The spirit of Jacob Marley takes a bandage off it's head. Scrooge is shocked from what he sees that he falls down on his knees.
Stave 1: Marley's Ghost:
- At this the spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise, that Scrooge held on tight to his chair, to save himself from falling in a swoon. But how much greater was his horror, when the phantom taking off the bandage round its head, as if it were too warm to wear indoors, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast!
- Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face.
When the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, who had seemed mysterious and gloomy, had approached Scrooge, Scrooge got down on his knees from fear.Stave 4: The Last of the Spirits:
- The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come also shows Scrooge a headstone with Scrooge's name. Scrooge then falls to his knees and pleas with the spirit.Stave 4: The Last of the Spirits:
- Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE.
- "Spirit!" he cried, tight clutching at its robe, "hear me. I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?"
- "Good Spirit," he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it: "Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life."
