Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > some short christmas stories(Ê¥µ®¹ÊÊÂ) >

µÚ8½Ú

some short christmas stories(Ê¥µ®¹ÊÊÂ)-µÚ8½Ú

С˵£º some short christmas stories(Ê¥µ®¹ÊÊÂ) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡





¡­¡¡Page¡¡24¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡Short¡¡Christmas¡¡Stories¡¡



wishes¡¡me¡¡to¡¡make¡¡no¡¡further¡¡allusion¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡supposition¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡present¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pursuits¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡habits¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡

following¡¡effect¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡live¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lodging¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Clapham¡¡Roada¡¡very¡¡clean¡¡back¡¡room£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡

very¡¡respectable¡¡housewhere¡¡I¡¡am¡¡expected¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡at¡¡home¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day¡­¡¡

time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡unless¡¡¡¡¡¡poorly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡usually¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡nine¡¡

o'clock£»¡¡on¡¡pretence¡¡of¡¡going¡¡to¡¡business¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡take¡¡my¡¡breakfastmy¡¡¡¡roll¡¡

and¡¡butter£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡half¡­pint¡¡of¡¡coffeeat¡¡the¡¡old¡­established¡¡coffee¡­shop¡¡

near¡¡Westminster¡¡Bridge£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡go¡¡into¡¡the¡¡CityI¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡why¡¡

and¡¡sit¡¡in¡¡Garraway's¡¡Coffee¡¡House£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡'Change£»¡¡and¡¡walk¡¡about£»¡¡and¡¡

look¡¡into¡¡a¡¡few¡¡offices¡¡and¡¡counting¡­houses¡¡where¡¡some¡¡of¡¡my¡¡relations¡¡or¡¡

acquaintance¡¡are¡¡so¡¡good¡¡as¡¡to¡¡tolerate¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡I¡¡stand¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡if¡¡

the¡¡weather¡¡happens¡¡to¡¡be¡¡cold¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡get¡¡through¡¡the¡¡day¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡until¡¡

five¡¡¡¡¡¡o'clock£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡dine£º¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cost£»¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡average£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡and¡¡

threepence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Having¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡money¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡spend¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡evening's¡¡

entertainment£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡look¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡­established¡¡¡¡¡¡coffee¡­shop¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡home£»¡¡

and¡¡take¡¡my¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡tea£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡my¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡toast¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡large¡¡hand¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡makes¡¡its¡¡way¡¡round¡¡to¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡hour¡¡again£»¡¡I¡¡make¡¡my¡¡

way¡¡round¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Clapham¡¡Road¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡go¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡when¡¡I¡¡get¡¡to¡¡my¡¡

lodgingfire¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡expensive£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡objected¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡family¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡

account¡¡of¡¡its¡¡giving¡¡trouble¡¡and¡¡making¡¡a¡¡dirt¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sometimes£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡relations¡¡or¡¡acquaintances¡¡is¡¡so¡¡obliging¡¡as¡¡to¡¡

ask¡¡me¡¡to¡¡dinner¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡are¡¡holiday¡¡occasions£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡generally¡¡walk¡¡

in¡¡the¡¡Park¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡solitary¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡seldom¡¡walk¡¡with¡¡anybody¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡

that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡avoided¡¡because¡¡I¡¡am¡¡shabby£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡shabby£»¡¡having¡¡

always¡¡a¡¡very¡¡good¡¡suit¡¡of¡¡black¡¡on¡¡£¨or¡¡rather¡¡Oxford¡¡mixture£»¡¡which¡¡has¡¡

the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡black¡¡and¡¡wears¡¡much¡¡better£©£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡got¡¡into¡¡a¡¡habit¡¡

of¡¡speaking¡¡low£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡rather¡¡silent£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡spirits¡¡are¡¡not¡¡high£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡

am¡¡sensible¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡an¡¡attractive¡¡companion¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡only¡¡exception¡¡to¡¡this¡¡general¡¡rule¡¡is¡¡the¡¡child¡¡of¡¡my¡¡first¡¡cousin£»¡¡

