{"id":117,"date":"2017-12-03T09:23:17","date_gmt":"2017-12-03T14:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/?p=117"},"modified":"2017-12-03T09:23:17","modified_gmt":"2017-12-03T14:23:17","slug":"a-christmas-carol-reading-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/2017\/12\/03\/a-christmas-carol-reading-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"“A Christmas Carol”: Reading Materials"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regardless of faith, “A Christmas Carol” is a classic novella (long story) which focuses on the importance of giving and the consequences of greed. Please trust me when I say, this story is not<\/strong> being used to teach religion. We will be analyzing the story in a strictly academic sense, discussing important literature elements, such as plot structure, character development, compare and contrast, and a myriad of high level vocabulary, which will only help strengthen students’ understanding of literature.<\/p>\n

That being said, since the story was written in the early 1900’s, much of the language may be inaccessible, I have founf, and will post here, the abridged version, with more accessible vocabulary. While it gets rid of dialectic speech, such as “T’was”, it in no way compromises the calibre of academic vocabulary, and your student should expect at least one vocabulary quiz on this novella.<\/p>\n

The Story begins below:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paulet High School Year 7 study of Charles Dickens\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 1 \u2013 Marley\u2019s Ghost<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marley was dead, to begin with \u2013 there\u2019s no doubt about that. He was as dead as a doornail. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate<\/p>\n

Marley and Scrooge were business partners once. But then Marley died and now their firm belonged to Scrooge, who was a stingy and heartless old man. Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! He was secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.<\/p>\n

Once upon a time — of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve — old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather, and in Scrooge\u2019s office it was not much warmer either. Suddenly, a cheerful person entered the office. It was Scrooge\u2019s nephew.<\/p>\n

\u201cA merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!\u201d Fred said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBah!\u201d said Scrooge, \u201cHumbug!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChristmas a humbug, uncle!\u201d said Scrooge\u2019s nephew. \u201cYou don\u2019t mean that, I am sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do,\u201d said Scrooge. \u201cWhat reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.”<\/p>\n

“Come, then,” returned the nephew. “What right have you to be dismal? You’re rich enough.”<\/p>\n

If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, “every idiot who goes about with “Merry Christmas” on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!”<\/p>\n

“Uncle!” pleaded the nephew.<\/p>\n

“Nephew!” returned the uncle, sternly, “keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.”<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep it? But you don\u2019t keep it,\u201d said Fred, who was a very friendly young man. He even tried to cheer Scrooge up and invited him for dinner on Christmas Day with his wife and friends, but Scrooge said no and sent him out.<\/p>\n

When Scrooge\u2019s nephew left, two gentlemen came in to collect money for the poor who had no place they could go.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir,’ they said.<\/p>\n

Stingy Scrooge, however, didn\u2019t give the gentlemen any money.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?\u201d\u00a0 he asked sarcastically. \u201cI don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry.\u201d\u00a0 Scrooge told them to leave the office.<\/p>\n

When it was time to close the office, Scrooge talked to his employee, the clerk, Bob Cratchit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose?\u201d said Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that is okay, Sir,\u201d answered the clerk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not okay,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201cand it is not fair. After all, I have to pay you for the day although you don\u2019t work. A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December! But if it must be, I want you to start work even earlier the following morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cratchit promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl.<\/p>\n

Scrooge lived all alone in an old house that had once belonged to his deceased business partner, Marley. The yard was very dark and scary that night and when Scrooge wanted to unlock the door, he had the feeling that he saw Marley\u2019s face in the knocker. It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up upon its ghostly forehead.<\/p>\n

