If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, you’d think yourself ill used, I’ll be bound?”

The clerk smiled faintly.


“And yet,” said Scrooge, “you don’t think me ill used when I pay a day’s wages for no work.”


The clerk observed that it was only once a year.

“A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!” said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin. “But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning.”


The clerk promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl. The office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist (for he boasted no great-coat), went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas-eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman’s buff.

Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern; and having read all the newspapers, and beguiled the rest of the evening with his banker’s book, went home to bed. He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner. They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and have forgotten the way out again. It was old enough now, and dreary enough; for nobody lived in it but Scrooge, the other rooms being all let out as offices. The yard was so dark that even Scrooge, who knew its every stone, was fain to grope with his hands. The fog and frost so hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed as if the Genius of the Weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.

Now, it is a fact that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the door, except that it was very large. It is also a fact that Scrooge had seen it, night and morning, during his whole residence in that place; also that Scrooge had as little of what is called fancy about him as any man in the City of London, even including—which is a bold word—the corporation, aldermen, and livery. Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley since his last mention of his seven-years’-dead partner that afternoon. And then let any man explain to me, if he can, how it happened that Scrooge, having his key in the lock of the door, saw in the knocker, without its undergoing any intermediate process of change—not a knocker, but Marley’s face.

Marley’s face. It was not in impenetrable shadow, as the other objects in the yard were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up on its ghostly forehead. The hair was curiously stirred, as if by breath of hot air; and, though the eyes were wide open, they were perfectly motionless. That, and its livid colour, made it horrible; but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face, and beyond its control, rather than a part of its own expression.

As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again.


To say that he was not startled, or that his blood was not conscious of a terrible sensation to which it had been a stranger from infancy, would be untrue. But he put his hand upon the key he had relinquished, turned it sturdily, walked in, and lighted his candle.

He did pause, with a moment’s irresolution, before he shut the door; and he did look cautiously behind it first, as if he half expected to be terrified with the sight of Marley’s pigtail sticking out into the hall. But there was nothing on the back of the door, except the screws and nuts that held the knocker on, so he said, “Pooh, pooh!” and closed it with a bang.

The sound resounded through the house like thunder. Every room above, and every cask in the wine merchant’s cellars below, appeared to have a separate peal of echoes of its own. Scrooge was not a man to be frightened by echoes. He fastened the door, and walked across the hall, and up the stairs: slowly, too: trimming his candle as he went.

You may talk vaguely about driving a coach and six up a good old flight of stairs, or through a bad young Act of Parliament; but I mean to say you might have got a hearse up that staircase, and taken it broadwise, with the splinter-bar towards the wall, and the door towards the balustrades: and done it easy. There was plenty of width for that, and room to spare; which is perhaps the reason why Scrooge thought he saw a locomotive hearse going on before him in the gloom. Half-a-dozen gas-lamps out of the street wouldn’t have lighted the entry too well, so you may suppose that it was pretty dark with Scrooge’s dip.

Up Scrooge went, not caring a button for that. Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it. But, before he shut his heavy door, he walked through his rooms to see that all was right. He had just enough recollection of the face to desire to do that.

Sitting-room, bedroom, lumber-room. All as they should be. Nobody under the table, nobody under the sofa; a small fire in the grate; spoon and basin ready; and the little saucepan of gruel (Scrooge had a cold in his head) upon the hob. Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall. Lumber-room as usual. Old fire-guard, old shoes, two fish baskets, washing-stand on three legs, and a poker.

Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double locked himself in, which was not his custom. Thus secured against surprise, he took off his cravat; put on his dressing-gown and slippers, and his nightcap; and sat down before the fire to take his gruel.

It was a very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night. He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel. The fire-place was an old one, built by some Dutch merchant long ago, and paved all round with quaint Dutch tiles, designed to illustrate the Scriptures. There were Cains and Abels, Pharaoh’s daughters, Queens of Sheba, Angelic messengers descending through the air on clouds like feather beds, Abrahams, Belshazzars, Apostles putting off to sea in butter-boats, hundreds of figures to attract his thoughts; and yet that face of Marley, seven years dead, came like the ancient Prophet’s rod, and swallowed up the whole. If each smooth tile had been a blank at first, with power to shape some picture on its surface from the disjointed fragments of his thoughts, there would have been a copy of old Marley’s head on every one.

“Humbug!” said Scrooge; and walked across the room.

After several turns he sat down again. As he threw his head back in the chair, his glance happened to rest upon a bell, a disused bell, that hung in the room, and communicated, for some purpose now forgotten, with a chamber in the highest story of the building. It was with great astonishment, and with a strange, inexplicable dread, that, as he looked, he saw this bell begin to swing. It swung so softly in the outset that it scarcely made a sound; but soon it rang out loudly, and so did every bell in the house.

This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour. The bells ceased, as they had begun, together. They were succeeded by a clanking noise, deep down below, as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the casks in the wine merchant’s cellar. Scrooge then remembered to have heard that ghosts in haunted houses were described as dragging chains.

The cellar door flew open with a booming sound, and then he heard the noise much louder on the floors below; then coming up the stairs; then coming straight towards his door.

“It’s humbug still!” said Scrooge. “I won’t believe it.”

His colour changed, though, when, without a pause, it came on through the heavy door, and passed into the room before his eyes. Upon its coming in, the dying flame leaped up, as though it cried, “I know him! Marley’s Ghost!” and fell again.


The same face: the very same. Marley in his pigtail, usual waistcoat, tights, and boots; the tassels on the latter bristling, like his pigtail, and his coat-skirts, and the hair upon his head. The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. His body was transparent; so that Scrooge, observing him, and looking through his waistcoat, could see the two buttons on his coat behind.

Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels, but he had never believed it until now.


No, nor did he believe it even now. Though he looked the phantom through and through, and saw it standing before him; though he felt the chilling influence of its death-cold eyes; and marked the very texture of the folded kerchief bound about its head and chin, which wrapper he had not observed before; he was still incredulous, and fought against his senses.

“How now!” said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. “What do you want with me?”

“Much!”—Marley’s voice, no doubt about it.

“Who are you?”

“Ask me who I was.”

“Who were you, then?” said Scrooge, raising his voice. “You’re particular, for a shade.” He was going to say “to a shade,” but substituted this, as more appropriate.

“In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.”

