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1 Marley's ghost

It is important to remember that Jacob Marley was dead Did Scrooge know that Of course he did

Scrooge and Marley had been partners in London for many years and excellent men of business they were too When Marley died Scrooge continued with the business alone Both names still stood above the office door Scrooge and Marley Sometimes people who were new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge and sometimes Marley but he answered to both names He did not care what name they called him The only thing that mattered to him was the business and making money

Oh He was a hard clever mean old man Scrooge was There was nothing warm or open about him He lived a secretive lonely life and took no interest in other people at all The cold inside him made his eyes red and his thin lips blue and his voice high and cross It put white frost on his old head his eyebrows and his chin The frost in his heart made the air around him cold too In the hottest days of summer his office was as cold as ice and it was just as cold in winter

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say with a happy smile My dear Scrooge how are you When will you come to see me No poor man asked him for money no children asked him the time no man or woman ever in all his life asked him the way Animals as well as people were afraid of him Dogs used to hide in doorways when they saw him coming But what did Scrooge care It was just what he wanted He liked being on the edge of people's busy lives while warning everyone to keep away from him

One Christmas Eve old Scrooge was working busily in his office It was cold frosty foggy weather Outside it was already dark although it was only three o'clock in the afternoon and there were candles in all the office windows The fog covered everything like a thick grey blanket

Scrooge kept his office door open in order to check that his clerk Bob Cratchit was working Bob spent his days in a dark little room a kind of cupboard next to his employer's office Scrooge had a very small fire but Bob's fire was much smaller It was very cold in the cupboard and Bob had to wear his long white scarf to try to keep warm

Merry Christmas uncle God bless you cried a happy voice Scrooge's nephew had arrived

Bah said Scrooge crossly Humbug

Christmas is humbug Surely you don't mean that uncle said his nephew

I do said scrooge Why do you call it merry Christmas You're too poor to be merry

Well replied the nephew smiling why are you so cross You're too rich to be unhappy

of course I'm cross answered the uncle when I live in a world full of stupid people like you You say Merry Christmas But what is Christmas Just a time when you spend too much when you find yourself a year older and not an hour richer when you have to pay your bills Everyone who goes around saying Merry Christmas should have his tongue cut out Yes he should

Uncle Please don't say that said the nephew I've always thought of Christmas as a time to be helpful and kind to other People It's the only time of the year when men and women open their hearts freely to each other And so uncle although I've never made any money from it I think Christmas has been and will be a good time for me And I say God bless Christmas

Bob in the cupboard agreed loudly without thinking He immediately realized his mistake and went quickly back to his work but Scrooge had heard him

If I hear another sound from you said Scrooge you'll lose you job

Don't be angry with him uncle said the nephew come and have dinner with us tomorrow

Dinner with you I'll see you dead first

But why won't you come Why

Because Christmas is humbug Good afternoon

I want nothing from you I ask nothing of you Why can't we be friends

Good afternoon said Scrooge

I am sorry with all my heart to find you like this I have never wanted to argue with you But I came to see you and invite you because it's Christmas and so I'll say a merry Christmas uncle

Good afternoon said Scrooge

And a happy new year

Good afternoon said Scrooge

His nephew left the room without an angry word stopping only to wish Bob Cratchit a merry Christmas

Then two other gentlemen came in They were large round comfortable-looking men with books and papers in their hands

This is Scrooge and Marley's I think said one of them looking at the papers that he was carrying Am I speaking to Mr Scrooge or Mr Marley

Mr Marley is dead scrooge replied He died seven years ago today on Christmas Eve

I'm sure that you are just as kind to the poor as your partner said the gentleman smiling

What was true was that Scrooge was just as mean as Marley and Marley had been just as mean as Scrooge

At this happy time of year Mr Scrooge the gentleman went on taking up his pen we should help poor people who have no food or clothes or homes

Are there no prisons asked Scrooge coldly

Plenty of prisons said the gentleman

And the workhouses where poor people can live and work Are they still open

Yes they are I'm sorry to say

I'm happy to hear It said Scrooge I thought from what you said at first that perhaps these useful places were closed for some reason

But some of us feel replied the gentleman that these places don't offer enough to poor people We're hoping to give some meat and drink and wood for a fire to people who need all these things This is a time when we should all be able to enjoy ourselves How much will you give sir

Nothing scrooge replied I don't have a merry Christmas myself and I won't pay for other people to be merry We all have to pay for prisons and workhouses they cost enough The poor will have to go there

Many can't go there and many prefer to die

If they prefer to die why don't they die then There are too many people in the world so it's a good thing if some of them die All this is none of my business It's enough for a man to understand his own business and not to think about other people's I'm a very busy man Good afternoon gentlemen

The gentlemen shook their heads a little sadly and left the office Scrooge went back to his work feeling pleased with himself

Now the fog was at its thickest outside and the cold was biting Lights shone brightly from the shop windows People were hurrying here and there rich and poor alike to buy what they needed for tomorrow's Christmas dinner

At last it was time to close the office Scrooge got up slowly from his desk Bob was waiting for this moment and he immediately put on his hat

You'll want a holiday all day tomorrow I suppose said Scrooge

If you don't mind sir

I do mind It's not fair I have to pay you for a day's work when you don't do any work

It's only once a year sir said Bob politely

That's no reason for robbing me every twenty-fifth of December said Scrooge putting on his coat But I suppose you must have it Be here early next morning