As Scrooge looked closer at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again. To say that has was not startled would be untrue, but Scrooge was not frightened easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cHumbug,\u201d he said. He opened the door and walked in. He locked himself in, however, which he usually didn\u2019t do. But then he felt safe again and sat down before the fire.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Scrooge heard a clanking noise, deep down below, as if somebody was dragging a heavy chain through the cellar. The noise came nearer and nearer, and then Scrooge saw a ghost coming right through the heavy door. It was Marley\u2019s ghost – the same face: the very same! – and his chains were long; they were made of cash-boxes, keys and heavy purses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d said Scrooge<\/p>\n

\u201cIn life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. Do you believe in me?\u201d asked Marley, the ghost.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t,\u201d said Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you doubt your senses?\u201d<\/p>\n

“Because,” said Scrooge, “a little thing affects them. A slight stomach ache could give make my imagination run wild. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of the grave about you, whatever you are!”<\/p>\n

Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes, but he was trying to distract himself and keep down his terror; for the specter’s voice disturbed the very marrow in his bones.<\/p>\n

The spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalllling noise, that Scrooge held on tight to his chair, to save himself from fainting. He clasped his hands before his face.<\/p>\n

“Mercy!” he said. “Dreadful ghost, why do you trouble me?”<\/p>\n

\u201cI must wander through the world unhappily because I was so awful in life. I wear these chains because I made them myself, link by link, when I never walked beyond our counting house! I only cared about business but not about the people around me.\u201d<\/p>\n

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faultered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.<\/p>\n

“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. Charity, mercy, kindness and friendship were all my business. Yet I ignored them all to count money and deal with other business<\/em>!”<\/p>\n

Marley held up his chain at arm’s length, as if that were the cause of all his grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again.<\/p>\n

“I am here tonight to warn you,\u201d Marley said, \u201cthat you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate.\u201d<\/p>\n

“You were always a good friend to me,” said Scrooge. “Thank you!”<\/p>\n

“You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.”<\/p>\n

Scrooge’s face fell almost as low as the Ghost’s had done.<\/p>\n

“I — I think I’d rather not,” said Scrooge.<\/p>\n

“Without their visits,” said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to escape the path I tread. Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls One.”<\/p>\n

When he had said these words, Marley\u2019s ghost disappeared through the window; when Scrooge looked out curiously, he saw the air was filled with restless phantoms, moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley\u2019s ghost. The misery of them all was clear.<\/p>\n

Scrooge closed the window, and examined the door by which the Ghost had entered. It was double-locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. He tried to say “Humbug!” but stopped at the first syllable. He was so tired from the strange evening he had experienced that he went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep in an instant.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 2 \u2013 The First of the Three Spirits<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the window from the walls of his room. He was endeavoring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighboring church struck twelve.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, it isn’t possible,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201cthat I can have slept through a whole day and far into another night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scrooge went to be again, and thought, and thought, and thought it over and over, and could make nothing of it. The more he thought, the more perplexed he was; and the more he endeavored not to think, the more he thought Marley’s Ghost bothered him exceedingly. He didn\u2019t know whether it was a dream or not. Then he remembered that a spirit should visit him at one o\u2019clock. So Scrooge resolved to lie awake until the hour was past; and, considering that he could no more go to sleep than go to Heaven, this was perhaps the wisest solution in his power.<\/p>\n

The time felt so long, that he was more than once convinced he must have sunk into a doze unconsciously, and missed the clock. At length it broke upon his listening ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hour itself,\u201d said Scrooge, triumphantly, \u201cand nothing else!\u201d<\/p>\n

He spoke before the hour bell sounded, which it now did with a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy ONE. Light flashed up in the room upon the instant, and the curtains of his bed were drawn aside, I tell you, by a hand.<\/p>\n

Then Scrooge found himself face to face with the unearthly visitor. It was a strange figure\u00a0\u2013 like a child: yet not so 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 in it. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand. But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?\u201d asked Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am!\u201d<\/p>\n

