Scrooge was the Ogre of the family . The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party , which was not dispelled for full five minutes . After it had passed away they were ten times merrier than before , from the mere relief of Scrooge the Baleful being done with . Bob Cratchit told them how he had a situation in his eye for Master Peter , which would bring in , if obtained , full five-and-sixpence weekly . The two young Cratchits laughed tremendously at the idea of Peter 's being a man of business ; and Peter himself looked thoughtfully at the fire from between his collars , as if he were deliberating what particular investments he should favour when he came into the receipt of that bewildering income . Martha , who was a poor apprentice at a milliner 's , then told them what kind of work she had to do , and how many hours she worked at a stretch , and how she meant to lie abed to-morrow morning for a good long rest ; to-morrow being a holiday she passed at home . Also how she had seen a countess and a lord some days before , and how the lord `` was much about as tall as Peter '' ; at which Peter pulled up his collars so high , that you could n't have seen his head if you had been there . All this time the chestnuts and the jug went round and round ; and by-and-by they had a song , about a lost child travelling in the snow , from Tiny Tim , who had a plaintive little voice , and sang it very well indeed . There was nothing of high mark in this . They were not a handsome family ; they were not well dressed ; their shoes were far from being waterproof ; their clothes were scanty ; and Peter might have known , and very likely did , the inside of a pawn-broker 's . But they were happy , grateful , pleased with one another , and contented with the time ; and when they faded , and looked happier yet in the bright sprinklings of the Spirit 's torch at parting , Scrooge had his eye upon them , and especially on Tiny Tim , until the last . By this time it was getting dark , and snowing pretty heavily ; and as Scrooge and the Spirit went along the streets , the brightness of the roaring fires in kitchens , parlours , and all sorts of rooms was wonderful . Here , the flickering of the blaze showed preparations for a cosy dinner , with hot plates baking through and through before the fire , and deep red curtains , ready to be drawn to shut out cold and darkness . There , all the children of the house were running out into the snow to meet their married sisters , brothers , cousins , uncles , aunts , and be the first to greet them . Here , again , were shadows on the window blinds of guests assembling ; and there a group of handsome girls , all hooded and fur-booted , and all chattering at once , tripped lightly off to some near neighbour 's house ; where , woe upon the single man who saw them enter -- artful witches , well they knew it -- in a glow ! But , if you had judged from the numbers of people on their way to friendly gatherings , you might have thought that no one was at home to give them welcome when they got there , instead of every house expecting company , and piling up its fires half-chimney high . Blessings on it , how the Ghost exulted ! How it bared its breadth of breast , and opened its capacious palm , and floated on , outpouring , with a generous hand , its bright and harmless mirth on everything within its reach ! The very lamp-lighter , who ran on before , dotting the dusky street with specks of light , and who was dressed to spend the evening somewhere , laughed out loudly as the Spirit passed , though little kenned the lamp-lighter that he had any company but Christmas . And now , without a word of warning from the Ghost , they stood upon a bleak and desert moor , where monstrous masses of rude stone were cast about , as though it were the burial-place or giants ; and water spread itself wheresoever it listed ; or would have done so , but for the frost that held it prisoner ; and nothing grew but moss and furze , and coarse , rank grass .
Down in the west the setting sun had left a streak of fiery red , which glared upon the desolation XXXXX an instant , like a sullen eye , and , frowning lower , lower , lower yet , was lost in the thick gloom of darkest night .
After along for if in of than through to with