`` I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer . And therefore , '' he continued , leaping from his stool , and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the tank again : `` and therefore I am about to raise your salary ! '' Bob trembled , and got a little nearer to the ruler . He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it , holding him , and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat . `` A merry Christmas , Bob ! '' said Scrooge with an earnestness that could not be mistaken , as he clapped him on the back . `` A merrier Christmas , Bob , my good fellow , than I have given you for many a year ! I 'll raise your salary , and endeavour to assist your struggling family , and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon , over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop , Bob ! Make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i , Bob Cratchit ! '' * * * * * Scrooge was better than his word . He did it all , and infinitely more ; and to Tiny Tim , who did NOT die , he was a second father . He became as good a friend , as good a master , and as good a man as the good old City knew , or any other good old city , town , or borough in the good old world . Some people laughed to see the alteration in him , but he let them laugh , and little heeded them ; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe , for good , at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset ; and , knowing that such as these would be blind anyway , he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins as have the malady in less attractive forms . His own heart laughed : and that was quite enough for him . He had no further intercourse with Spirits , but lived upon the Total-Abstinence Principle ever afterwards ; and it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well , if any man alive possessed the knowledge . May that be truly said of us , and all of us ! THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH A FAIRY TALE OF HOME CHIRP THE FIRST The kettle began it ! Do n't tell me what Mrs. Peerybingle said . I know better . Mrs. Peerybingle may leave it on record to the end of time that she could n't say which of them began it ; but I say the kettle did .
I ought XXXXX know , I hope ?
as before if in into of that to upon with