The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho, and what are you?\u201d Scrooge demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am the Ghost of Christmas Past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLong past?\u201d inquired Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, your past. Rise and come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scrooge could not plead that the weather was cold and that he was wearing only his slippers, dressing-gown an nightcap. The ghost\u2019s grasp, though gentle as a woman\u2019s hand, was not to be resisted. The ghost took Scrooge back in time, to a familiar place.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood Heaven!\u201d said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. \u201cI was bred in this place. I was a boy here!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou recollect the way?\u201d inquired the Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember it!\u201d cried Scrooge with fervor; \u201cI could walk it blindfold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStrange to have forgotten it for so many years!\u201d observed the Ghost. \u201cLet us go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

They walked along the road; Scrooge recognizing every gate, and post, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. Some shaggy ponies now were seen trotting towards them with boys upon their backs, who called to other boys in country gigs and carts, driven by farmers. All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are but shadows of the things that have been,\u201d said the Ghost. \u201cThey have no consciousness of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why was he rejoiced beyond all bounds to see them! Why did his cold eye glisten, and his heart leap up as they went past! Why was he filled with gladness when he heard them give each other Merry Christmas, as they parted at cross-roads and bye-ways, for their several homes! What was merry Christmas to Scrooge? Out upon merry Christmas! What good had it ever done to him?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe school is not quite deserted,\u201d said the Ghost. \u201cA solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.\u201d<\/p>\n

They went, the Ghost and Scrooge, inside the house across the way, and to a door at the back of the house. It opened before them, and disklosed a long, bare, sad room, made barer still by lines of desks. At one of these a lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire; and Scrooge wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish,\u201d Scrooge muttered, putting his hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff: \u201cbut it’s too late now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the matter?\u201d asked the Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d said Scrooge. “Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that’s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ghost smiled thoughtfully, and waved its hand: saying as it did so, \u201cLet us see another Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n

Although they had but that moment left the school behind them, they were now in the busy thoroughfares of a city, where shadowy passengers passed and re-passed; where shadowy carts and coaches battle for the way, and all the strife and tumult of a real city were. It was made plain enough, by the dressing of the shops, that here too it was Christmas time again; but it was evening, and the streets were lighted up.<\/p>\n

The Ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door, and asked Scrooge if he knew it.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow it!\u201d said Scrooge. “Was I apprenticed here!\u201d<\/p>\n

They went in. At sight of an old gentleman in a Welch wig, sitting behind such a high desk, that if he had been two inches taller he must have knocked his head against the ceiling, Scrooge cried in great excitement:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, it’s old Fezziwig! Bless his heart; it’s Fezziwig alive again! This must be one of the merry Christmas Eves we spent with his family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doors opened and in came all the guests, one after another; some shyly, some boldly, some gracefully, some awkwardly, some pushing, some pulling; in they all came, anyhow and everyhow. Away they all went, twenty couples dancing at once; hands half round and back again the other way; down the middle and up again; round and round in various stages of affectionate grouping; always a couple turning up in the wrong place, amid laughter.<\/p>\n

During the whole of this time, Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. His heart and soul were in the scene, and with his former self. He corroborated everything, remembered everything, enjoyed everything, and underwent the strangest agitation. It was not until now, when the bright faces of his former self and Dick were turned from them, that he remembered the Ghost, and became conscious that it was looking full upon him, while the light upon its head burnt very clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the matter?\u201d asked the Ghost.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing particular,\u201d said Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething, I think?\u201d the Ghost insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Scrooge, “No. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now! That’s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy time grows short,\u201d observed the Spirit. \u201cQuick!\u201d<\/p>\n

This was not addressed to Scrooge, or to any one whom he could see, but it produced an immediate effect. For again Scrooge saw himself. He was older now; a man in the prime of life. His face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years; but it had begun to wear the signs of care and avarice. There was an eager, greedy, restless motion in the eye, which showed the passion that had taken root, and where the shadow of the growing tree would fall.<\/p>\n

