I am very glad to hear it , '' said Scrooge 's nephew , `` because I have n't any great faith in these young housekeepers . What do you say , Topper ? '' Topper had clearly got his eye upon one of Scrooge 's niece 's sisters , for he answered that a bachelor was a wretched outcast , who had no right to express an opinion on the subject . Whereat Scrooge 's niece 's sister -- the plump one with the lace tucker , not the one with the roses -- blushed . `` Do go on , Fred , '' said Scrooge 's niece , clapping her hands . `` He never finishes what he begins to say ! He is such a ridiculous fellow ! '' Scrooge 's nephew revelled in another laugh , and , as it was impossible to keep the infection off , though the plump sister tried hard to do it with aromatic vinegar , his example was unanimously followed . `` I was only going to say , '' said Scrooge 's nephew , `` that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us , and not making merry with us , is , as I think , that he loses some pleasant moments , which could do him no harm . I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts , either in his mouldy old office or his dusty chambers . I mean to give him the same chance every year , whether he likes it or not , for I pity him . He may rail at Christmas till he dies , but he ca n't help thinking better of it -- I defy him -- if he finds me going there in good temper , year after year , and saying , ` Uncle Scrooge , how are you ? ' If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds , that 's something ; and I think I shook him yesterday . '' It was their turn to laugh , now , at the notion of his shaking Scrooge . But , being thoroughly good-natured , and not much caring what they laughed at , so that they laughed at any rate , he encouraged them in their merriment , and passed the bottle , joyously . After tea they had some music . For they were a musical family , and knew what they were about when they sung a Glee or Catch , I can assure you : especially Topper , who could growl away in the bass like a good one , and never swell the large veins in his forehead , or get red in the face over it . Scrooge 's niece played well upon the harp ; and played , among other tunes , a simple little air -LRB- a mere nothing : you might learn to whistle it in two minutes -RRB- , which had been familiar to the child who fetched Scrooge from the boarding-school , as he had been reminded by the Ghost of Christmas Past . When this strain of music sounded , all the things that Ghost had shown him came upon his mind ; he softened more and more ; and thought that if he could have listened to it often , years ago , he might have cultivated the kindnesses of life for his own happiness with his own hands , without resorting to the sexton 's spade that buried Jacob Marley . But they did n't devote the whole evening to music .
After awhile they played at forfeits ; for it is good XXXXX be children sometimes , and never better than at Christmas , when its mighty Founder was a child himself .
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