“Can you—can you sit down?” asked Scrooge, looking doubtfully at him.

“I can.”

“Do it, then.”

Scrooge asked the question, because he didn’t know whether a ghost so transparent might find himself in a condition to take a chair; and felt that, in the event of its being impossible, it might involve the necessity of an embarrassing explanation. But the Ghost sat down on the opposite side of the fire-place, as if he were quite used to it.

“You don’t believe in me,” observed the Ghost.

“I don’t,” said Scrooge.

“What evidence would you have of my reality beyond that of your own senses?”

“I don’t know,” said Scrooge.

“Why do you doubt your senses?”


“Because,” said Scrooge, “a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”

Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes, nor did he feel in his heart by any means waggish then. The truth is, that he tried to be smart, as a means of distracting his own attention, and keeping down his terror; for the spectre’s voice disturbed the very marrow in his bones.

To sit staring at those fixed glazed eyes in silence, for a moment, would play, Scrooge felt, the very deuce with him. There was something very awful, too, in the spectre’s being provided with an infernal atmosphere of his own. Scrooge could not feel it himself, but this was clearly the case; for though the Ghost sat perfectly motionless, its hair, and skirts, and tassels were still agitated as by the hot vapour from an oven.

“You see this toothpick?” said Scrooge, returning quickly to the charge, for the reason just assigned; and wishing, though it were only for a second, to divert the vision’s stony gaze from himself.

“I do,” replied the Ghost.

“You are not looking at it,” said Scrooge.

“But I see it,” said the Ghost, “notwithstanding.”

“Well!” returned Scrooge, “I have but to swallow this, and be for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins, all of my own creation. Humbug, I tell you; humbug!”

At this the spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise, that Scrooge held on tight to his chair, to save himself from falling in a swoon. But how much greater was his horror when the phantom, taking off the bandage round his head, as if it were too warm to wear indoors, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast!

Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face.


“Mercy!” he said. “Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?”



“Man of the worldly mind!” replied the Ghost, “do you believe in me or not?”

“I do,” said Scrooge. “I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?”

“Poos kata holoima naika?”, wawa mama-yaka-ow, Scrooge, “poos naika mitlait kopa okok ilahi kakwa? Patl klisi-man okok ilahi! Tloosh Lanoel! Kata tloosh Lanoel!? Ikta okok Lanoel kopa maika? Kopitt taim spos maika peyei ikta kah heilo maika mitlait chikumin! Taim spos maika tl’ap wuht ihht sno, pi heilo wuht ihht tala. Taim spos skookum-mamook! Poos tlaska mamook kakwa naika tikki, kanawei man poos yaka wawa ‘tloosh Lanoel’, poos tlaska mamook-liplip yaka, pi mash yaka kopa ilahi!”

¨Naika mama-yaka-ow”, wawa okok man.

“Naika ats-yaka-tanas-man!” yaka skookum-wawa. “Mamook Lanoel kakwa maika tikki, pi potlatch naika mamook kakwa naika tikki.”

“Mamook Lanoel?”, wuht yaka wawa. “Pi heilo maika mamook Lanoel!”

“Alta potlatch naika mitlait kopitt-ihht”, Scrooge yaka wawa. “Tloosh nanich!”


“Kopa okok ilahi, mitlait haiyoo mamook, tlaska tloosh kopa naika, pi heilo naika tolo wuht ihht tala poos naika mamook tlaska!”, wawa okok man; “Kakwa Lanoel. Kwanisum naika tumtum poos Lanoel, heilo kopitt haiyas-ha’ha taim yaka, wuht tloosh taim yaka, taim yaka spos patlach chikumin pi tloosh-ikta kopa ihht-ihht man, spos chako ihht-tumtum kopa ihht-ihht man. Kopa kanawei-sno, Lanoel yaka kopit-ihht taim kah man pi tloochman tlaska dleit-tloosh, kah tlaska mamook-halak tlaska tumtum, kah tlaska tumtum poos tlahowyum-tilihum tlaska dleit kakwa tlaska. Kakwa, naika mama-yaka-ow, tl’oonas weik-kantzih naika tolo wuht ihht tala poos naika mamook-Lanoel, pi naika dleit tumtum poos Lanoel yaka tloosh kopa naika, pi altki tloosh yaka kopa naika, pi wuht naika wawa, ‘Poos Sahali-Taiyee yaka mamook-blis Lanoel!’”

Heilo yaka kumtuks ikta-mamook, ofis-man kopa dleit-tanas-hous yaka mamook-wawa yaka limá. Yaawaa, yaka tl’ap tanas-sheim, pi yaka k’wutl paiya, pi mamook-kopitt yaka.

“Patlach naika k’wolaan maika wuht ihht taim”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “pi maika weik-tloosh mamook maika Lanoel! Kata tloosh pi skookum maika wawa”, yaka wawa. “Tl’oonas naika tikki mamook kopa gavmint-hous?!”

¨Weik-tloosh maika chako saliks, naika mama-yaka-ow. Chako! Mukmuk kanamokwst nesaika tamaala!¨

Kopa okok, Scrooge yaka haiyoo saliks-wawa kopa okok man.

“Pi ikta-mamook kakwa?”, okok man yaka ask kopa Scrooge. “Ikta mamook?”

“Ikta-mamook ankati naika chako-marri?”, Scrooge yaka ask.

“Kopa okok, naika chako haiyas-tloosh-tumtum kopa naika tloochman.”

“Maika chako haiyas-tloosh-tumtum kopa maika tloochman?!” saliks Scrooge yaka wawa, kakwa okok ilep-haiyas peltin poos wawa ‘tloosh Lanoel’. “Tloosh mimaloos-sun!¨

Heilo, naika mama-yaka-ow, pi weik-kantzih maika tlatawa nanich naika, wuht ilep kopa naika chako-marri. Alta ikta-mamook maika wawa poos naika chako-marri, okok lateit kopa okok.

“Tloosh mimaloos-sun,”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Heilo naika tikki spos maika patlach ikta kopa naika, heilo naika ask maika kopa ikta, ikta-mamook heilo nesaika siks?¨

“Tloosh mimaloos-sun!”, Scrooge wuht yaka wawa.