He was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning-dress: in whose eyes there were tears, which sparkled in the light that shone out of the Ghost of Christmas Past.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt matters little,\u201d she said, softly, \u201cto you, very little. Another love has displaced me; and if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, I have no reason to grieve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat love has displaced you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA golden one. You fear the world and love money too much,\u201d she answered, gently. \u201cI have seen all your nobler dreams fall off one by one, until the only passions left \u2013 gain and greed – engross you. Is it not true?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does it matter?\u201d Scrooge retorted. “Even if I have grown so much wiser, what then? I still love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we had never met, and you were to meet me tomorrow, you would not pursue me. We met when we were both poor, and now you are rich and I\u2019m not good enough. I release you. I hope you will be happy with the life you have chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201cshow me no more. Take me home. Why do you torture me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne shadow more,\u201d said the ghost.<\/p>\n

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 recognized Belle, his former girlfriend, and felt the rush of love he had once felt for her, but forgotten. She was married now and had children and they were opening presents together. The shouts of wonder and delight with which the development of every package was received!<\/p>\n

\u201cBelle,\u201d said her husband with a smile, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit,\u201d said Scrooge in a broken voice, \u201cTake me back! I cannot bear it any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

He struggled with the ghost to take him back. And finally Scrooge found himself in his own bed again. He was conscious of being exhausted, and overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, had barely time to reel to bed before he sank into a heavy sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 3 \u2013 The Second of the Three Spirits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scrooge woke up in the middle of a snore, just before the clock struck one again. He felt like he had woken right in the nick of time, for the special purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger. A ghostly light led him to the next room, and with his hand upon the lock, he heard a strange voice call him by name and bid him enter. He obeyed.<\/p>\n

It was his own room \u2013 there was no doubt about that \u2013 but it had undergone a surprising transformation; it was decorated with sprigs of holly, mistletoe and ivy, and a roasting fire that blazed brightly up the chimney. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges and luscious pears. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see; it was clothed in one simple green robe, boarded with white fur. On its head it wore a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its kind voice, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its joyful air.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome in! Come in, and know me better, man! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit,” said Scrooge submissively, “conduct me where you will. I went forth last night through force, and I learnt a lesson which is working now. So tonight, if you have anything to teach me, let me profit by it.”<\/p>\n

The room vanished instantly and they stood in the city streets on Christmas morning, where people were shoveling the snow from in front of their houses. Despite the gloomy sky and their obvious poverty, the people were jovial and full of glee; they were calling out to one another, and now and then exchanging a flying snowball.<\/p>\n

The ghost took Scrooge to Bob Cratchit\u2019s house \u2013 a very poor little dwelling. On the threshold of the door, the spirit blessed the house with a little of his magic. In the kitchen you could see Mrs Cratchit preparing Christmas dinner, with potatoes bubbling merrily on the stove. Her children were cheerfully running around. Mrs Cratchit was watching the clock.Then the door opened and Bob Cratchit came in with Tiny Tim upon his shoulders. Tiny Tim was Bob Cratchit\u2019s youngest son. He bore a little crutch and had an iron frame around his limbs. As the children ran off to play and to sneak a look at the boiling Christmas pudding, Mrs Cratchit came close to her husband.<\/p>\n

“And how did little Tim behave?\u201d<\/p>\n

“As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”<\/p>\n

Bob\u2019s voice trembled as he said that Tim was growing strong and hearty. His crutches could be heard upon the stone floor, and he was led by his siblings to sit at the table before another word was spoken. Bob turned up his cuffs \u2013 as if, poor fellow, they were capable of being made more shabby \u2013 and began to help with the preparations. The goose was fetched and brought in with high procession. Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds, like a feathered phenomenon, and in truth, it was a rarity in the Cratchits\u2019 house. Finally, the dishes were set and grace was said. As the family joyfully ate and felt of the Christmas Spirit, Scrooge turned to the Ghost of Christmas Present.<\/p>\n