Yes sir I will I promise Bob said happily Scrooge walked out without another word When bob had closed the office he ran home to his family in Camden Town as quickly as possible

Scrooge always used to eat his dinner alone in the same miserable little eating-house Tonight was no different from other nights He read the newspapers looked at his bank books and went home to bed He lived in rooms which had once belonged to his dead partner They were in an old dark building in a lonely side street where no one except Scrooge lived

In the blackness of the night through the fog and the frost Scrooge had to feel his way along the street with his hands He finally reached his front door and put the key in the lock Suddenly to his great surprise he saw that the knocker was not a knocker any more but had become the face of Jacob Marley

He had not thought of his partner for seven years until that afternoon when he spoke Marley's name to his visitors But there in front of him was Marley's face white and ghostly with terrible staring eyes

As Scrooge looked it became a knocker again He was afraid but he did not show his fear He turned the key opened the door and walked in He did look around before he shut the door and he did look behind the door to see if anyone was hiding there But there was nothing there He shut the door with a bang to show that he was not afraid

With his one candle he went slowly up the stairs It was impossible to see into all the dark corners Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it But he remembered the face so he walked through all his rooms checking that everything was all right Nobody under the table or the bed nobody behind the door On the small fire in the bedroom there was a pot of soup and Scrooge's bowl was ready on the table Nobody in any of the rooms Sure that he was safe now Scrooge shut and locked his bedroom door behind him He sat down by the fire to eat his soup

The fireplace was an old one with hundreds of pictures on the tiles around the fire But Scrooge could only see Marley's face on every tile

Humbug said Scrooge to the tiles and walked across the room When he sat down again he noticed a bell on the other side of the room As he looked he saw with great surprise and fear that the bell was slowly beginning to move from side to side Soon it was ringing loudly and so was every bell in the house

Suddenly they all stopped ringing at the same moment and then came a strange noise from down below It sounded like someone pulling heavy chains across the floor Scrooge remembered hearing that ghosts in old houses sometimes pulled chains behind them Then a door below opened with a crash and the noise started coming up the stairs It was coming towards his door

It's humbug still cried Scrooge But the colour left his face when without stopping it came straight through the heavy locked door and appeared in front of him It was Marley's ghost

Scrooge could see right through its body Around its middle was a long chain which had money-boxes keys bank books and heavy purses on it The ghost's death-cold eyes stared fixedly at Scrooge

Well said Scrooge trying to pretend that nothing strange was happening What do you want And who are you

In life I was your partner Jacob Marley

It's humbug I tell you said Scrooge There are no ghosts But when he said this the ghost gave a terrible cry and shook its chain in a very frightening way At once Scrooge fell on the ground in great fear crying Yes Yes You are real I see that now Why have you come Why do ghosts come back from the dead Tell me Jacob

The spirit of every man who does not help other people in life has to travel endlessly through the world after his death We have to carry the chains that we made for ourselves in our lifetime Do you Ebenezer Scrooge recognize my chain It is very like the one that you wear

Scrooge looked around him but could see no chain Jacob he said please tell me more

I cannot help you much Ebenezer I cannot rest I cannot stay anywhere for long I have been dead for seven years and all that time I have been travelling on the wings of the wind No peace no rest for me in death because I was never good or kind in life

But you were always a good man of business Jacob said Scrooge who was now beginning to worry about his own life

Business cried the ghost miserably Why didn't I think of people as my business I thought only about making money not about being kind and helpful to other people Listen to me Ebenezer I am here tonight to warn you You still have a chance to save yourself from what has happened to me Three spirtis will come to visit you the first tomorrow at one o'clock the second at the same time the next night and the third at midnight the following night You will not see me any more and for your own peace after death remember what I have told you

The spirit walked slowly backwards to the window which began to open When the ghost reached the window it held up its hand and Scrooge listened He could hear a noise of sad crying in the air The spirit began to cry too and it moved out into the frosty dark night to join the others Scrooge ran to the window Outside the air was full of spirits all wearing chains like Marley's ghost all crying miserably as they realized too late the terrible mistakes that they had made in their lives

Little by little the spirits and their voices disappeared into the fog and the darkness and the night was silent again Scrooge closed the window and checked his bedroom door It was still locked He started to say Humbug but stopped suddenly Perhaps because he was very tired or because it was late he went straight to bed without taking off his clothes and fell asleep immediately

2 The first of the three spirits

When Scrooge woke up it was very dark in the room He heard the church clock start striking and listened to see what the time was To his great surprise the heavy bell went on striking up to twelve then stopped Twelve o'clock It was past two in the morning when he had gone to bed The clock must be wrong He looked at his watch It said twelve o'clock too

Have I slept all day Is it the next night already scrooge asked himself Or has something happened to the sun Perhaps it's midday not midnight But that's impossible

He climbed out of bed and felt his way to the window But there was nobody outside in the dark foggy streets and he realized it must be night-time He went back to bed again but could not sleep He was worried because he could not understand what was happening Was Marley's ghost a dream he wondered But it seemed very real

He lay awake until he heard the clock striking a quarter to the hour Suddenly he remembered The ghost had warned him that a spirit would visit him at one o'clock He decided to stay awake until one o'clock had passed The quarter of an hour passed very slowly but at last he heard the clock striking the four quarters

