<P> "The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached . When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery . It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand . (...) It thrilled (Scrooge) with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the mask there were eyes staring at him ." </P> <P> Scrooge finds the Ghost Of Christmas Future the most fearsome of the Spirits; it appears to Scrooge as a figure entirely muffled in a black hooded cloak, except for a single spectral hand with which it points . Although the character never speaks in the story, Scrooge understands it, usually through assumptions from his previous experiences and rhetorical questions . It is notable that, even in satires and parodies of the tale, this spirit retains its original look . It looks the way it does because it represents what the future holds for Scrooge if he does not change his ways . </P> <P> When the Ghost makes its appearance, the first thing it shows Scrooge is three wealthy gentlemen making light of a recent death, remarking that it will be a cheap funeral, if anyone comes at all . One businessman said he would go--but only if lunch is provided . Next, Scrooge is shown the same dead person's belongings being stolen by Scrooge's charwoman Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge's laundress, and the local undertaker and sold to a receiver of stolen goods called Old Joe . He also sees a shrouded corpse, which he implores the Ghost not to unmask . Scrooge asks the ghost to show anyone who feels any emotion over the man's death . The ghost can only show him a poor couple indebted to the man momentarily rejoicing that the man is dead, giving them more time to pay off their debt . After Scrooge asks to see some tenderness connected with death, the ghost shows him Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the passing of Tiny Tim . The spirit then takes Scrooge to a rundown churchyard and shows the repentant miser his own grave; Scrooge then realizes that the dead man of whom the others spoke ill was himself . </P> <P> Horrified, Scrooge begs the ghost for another chance to redeem his life and "sponge away the writing on this stone". </P>

Where does the ghost of future take scrooge