---

The phantom slowly, gravely silently approached to him

And Scrooge bent down upon his knees

The air through which this spirit moved it seemed

To scatter gloom, fear, loneliness and mystery

It was shrouded in a deep black garment

And tattered which concealed its head and his face

Left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand

And his figure from the night it was his shadow

He was tall and stately when it came beside him

And the spirit neither spoke nor moved

It was shrouded in a deep black garment

And tattered which concealed its head and his face

"I am the presence of Christmas eve,

ghost of the future - will you not speak to me?

The night is waning fast, the time has come,

lead on, spirit! Show me the time!"

The phantom glided into a street

It is night - it's a Christmas Eve!

Quiet and dark, the midnight keeper

It is night - it's a Christmas dream!

It's a nightmare!