“Sik-tumtum naika, kopa kanawei naika tumtum, poos tl’ap maika kakwa. Weik-kantzih nesaika kannamowkst saliks. Pi naika chako poos trai mamook-siks maika. Tloosh, naika wuht tloosh-tumtum kopa Lanoel. Kakwa…tloosh Lanoel, naika mama-yaka-ow!”

“Tloosh mimaloos-sun”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Pi tloosh chhi sno!”

“Tloosh mimaloos-sun!”, Scrooge yaka k’ilapai.

Yaka ats-yaka-tanas-man tlatawa, heilo kopa ihht saliks-wawa. Alta yaka weit ihht-minit weik-saiyaa laport poos wawa klahowyum kopa ofis-man. Okok ofis-man, wuht dleit-kol yaka, ilep-wam kopa Scrooge, alta yaka k’ilapai yaka “Tlahowyum”.

“Yaawaa wuht ihht man”, Scrooge yaka wawa. “Naika ofis-man. Yaka tl’ap kopitt tatlam pi kwinum tala kanawei sondi, mitlait tloochman pi tanaas, pi yaka wawa ‘tloosh Lanoel’! Tloosh naika tlatawa kopa krisi-hous!¨

Okok “krisi”-man, poos yaka mamook-halak laport kopa Scrooge yaka ats-yaka-tanas-man, patlach chako wuht mokwst man. Haiyas-tloosh pi haiyas-klis tlaska, pi alta tlaska mitxwit kopa Scrooge yaka ofis. Tlaska mitlait book pi peipa kopa tlaska lima, pi tlaska tanas-ashnoo kopa Scrooge.

“Scrooge pi Marli, tlaska ofis, naika tumtum?”, ihht man yaka wawa, poos yaka nanich yaka peipa. “Naika tloosh-tumtum poos wawa kopa Scrooge, pi Marli?”

“Ankati sinnamokwst sno Marli yaka mimaloos”, Scrooge yaka wawa. “Sinnamokwst sno ilep kopa wuht okok polakli yaka mimaloos.”


“Heilo nesaika mokwst-tumtum poos okok yaka bisnis-siks wuht alta yaka patlach-tumtum kakwa ankati Marli yaka”, wawa okok man, poos yaka patlach Scrooge okok neim-peipa mitlait kopa yaka lima.

Nawitka: ankati tlaska dleit kakwa ihht pi ihht. Poos Scrooge yaka kw’olaan okok tanas-wawa “patlach-tumtum”, Scrooge yaka, tanas-saliks, mamook-k’ilapai okok neim-peipa.

“Kakwa alta Lanoel-taim, naika tloosh Scrooge,” wawa okok man, poos yaka iskum pensil kopa yaka lima, “tloosh kanawei nesaika mamook-klahowyum kopa klahowyum-tilihum pi patlach kopa tlaska kopitt tanas chikumin, kakwa alta tlaska dleit klahowyum. Haiyoo tawsin tlaska tikki kopitt tanas tloosh-iktas¨


“Heilo mitlait skookum-hous?”, Scrooge yaka ask.

“Haiyoo skookum-hous mitlait”, wawa okok man, mamook-mitlait kimt’a yaka pensil.


“Pi mamook-hous? Wuht alta tlaska mamook?”, Scrooge yaka ask.

“Wuht tlaska mamook¨, yaka k’ilapai kopa Scrooge. “Poos naika tikki poos heilo tlaska mamook.”

“Tloosh. La kopa tlahowyum-tilihum, tlaska wuht mitlait?¨

“Skookum mitlait, Scrooge.”

“O! Ilep weik-saiyaa kwash-tumtum naika, poos naika chako-kumtuks okok maika wawa. Tloosh poos tlaska wuht mitlait, okok mamook-hous, la, pi skookum-hous! Tloosh-tumtum naika kopa okok.¨

“Kakwa nesaika tumtum poos heilo okok dleit mamook-tloosh tlahowyum-tilihum tlaska itluil pi tumtum”, man yaka wawa, “alta tanas-haiyoo nesaika trai poos mamook-iskum tanas-chikumin spos makook kopa tlaska tanas mukmuk pi wain, pi stik kopa tlaska paiya. Nesaika alta mamook kakwa, spos alta dleit tlahowyum tlaska, pi tloosh nesaika mamook-help tlaska. Kopa kantzih chikumin tloosh naika mamook-tz’um maika neim?”

“Heilo-ikta”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

“A! Maika tikki patlach chikumin, pi heilo maika tikki poos kanawei-tilihum tlaska kumtuks maika neim?”

“Naika tikki mitlait kopitt-ihht”, Scrooge yaka wawa. “Poos masaika ask naika ikta naika tikki, naika wawa kakwa. Heilo naika mamook-tloosh-tumtum naika kopa Lanoel, pi heilo naika mitlait haiyoo chikumin spos mamook-tloosh-tumtum okok leisi tilihum. Wuht alta naika peyei haiyoo chikumin kopa ikta naika wawa, pi okok tilihum-tlahowyum, yaawaa tloosh tlaska tlatawa.”

“Haiyoo tilihum, heilo tlaska skookum tlatawa yaawaa, pi haiyoo tlaska ilep-tloosh-tumtum mimaloos.”

“Poos tlaska ilep-tloosh-tumtum mimaloos”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “tloosh tlaska mimaloos, spos mamook ilep-tanas-kantzih tilihum mitlait kopa okok ilahi. Pi, heilo naika kumtuks okok”

“Pi, tl’oonas maika chako-kumtuks okok”, man yaka wawa.

“Heilo naika bisnis okok”, Scrooge yaka k’ilapai. “Wuht alta haiyoo kopa ihht man spos kumtuks yaka bisnis, pi heilo chako haiyoo-tumtum kopa ihht-ihht man tlaska bisnis. Kwanisum naika chako haiyoo-tumtum kopa naika bisnis. Tloosh polakli!”

Alta kakwa tlaska chako-kumtuks poos kutlus wuht wawa kopa yaka, tlahani tlaska tlatawa. Scrooge yaka wuht mamook, ilep-tloosh-tumtum yaka.

Alta smok pi polakli chako ilep-haiyoo, pi tilihum tlaska tlatawa kah-kah kopa tlaska paiya-stik poos selim tlaska mamook poos mamook-lait kopa tz’iktz’ik kopa oihhat. Sundei-hous yaka tintin kwanisum nanich Scrooge kopa yaka windo, alta heilo tlaska nanich okok tintin, pi wuht tintin skookum wawa kanawei our. Alta skookum kol.