It's one o'clock cried Scrooge delightedly and nothing has happened But he spoke before the hour bell had sounded The clock now struck a deep sad ONE and immediately light shone into Scrooge's bedroom The curtains round his bed were pulled open Scrooge sat up in bed and stared at his ghostly visitor

A strange figure half like a child half like an old man looked back at him It had long white hair but its skin was soft and young It wore a short white robe covered with both summer and winter flowers But the strangest thing about it was that from the top of its head shone a bright clear light Perhaps this light was sometimes too bright because under one arm it carried a hat which looked like a large extinguisher

Who and what are you sir asked Scrooge

I am the ghost of Christmas Past replied the spirit in a soft gentle voice

Do you mean long ago in the past asked Scrooge

No Your past

Spirit please tell me why you are here

I am here for your own good answered the ghost

Thank you replied Scrooge politely But secretly he thought Bah A night of unbroken sleep is a more useful thing to have

The spirit seemed to hear him thinking and said at once I am here to help you change your life Watch and listen It put out a strong hand and held Scrooge by the arm Get up and come with me

It was dark and cold outside Scrooge did not want to go anywhere and for a moment he thought about pretending to be too ill to go out But he did not like to refuse so he said nothing and got out of bed Together they passed through the wall of the house out into the darkness

Suddenly Scrooge realized they were standing on an open country road with fields on each side London the fog and the darkness had all disappeared and it was a clear cold winter day with snow on the ground

Good Heavens cried Scrooge I was born near here I rememher it well

The spirit looked kindly at the old man How strange that you've forgotten it for so many years What is that on your face Are you crying

Scrooge put a hand over his eyes It's nothing I've got a cold that's all Take me where you want spirit

Scrooge recognized every field post and tree as they walked along the road towards a little market town All around thgm were young schoolboys on horses and in farmers carts laughing and wishing each other a merry Christmas as they travelled to their homes for the Christmas holiday

They are only shadows from the past said the spirit They cannot see us

Scrooge knew and named all of them Why was he so delighted to see them Why did his cold heart beat faster when they went past shouting Merry Christmas What was merry Christmas to Scrooge What good had it ever done to him

Not everyone has left the school said the ghost There is one lonely child there still one child whose friends have all gone

I know said Scrooge And now he was crying openly

They turned into a smaller road and soon came to the school Inside in the long cold silent classroom a lonely boy sat reading near a small fire When he saw his poor forgotten past self Scrooge sat down at one of the desks put his head in his hands and cried

Poor boy I wish but it's too late now

What's the matter asked the spirit

There was a boy singing Christmas carols at my door yesterday I'm sorry I didn't give him anything that's all

The ghost smiled and lifted its hand saying Let's see another past Christmas

The schoolroom became darker and dirtier There was the young Scrooge again a little older and bigger than before He was not reading this time but was walking up and down looking very unhappy The door opened and a little girl much younger than him came running in Putting her arms round his neck she said lovingly to him I've come to bring you home dear brother Father is so much kinder than he used to be The other day I asked him if you could come home and he said yes And we're going to spend Christmas together and have the merriest time she was laughing delightedly as she began to pull him towards the door They went out happily together hand in hand

What a warm heart she had said the ghost

You're right said Scrooge I agree with you spirit

She married I understand continued the ghost and had children I think before she died

One child answered Scrooge

True said the ghost Your nephew

Scrooge did not answer at once Yes he said at last

Now the school had disappeared and they were in the middle of a busy town with shadowy crowds and carts all around them Here it was Christmas time again but it was evening and there were lights in the shops and streets

The ghost stopped at an office door Do you know this place Scrooge he asked

Know it cried Scrooge Why I was a clerk here

They went in and when they saw a large kind-looking old gentleman sitting at a high desk Scrooge cried excitedly Good Heavens it's old Fezziwig God bless him It's Fezziwig alive again

Old Fezziwig put down his pen and looked at the clock Fastening his coat buttons over his fat stomach he started laughing as he called out in a rich deep happy voice Ebenezer Dick Seven o'clock No more work tonight It'sChristmas Eve remember

The young Scrooge hurried in with another clerk

That's Dick Wilkins said Scrooge quietly to the ghost

He always liked me Oh dear poor Dick

Together the two young clerks put away all the pens and papers and following Fezziwig's orders cleared all the furniture away from the centre of the room In came a fiddler In came Mrs Fezziwig fat and smiling In came the three Fezziwig daughters sweet and pretty In came the six young men who were in love with them In came the cook with her young man the milkman In came the boy from next door with the girl from the house opposite In they came some quietly some noisily but all happy because it was Ghristmas Eve The fiddler started playing and away they all went in the dance twenty pairs at the same time round and round down the middle and up again When they were all tired old Fezziwig cried out Well done Now have something to eat and drink there was cake and hot meat and bread and cold meat and fruit and all kinds of drinks on a long table near the door And after they had eaten they danced again

When the clock struck eleven the dancing ended Mr and Mrs Fezziwig stood by the door shaking hands with each person as he or she went out and wishing him or her a merry Christmas

During this time Scrooge had thought of nothing except what was happening in front of his eyes He remembered and enjoyed it all with the greatest delight But when the dancing came to an end he realized that the ghost was looking at him The light on the spirit's head was burning very clearly

It seems easy enough to amuse these childish people said the ghost It was nothing much that Fezziwig did was it After all he only spent a few pounds on food and drink and paying the fiddler

