it ever done you!

FRED. Christmas is a good time, uncle; 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 in the social scale.
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, God bless Christmas!

CRATCHIT (_who had been listening eagerly, claps his hands_). Good!

SCROOGE. Let me hear another sound from _you_ and you'll keep your
Christmas by losing your job. Get to work!

CRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes his work on the ledger._)

SCROOGE (_to_ FRED). You're quite a powerful speaker, sir. I wonder
you don't go into Parliament.

FRED. Don't be angry, uncle. Come, dine with us tomorrow.

SCROOGE. Dine with you? Me? I'll see you hanged first. Dine with you?
I'll see you in--

CRATCHIT (_sneezes violently_).

SCROOGE. What's the matter with _you_? (_Turns to_ FRED.) I'm a busy
man. Good afternoon.

FRED. Come, uncle; say "Yes."

SCROOGE. No.

FRED. But why? Why?

SCROOGE (_savagely_). Why did you get married?

FRED. Because I fell in love.

SCROOGE. Bah! (_Resumes his work._) Good afternoon.

FRED. I want nothing from you. I ask nothing from you. But why can't
we be friends?

SCROOGE. Good afternoon.

FRED. Uncle I won't part in anger. My dear mother was your only
sister--your only relation. For her sake let us be friends.

SCROOGE (_savagely_). Good afternoon.

FRED. I'll still keep the Christmas spirit, uncle. A merry Christmas
to you.

SCROOGE (_busy at ledger_). Bah!

FRED. And a happy New Year.

SCROOGE. Good afternoon!

FRED (_goes to_ CRATCHIT). And a merry Christmas to you, Bob Cratchit.

CRATCHIT (_getting down from stool, shaking hands with_ FRED
_warmly_). Merry Christmas, sir. God bless it!

FRED. Ay, God bless it! And a happy New Year.

CRATCHIT. And a happy New Year, too! God bless that, too!

FRED. Ay, Bob, God bless that, too. (_Exit L._)

SCROOGE. Cratchit, get to work!

CRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes work._)

SCROOGE (_looks at him_). Humph! Fifteen shillings a week and a wife
and six children, and he talks about a merry Christmas. Humph! (_Works
on ledger._)

_Enter from L._ TWO MISSION LASSIES. _They come down C._

FIRST LASS. Scrooge and Marley's, I believe? Have I the pleasu