Then Christmas dinner was ready, and everyone sat down at the table. As the Cratchits were very poor, it was not much they had for Christmas dinner. But still everyone was joyful and you could feel that they all had the Christmas Spirit in their hearts.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit,\u201d said Scrooge, who felt sorry for the boy, \u201ctell me if Tiny Tim will live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see an empty seat,\u201d replied the ghost, \u201cand a crutch without an owner. If these shadows don\u2019t change in the future, the child will die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no,” said Scrooge. “Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.”<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you care? If he is going to die, he had better do it quickly, and decrease the surplus population!”<\/p>\n

Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with regret and grief.<\/p>\n

Bob lifted his glass of punch.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!\u201d said Bob Cratchit.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod bless us every one!\u201d said Tiny Tim.<\/p>\n

He sat very close to his father\u2019s side upon his little stool. Bob held his little hand, as if he feared to lose him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd to the founder of the feast,\u201d said Bob. \u201cTo Mr Scrooge!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFounder of the feast? Ha!\u201d said Mrs Cratchit. \u201cIf Scrooge were here, I\u2019d give him a piece of my mind! I\u2019m sure he\u2019s very comfortable today, no doubt! I\u2019ll drink to his health for your sake, but not for his.<\/p>\n

Scrooge was the Ogre of the family. The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party, which was not dispelled for full five minutes. This made Scrooge very sad, but the spirit began to lead him away from the house; Scrooge had his eye upon the family \u2013 and especially Tiny Tim \u2013 to the last.<\/p>\n

The spirit took Scrooge to his nephew\u2019s house. It is a truth well-known that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humor. When Scrooge’s nephew laughed, his wife laughed as heartily as he. And their assembled friends, too, roared out loudly.\u00a0 When Scrooge and the spirit arrived, all of them were laughing merrily, holding their sides.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live!” cried Scrooge’s nephew. “He believed it too!”<\/p>\n

\u201cMore shame for him, Fred!” said his wife, indignantly. \u201cHe\u2019s a comical old fellow, and not so pleasant as he might be. Didn\u2019t you say he was very rich?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat of it?\u201d replied Fred. \u201cHis wealth is of no use to him, because he does no good with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho suffers from his ill whims? Himself, always. Here, he has decided to dislike us and won\u2019t come and dine with us. What\u2019s the consequence? Only he is alone and miserable on Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe loses some pleasant moments, by not making merry with us, and loses pleasant companions. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at Christmas every year, but if he finds me always in a good mood then perhaps he may be reached.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guests all joined in with blind man\u2019s bluff, singing as Fred\u2019s wife played the harp, and making guesses in games. Scrooge even made his own guesses, though none of them could see or hear him. Then Fred toasted to his Uncle Scrooge\u2019s health, wherever he was, and Scrooge felt light of heart and wistful. The Ghost was greatly pleased to find him in this mood, and\u00a0 looked upon him with much favor. He led Scrooge away, and they were on their travels again.<\/p>\n

Much they saw, and far they went, and many homes they visited, but always with a happy end. The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; he showed Scrooge struggling men, and they were made patient; they saw the poor, but they felt rich. The Ghost blessed each place with the joy of Christmas, and Scrooge was touched.<\/p>\n

Scrooge did not change outwardly, but the Ghost did; he grew older, clearly older, with every passing minute. Scrooge noticed the Ghost\u2019s hair had turned gray.<\/p>\n

“Are spirits’ lives so short?” asked Scrooge.<\/p>\n

“My life upon this globe, is very brief,” replied the Ghost. “It ends tonight.”<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Scrooge noticed something else strange about the ghost. Two child-like figures were at the ghost\u2019s feet \u2013 a boy and a girl \u2013 but they looked old and dreadful, like little monsters. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shriveled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Scrooge was shocked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit, are they your creatures?\u201d Scrooge asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are Man\u2019s creatures,\u201d said the spirit \u201cThe boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want. Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy, for I see doom written upon him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave they no place they can go?\u201d asked Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?\u201d the spirit said, turning Scrooge\u2019s own words on him again.<\/p>\n