Kopa haiyas oihhat, ihht-ihht man tlaska mamook-tloosh paip kopa paiya-win, pi wuht tlaska mamook skookum paiya kopa ihht bokit. Rawn okok bokit tanas-haiyoo tlahowyum man pi tanas-man tlaska mixwit kannamowkst. Tlaska mamook-wam tlaska lima pi nanich paiya. Yaawaa paip kopa chokw, poos tanas-chokw kooli tlahani kopa yaka, okok chako ais. Poos kah-kah tlahowyum tilihum tlaska kooli, lait, poos chako tlahani kopa makook-hous tlaska windo, okok mamook-tloosh tlaska seeyahoos. Man, tlaska selim kalakala tlaska itlwali, pi man tlaska selim tepso, tlaska selim tlaska iktas dleit haiyas-makook. Haiyas town-taiyee, yaka patlach kanawei tilihum, pi tlaska mamook kopa yaka hous, spos dleit-tloosh mamook Lanoel. Pi wuht sil-man, pi ihht Monday kopa okok sun haiyas town-taiyee yaka mamook yaka peyei 5 tala poos yaka chako-patlam ihht mondei kopa okok sun, okok sil-man yaka mamook-kook ihht lagalet kopa Lanoel poos yaka tloochman yaka tanas-man tlaska tlatawa makook moosmoos yaka itlwali.

Mitlait wuht ilep-haiyoo smok, pi wuht ilep-kol! Haiyas skookum okok kol. Pi poos ankati wuht tloosh Dunstan yaka kopitt mamook-kut masaachi-lisaash yaka nos kopa ihht kol dleit-kakwa, poos wuht ilep-saiyaa okok masaachi-lisaash yaka tlatawa. Alta ihht tanas-man dleit-kakwa kol, yaka tlatawa kopa Scrooge yaka laport, pi yaka start shanti Lanoel-shanti, pi poos yaka start poos shanti

“Poos Sahali Taiyee mamook-blis masaika, tloosh weik-ikta mamook-sik-tumtum maika”

Scrooge yaka iskum stik kakwa skookum, poos mamook okok shanti-man dleit kwash, pi haiyas-haiyak shanti-man yaka tlatawa.


Tanas-leili chako taim poos mamook-ihhpuy mamook-kantzih-hous.

Kwanisum saliks, Scrooge yaka mitxwit spos tlatawa. Ofis-man yaka weit kopa okok, pi yawaa yaka mamook-kopitt yaka kantl, pi mamook-mitlait kopa lateit yaka siapul.

“Tl’oonas heilo tamaala maika tikki mamook?¨, Scrooge yaka ask.

“Nawitka, poos tloosh okok.”

“Weik-tloosh!”, Scrooge yaka wawa. “Pi peltin okok! Poos ihht sun naika stop peyei sitkum-tala kopa maika, maika tumtum poos naika mamook-kultus maika, nawitka?”

Ofis-man yaka mamook tanas-ilep-tloosh yaka seeyahoos.

“Pi wuht”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “Heilo maika tumtum poos maika mamook-kultus naika poos naika peyei chikumin kopa maika, pi heilo maika mamook!”

Ofis-man yaka wawa poos Lanoel chako kopitt ihht taim kopa sno.

“Weik-tloosh lateit okok poos kanawei mowkst-tatlum pi kwinum sun kopa disimbr kapshwala kopa tlaska-man!”, Scrooge yaka wawa, poos yaka mamook-ihhpuy yaka kot, “Pi tl’oonas tloosh heilo maika mamook tamaala. Chako wuht ilep-aiyak nekst tanas-sun!”

Ofis-man yaka wawa poos yaka chako ilep-aiyak kopa okok tanas-sun. Saliks, Scrooge tlatawa tlahani. Aiyak tlaska mamook-ihhpuy ofis, pi ofis-man, kopa yaka pasisi kopa yaka (kakwa heilo yaka mitlait kot), kakwa okok ihht-sun ilep kopa Lanoel, yaka aiyak-tlatawa kopa yaka hous kopa Kamden-town, spos mamook-heehee.

Alta Scrooge yaka mukmuk yaka sik-tumtum mimaloos-sun mukmuk kopa okok sik-tumtum biya-hous, kah kwanisum yaka mukmuk. Poos yaka mamook-kopitt nanich kanawei chhi-peipa pi peipa kopa yaka mamook, yaka tlatawa sleep. Yaka mitlait kopa ihht tanas-hous, kah ankati mitlait yaka siks Marli. Mitlait haiyoo-tanas lait kopa okok tanas-hous, pi dleit kultus okok. Ankati pi sik-tumtum okok hous, kakwa kopitt Scrooge yaawaa yaka mitlait. Kopitt-ihht Scrooge yaka sleep kopa okok hous, kopa yaka tanas-hous, pi kanawei-kah kopa okok hous tlaska-man mitlait tlaska ofis. Haiyooo-tanas-kakwa lait mitlait yaawaa, poos Scrooge, wuht yaka kumtuks kanawei ston kopa yaka flor, nanich kopa yaka lima poos yaka kooli. Haiyoo smok pi ais mitlait kopa okok hous.

Heilo mitlait ikta holoima kopa ikta-mamook-NOK kopa laport, kopitt dleit haiyas okok. Pi poos Scrooge yaka mitlait kopa okok hous, kanawei tanas-sun pi mimaloos-sun Scrooge yaka nanich okok. Weik-kantzih Scrooge yaka tumtum kopa Marli, kakwa wuht ankati sinamokwst sno yaka mimaloos. Pi chhi-alta, poos Scrooge yaka mamook-mitlait yaka leklei kopa laport, yaka nanich kopa ikta-mamook-NOK, yaawaa heilo mitlait ikta-mamook-NOK okok, pi Marli yaka seeyahoos!

Marli yaka seeyahoos. Heilo polakli, kakwa kanawei-ikta weik-saiyaa hous, pi mitlait lait-ikta kopa yaka. Heilo saliks yaka, pi yaka nanich Scrooge kakwa ankati Marli yaka nanich Scrooge, kopa yaka lakit-seeyahoos sahali kopa yaka mimaloos lateit. Yaka yaksu holoima kooli, kakwa poos wam win kooli kopa yaka, pi, wuht seeyahoos tlaska dleit halak, heilo tlaska kooli. Okok, pi yaka holoima lait, mamook-kwash.

