bjbjbrbr list of scenes exterior loncon citystreet at dusk-center interior of scrooge s counting house at dusk-stage right interiorexterior london street, dusk-center interior of scrooge s apartment, evening-stage left.exterior of boarding school, day-center fezziwig s warehouse, night-center fezziwig s warehouse,night-center belle s house, night-right interior of scrooge s apartment, evening-stage left.10. interior of cratchit s house, night-stage right. 11. interior of fred s house-center12. exterior loncon city street at night-center 13. interior of scrooge s bedroom-stage left14. exterior loncon city street at dusk-center. 15. interior of cratchit s house, night-stageright. 16. interior of scrooge s apartment, day-stage left. 17. exterior loncon city streetat day-center 18. counting house, day-stage
right 19. exterior loncon city street at day-centerescription of the set the play has many scene changes so it is important that they happenquickly, flowing from one scene to the next like a movie most of the scenes that havefewer characters happen on the sides of the stage. you can either build a building frontto slide in front of it when the scene is not happening there, or have a platform youcan slide off stage when it is not in use, so you can change the scenes while the playtakes place on other parts of the stage. cast cast of characters narrator ebenezer scroogejacob marley, his late partner ghost of christmas past ghost of christmas present ghost of christmasfuture bob cratchit, his clerk mrs. cratchit the cratchit children: martha peter belindaa cratchit boy a cratchit girl tiny tim fran,
his sister fred, his sister's son fred's wifecharity gentleman #1 charity gentleman #2 schoolmaster mr. fezziwig, his former bossbelle fezziwig, his former fiance tut, belle's husband man with a monstrous chin anotherman third man man with red face wealthy man #1 wealthy man #2 charwoman old joe laundressvickyundertakerbr> caroline, poor wife poor husband intelligent, fine lad children's chorus fred'sguests, other demons, etc... stave 1: marley's ghost narrator marley was dead: to begin with.there is no doubt about that. the his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, theundertaker, and the chief mourner. scrooge signed it. and scrooge's name was good `change,for anything he chose to put his hand to. old marley was as dead as a door-nail. scroogeknew he was dead. of course he did. how could
it be otherwise? scrooge and marley were partnersfor i don't know how many years. scrooge was his sole administrator, his sole friend, andsole mourner. and even scrooge was not so cut up by the sad event, but that he was anexcellent man of business . there is no doubt that marley was dead. this must be distinctlyunderstood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story i am going to relate scroogenever painted out old marley's name. there it stood, years afterwards, above the door:scrooge and marley. the firm was known as scrooge and marley. sometimes people new tothe business called scrooge scrooge, and sometimes marley, but he answered to both names. itwas all the same to him. oh! but he was tight-fisted, scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping,scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!
hard and sharp. the cold within him frozehis old features, nipped his pointed nose, and shrivelled his cheek, made his eyes redand his thin lips blue. nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, `my dear scrooge,how are you? when will you come to see me?' no beggars implored him, no children askedhim what time it was, no man or woman ever once in all his life asked him the way tosuch and such a place. even the blind men's dogs appeared to know him; and when they sawhim coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wagtheir tails as though they said, `no eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!'on christmas eve -- old scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. it was cold, bleak, bitingheavy fog: and he could hear the people in
the court outside, up and down, beating theirhands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them.it was quite dark already -- it had not been light all day -- and candles were flaringin the windows of the neighbouring offices, the fog came pouring in. the door of scrooge'scounting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, in a little cell,a sort of tank, was copying letters. scrooge had a very small fire, but bob crachit s firewas so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. but he couldn't replenish it, forscrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; the clerk put on his white comforter, andtried to warm himself at the candle; he failed. fred (cheerfully) a merry christmas, uncle!god save you! narrator it was scrooge's nephew,
who came upon him so quickly that this wasthe first sign he had of his approach. scrooge bah! humbug! narrator he had so heated himselfwith rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of scrooge's, that he was all in aglow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his yes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.fred christmas a humbug, uncle! you don't mean that, i am sure? scrooge i do, merrychristmas! what right have you to be merry? what reason have you to be merry? you're poorenough. fred come, then, (gaily) what right have you to be negative? what reason haveyou to be so dreary? you're rich enough. scrooge (having no better answer ready on the spurof the moment) bah! humbug. fred don't be angry, uncle! scrooge (indignantly) what elsecan i be, when i live in such a world of fools
