Selected Readings for the Seventh Grade

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1911 Excerpt: ... He joined it once again, and wondering why and whither he had gone, accompanied it until they reached an iron gate. He paused to look round before entering. A churchyard. Here, then, the wretched man whose name he S had now to learn, lay underneath the ground. It was a worthy place. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds, the growth of vegetation's death, not life; choked up with too much burying; fat with repleted appetite. A worthy place! The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to One. 10 He advanced towards it trembling. The Phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape. Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point, said Scrooge, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of 15 the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only? Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood. Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if per20severed in, they must lead, said Scrooge. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me! The Spirit was immovable as ever. Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following 25 the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge. Am / that man who lay upon the bed? he cried, upon his knees. The finger pointed from the grave to him, and back again. 30 No, Spirit! Oh, no, no! The finger still was there. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at its robe, hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope? For the first time the hand appeared to shake. Good Spirit, he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before...