Little¡¡Frank¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡that¡¡child£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡takes¡¡very¡¡

kindly¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡diffident¡¡boy¡¡by¡¡nature£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡crowd¡¡he¡¡is¡¡soon¡¡

run¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I£»¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡

exceedingly¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡fancy¡¡that¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡child¡¡will¡¡in¡¡time¡¡succeed¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡24¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡25¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡Short¡¡Christmas¡¡Stories¡¡



to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡peculiar¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡position¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡family¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡talk¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡little£»¡¡¡¡still£»¡¡¡¡we¡¡

understand¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡walk¡¡about£»¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡much¡¡

speaking¡¡he¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡he¡¡means¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡

was¡¡very¡¡little¡¡indeed£»¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡toy¡­shops£»¡¡

and¡¡show¡¡him¡¡the¡¡toys¡¡inside¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡surprising¡¡how¡¡soon¡¡he¡¡found¡¡out¡¡that¡¡

I¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡presents¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

circumstances¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Little¡¡Frank¡¡and¡¡I¡¡go¡¡and¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Monumenthe¡¡is¡¡

very¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Monumentand¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Bridges£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡all¡¡the¡¡sights¡¡that¡¡

are¡¡free¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡two¡¡of¡¡my¡¡birthdays£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡dined¡¡on¡¡e¡­la¡­mode¡¡beef£»¡¡and¡¡

gone¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡­price¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡play£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡deeply¡¡¡¡¡¡interested¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡

walking¡¡with¡¡him¡¡in¡¡Lombard¡¡Street£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡often¡¡visit¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡

my¡¡having¡¡mentioned¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡great¡¡riches¡¡therehe¡¡is¡¡very¡¡

fond¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Lombard¡¡¡¡¡¡Streetwhen¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡gentleman¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡by£»¡¡

¡¨Sir£»¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡son¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡dropped¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡glove¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡assure¡¡¡¡¡¡you£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡

excuse¡¡my¡¡remarking¡¡on¡¡so¡¡trivial¡¡a¡¡circumstance£»¡¡this¡¡accidental¡¡mention¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡child¡¡as¡¡mine£»¡¡quite¡¡touched¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡foolish¡¡tears¡¡

into¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡Little¡¡Frank¡¡is¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡school¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡very¡¡much¡¡

at¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡myself£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡walking¡¡down¡¡

there¡¡once¡¡a¡¡month¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡him¡¡on¡¡a¡¡half¡¡holiday¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡told¡¡he¡¡will¡¡

then¡¡be¡¡at¡¡play¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Heath£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡my¡¡visits¡¡should¡¡be¡¡objected¡¡to£»¡¡as¡¡

unsettling¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡him¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡without¡¡his¡¡seeing¡¡me£»¡¡

and¡¡walk¡¡back¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡mother¡¡comes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡highly¡¡genteel¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡

rather¡¡disapproves£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡aware£»¡¡of¡¡our¡¡being¡¡too¡¡much¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡

that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡calculated¡¡to¡¡improve¡¡his¡¡retiring¡¡disposition£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡think¡¡he¡¡

would¡¡¡¡¡¡miss¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡beyond¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡feeling¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡wholly¡¡

separated¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡die¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Clapham¡¡Road£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡much¡¡more¡¡in¡¡this¡¡

world¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡happen¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡miniature¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

bright¡­faced¡¡boy£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡curling¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡open¡¡shirt¡­frill¡¡waving¡¡down¡¡

his¡¡bosom¡¡£¨my¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡it¡¡taken¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡

ever¡¡like£©£»¡¡which¡¡will¡¡be¡¡worth¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡sell£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡beg¡¡may¡¡

he¡¡given¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Frank¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡written¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡boy¡¡¡¡a¡¡little¡¡letter¡¡¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡in¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡25¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡26¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡Short¡¡Christmas¡¡Stories¡¡



which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡very¡¡sorry¡¡to¡¡part¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡though¡¡bound¡¡

to¡¡confess¡¡that¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡I¡¡should¡¡remain¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡given¡¡

him¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡short¡¡¡¡¡¡advice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡best¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡power£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡warning¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

consequences¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡nobody's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡enemy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡own£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡

endeavoured¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡comfort¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡fear¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡consider¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

bereavement£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡pointing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡superfluous¡¡

something¡¡to¡¡every¡¡one¡¡but¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡having¡¡by¡¡some¡¡means¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡

find¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡this¡¡great¡¡assembly£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡better¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Such¡¡£¨said¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡relation£»¡¡clearing¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡and¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡

a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡louder£©¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡general¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡impression¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡a¡¡

remarkable¡¡¡¡¡¡circumstance¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡forms¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡aim¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡purpose¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡story£»¡¡

that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡all¡¡wrong¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡not¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡are¡¡not¡¡my¡¡habits¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

do¡¡not¡¡even¡¡live¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Clapham¡¡Road¡£¡¡Comparatively¡¡speaking£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡

seldom¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡reside£»¡¡¡¡¡¡mostly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡aI¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡ashamed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

word£»¡¡it¡¡sounds¡¡so¡¡full¡¡of¡¡pretensionin¡¡a¡¡Castle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡

an¡¡old¡¡baronial¡¡habitation£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡building¡¡always¡¡known¡¡to¡¡every¡¡

one¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡name¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡Castle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡preserve¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡particulars¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

history£»¡¡they¡¡run¡¡thus£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡John¡¡¡¡¡¡Spatter¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨who¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡clerk£©¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡

partnership£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡still¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡of¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡five¡­¡¡and¡­¡¡

twenty£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡residing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡uncle¡¡¡¡¡¡Chill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡whom¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡

considerable¡¡expectations£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡propose¡¡to¡¡Christiana¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡

loved¡¡Christiana¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡very¡¡beautiful£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡winning¡¡

in¡¡all¡¡respects¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡rather¡¡mistrusted¡¡her¡¡widowed¡¡mother£»¡¡who¡¡I¡¡feared¡¡was¡¡

of¡¡a¡¡plotting¡¡and¡¡mercenary¡¡turn¡¡of¡¡mind£»¡¡but£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡as¡¡well¡¡of¡¡her¡¡as¡¡I¡¡

could£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡Christiana's¡¡¡¡¡¡sake¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡loved¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡Christiana£»¡¡

and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡O¡¡far¡¡more¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡

from¡¡our¡¡childhood£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Christiana¡¡accepted¡¡me¡¡with¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡consent£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡rendered¡¡

very¡¡happy¡¡indeed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡life¡¡at¡¡my¡¡uncle¡¡Chill's¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡spare¡¡dull¡¡kind£»¡¡

and¡¡my¡¡garret¡¡chamber¡¡was¡¡as¡¡dull£»¡¡and¡¡bare£»¡¡and¡¡cold£»¡¡as¡¡an¡¡upper¡¡prison¡¡

room¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡stern¡¡¡¡¡¡northern¡¡¡¡¡¡fortress¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡Christiana's¡¡¡¡¡¡love£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

wanted¡¡nothing¡¡upon¡¡earth¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡changed¡¡my¡¡lot¡¡with¡¡any¡¡

human¡¡being¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡26¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡27¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡Short¡¡Christmas¡¡Stories¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Avarice¡¡¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡¡¡¡¡unhappily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡uncle¡¡¡¡¡¡Chill's¡¡¡¡¡¡master¡­vice¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

was¡¡rich£»¡¡he¡¡pinched£»¡¡and¡¡scraped£»¡¡and¡¡clutched£»¡¡and¡¡lived¡¡miserably¡£¡¡As¡¡

Christiana¡¡had¡¡no¡¡fortune£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡a¡¡little¡¡fearful¡¡of¡¡confessing¡¡

our¡¡engagement¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡but£»¡¡at¡¡length¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡him¡¡a¡¡letter£»¡¡saying¡¡how¡¡it¡¡

all¡¡truly¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡put¡¡it¡¡into¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡one¡¡night£»¡¡on¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡came¡¡down¡­stairs¡¡next¡¡morning£»¡¡shivering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡December¡¡

air£»¡¡¡¡¡¡colder¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡uncle's¡¡¡¡¡¡unwarmed¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡street£»¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

winter

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