`` It 's your uncle Scro-o-o-o-oge ! '' Which it certainly was . Admiration was the universal sentiment , though some objected that the reply to `` Is it a bear ? '' ought to have been `` Yes '' : inasmuch as an answer in the negative was sufficient to have diverted their thoughts from Mr. Scrooge , supposing they had ever had any tendency that way . `` He has given us plenty of merriment , I am sure , '' said Fred , `` and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health . Here is a glass of mulled wine ready to our hand at the moment ; and I say , ` Uncle Scrooge ! ' '' `` Well ! Uncle Scrooge ! '' they cried . `` A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to the old man , whatever he is ! '' said Scrooge 's nephew . `` He would n't take it from me , but may he have it nevertheless . Uncle Scrooge ! '' Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly become so gay and light of heart , that he would have pledged the unconscious company in return , and thanked them in an inaudible speech , if the Ghost had given him time . But the whole scene passed off in the breath of the last word spoken by his nephew ; and he and the Spirit were again upon their travels . Much they saw , and far they went , and many homes they visited , but always with a happy end . The Spirit stood beside sick-beds , and they were cheerful ; on foreign lands , and they were close at home ; by struggling men , and they were patient in their greater hope ; by poverty , and it was rich . In almshouse , hospital , and gaol , in misery 's every refuge , where vain man in his little brief authority had not made fast the door , and barred the Spirit out , he left his blessing , and taught Scrooge his precepts . It was a long night , if it were only a night ; but Scrooge had his doubts of this , because the Christmas holidays appeared to be condensed into the space of time they passed together . It was strange , too , that , while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form , the Ghost grew older , clearly older .
Scrooge had observed this change , but never spoke of it , until they left a children 's Twelfth-Night party , when , looking at the Spirit as they stood together in an open place , he noticed XXXXX its hair was grey .
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