It isn't a question of money replied Scrooge warmly He was speaking like the young man he used to be not the old man he was now No spirit you see our employer can make us happy or sad His words his looks all these things are so important The happiness that he gives is just as valuable as money

He suddenly stopped speaking when he felt the spirit watching him closely

What's the matter asked the ghost

Er nothing said Scrooge Just that I'd like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk now

Now Scrooge could see himself again He was older now and it was clear that he was beginning to show an unhealthy interest in money His eyes were restless and his mouth looked thin and mean He was not alone but was sitting beside a lovely young girl The light that shone brightly from the ghost of Christmas Past showed that she was crying

I know it doesn't matter very much to you she said softly You care about gold more than you care about me Perhaps I shouldn't be sad Money will give you the happiness that I wanted to give you

But I haven't changed towards you have I

You have changed We promised to marry a long time ago when we were both poor and happy to be poor I have stayed the same but you have different hopes and dreams now I loved the man that you used to be but I know that you do not wish to marry me any more So I've come to tell you that you're free Be happy in the life that you've chosen And she left him

Spirit cried Scrooge Show me no more Take me home This is too painful

One shadow more said the ghost

No more cried Scrooge I don't wish to see any more But the spirit held his arms and he could not escape

Now they were in another place in a room which was not very large but comfortable Near the fire sat a beautiful young girl Scrooge thought she was the girl that he had just seen until he saw her now a good-looking married lady sitting opposite her daughter The room was full of children and noise and shouting and laughing Just then the door opened and the father entered carrying a great pile of Christmas presents The noise became twice as loud as the children received their presents with delight and kissed their father gratefully Finally the younger ones went upstairs to bed and Scrooge watched more sadly than ever as the father sat down with his loving daughter and her mother by the fire

Belle said the husband turning to his wife with a smile I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon Guess who Mr Scrooge He was sitting alone in his office His partner is dying and I don't think he has any other friends

Spirit said Scrooge in a broken voice Take me away from this place

These are shadows of the things that happened in the past said the ghost You chose the life that you preferred so why cry now

I can't watch any more It's too awful Leave me alone spirit And Scrooge noticing that the ghostly light was burning high and bright suddenly took the extinguisher and pushed it down hard on the spirit's head But although it covered the ghost's head and body Scrooge could not hide the light which continued to shine out strongly from underneath

Now Scrooge found himself back in his own bedroom again Feeling very tired he climbed into bed and at once fell into a deep heavy sleep

3 The second of the three spirits

When Scrooge woke up he realized immediately that the church clock was just going to strike one He felt sure that the second spirit would Soon visit him This time he wanted to be ready so he pulled back all the curtains round his bed himself and lay there waiting At one o'clock instead of a spirit a strong light shone down on Scrooge's bed He felt very frightened After a few minutes he thought that perhaps the light was coming from the next room so he got up and went to the door When he touched it a strange voice called his name and asked him to enter He obeyed

Although he recognized it as his own room it looked very different now The walls were covered with bright green leaves and there was a good fire burning in the fireplace On the floor were big plies of the best Christmas food wonderful rich dark cakes warm soft bread colourful apples and oranges plates of yellow butter cooked chickens boxes of chocolates and sugared sweets Sitting beside all this was a large smiling spirit who called out cheerfully to Scrooge Come in Chme in man I am the ghost of Christmas Present Look at me

Since the first ghost's visit Scrooge was no longer very sure of himself So although the spirit's eyes were clear and kind Scrooge was afraid to look straight into its face But he could see that its body was dressed in a long green robe its long brown hair fell freely down its back and its face wore a warm and friendly smile Light shone from the torch which it was holding in its strong right hand

Spirit said Scrooge quietly take me where you want Last night I learned a lesson which is working now If you have anything to teach me tonight let me learn from you

Touch my robe said the spirit and Scrooge obeyed

The food the room the fire all disappeared and they were standing outside in the cold snowy streets on Christmas morning Althought the sky was grey and the streets were dirty the people looked surprisingly cheerful as they hurried to the bakers'shops with their Christmas dinners all ready for cooking The spirit seemed specially interested in poor people He stood with Scrooge in a baker's doorway and held his torch over the dinners as they were carried past him Sometimes when he saw people pushing each other or getting angry he lifted his torch over their heads and immediately they became kinder or stopped arguing because it's Christmas they told each other

What does your torch do spirit asked Scrooge

It gives a special taste to people's dinners on this day answered the spirit

Why do you use it most on poor people said Scrooge

Because poor people need it most was the reply

They went on through London and came to the small house where Scrooge's clerk lived Here the spirit smiled and held his torch high over the door Inside Bob Cratchit's wife and second daughter Belinda in their everyday dresses but looking clean and pretty were putting plates on the table for their Christmas dinner Bob's son Peter was helping to cook the potatoes and two smaller Cratchits a boy and a girl were running round excitedly Just then the eldest daughter Martha arrived home from work

Here's Martha mother cried the two young Cratchits happily We're having a really big chicken for dinner Martha In fact it was only a small chicken but it seemed large to the excited children

My dear how late you are said Mrs Cratchit kissing her daughter several times

We were so busy yesterday mother replied the girl That's why we didn't finish until this morning