Poos Scrooge yaka dleit nanich kopa okok, wuht yaka chako kopitt ikta-mamook-NOK.

Weik-kantzih kwash yaka, pi alta tanas-kwash. Yaka mamook-mitlait leklei kopa laport, mamook-halak okok, tlatawa insaid, pi mamook-paiya yaka kandl.

Yaka weit ilep kopa yaka mamook-ihhpuy laport, pi wuht ilep kopa okok yaka nanich kimt’a laport, kakwa yaka tumtum poos yaka chako kwash poos Marli yaka yaksu tlatawa insaid kopa hous. Pi heilo-ikta mitlait kimt’a laport, kopitt nil tlaska k’ow ikta-mamook-NOK kopa laport, pi yaka wawa “weik-tloosh!¨, pi skookum mamook-ihhpuy okok.

Kanawei-kah kopa hous tlaska k’wolaan laport poos okok ihhpuy. Kopa kanawei tanas-hous, pi kopa kanawei wain-lakasett keekwuli kopa hous, tlaska k’wolaanl aport poos okok ihhpuy. Heilo kakwa Scrooge yaka chako kwash. Yaka mamook-k’ow laport, pi sahali kopa stirs yaka tlatawa, heilo-aiyak, tloosh-nanich yaka kandl.

Dleeeeit haiyas waid okok stirs. Pi t’loonas kopa okok Scrooge yaka tumtum poos yaka weik-saiyaa nanich steem-kar tlatawa sahali kopa okok.

Sahali Scrooge yaka tlatawa, kultus kopa yaka poos dleit polakli yawaa. Heilo haiyas-makook polakli, pi Scrooge tloosh-tumtum yaka kopa okok. Pi, ilep kopa yaka mamook-ihhpuy yaka til laport, yaka tloosh-nanich yaka hous.

Kultus-mitlait-tanas-hous, bed-tanas-hous, iktas-tanas hous. Kanawei-tlaska tloosh kakwa. Weik-tlaska mitlait, tanas paiya keekwuli kopa chimni, basin kopa wash mitlait, pi yaka tanas lapoel patl lawein kopa kook-stov (alta Scrooge yaka tanas sik). Weik-tlaska keekwuli kopa bed, weik-tlaska kopa yaka iktas-tanas-room, weik-tlaska kopa yaka sleep-iktas, pi okok mitlait sahali kopa wal. Iktas-room kakwa kwanisum. Ol wam-stov, mokwst tkitlipa, mokwst baskit kopa fish, basin kopa tloon lipiye, pi ihht chikumin paiya-stik.

Tloosh-tumtum, yaka mamook-ihhpuy laport, pi mokwst taim yaka mamook-k’ow okok (holoima kopa yaka, mamook kakwa). Tloosh-k’ow laport, yaka mash yaka iktas, pi iskum yaka sleep-iktas, sleep-tkitlipa, pi sleep-siapul, pi yaka mitlait weik-saiyaa paiya spos mukmuk yaka wam-lawein.

Dleeeeit keekwuli pi tanas okok paiya, heilo-ikta kopa polakli kol kakwa. Yaka tikki mitlait haiyas-weik-saiyaa kopa okok paiya, weik-saiyaa yaka ashnoo sahali kopa okok, spos nanich tl’oonas tanas wam kopa okok tanas-haiyoo stik. Haiyas ol okok wam-stov. Ankati ihht Dutch selim-man yaka mamook okok, pi haiyas tloosh yaka mamook kopa pikchur-ston, spos mamook-nanich syatsum kopa tloosh-book. Yaawaa mitlait Kain pi Abel, Farao yaka tanas-tloochman, haiyas-taiyee-tloochman kopa Sheeba, lisaash tlatawa keekwuli kopa smok kakwa kopa bed, Abraam, Belshazzar, SK yaka tloosh-tilihum, haiyas tloosh pikchur spos mamook-haiyoo-tumtum Scrooge, pi alta Scrooge yaka tumtum kopit kopa okok Marli yaka seeyahoos, mimaloos yaka sinnamowkst sno ilep kopa okok sun.

“Humbug!”, Scrooge yaka wawa, pi yaka tlatawa inatai kopa yaka tanas-hous.

Kopitt sinnamowkst taim tlatawa rown okok tanas-hous, wuht yaka mitlait. Poos yaka mitlait kopa yaka lishesh, yaka nanich tintin, ol tintin, okok mitlait sahali kopa wal kopa yaka tanas-hous, pi okok tintin kumtuks wawa (ikta mamook ankati Scrooge yaka mash-kumtuks), kopa ihht tanas-hous ilep-sahali kopa okok hous. Yaka chako tanas-kwash poos okok tintin start kooli. Ilep, dleit-heilo-aiyak yaka kooli, pi alta, skookum yaka kooli pi skookum yaka wawa, wuht kakwa kanawei tintin kopa okok hous kooli.

Tl’oonas sitkum-minit, tl’oonas minit, okok tintin tlaska wawa, pi kopa Scrooge kakwa-spos our. Alta tlaska kopitt wawa, dleit-kakwa tlaska start – kanamokwst. Kimt’a Scrooge yaka k’wolaan, dleit keekwuli kopa hous kah mitlait wain-makook-man yaka wain, kakwa poos ihht man yaka hal haiyas-til chukumin lop inatai kopa barril.

Laport kopa tanas-house kah mitlait wain, okok chako-halak, pi Scrooge yaka k’wolaan okok wawa ilep-skookum yawaa keekwuli, chako ilep-weik-saiyaa, kopa yaka laport.

“Wuht humbug!”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “Heilo naika mamook-nawitka okok.”

Pi yaka chako kwash, poos Scrooge yaka nanich okok chako kopa laport, pi tlatawa kopa yaka tanas-hous. Poos okok chako, Scrooge yaka tanas-paiya chako ilep-haiyas, kakwa-spos okok paiya yaka wawa “Naika kumtuks yaka! Marli yaka mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai!”, pi alta okok paiya fol-down.

