The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the Cratchit family's present Christmas and predicts that future holiday celebrations will be minus Tiny Tim. The boy will die if the Cratchit family's life does not change in the future.
Scrooge is enchanted by Tiny Tim. The author tells us that he looks at him throughout this visit. He doesn't take his eyes off the small boy who loves life, even in his physically disabled condition. Scrooge is a miserable and lonely man who has everything compared to the Cratchit family, yet he is fascinated by Tiny Tim's simple joy.
"I see a vacant seat," replied the Ghost, "in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.'' (Dickens)
"No, no,'' said Scrooge. "Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.'' (Dickens)
"If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,'' returned the Ghost, "will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.'' (Dickens)
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief. (Dickens)
In the above passages, Scrooge is deeply saddened by the possibility of Tiny Tim's death. He feels ashamed by his words that are thrust back at him by The Ghost of Christmas Present.
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