The bell struck twelve. The Ghost of Christmas Present disappeared. On the last stroke of the bell, Scrooge saw the third ghost, draped and hooded, coming towards him list a mist along the ground.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 4 \u2013 The Last of the Spirits<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.<\/p>\n

It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which hid its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. It was difficult to distinguish it from the black night and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?\u201d asked Scrooge, \u201cI fear you more than any other spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ghost did not say a word, and Scrooge\u2019s legs trembled beneath him; he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know your purpose is to do me good,\u201d said Scrooge. \u201cLead on!\u201d<\/p>\n

They wandered into the heart of the city amongst the merchants, and the Spirit stopped beside one little knot of business men. Observing that the hand was pointed to them, Scrooge advanced to listen to their talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,” said a large man with a monstrous chin, “I don’t know much about it, either way. I only know he’s dead.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did he die?” inquired another.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLast night, I believe.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, what was the matter with him?” asked a third, \u201cI thought he’d never die.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGod knows,” said the first, with a yawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has he done with his money?” asked a red-faced gentleman with a pendulous excrescence on the end of his nose. \u201cThat\u2019s what I want to know!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven’t heard,” said the man with the large chin, yawning again. “Left it to his Company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to me.<\/em> That’s all I know.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This pleasantry was received with a general laugh. Speakers and listeners strolled away, and mixed with other groups. Scrooge knew the men, and looked towards the Spirit for an explanation.<\/p>\n

The Phantom glided on into a street without a word. Following, Scrooge resolved to treasure up every word he heard and everything he saw, despite not knowing what all this meant. He especially resolved to observe the shadow of himself when it appeared, for he had an inkling that the conduct of his future self would give him the clue he was missing.<\/p>\n

The Ghost led them away from the busy scene and into an obscure part of the town, where Scrooge had never been before, although he had heard of it bad reputation; the whole place reeked of crime, filth and misery.<\/p>\n

Down one of the foul, narrow alleyways was a shop owned by an elderly crook, who was inviting in some of his fellow thieves into his den. As they talked, it became apparent to Scrooge that they had brought stolen objects with them and were making fun of the person who once owned those things.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa, ha!\u201d laughed a woman, \u201cWhy wasn\u2019t he kinder in his lifetime? If he had been, he\u2019d have had somebody to look after him when he was dying, instead o f lying gasping out his last breath all alone!\u201d<\/p>\n

As each of the thieves presented their goods to the shop owner to sell, they kept making their taunts.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I buy this? He didn\u2019t die of anything catching, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe frightened everybody away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead! Ha, ha, ha!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit!” said Scrooge, shuddering from head to foot. \u201cI see, I see. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. If there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by my death, show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you!”<\/p>\n

The Phantom spread its dark robe before him for a moment and the scene changed. The Ghost led Scrooge through streets that were familiar to him; as they went along, Scrooge looked here and there to find himself, but nowhere was he to be seen. They entered poor Bob Cratchit\u2019s house and found the mother and the children by the fire.<\/p>\n

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, \u201cDon\u2019t mind it, father. Don\u2019t be sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou went there today?\u201d said his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my dear,\u201d returned Bob. \u201cI wish you could have gone. It would have done you good to see how green the place is. But you\u2019ll see it often. I promised him that we would walk there every Sunday. My little, little child.\u201d cried Bob. \u201cMy little child.\u201d<\/p>\n

He broke down in tears. He couldn\u2019t help it. He left the room, and went up-stairs into the room above, which was lighted cheerfully, and hung with Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u201cspecter,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201csomething tells me that our parting moment is at hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ghost moved on again, taking Scrooge through the iron gates of a churchyard. The spirit stood among the graves and pointed down to one. Scrooge slowly went towards it, trembling, and following the ghost\u2019s finger read upon the stone of the grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit!\u201d Scrooge cried, \u201care these the shadows of the things that will be, or can this future be changed? Hear me! I am not the man I was! I will not be the man I must have been so far! Why show me this if I am past all hope? Good Spirit, 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 be within me. I will not ignore the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me that I may change my fate!\u201d<\/p>\n