Well Never mind now that you're here God bless you Sit down by the fire my dear

No no Father's coming ried the two young Cratchits Hide Martha hide

So Martha hid herself and in came Bob in his thin coat and long white scarf with his son Tiny Tim in his arms Poor Tiny Tim He had not walked since he was born and although he could pull himself and his thin little legs along with the help of a wooden crutch he was not strong enough to travel far alone

Why where's Martha cried Bob looking round

Not coming said Mrs Cratchit

Not coming repeated Bob his cheerful smile disappearing Not coming on Christmas Day

But Martha didn't like to worry her father for a minute so she ran out from behind the door and kissed him while the two young Cratchits showed Tiny Tim the chicken now ready to eat

Scrooge and the spirit watched as the family sat down to eat It was a poor enough meal but to them it seemed wonderful and they ate every bit of it

It's the best chicken I've ever tasted said Bob smiling round at his family who with their mouths full all agreed

And then the most exciting moment of the day Belinda put a clean plate in front of each person and they all turned to look at Mrs Cratchit as she came in from the kitchen Her face was hot from her morning's work but she was smiling happily as she carried in-the Christmas pudding in its little circle of blue fire

Oh it was a wonderful pudding They were all delighted with it

It's your greatest success in all the years that we've been married my dear said Bob

Well I did wonder how much fruit to put in it said his wife but yes it's a good one And she laughed just like a young girl

Nobody said that it was a very small pudding for a large family Nobody even thought it No Cratchit ever said or thought things like that

At last when they had finished their meal the children cleared the table and washed the plates Then they all sat round the fire eating apples and oranges There was a large bowl of fruit and sugar and hot water and something a little stronger but only three people could drink at the same time because the family only owned two glasses and a cup But this did not worry the Cratchits at all Now Bob lifted his glass and said A merry Christmas to us all my dears God bless us

The family repeated his wish and Tiny Tim said last of all God bless us every one He sat very close to his father on a small chair Bob held his son's thin little hand in this own The boy had a special place in his father's heart

Spirit said Scrooge with an interest that he had never felt before tell me if Tiny Tim will live

In the future I see an empty chair by the fire with a crutch beside it If these shadows do not change the child will die

No no said Scrooge Oh no kind spirit Say that he will live

If his life does not change soon he will die before next Christmas What does that matter There are too many people in the world so it's a good thing if some of them die

Scrooge was ashamed and sad to hear his own words spoken by the spirit But he lifted his head when he heard his name

Mr Scrooge said Bob Let's drink to Mr Scrooge whose money has paid for this meal

His money said Mrs Cratchit angrily What can we buy with his fifteen shillings a week Why should we drink to the health of a hateful hard unfeeling mean old man like Scrooge

My dear said Bob gently remember it's Christmas

Well Bob I'll drink to his health only because of you and because it's Christmas Long life to Mr Scrooge A merry Christmas and a happy new year to him He'll be very merry and very happy I'm sure

When the children heard Scrooge's name a dark shadow came over their happiness for a while and they were quiet and a little sad But five minutes later they were talking and laughing and telling stories ten times merrier than before They were not a good-looking or a well-dressed family but they were happy and grateful and loved each other As they disappeared in the light of the spirit's torch Scrooge could not take his eyes off them especially Tiny Tim

By this time it was getting dark and snowing heavily The spirit took Scrooge into many houses where fires were burning cheerfully and food was cooking and people were merrily welcoming their friends and families into their homes The ghost was delighted to see all this excitement and made sure that he lifted his torch over every poor family to give them more fun and better food and greater happiness

Then the spirit took Scrooge away from the busy capital to a wild lonely place in the country where no trees grew Here they visited a small stone house a long way from any town or village where an old man and woman were singing Christmas carols with their children and grandchildren The spirit did not stay long here but told Scrooge to hold his robe again

Where are we going Not up in the air surely And Scrooge terribly frightened looked down as they flew over the land and then over the sea It was stormy windy weather and the waves crashed violently underneath them

The spirit took Scrooge to a lighthouse built on a lonely rock several miles from land A light was kept burning at the top in order to warn sailors to keep away from the dangerous rocks Two men lived here in this cold unfriendly place far away from their families but the spirit smiled to see them shake hands wish each other a merry Christmas and sing a carol together in front of their fire

Again the spirit and Scrooge flew on and together they landed on a ship in the middle of the sea Here every man although many miles from home had a kind word for his friend or thought warmly of his family because it was Christmas

It was a great surprise to Scrooge while listening to the noise of the wind and waves to hear a happy laugh He recognized it as his nephew's and found himself with the smiling spirit beside him in his nephew's bright warm sitting-room

When Scrooge's nephew laughed everybody who was with him wanted to laugh too He had that kind of laugh And at the moment his very pretty wife and several of his friends were laughing with him

He said that Christmas was humbug Ha ha ha cried Scrooge's nephew

That's very bad of him Fred said his wife

He's a strange old man said Scrooge's nephew but I'm sorry for him His money is no use to him you see He isn't at all happy or comfortable although he's rich It's sad to think of him sitting alone in his cold room And so I'm going to invite him every Christmas He can be cross and miserable if be likes but I'll go on inviting him and one day perhaps he'll think better of Christmas

After tea the cheerful little group sang songs and played music Scrooge recognized the song that his little sister used to sing and remembered sadly what the ghost of Christmas Past had shown him Later the friends played guessing games and Scrooge joined in the games with delight Nobody except the spirit could hear him but he often guessed the right answer

