A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol

INDEX

CHAPTER 3: Pages 14 -17

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Page 3

CHAPTER 4: Pages 18 - 21

ABOUT THE BOOK: Page 4

CHAPTER 5: Pages 22 - 25

STORY SETTINGS: Page 5

CHARACTERS: Page 26

CHAPTER 1: Pages 6 - 9

THANKS: Page 27

CHAPTER 2: Pages 10 - 13

CHARLES DICKENS

Charles Dickens was born in 1812; When he was five years old he moved with his family to Catham; He had a very hard childhood as his family had economic problems; When he was twleve he started working in a factory; The family's economic problems improved when they received an inheritance from his maternal grandmother; He married Catherine Hogarth, with who he had ten children; He died in 1870 at the age of 58 in Kent, England.

About the book

In 1843, Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, the first of a series of five short Christmas books. This is one of the most famous stories. It was an instant bestseller and sold out in just six weeks. Dickens' sources for the tale appear to be many and varied but are principally the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and various Christmas stories and fairy tales. Some of the characters are actually based on members of his family and people he knew.

STORY SETTING

The Christmas Carol is set in London in the early Victorian industrial age. The new factories enriched their owners but impoverished the traditional artisans, who made things by hand at home.A Christmas Carol celebrates Christmas and the good it inspires, but it also criticizes the 19th century Victorian England's division between rich and poor. London was a world power, rich from industry (The Industrial Revolution) and colonial influence, yet poverty ran uncontrollably through the streets and factories and many children went to work, not to school, or became thieves.

01

A CHRISTMAS CAROLMarley's Ghost

Marley was dead, to begin with – there’s no doubt about that. He was as dead as a doornail. Marley and Scrooge were business partners for many years. But then Marley died and now their firm belonged to Scrooge, who was a tight-fisted, cold and bitter old man. Seven years to the day after Marley’s death, on Christmas Eve, old Scrooge sat busy in his office – keeping the door open, so that he could keep an eye on his clerk, who was copying letters. It was foggy, dark and very cold outside and in Scrooge’s office it was not much warmer either. Suddenly, a cheerful person entered the office. It was Scrooge’s nephew. “A Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” Fred said. “Bah!” said Scrooge, “Humbug!” “Christmas a humbug, uncle!” said Scrooge’s nephew. “You don’t mean that, do you?” “I do,” said Scrooge. “What’s Christmastime to you but a time for paying bills without getting any money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer? Nephew, keep Christmas in your way, and let me keep it in mine.” “Keep it? But you don’t keep it,” said Scrooge’s nephew. He tried to show his uncle the magic of Christmas, that it was a season of good cheer, and even invited him for dinner on Christmas Day. But Scrooge refused and sent him out.

When Scrooge’s nephew left, two gentlemen came in to collect money for the homeless people. Stingy as Scrooge was, he didn’t give the gentlemen any money. “I help to support the prisons and the workhouses and those who are badly off must go there,” he growled. Then he told them to leave the office. When it was time to close the office, Scrooge talked to his clerk, Bob Cratchit. “You want all day off tomorrow, don’t you?” said Scrooge. “If that is all right, Sir,” answered the clerk. “It’s not all right,” said Scrooge, “and it is not fair. After all, I have to pay you for the day although you don’t work. But if it must be, it must be; however, I want you to start work even earlier the following morning.” The clerk promised that he would; and the two went home. Scrooge lived all alone in an old house. The yard was very dark and scary that night and when Scrooge inserted his key to unlock the door, he saw Marley’s face on the doorknocker. This was rather spooky, but Scrooge was not frightened easily. He opened the door, walked in and closed it with a bang. He double-locked himself in, which he usually didn’t do. But then he felt safe again, went upstairs and sat down before the small coal fire in his dark and cheerless living room.

Suddenly, Scrooge heard a noise, deep down below, as if somebody was dragging a heavy chain. The noise came nearer and nearer, and then Scrooge saw a ghost coming right through the heavy door. It was Marley’s ghost, and his chains were long; they were made of cash-boxes, keys and heavy purses. “Who are you?” said Scrooge. “In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.” “But why do you come to me now?” “I must wander through the world and I wear these chains because I was so stingy in life. I only cared about business but not about the people around me. I haunt this place where I lived such a mean life. I see lots of poor people and I feel sorry for them, but I am dead, so I can’t help them. Because of this, I am desperately sad. Now, I am here to warn you. You still have a chance, Ebenezer. You will be visited by Three Spirits. Expect the First tomorrow night, when the clock strikes one. Expect the Second on the next night at the same hour. The Third, upon the next night at twelve.” When he had said these words, Marley’s ghost disappeared and Scrooge went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep immediately.