Dleit-kakwa okok seeyahoos. Marli, kopa yaka yaksu, kot, sakalooks, pi boots. Win mamook-tlatawa yaka yaksu. Chikumin-lop poos yaka hal, okok k’ow rown yaka itluil. Haiyas yootlkat, pi mitlait rown yaka kakwa tail. Scrooge yaka nanich: tlaska mamook okok chikumin-lop kopa chikumin-lakasett, chikumin-k’ow-ikta, chikumin peipa-book kopa chikumin, chikumin peipa kopa makook-hous, pi haiyas chikumin lisak kopa chikumin. Scrooge yaka skookum nanich inatai kopa Marli, kakwa Marli sitkum-heilo yaka, pi Scrooge yaka kumtuks nanich mokwst tziltzil kopa Marli yaka bak.

Scrooge yaka kumtuks poos ankati tlaska wawa spos kopa Marli heilo mitlait k’wateen, pi heilo Scrooge yaka mamook-nawitka okok ilep kopa okok-sun.

Heilo, wuht alta heilo yaka mamook-nawitka okok. Poos Scrooge yaka nanich okok milmaloos-chako-k’ilapai, yaka seeyahoos tlaska mamook tanas-kwash Scrooge. Alta wuht Scrooge yaka nanich ihht sil k’ow rown Marli yaka lateit pi yaka lapoosh.

“Kata maika?”, Scrooge yaka wawa, kwanisum kol pi saliks. “Ikta maika tikki kopa naika?”

“Haiyoo!”, Marli yaka wawa.

“Tlaksta maika?”

“Ask naika ankati tlaksta naika.”

“Tloosh, ankati tlaksta maika?”, Scrooge yaka wawa, ilep-skookum. “Kata holoima maika.”

“Ankati, kopa okok ilahi, maika bisnis-siks naika, Sheikob Marli.”

“Maika…kumtuks mitlait kopa lishesh?”, Scrooge yaka ask, tanas mokwst-tumtum.

“Kumtuks.”

“Mamook-kakwa!”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

Scrooge ask okok, kakwa heilo Scrooge yaka kumtuks poos weik-kata mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai kumtuks mitlait kopa lishesh. Pi mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka mitlait kopa lishesh weik-saiyaa kopa paiya, kakwa-spos kwanisum yaka mamook kakwa.

“Heilo maika mamook-nawitka kopa naika”, wawa mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai.

“Heilo,” Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Ikta mamook maika tumtum poos heilo yakwaa naika?”

“Heilo naika kumtuks,” Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Ikta mamook maika mokwst-tumtum kopa maika seeyahoos?”

“Kopa okok…”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “Naika k’wateen tanas-sik. Kopa okok, sumtaims naika nanich ikta, pi heilo ikta mitlait! Tl’oonas tanas moosmoos-itlwali maika, tanas heilo-kook poteito, tanas mukmuk. Heilo maika dleit mitlait!”

Scrooge dleit yaka trai poos mamook-tloosh yaka lateit, spos mamook heilo-kwash yaka tumtum. Pi nawitka, haiyas-kwash yaka, kakwa mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa mamook dleit kwash Scrooge.

Mitlait, nanich okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka seeyahoos, okok mamook tanas-sik-tumtum yaka, Scrooge tumtum. Miltlait ikta-weik-tloosh kopa okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai. Heilo Scrooge yaka kumtuks ikta okok, pi yaka tumtum spos ikta mitlait, kakwa poos yawaa okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka mitlait, heilo yaka tlatawa, pi okok yaka yakso pi shut wuht tlatawa, kakwa ihht wam win mamook-tlatawa tlaska.

“Nanich okok mamook-kleen-lidà-stik?”, Scrooge yaka wawa…alta yaka tikki spos okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai nanich kopa okok stik, pi heilo kopa Scrooge.

“Naika nanich”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa.

“Heilo maika nanich okok!”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Pi naika nanich okok”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa.

“Wal”, Scrooge yaka k’ilapai, “Poos kopitt naika mukmuk okok tanas-stik, poos atlki kwanisum naika nanich haiyoo skookoom, okok naika mamook kopa naika lateit. Humbug, naika wawa maika, humbug!”

Poos Scrooge yaka kopitt wawa okok, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai klai, pi shook yaka chikumin-lop. Okok chikumin-lop mamook haiyoo-wawa, spos Scrooge yaka skookum iskum yaka lishesh, spos heilo yaka fol-down keekwuli. Pi Scooge yaka chako wuht ilep-kwash poos mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai mash okok sil rown yaka lateit, pi yaka keekwuli-lapoosh-bon fol-down kopa yaka lipiye!

Scrooge yaka fol-down pi ashnoo, pi mamook-ipsoot yaka seeyahoos kopa yaka limá.

“Mamook-tlahowyum kopa naika!”, yaka wawa. “Masaachi mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai! Ikta mamook maika mamook-sik-tumtum naika?”

“Chikumin-tumtum man!”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai k’ilapai, “Maika mamook-nawitka kopa naika?”

“Naika mamook-nawitka,” Scrooge yaka wawa, “Tloosh naika mamook kakwa. Pi ikta mamook mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai tlaska tlatawa kopa okok ilahi, pi wuht tlaska tlatawa kopa naika?”

“It is required of every man,” the Ghost returned, “that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world—oh, woe is me!—and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!”

Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands.

“You are fettered,” said Scrooge, trembling. “Tell me why?”

“I wear the chain I forged in life,” replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free-will, and of my own free-will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?”

Scrooge trembled more and more.

“Or would you know,” pursued the Ghost, “the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas-eves ago. You have laboured on it since. It is a ponderous chain!”

Scrooge glanced about him on the floor, in the expectation of finding himself surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of iron cable, but he could see nothing.

“Jacob!” he said imploringly. “Old Jacob Marley, tell me more! Speak comfort to me, Jacob!”

“I have none to give,” the Ghost replied. “It comes from other regions, Ebenezer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of men. Nor can I tell you what I would. A very little more is all permitted to me. I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. My spirit never walked beyond our counting-house—mark me;—in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole; and weary journeys lie before me!”

It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful, to put his hands in his breeches pockets. Pondering on what the Ghost had said, he did so now, but without lifting up his eyes, or getting off his knees.

“You must have been very slow about it, Jacob,” Scrooge observed in a business-like manner, though with humility and deference.

“Slow!” the Ghost repeated.

“Seven years dead,” mused Scrooge. “And travelling all the time?”

