A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again.
"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business;
charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.
The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water
in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
"At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said "I suffer most.
Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down,
and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men
to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light
would have conducted me!"
Merry Christmas, be kind to each other.
"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business;
charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.
The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water
in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
"At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said "I suffer most.
Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down,
and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men
to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light
would have conducted me!"
Merry Christmas, be kind to each other.