as this? merry christmas! out with merry christmas!what's christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for findingyourself a year older, but not an hour richer; if i could work my will, every idiot who goesabout with "merry christmas" on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, andburied with a stake of holly through his heart. he should! fred (pleading) uncle! scrooge(sternly) nephew! keep christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine. fred keepit! but you don't keep it. scrooge let me leave it alone, then. much good may it doyou! much good it has ever done you! fred there are many things from which i might havegained good, by which i have not profited. i am sure i have always thought of christmastime, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable,
pleasant time: the only time i know of, inthe long calendar of the year, when men and women seem as one to open their closed heartsfreely. and uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, ibelieve that it has done me good, and will do me good; and i say, god bless it! (bobcratchit nvoluntarily applaudes; becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety.)scrooge let me hear another sound from you crachit, and you'll keep your christmas bylosing your job! you're quite a powerful speaker, sir, (turning to his nephew) i wonder youdon't go into government. fred don't be angry, uncle. come! dine with us tomorrow. scroogesaid that he would see him -- yes, indeed he did. he went the whole length of the expression,and said that he would see him in that dark
place first. fred but why? why? scrooge whydid you get married? fred because i fell in love. scrooge (growling) because you fellin love! good afternoon! fred nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that happened.why give it as a reason for not coming now?' scrooge good afternoon. fred i want nothingfrom you; i ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends? scrooge good afternoon. fredi am sorry, with all my heart, to find you stubborn. we have never had any quarrel, towhich i have been a party. but i have tried in honor of christmas, and i'll keep my christmashumour to the last. so a merry christmas, uncle!' scrooge good afternoon! fred and ahappy new year! scrooge good afternoon! narrator his nephew left the room without an angryword. he stopped at the outer door to wish
the greetings of the season on the clerk,who cold as he was, was warmer than scrooge. scrooge there's another fellow, my clerk,with 15 shillings a week, and a wife and family, talking about a merry christmas. i must becrazy. narrator this lunatic, in letting scrooge's nephew out, had let two other people in. theywere portly gentlemen, pleasant gentlemen, now stood, with their hats off, in scrooge'soffice. they had books and papers in their hands, and bowed to him. gentleman #1 scroogeand marley's, i believe. have i the pleasure of addressing mr. scrooge, or mr. marley?scrooge mr. marley has been dead these seven years; he died seven years ago, this verynight. gentleman #2 we have no doubt his kindness is well represented by his surviving partner.' scrooge frownes, and shakes his head.) gentleman
#1 at this festive season of the year, mr.scrooge,it is more than desirable that we should make provision for the poor and destitute,who suffer greatly at the present time. many thousands are in want of common items; hundredsof thousands are in want of common comforts, sir. scrooge are there no prisons? gentleman#1 plenty of prisons,' scrooge and the union workhouses? are they still in operation? gentleman#2 they are. still, i wish i could say they were not. scrooge the poorhouse and welfareare in full capacity, then? gentleman #1 & #2 both very busy, sir. scrooge oh! i was afraid,from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their usefulcourse. i'm very glad to hear it. gentleman #2 under the impression that we barely givechristian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,
a few of us are attempting to raise a fundto buy the poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. we choose this time, because itis a time, of all others, when want is keenly felt, and abundance rejoices. so, what shalli put you down for?' scrooge nothing! gentleman #1 you wish to be anonymous? scrooge i wishto be left alone. since you ask me what i wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. i don'tmake merry myself at christmas and i can't afford to make idle people merry. i help tosupport the establishments i have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badlyoff must go there. gentleman #2 many can't go there; and many would rather die. scroogeif they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.gentleman #1 but you might have pity, scrooge
it's not my business. it's enough for a manto understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. mine occupiesme constantly. good afternoon, gentlemen! (seeing clearly that it would be useless topursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. scrooge returned his labours with an improvedopinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him.) narratorscrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the men fled in terror, leavingthe keyhole to the fog. at last, when time to close up the countinghouse arrived, anill-will scrooge dismounted from his stool, and tacitly admitted the fact to the expectantclerk in the tank, who instantly snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat. scrooge you'llwant all day tomorrow, i suppose? bob crachet
if quite convenient, sir. scrooge it's notconvenient, and it's not fair. if i was to stop half-a-crown for it, you'd think otherwise,i bet. (bob smiles faintly.) scrooge and yet, you don't think me crazy, when i pay a day'swages for no work. narrator the clerk observed that it was only once a year. scrooge a poorexcuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of december!but i suppose you must have thewhole day. be here all the earlier next morning. narrator the clerk promised that he would;and scrooge walked out with a growl. the office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk,with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist, went down a slideon cornhill, twenty times, in honour of its being christmas eve, and then ran home tocamden town as hard as he could, to play at