“The whole time,” said the Ghost. “No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse.”

“You travel fast?” said Scrooge.

“On the wings of the wind,” replied the Ghost.

“You might have got over a great quantity of ground in seven years,” said Scrooge.

The Ghost, on hearing this, set up another cry, and clanked its chain so hideously in the dead silence of the night, that the Ward would have been justified in indicting it for a nuisance.

“Oh! captive, bound, and double-ironed,” cried the phantom, “not to know that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed! Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness! Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunities misused! Yet such was I! Oh, such was I!”

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.

“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

It held up its chain at arm’s length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again.

“At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?”

Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going on at this rate, and began to quake exceedingly.

“Hear me!” cried the Ghost. “My time is nearly gone.”

“I will,” said Scrooge. “But don’t be hard upon me! Don’t be flowery, Jacob! Pray!”

“How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, I may not tell. I have sat invisible beside you many and many a day.”

It was not an agreeable idea. Scrooge shivered, and wiped the perspiration from his brow.

“That is no light part of my penance,” pursued the Ghost. “I am here to-night to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.”

“You were always a good friend to me,” said Scrooge. “Thankee!”

“You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.”

Scrooge’s countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost’s had done.

“Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?” he demanded in a faltering voice.

“It is.”

“I—I think I’d rather not,” said Scrooge.

“Without their visits,” said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first to-morrow when the bell tolls One.”

“Couldn’t I take ’em all at once, and have it over, Jacob?” hinted Scrooge.

“Expect the second on the next night at the same hour.

The third, upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!”

When it had said these words, the spectre took its wrapper from the table, and bound it round its head as before. Scrooge knew this by the smart sound its teeth made when the jaws were brought together by the bandage. He ventured to raise his eyes again, and found his supernatural visitor confronting him in an erect attitude, with its chain wound over and about its arm.

The apparition walked backward from him; and, at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that, when the spectre reached it, it was wide open. It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley’s Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. Scrooge stopped.

Not so much in obedience as in surprise and fear; for, on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night.

Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. He looked out.

The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley’s Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives. He had been quite familiar with one old ghost in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below upon a doorstep. The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever.

Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. But they and their spirit voices faded together; and the night became as it had been when he walked home.

Scrooge closed the window, and examined the door by which the Ghost had entered. It was double locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. He tried to say “Humbug!” but stopped at the first syllable. And being, from the emotion he had undergone, or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose, went straight to bed without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant.

“Tlaska patlach kopa kanawei man”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka k’ilapai, “Spos yaka tumtum tlatawa kopa okok ilahi kanamowkst kanawei ihht-ihht man, pi kooli saiyaa, pi, poos heilo yaka tumtum tlatawa kah-kah kopa okok ilahi, tloosh okok tumtum kultus-kooli kah-kah poos yaka mimaloos kakwa mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai. Yawaa okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka nanich ikta poos yaka heilo kumtuks patlach kopa ihht-ihht man kah yakwaa yaka. O! Haiyas tlahowyum naika!”

Wuht mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka klai, pi yaka shook yaka chikumin-lop.

“Maika k’ow”, Scrooge yaka wawa, poos yaka shook. “Wawa kopa naika ikta mamook okok?”

“Naika k’ow kopa chikumin-lop, naika mamook okok lop kopa okok ilahi”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka k’ilapai. “Naika mamook okok chikumin-lop, tanas kopa tanas, yach kopa yach. Kopa naika tumtum, naika mamook okok, pi lolo okok wuht kakwa. Okok holoima kopa maika?”

Scrooge wuht yaka shook.

“Pi tl’oonas maika kumtuks”, wuht mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, “kakwa til pi yootlkat okok maika chikumin-lop. Sinnamokwst sno ankati, til pi yootlkat dleit kakwa naika, maika. Wuht maika mamook ilep-til maika. Kata haiyas maika chikumin-lop!”

Scrooge yaka nanich rown yaka kopa flor, spos nanich yaka chikumin-lop…pi heilo mitlait.

“Jakob!”, yaka wawa. “Oleman Jakob Marli, wawa naika wuht! Mamook yootl-tumtum naika, Jakob!”

“Heilo naika kumtuks mamook kakwa”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka k’ilapai. “Kopitt heilo-dleit-kakwa-man tlaska kumtuks mamook maika yootl-tumtum. Heilo naika. Kopitt naika skookum poos mamook wuht tanas-haiyoo. Alta heilo naika skookum mitlait. Ankati, kopa okok ilahi, heilo naika tlatawa tlahani kopa nesaika mamook-kantzih-hous, nanich, pi alta tlaska patlach naika kwanisum kooli kah-kah!”

Scrooge, poos yaka tumtum, mamook-mitlait yaka limá kopa yaka sakalooks-lisak.

“Tl’oonas maika haiyas heilo-haiyak tlatawa, Jakob”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Haiyas heilo-haiyak?!”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai wuht yaka wawa.

“Sinnamowkst sno ankati maika mimaloos”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “Pi kwanisum maika kooli?”

“Kwanisum”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, “Heilo kultus-mitlait, heilo yootl. Kwanisum sik-tumtum naika.”

“Haiyak maika kooli?”, Scrooge yaka ask.

“Dleit haiyak, kakwa win”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka k’ilapai.

“Tl’oonas poos saiyaa maika kooli kopa sinnamokwst sno”, Scrooge yaka wawa.

Poos mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka kw’olaan okok, wuht yaka klai, pi skookum shook yaka chikumin-lop.

“O! K’ow naika, wuht mowskt taim kopa chikumin-lop!”, yaka wawa. “Heilo kopa naika kumtuks tloosh kopa okok ilahi! Heilo kopa naika kumtuks poos tloosh tilihum tlaska mamook tloosh kah-kah. Ankati kakwa naika, O, kakwa!

“Pi, ankati kwanisum tloosh bisnis-man maika, Jakob,” Scrooge yaka wawa, keekwuli, poos yaka wuht tumtum kopa yaka, Scrooge.

“Bisnis!”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai wuht yaka klai. “Kanawei tillicum, tlaska naika bisnis. Tloosh kopa kanawei tlaska, okok naika bisnis. Mamook-tlahowyum kopa tlaska, mamook tloosh tlaska tumtum, pi kultus-patlach chikumin kopa tlaska, ankati kanawei okok naika bisnis. Naika mamook kopitt tanas-haiyoo naika bisnis!”