It's time to go now said the ghost smiling at the old man's childish excitement

No spirit please let me stay a little longer Look they're playing a new game

It was a game called Yes and No in which Scrooge's nephew had to think of something and the others had to ask questions to discover what it was The only possible answers were Yes or No Scrooge heard that Fred was thinking of a living animal a wild animal sometimes an angry animal which lived in London and walked in the streets Every time he answered a question Fred could not stop himself laughing At last his wife's dark pretty sister started laughing too

I know what it is Fred I know she cried out It's your uncle Scro-o-o-o-oge

Everyone laughed until they cried What a wonderful game What a clever idea of Fred's But at last Fred dried his eyes and said We've been very merry because of him so I think we should drink to his health Here's to Uncle Scrooge A merry Christmas and a happy new year to the old man Uncle Scrooge

To Uncle Scrooge they all cried cheerfully lifting their glasses

Uncle Scrooge wanted to thank them but the spirit hurried him away The ghost seemed much older now his brown hair had become grey

Are spirits' lives so short asked Scrooge

My life in this world ends at midnight tonight Listen It's a quarter to midnight now

The church clock was striking the three quarters

Excuse me for asking spirit said Scrooge but what are those strange things near your foot

Oh man look here said the spirit sadly and brought out from under his robe two ghostly figures a boy and a girl They were thin and poorly dressed with cold mean eyes and dry yellow skin and their faces showed only a frightening and murderous hate Scrooge had never seen anything so terrible or so sad

These miserable children are Man's said the spirit The boy is Crime The girl is Need They will destroy Man if nothing is done about them

Can't anyone help them cried Scrooge

Are there no prisons said the spirit turning on Scrooge for the last time with his own words Are there on workhouses

The clock struck twelve Scrooge looked but could no longer see the ghost or the children He was alone again

4 The last of the spirits

The third spirit will come at midnight scrooge suddenly remembered the words of Jacob Marley's ghost and lifting his eyes saw a spirit all in black coming slowly towards him It was a tall silent figure wearing a long black robe which hid its head and body When it came close to him it stopped and pointed onwards with one hand Scrooge was more afraid of this spirit than he had been of the others and his voice was shaking as he asked Are you the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come the ghost neither spoke nor moved but still pointed onwards

Are you going to show me shadows of the things which haven't happened yet but will happen in the future scrooge asked

There was no answer

Ghost of the future he continued You frighten me very much but I think you can help me to change my life I'll be very grateful to you if you show me the future Won't you speak to me

Again no reply

Well show me the way spirit said Scrooge finally The night is passing and time is valuable to me I know

The ghost moved away with Scrooge following in its shadow Suddenly they were in the heart of the capital among the businessmen and moneylenders The ghost pointed to one small group of men so Scrooge went closer to listen to their conversation

No I don't know much about it said one fat man I only know he's dead

When did he die asked another man

Last night I think

Why what was the matter with him asked a third

I've no idea replied the fat man looking bored who cares

What's he done with his money asked a red-faced gentleman

I haven't heard said the fat man He hasn't left it to me that's all I know

They all laughed at this Scrooge knew the men and looked towards the spirit hoping it would explain what the conversation meant But the ghost moved on pointing at two more men Scrooge listened again He knew these men well They were rich and important and he had often done business with them

How are you said one

How are you replied the other

Well said the first The old man has died at last has he

So they tell me replied the second Cold isn't it

Nice and frosty for Christmas Good morning

Not another word That was the end of their meeting

Scrooge wondered why the spirit wanted him to hear these conversations What could they mean The dead man could not be his partner Jacob because he was already dead

Scrooge watched carefully trying to understand He looked round for his own shadow but could not see himself anywhere Perhaps that's not surprising he thought because if I change my life and I'm planning to do that I won't be the same person in the future Just then he noticed the spirit standing quiet and dark beside him with its pointing hand He felt the unseen eyes staring fixedly at him behind the black robe Scrooge's body shook and he felt cold

They left the busy offices and banks and went to another part of the capital where Scrooge had never been before The streets were narrow and dirty the houses miserably poor the people unwashed and half-dressed Down one street there was a small shop where an old man was sitting waiting for customers His business was buying old furniture or clothes and selling them again to the poorest people in London As Scrooge and the spirit watched three women arrived at the shop door at the same time each carrying a large bundle They looked very surprised and a little ashamed to see each other Suddenly they all started laughing

Ladies you couldn't find a better place to meet said Joe the old man getting up Now come inside and show me what you've got to sell

Inside the first woman put her bundle on the table and said I don't care if everybody knows where this comes from We all have to take care of ourselves He always did

That's right agreed the second woman

Very true agreed the third

Does a dead man need these things continued the first woman And why was he so mean while he was alive We all worked for him didn't we Cleaned his house washed his clothes cooked his soup And what did we get Three shillings a week It's no surprise that he died alone with no friends around him

You never spoke a truer word said the second

He was a bad man we all know that said the third

Now what have we here said old Joe opening the women's bundles Buttons pencils boots silver spoons some excellent bed-curtains blankets and a very good shirt he added feeling the fine cotton

Yes it was his best said the first woman They put it on him after he died But he doesn't need it now that he's dead And the blankets and bed-curtains He doesn't need them either

You took the shirt off a dead body and the blankets and curtains off his bed while he was lying there Well well said Joe shaking his head Here's your money And he counted out several shillings into the women's hands

