"I have known him walk with -- I have known him
walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder, very fast
indeed."
"And so have I," cried Peter. "Often."
"And so have I!" exclaimed another. So had all.
"But he was very light to carry," she resumed,
intent upon her work, "and his father loved him so,
that it was no trouble: no trouble. And there is your
father at the door!"
She hurried out to meet him; and little Bob in his
comforter -- he had need of it, poor fellow -- came
in. His tea was ready for him on the hob, and they
all tried who should help him to it most. Then the
two young Cratchits got upon his knees and laid,
each child a little cheek, against his face, as if they
said, "Don't mind it, father. Don't be grieved!"
Bob was very cheerful with them, and spoke
pleasantly to all the family. He looked at the work
upon the table, and praised the industry and speed
of Mrs Cratchit and the girls. They would be done
long before Sunday, he said.
"Sunday! You went to-day, then, Robert?" said
his wife.
"Yes, my dear," returned Bob. "I wish you could
have gone. It would have done you good to see how
green a place it is. But you'll see it often. I promised
him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little,
little child!" cried Bob. "My little child!"
He broke down all at once. He couldn't help it. If
he could have helped it, he and his child would have
been farther apart perhaps than they were.
He left the room, and went up-stairs into the
room above, which was lighted cheerfully, and hung
with Christmas. There was a chair set close beside
the child, and there were signs of some one having
been there, lately. Poor Bob sat down in it, and
when he had thought a little and composed himself,
he kissed the little face. He was reconciled to what
had happened, and went down again quite happy.
"Knew what, my dear?"
"Why, that you were a good wife," replied Bob.
"Everybody knows that." said Peter.
"Very well observed, my boy." cried Bob. "I hope
they do. "Heartily sorry," he said, "for your good
wife. If I can be of service to you in any way," he
said, giving me his card, "that's where I live. Pray
come to me." Now, it wasn't," cried Bob, "for the
sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so
much as for his kind way, that this was quite
delightful. It really seemed as if he had known our
Tiny Tim, and felt with us."
"I'm sure he's a good soul!" said Mrs Cratchit.
"You would be surer of it, my dear," returned Bob,
"if you saw and spoke to him. I shouldn't be at all
surprised, mark what I say, if he got Peter a better
situation."
"Only hear that, Peter," said Mrs Cratchit.
"And then," cried one of the girls, "Peter will be
keeping company with some one, and setting up for
himself."
"Get along with you!" retorted Peter, grinning.
"It's just as likely as not," said Bob, "one of these
days; though there's plenty of time for that, my
dear. But however and whenever we part from one
another, I am sure we shall none of us forget poor
Tiny Tim -- shall we -- or this first parting that
there was among us?"
"Never, father!" cried they all.