A Christmas Carol: the Last of Three Spirits

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,"  said Scrooge.  'But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change.  Say it is thus with what you show me!"

The Spirit was immovable as ever.

...

"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!"

For the first time the hand appeared to shake.

'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!'

The kind hand trembled.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.  The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.  I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.  Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"