Ha ha ha laughed the first woman He frightened everyone away when he was alive and we've made money out of him now that he's dead Ha ha ha

Scrooge felt sick and angry at the same time Spirit he said I see now I could be that unhappy man Good Heavens what's this

Joe and the women had disappeared and Scrooge was standing in a dark room Opposite him was a bed with no blankets or curtains A light shone down from above on to the body of a dead man covered with a sheet

How sad thought Scrooge to die with no friends or family around him To lie in an empty room with no candles or flowers and robbed of his clothes To know that nobody loves him because he loved nobody in his life Money can't buy a happy life or a peaceful death He looked at the spirit whose hand was pointing at the man's covered head It would be easy to lift the sheet and see who the man was But for some reason Scrooge could not do it

Spirit he said this is a terrible place Let's go

Still the ghost's unmoving finger pointed at the man's head

I understand you but I can't look at him spirit I can't said Scrooge wildly If there's anyone in this town who feels anything at this man's death show that person to me spirit please

For a moment the spirit lifted its dark robe like a wing and showed Scrooge a room where a mother and her children were sitting The young woman kept looking at the clock and when her husband arrived she hurried to meet him

What what is the news she asked him worriedly Is it good or or bad

There is still hope Caroline he replied

How can there be hope If that hard mean old man wants us to pay back the money now they'll send us to prison We haven't got enough to pay him

He is dead Caroline answered her husband

Thank God for that cried the young woman from her heart The next moment she realized what she had said Oh I didn't mean that I'm sorry if anyone dies

Perhaps the person who inherits his business will give us more time to pay the money back And we'll have the money by then Tonight we can sleep well Caroline

So spirit said Scrooge in a broken voice you can show me only happiness at this man's death It frightens me spirit Show me please that there can be sadness at a death

The ghost took him silently through the streets to poor Bob Cratchit's house The room seemed strangely quiet The mother and her daughters were making a small white cotton shirt together while the usually noisy young Cratchits sat silently in a corner and Peter was reading a book Mrs Cratchit put her work down on the table and covered her face with her hand

The colour hurts my eyes she said The colour Ah poor Tiny Tim

They're a little better now she went on It's difficult to work by candlelight And I don't want to show red eyes to your father when he comes home

He's a bit late said Peter but I think he's walked more slowly these last few days mother

They were very quiet again At last she said bravely I've known him walk with with Tiny Tim in his arms very fast indeed

So have I cried Peter Often

But he was very light to carry and your father loved him so much And there's your father at the door now she got up quickly to kiss Bob as he came in He looked tired and thin and needed his long scarf poor man Martha took his boots and scarf off and Belinda brought him his tea and the little Cratchits sat close to him He was very cheerful with all of them and was pleased with the little shirt that his wife and daughters were making

It'll be ready long before Sunday won't it he said

Sunday You went there today then Bob asked his wife

Yes my dear You'd love to see it It's a beautiful green place But you'll see it often I promised him that we would go there every Sunday My little little child cried Bob hiding his face in his hands He had loved the boy very much

He went upstairs to the quiet bedroom where the chlid lay Poor Bob sat down beside him and when he felt calmer he kissed the little face and went downstairs again almost happy

My dears he said to his children one of these days some of you will marry and leave home In a few year's time perhaps all of you will But I'm sure none of us will ever forget Tiny Tim will we

Never father they all cried

And I know said Bob that when we remember how patient and gentle he was although he was only a little child we won't argue among ourselves We'll remember poor Tiny Tim and love each other

We will father they all cried again

I am very happy said Bob I am very happy mrs Cratchit kissed him his daughters kissed him the two young Cratchits kissed him and he and Peter shook hands Tiny Tim your goodness lives on in your family

Spirit said Scrooge I know that you will leave me soon Tell me who that dead man on the bed was

No answer came in words but the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come took Scrooge through the streets of London again

Wait a moment said Scrooge We're passing my office Let me see how I shall look in the future

The spirit stopped Its hand was pointing away from the office But Scrooge hurried up to the window and looked in It was an office still but not his The furniture was not the same and the figure in the chair was not himself The ghost continued to point onwards and Scrooge followed They reached a church and entered the churchyard Here among the untidy graves and the uncut grass lay the miserable man whose name Scrooge would soon learn It was a lonely place most suitable for a man so unloved

The spirit stood and pointed down at one of the graves

Scrooge was strangely afraid

Before I look more closely at that gravestone he said answer me one question Are these the shadows of the things that will be or are they only shadows of the things that may be

Without replying the ghost pointed silently down at the grave Scrooge moved slowly towards it and following the finger read on the stone his own name EBENEZER SCROOGE

Am I that man who was lying on the bed he cried

The spirit pointed from the grave to him and back again

No spirit Oh no no

The finger was still there

Scrooge fell to the ground in front of the ghost holding its long dark robe Spirit Listen I am a changed man I have learnt my lesson from you spirits Why show me this terrible end if there is no hope for me

For the first time the hand appeared to shake

Good spirit tell me that my future will change if I change my life now

The kind hand shook again

I will remember the past and think of the future I will be good to other people I will keep Christmas in my heart and will try to be kind ad cheerful and merry every day Oh tell me I can clean away the writing on this stone

