Comic Geekspeak presents A Christmas Carol,

A Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens.

Stave Four, The Last of the Spirits.

The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached.

When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee,

for in the very air through which this spirit moved,

it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.

It was shrouded in a deep, black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left

nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. But for this it would have been difficult to

detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.

He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him,

"'and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.

"'He knew no more, for the spirit neither spoke nor moved.

"'I am in the presence of the ghost of Christmas yet to come,' said Scrooge.

The spirit answered not, but pointed onward with its hand.

"'You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened,

but will happen in the time before us, Scrooge

pursued. Is that so, spirit? The upper portion of the garment was contracted for an instant

in its folds, as if the spirit had inclined its head. That was the only answer he received.

Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it.

The spirit paused a moment as observing his condition and giving him time to recover.

But Scrooge was all the worse for this.

...