Yaka hal sahali yaka chikumin-lop, spos mamook-nanich okok kopa Scrooge, pi wuht yaka mash okok kopa flor.

“Kopa okok taim kopa sno”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, “Ilep-haiyas tlahowyum naika. Ikta mamook naika tlatawa kah-kah kopa tillihum, kopitt nanich kopa ilahi, pi kwanisum heilo naika nanich kopa okok ha’ha tziltzil, poos ankati okok mamook-tlatawa tloon Taiyee kopa tlahowyum hous? Heilo mitlait tlahowyum-hous yakwaa poos tl’oonas okok tziltzil mamook-tlatawa naika yaawaa?”

Haiyas sik-tumtum Scrooge yaka chako poos yaka k’wolaan okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, pi alta yaka shook.

“K’wolaan naika!”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka klai. “Naika taim weik-saiyaa kopitt!”

“Naika k’wolaan”, Scrooge yaka wawa, “Pi heilo skookum wawa kopa naika, Jakob!”

“Ikta mamook alta maika nanich naika, heilo naika kumtuks. Haiyoo sun naika mitlait weik-saiyaa maika.”

Poos Scrooge yaka k’wolaan okok, yaka chako ilep-kwash, pi mamook-kleen yaka seeyahoos kopa yaka lima.

“Haiyas k’ul naika lapilitas”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, “Okok polakli yakwaa naika, spos wawa kopa maika poos t’loonas heilo maika chako kakwa naika. Naika skookum mamook poos chako yakwaa, Ebenezer.”

“Kwanisum tloosh siks kopa naika, maika,” Scrooge yaka wawa, “Masi!”

“Atlki kopa maika chako…”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, “wuht tloon mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai.”

Scrooge yaka chako ilep-keekwuli, weik-saiyaa kakwa ankati mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka chako.

“Okok oihhat kopa naika lapilitas, kopa okok maika wawa, Jakob?” yaka ask, keekwuli.

“Okok.”

“Naika tumtum….naika ilep-tloosh tumtum spos heilo naika mamook kakwa.” Scrooge yaka wawa.

“Poos heilo tlaska chako-nanich maika”, mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka wawa, “weik-kata poos heilo maika chako kakwa naika. Tamaala kopa ihht oklak, ilep mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka chako nanich maika.”

“Weik-kata poos kanawei tlaska chako kanamokwst poos ilep-haiyak naika mamook-kopitt kopa kanawei okok, Jakob?”, Scrooge yaka ask.

“Wuht ihht oklak polakli mokwst sun kimt’a kopa okok sun mowkst mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka chako kopa maika.”

“Tloon mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka chako tloon sun kimt’a kopa okok sun, kopa tatlam pi tloon oklak. Weik-kantzih wuht maika nanich naika, pi, kopa maika, heilo mash-kumtuks okok poos chako kanamowkst nesaika!”

Poos yaka wawa okok wawa, yaka iskum yaka sil kopa latab, pi wuht mamook-k’ow okok rown yaka lateit, kakwa ankati. Scrooge yaka kumtuks okok poos yaka k’wolaan lidá tlaska wawa poos keekwuli-sahali lapoosh bon tlaska chako kannamokwst. Scrooge yaka mamook-sahali yaka seeyahoos, pi nanich poos mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka mitxwit, kopa yaka chikumin-lop kopa yaka limá.

Mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka tlatawa ilep-saiyaa kopa Scrooge, pi poos kanawei taim yaka mamook-mitlait lepiye, windo tlatawa ilep-tanas-sahali, kakwa-spos, poos mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka k’o kopa okok, okok windo dleit halak. Alta, yaka patlach kopa Scrooge poos chako weik-saiyaa windo, pi Scrooge yaka chako. Chhi alta Marli yaka mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka mamook-sahali yaka limá, spos mamook-nanich kopa Scrooge poos tloosh yaka mitxwit yaawaa. Scrooge yaka stop.

Poos mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka mamook-sahali yaka limá, chhi alta Scrooge yaka k’wolaan ikta-wawa kopa win, kakwa haiyoo-tilihum tlaska klai. Minit mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka mamook-k’wolaan okok, pi wuht yaka klai kanamokwst tlaska, pi yaka flai tlahani kopa windo kopa polakli.

Scrooge yaka haiyak-kooli kopa windo, pi tlahani yaka nanich.

Yawaa haiyoo mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai haiyak tlaska flai kah-kah kopa win, pi tlaska klai poos tlaska flai. Kanawei tlaska lolo chikumin-lop kakwa Marli yaka mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai. K’ow kanamokwst tanas-haiyoo tlaska (tl’oonas ankati kopa okok ilahi kanamokwst tlaska mamook-peltin); pi k’ow kanawei tlaska. Kopa okok ilahi, Scrooge yaka kumtuks tanas-haiyoo tlaska, wuht ihht oleman mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai, kopa tk’op tanas-kot, kopa haiyas-skookum-lakaset kopa yaka chikumin-lop. Okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka haiyoo-sik-tumtum-klai poos heilo-skookum yaka mamook-hilp kopa ihht tlahowyum tloochman, kopa yaka papoos, poos tlaska mitlait kopa ihht laport. Haiyas-sik-tumtum kanawei okok mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai, poos alta heilo-skookum tlaska mamook-help kopa tillihum.

Alta, kanawei tlaska chako-heilo, dleit-kakwa win, pi heilo wuht Scrooge yaka nanich pi k’wolaan tlaska. Polakli kakwa ankati.

Scrooge yaka mamook-ihhpuy windo, pi nanich laport, kopa okok laport poos ankati insaid mimaloos-chako-k’ilapai yaka chako. Mokwst-taim k’ow okok laport. Tanas-ankati Scrooge yaka k’ow okok, pi wuht alta k’ow okok laport. Scrooge yaka trai poos wawa “Humbug”, pi kopitt yaka wawa “Hum”. Dleit haiyas-til, pi haiyas-sik-tumtum, yaka. Chhi
alta yaka tlatawa (wuht kopa yaka mitlait yaka sun-iktas) kopa yaka pit spos sleep, pi haiyas-haiyak yaka sleep.