02

A CHRISTMAS CAROLThe first of the Three Spirits

When Scrooge awoke, it was very dark and freezing cold. Marley’s ghost bothered him. He didn’t know whether it was a dream or not. Then he remembered that a spirit should visit him at one o’clock. So Scrooge decided to lie awake and see what would happen. Suddenly, the clock struck one. Light flashed up in the room and a small hand drew back the curtains of his bed. Then Scrooge found himself face to face with the visitor. It was a strange, small figure – like a child: yet not so much like a child as like an old man. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle on it. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand and had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. “Who or what are you?” Scrooge asked the ghost. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. Of your past. Rise and come with me.”

The ghost took Scrooge in time, to a place where Scrooge was a little boy. There Scrooge could see his younger self playing cheerfully at Christmastime with other children and although they were poor, they had lots of fun. Then they saw Scrooge at a cheap boarding school, alone because his father would not let him go home for the holiday, until one day his little sister, Fan (Fred’s mother), came to fetch him, saying things were better at home and father was kinder. Next they went to see the warehouse where Scrooge had worked as an apprentice. His boss Mr Fezziwig (with his wife and daughters) organized a lively Christmas party for all his workers and neighbours. There was music and dancing and Scrooge remembers that old Fezziwig made people feel happy with his kind and cheerful manner.

Then the spirit took Scrooge to another place. Scrooge was older now. He was not alone, but sat by the side of a beautiful young girl, Belle, in whose dreamy eyes there were tears. “It is sad to see,” she said, softly, “that another love has displaced me – the love of gold. You’ve lost the love in your heart and now you only think about money. I think it is better for us to part. May you be happy in the life you have chosen.” “Spirit,” said Scrooge, “remove me from this place.” “One image more,” said the spirit. They were in another scene and place; a room, not very large or handsome, but full of comfort. There was a happy family celebrating Christmas with all their warmth and heartiness. Scrooge recognised Belle, his former girlfriend. She was married now and had children. “Belle,” said her husband with a smile, “I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon. Mr Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was not shut up, and he had a candle inside, I could see him there. His partner is dying, I hear; and there he sat alone. Quite alone in the world, I do believe. I don’t know if he feels sad, but if he does there is no one to comfort him.” “Spirit,” said Scrooge in a broken voice, “I cannot bear it any longer! Take me back! Haunt me no longer!” He begged the spirit to take him back home. And finally Scrooge found himself in his own bed again. He was exhausted and sank into a heavy sleep.

03

A CHRISTMAS CAROLThe second of the Three Spirits

Scrooge woke up in his bedroom in the middle of a snore, just before the clock struck one again. He sat up in his bed and waited for the second spirit to come. A warm, reddish light was coming from his living room. He got up and went there and there it was – the Spirit of Christmas Present. It was a genial giant with curly brown hair and sparkling eyes and it wore a simple green robe trimmed with white fur. It had bare feet, a holly wreath on its head and a holly branch in its hand. It was seated on a kind of throne surrounded by food. The spirit took Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s house – a very poor little dwelling. In the kitchen you could see Mrs Cratchit preparing Christmas dinner. Her children were cheerfully running around. Then the door opened and Bob Cratchit came in with his youngest son, Tiny Tim, upon his shoulders. Tiny, Tim held a little crutch and had iron frames around his legs. “On our way home, Tiny Tim told me that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple. It might be pleasant for them to remember on Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.” Bob’s voice trembled when he said this.

Then Christmas dinner was ready, and everyone sat down at the table. As the Cratchits were very poor, they didn’t have much for Christmas dinner. But still everyone was happy and you could feel that they all had the Christmas Spirit in their hearts. “A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!” said Bob Cratchit. “God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim. He sat very close to his father’s side upon his little stool. Bob held his little hand, as if he feared to lose him. “Spirit,” said Scrooge, who felt sorry for the boy, “tell me if Tiny Tim will live.”

“I see an empty seat,” replied the ghost, “and a crutch without an owner. If these miserable conditions don’t change in the future, the child will die.” This made Scrooge feel very sad and rather guilty, but the spirit went on and took Scrooge to his nephew’s house. Fred and his friends had a very cheerful party and played games. Scrooge really enjoyed their party and wanted to stay for a while, but in a few seconds it all faded and Scrooge and the spirit were again on their travels. They visited many homes in many places; they saw sick people who were cheerful; people in foreign lands who were celebrating Christmas in their own way; poor people who felt rich that day – all because of the Christmas Spirit. Suddenly, as midnight approached, Scrooge noticed something strange about the Spirit as it was growing old, and two childlike figures were at its feet – a boy and a girl. But, they looked old and dreadful, like little monsters, with hands, like claws and eyes like hungry wolves. Scrooge was shocked. “Spirit, are they your creatures?” Scrooge asked. “They are Man’s creatures,” said the spirit “The boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want. Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy” said the spirit. “Have they no place they can go to?” asked Scrooge. “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” The spirit answered Scrooge sharply with his own words.

