“.
. . The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it
looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming
berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy
reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been
scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney,
as that dull petrification of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's
time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped
up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game,
poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of
sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot
chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears,
immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the
chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this
couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing
torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to
shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. . . . .
.
`I
am the Ghost of Christmas Present,' said the Spirit. `Look upon me.'
Scrooge
reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or
mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the
figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be
warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the
ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore
no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with
shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its
genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its
unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle
was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient
sheath was eaten up with rust.”
From,
‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens 1843
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