Full of fear, Scrooge caught the spirit\u2019s hand. But the spirit suddenly changed \u2013 it shrunk and faded and finally turned into a bedpost.<\/p>\n

Chapter 5 \u2013 The End of It<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will live in the past, the present, and the future.\u201d Scrooge repeated, as he got out of bed. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to do! I am as happy as an angel! I don\u2019t know what day of the month it is. I don\u2019t know how long I\u2019ve been among the spirits. Hallo! Hallo there!\u201d<\/p>\n

He ran to the window, opened it, and put out his head. He could hear the church bells ringing out several streets away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s today?\u201d cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes.<\/p>\n

\u201cEh?\u201d returned the boy, confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s today, my fine fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday?\u201d replied the boy. \u201cWhy, Christmas Day!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Christmas Day!\u201d said Scrooge to himself. \u201cI haven\u2019t missed it! The spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can! Hallo, my fine fellow! Do you know the poulterer\u2019s at the corner?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent boy! And do you know whether they\u2019ve sold the big turkey that was hanging up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, the one as big as me?\u201d returned the boy. \u201cIt\u2019s still hanging there now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it!\u201d said Scrooge. \u201cGo and buy it! I am in earnest. Go and buy it and come back with the man that I may give them the direction where to take it. I\u2019ll give you a shilling for it. Come back with the man in less than five minutes and I\u2019ll give you half-a-crown!\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy was off like a shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll send it to Bob Cratchit,\u201d whispered Scrooge cheerfully. \u201cIt\u2019s twice the size of Tiny Tim.\u201d.<\/p>\n

He dressed himself all in his best and at last got out into the streets. He had not gone far, when he came across the two gentlemen, who had walked into his office the day before.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dear Sir,\u201d said Scrooge, \u201cHow do you do? I fear I wasn\u2019t pleasant to you yesterday. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness to\u00a0\u2026\u201d, here Scrooge whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord bless me!\u201d cried the gentleman, \u201cMy dear Mr Scrooge, are you serious? I don\u2019t know what to say to such generosity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you please,” said Scrooge. \u201cNot a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scrooge then went to the Christmas service at the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows: and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed that any walk — that anything — could give him so much happiness. In the afternoon he turned his steps towards his nephew’s house.<\/p>\n

He passed the door a dozen times, before he had the courage to go up and knock. But he made a dash, and did it:<\/p>\n

\u201cFred,\u201d said he implored, \u201cit\u2019s your Uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, Fred let him in; it was a very hearty welcome and they all had a wonderful party.<\/p>\n

But Scrooge was early at the office next morning. Oh, he was early there. If he could only 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, that he might see him come in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHallo!\u201d growled Scrooge, in his usual way. \u201cWhat do you mean by coming here at this time of day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very sorry, Sir,\u201d said Bob. \u201cI am behind time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,\u201d he continued, jumping from his stool and poking Bob in the chest, \u201cand therefore I am about to raise your salary. A merry Christmas, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bob Cratchit was very surprised, and so were many people who found Scrooge so changed. Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; Scrooge became a 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.<\/p>\n

He had no further meetings with Spirits, but lived joyfully ever afterwards. 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, \u2018God bless us, every one!\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regardless of faith, “A Christmas Carol” is a classic novella (long story) which focuses on the importance of giving and the consequences of greed. Please trust me when I say, this story is not being used to teach religion. We will be analyzing the story in a strictly academic sense, discussing important literature elements, such […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2167,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","hentry","category-blogs","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2167"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/reynolds\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}