Strophe
1 3| smiled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchit's dwelling with
2 3| his torch. Think of that! Bob had but fifteen <SOCALLED>
3 3| had but fifteen <SOCALLED>bobSOCALLED> a-week himself;
4 3| monstrous shirt collar (Bob's private property, conferred
5 3| herself, and in came little Bob, the<PB n="90"> father,
6 3| where's our Martha?'' cried Bob Cratchit, looking round. ~"
7 3| Cratchit. ~"Not coming!'' said Bob, with a sudden declension
8 3| Cratchit, when she had rallied Bob on his credulity and Bob
9 3| Bob on his credulity and Bob had hugged his daughter
10 3| As good as gold,'' said Bob, "and better. Somehow he
11 3| walk, and blind men see.'' ~Bob's voice was tremulous when
12 3| before the fire; and while Bob, turning up his cuffs --
13 3| Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him
14 3| never was such a goose. Bob said he didn't believe there
15 3| Oh, a wonderful pudding! Bob Cratchit said, and calmly
16 3| round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle,
17 3| meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit's elbow stood the
18 3| goblets would have done; and Bob served it out with beaming
19 3| and cracked noisily. Then Bob proposed: ~"A Merry Christmas
20 3| side upon his little stool. Bob held his withered little
21 3| name. ~"Mr Scrooge!'' said Bob; "I'll give you Mr Scrooge,
22 3| it.'' ~"My dear,'' said Bob, "the children; Christmas
23 3| n="98">~"My dear,'' was Bob's mild answer, "Christmas
24 3| Baleful being done with. Bob Cratchit told them how he
25 4| seen. They entered poor Bob Cratchit's house; the dwelling
26 4| to meet him; and little Bob in his comforter -- he had
27 4| father. Don't be grieved!'' ~Bob was very cheerful with them,
28 4| Yes, my dear,'' returned Bob. "I wish you could have
29 4| little, little child!'' cried Bob. "My little child!'' ~He
30 4| been there, lately. Poor Bob sat down in it, and when
31 4| and mother working still. Bob told them of the extraordinary
32 4| little down you know,'' said Bob, inquired what had happened
33 4| distress him. "On which,'' said Bob, "for he is the pleasantest-spoken
34 4| were a good wife,'' replied Bob. ~"Everybody knows that.''
35 4| observed, my boy.'' cried Bob. "I<PB n="146"> hope they
36 4| Now, it wasn't,'' cried Bob, "for the sake of anything
37 4| it, my dear,'' returned Bob, "if you saw and spoke to
38 4| as likely as not,'' said Bob, "one of these days; though
39 4| all. ~"And I know,'' said Bob, "I know, my dears, that
40 4| very happy,'' said little Bob, "I am very happy!'' ~Mrs
41 5| half-a-crown!'' ~"I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's!'' whispered
42 5| a joke as sending it to Bob's will be!'' ~The hand in
43 5| be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That
44 5| The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob.
45 5| Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes
46 5| very sorry, sir,'' said Bob. "I am behind my time.'' ~"
47 5| once a year, sir,'' pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. "
48 5| from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat
49 5| to raise your salary!'' ~Bob trembled, and got a little
50 5| strait-waistcoat. ~"A merry Christmas, Bob!'' said Scrooge, with an
51 5| back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I
52 5| bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!<ILLUS> Make up the fires,
53 5| before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit.'' ~Scrooge was
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