Wildly he caught the ghostly hand and held it for a moment But the spirit was stronger than him and pulled its hand away Just then Scrooge noticed that something strange was happening to the spirit It was getting smaller and smaller and suddenly it became a bedpost

5 The end of the story

Yes and the bedpost was his own The bed was his own the room was his own Best and happiest of all the future was his own to change his life in

I will remember the past and think of the future repeated Scrooge as he jumped out of bed God bless you Jacob Marley And God bless Christmas

In his excitement he found it difficult to speak His face was still wet from crying Here are my bed curtains he cried delightedly They aren't stolen And I'm alive Those were only shadows of things that may be The future will be different I know it will

All this time his hands were busy hurriedly putting on his clothes He put his left foot in his right shoe couldn't find the buttons on his shirt and forgot to brush his hair

I don't know what I'm doing said Scrooge laughing and crying at the same time A merry Christmas to everybody A happy new year to all the world Hurrah There's the door which Jacob's ghost came through There's the corner where the ghost of Christmas Present sat There's the window where I saw the travelling ghosts It's all true it all happened Ha ha ha

Really for a man who hadn't laughed for so many years it was an excellent laugh The father of a long line of excellent laughs

I don't know what day of the month it is said Scrooge I don't know how long I've been with the spirits I don't know anything I'm just like a baby Never mind I prefer being a baby Hurrah

Just then he heard the church bells ring out louder than he had ever heard before Running to the window he opened it and looked out No fog at all a clear bright cold day golden sunlight blue sky sweet clean air merry bells Oh wonderful wonderful

What's today he cried calling down to a boy in the street

Today replied the boy in great surprise Why it's Christmas Day

So I haven't missed it thought Scrooge The spirits have done it all in one night He called down to the boy again Hallo young man Do you know the meat shop at the corner of the next street

Of course I do replied the boy

What an intelligent boy said Scrooge Do you know if they've sold the big turkey that was in the shop window yesterday

What the one as big as me asked the boy

What a delightful boy said Scrooge It's wonderful talking to him Yes that's the one

It's still there in the window said the boy

Is it said Scrooge Well go and buy it

You don't mean it cried the by

I do I do I'm serious Go and buy it and tell the man to bring it back here Come back with the man and I'll give you a shilling Come back in less than five minutes and I'll give you three shillings

The by went off like a bullet from a gun

I'll send the turkey to Bob Cratchit's laughed Scrooge He'll never know who's sent it It's twice as big as Tiny Tim Ha ha ha

He went on laughing as he wrote Bob's address gave it to the man with the turkey and paid for a taxi because the turkey was much too heavy to carry all the way to Camden Town

Now he finished dressing and went out into the streets wearing his best clothes The town was full of happy busy people and Scrooge smiled at all of them Three or four men said cheerfully to him Good morning sir And a merry Christmas to you scrooge thought these were the best sounds that he had ever heard

As he was walking he suddenly noticed one of the comfortable-looking gentlemen who had come to his office to ask for money for the poor Scrooge went straight up to him took the old gentleman by both hands and said My dear sir how are you A merry Christmas to you sir

Mr Scrooge asked the gentleman surprised

Yes that's my name I'm very sorry for what I said to you when you visited me yesterday Will you please and he spoke very quietly in the gentleman's ear

Good Heavens cried the gentleman My dear Mr Scrooge are you serious

I am Not a shilling less I must tell you I haven't given anything to anyone for years

My dear sir said the gentleman shaking hands with him I don't know how to thank you for

Don't say anything please replied Scrooge Will you come and see me tomorrow about it

I will cried the old gentleman happily

Thank you and God bless you said Scrooge

He went to church and watched the people and gave children money for sweets and discovered that he had never been so happy in his life In the afternoon he went to his nephew's house He passed the door several times before he was brave enough to knock But at last he did it and was taken into the sitting-room where Fred and his pretty wife were waiting for their friends to arrive for dinner

Fred said Scrooge It's your uncle Scrooge I've come to dinner Will you let me stay Fred

Let him stay Fred almost shook his uncle's arm off Scrooge felt at home in five minutes Nothing could be merrier And what a wonderful dinner they had Wonderful party wonderful games wonderful happiness

But he was early at the office next morning Oh he was there early He wanted to catch Bob Cratchit arriving late And he did The clock struck nine No Bob A quarter past No Bob He was eighteen and a half minutes late when he finally hurried in Scrooge was sitting with his office door open

Hallo said Scrooge in his old hard voice What do you mean by coming here so late

I'm very sorry sir said Bob I am late It's only once a year We were rather merry yesterday sir

Now I'll tell you what my friend said Scrooge I'm not going to have this any longer And so he continued jumping off his chair and shaking Bob's hand I'm going to pay you twice as much

Bob's face went white For a second or two he thought that Scrooge had gone crazy

A merry Christmas Bob said Scrooge and it was clear that he meant It A merrier Christmas Bob than I've given you for a long time I'm going to pay you well and help you with your family and we'll discuss it all this afternoon over a Christmas drink Bob Put more wood on the fire at once Bob Cratchit and let's be comfortable

Scrooge did everything that he had promised and more To Tiny Tim who did NOT die he became a second father He became as good a friend employer and man as anyone in London or in the world Some people laughed to see the change in him but he did not care His own heart laughed inside him and that was good enough for him He never had any more conversations with spirits but kept Christmas cheerfully and lived a happy life That is what all of us want and so as Tiny Tim said God bless us every one