04

A CHRISTMAS CAROLThe last of the Spirits

Slowly and silently the spirit came nearer. It was very tall and wore a deep black piece of clothing, which covered its whole body and left nothing of it visible but one outstretched hand. It was like a ghost – or death. “Are you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?” asked Scrooge, “I fear you more than any other spirit.” The ghost did not say a word, and Scrooge was really frightened. They wandered through the city and Scrooge heard some men talking about a person who had died. Scrooge knew the men and wanted to find out whom they were talking about. But the spirit moved on. They next stopped in an area where thieves, receivers of stolen goods and other criminals and immoral people lived. They had stolen things with them and made fun of the person who once owned those things. “Ha, ha!” laughed a woman, “He frightened everybody away from him when he was alive, to make us rich when he was dead! Ha, ha, ha!” After that, the ghost led Scrooge through streets that were familiar to him; and as they went along, Scrooge looked here and there to find himself, but he was nowhere to be seen.

They entered poor Bob Cratchit’s house and found the mother and the children by the fire. Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little Cratchits were as still as statues.When Bob Cratchit came in, the children hurried to greet him. Then the two young Cratchits got upon his knees and laid their little cheeks against his face as if to say, “Don’t mind it, father. Don’t be sad.” “You went there today?” said his wife. “Yes, my dear,” returned Bob. “I wish you could have gone. It would have done you good to see how green the place is. But you’ll see it often. I promised him that we would walk there every Sunday. My little, little child,” cried Bob, “My poor little child!” He broke down in tears. He couldn’t help it. If he could have helped it, he and his child would have been farther apart perhaps than they were.

The dark spirit moved on and took Scrooge to a dismal churchyard. The spirit stood among the graves and pointed down to one. Scrooge slowly went towards it and following the ghost’s finger read upon the stone of the neglected grave nothing but his own name – EBENEZER SCROOGE. “Spirit!” Scrooge cried, “hear me. I am not the man I was! I will not be the man I have been so far! Why show me this if I am past all hope? Good Spirit, I will honour 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 be within me. I will not ignore the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me that I may yet sponge away the writing on this stone!” Fearing his fate, Scrooge caught the spirit’s hand. But the spirit suddenly changed – it shrank and faded and finally turned into a bedpost.

05

A CHRISTMAS CAROLThe end of it

Yes! And the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the time before him was his own, and he could make the best of it. “I will live in the past, the present, and the future.” Scrooge repeated, as he got out of bed. “I don’t know what to do! I am as happy as an angel! I don’t know what day of the month it is. I don’t know how long I’ve been among the spirits. Hallo! Hallo there!” He ran to the window, opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist, no night; clear, bright, golden day. “What’s today?” cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes. “Today?” replied the boy. “Why, CHRISTMAS DAY!” “It’s Christmas Day!” said Scrooge to himself. “I haven’t missed it! The spirits have done it all in one night. Hallo, my fine fellow! Do you know the poulterer’s at the corner? And do you know whether they’ve sold the big turkey that was hanging up there?” “What, the one as big as me?” returned the boy. “It’s still hanging there now.” “Is it?” said Scrooge. “Then go and buy it! I am in earnest. Go and buy it and come back with the man, so that I can give them the address I want them to take it to. I’ll give you a shilling for it. Come back with the man in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown!” The boy was off like a shot. “I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit! He won’t know who sent it.” whispered Scrooge cheerfully. “It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim.”

He dressed himself all in his best, and at last got out into the streets. He had not gone far, when he came towards the two gentlemen who had walked into his office the day before. “My dear Sirs,” said Scrooge, “How do you do? I fear I wasn’t pleasant to you yesterday. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness to…”, here Scrooge whispered in the ear of the elder of the two. “Lord bless me!” cried the gentleman, “My dear Mr Scrooge, are you serious? I don’t know what to say to such generosity.” Scrooge then went to church, and walked through the streets, and watched the people. He had never dreamed that anything could give him so much happiness. In the afternoon he went to his nephew’s house. He passed the door a dozen times, before he had the courage to go up and knock. But he did it.“Fred,” said Scrooge, “It’s your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?” Of course, Fred let him in; it was a very hearty welcome and they all had a wonderful party.

But Scrooge was early at the office next morning. Oh, was he early there! If he could only be there first and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! And he did it; yes, he did. Bob was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, so that he might see him come in. “Hello!” growled Scrooge, in his usual way. “What do you mean by coming here at this time of day? I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” he continued, jumping from his stool, “and therefore I am about to raise your salary. Merry Christmas, Bob!” Bob Cratchit was amazed, and so were many people who found Scrooge so changed. Scrooge became a much better person. To Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Scrooge became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city or town in the good old world. It was always said of Scrooge, that he knew how to keep Christmas well. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim would say, God bless us, every one! ©AREAL EDITORES

THE CHARACTERS

Ebenezer Scrooge

Jacob Marley

Bob Cratchit

Tiny Tim

Fred

Spirit of Christmas Present

Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come

Spirit of Christmas Past

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THANK YOU

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