blindman's-buff. scrooge took his melancholy dinner in hisusual melancholy tavern; and having read all the newspapers, and spent the rest of theevening with his banker's-book, went home to bed. he lived in chambers which had oncebelonged to his deceased partner. they were a gloomy suite of rooms. scrooge had not bestowedone thought on marley, since his last mention of his seven years' dead partner that afternoon.and then let any man explain to me, how it happened that scrooge, having his key in thelock of the door, saw in the knocker, -- not a knocker, but marley's face. marley's facehad a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. it was not angry or ferocious,but looked at scrooge with ghostly spectacles turned up on its ghostly forehead. the hairwas curiously stirred, as if by breath or
hot air. as scrooge looked at this phenomenon,it was a knocker again. he put his hand upon the key, turned it sturdily, walked in, andlit his candle. he did pause, before he shut the door; as if he half-expected to be terrifiedwith the sight of marley's pigtail sticking out into the hall. but there was nothing onthe back of the door, except the screws and nuts that held the knocker on, so he saidscrooge bah humbug! narrator and closed it with a bang. he fastened the door, and walkedacross the hall, and up the stairs; slowly too: protecting his candle as he went. upscrooge went. darkness is cheap, and scrooge liked it. but before he shut his heavy door,he walked through his rooms to see that all was right. nobody under the table, nobodyunder the sofa; a small fire in the grate;
spoon and basin ready; and the little saucepanof dinner (scrooge had a cold in his head. nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet;nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall.quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double-locked himself in, whichwas not his custom, put on his dressing-gown and slippers, and his nightcap; and sat downbefore the fire to take his dinner. it was a very low fire indeed; he was obliged tosit close to it and before he could extract the least sensation of warmth he said. scroogehumbug! narrator and walked across the room. as he looked, he saw the clock bell beginto swing and soon rang out loudly, and so did every bell in the house. this might havelasted half a minute, or a minute, but it
seemed an hour. the bells stopped as soonas they began. they were succeeded by a clanking noise, deep down below; as if some personwere dragging a heavy chain in the cellar. scrooge then remembered to have heard thatghosts in haunted houses were described as dragging chains. the cellar-door flew openwith a booming sound, and then he heard the noise much louder, on the floors below; thencoming up the stairs; then coming straight towards his door. scrooge it's humbug still!i won't believe it. narrator his colour changed though, when, without a pause, it came throughthe heavy door, and passed into the room before his eyes. upon its coming in, the dying flameleaped up and cried `i know him; marley's ghost!' and fell again. the same face: thevery same. marley in his pigtail, usual waistcoat,
tights and boots; and the same hair upon hishead. the chain he carried was locked in the middle. it was long, and wrapped around himlike a tail; and was made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, bank statements, housing deeds,and heavy purses made in steel though he looked the phantom through and through, and saw itstanding before him; though he felt the chilling influence of its death-cold eyes; he was still,and fought against his senses. scrooge (caustic and cold) how now! what do you want with me?marley much! scrooge who are you? marley ask me who i was. scrooge who were you then? marleyin life i was your partner, jacob marley. scrooge can you -- can you sit down? marleyi can. scrooge do it, then. marley you don't believe in me. scrooge i don't. marley whatevidence would you have of my reality beyond
that of your senses? scrooge i don't know.marley why do you doubt your senses? scrooge because, a little thing affects them. anyslight disorder of the stomach, you may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard,a crumb of cheese, a bit of an underdone potato. there's more of gravy than a grave about you,whatever you are! narrator at this the spirit raised a frightening cry, and shook its chainwith such a dismal and appalling noise, that scrooge held on tight to his chair, to savehimself from falling. scrooge (scrooge falls upon his knees, and claspes his hands beforehis face.) mercy! dreadful ghost, why do you trouble me? marley man of the worldly mind!do you believe in me or not? scrooge i do. i must. but why do spirits walk the earth,and why do they come to me? marley it is required
of every man, that the spirit within him shouldwalk among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth inlife, it is doomed to wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! (again the spectre raiseda cry, and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands). scrooge (trembling) you are troubled.tell me why? marley i wear the chain i made in life, i made it link by link, and yardby yard; i grew it of my own free will, and of my own free will i wore it. is the patternstrange to you? (scrooge trembles more and more.) marley did you know, the weight andlength of the strong chains you create yourself? it was full as heavy and as long as this,seven christmas eves ago. you have laboured on it, since. narrator scrooge glanced abouthim on the floor, in the expectation of finding
himself surrounded by some fifty or sixtyfeet of iron cable: but he could see nothing. scrooge jacob, old jacob marley, tell me more.speak comfort to me, jacob! marley i have none to give. nor can i tell you what i know.a very little more, is all permitted to me. i cannot rest, i cannot stay, i cannot lingeranywhere. my life never moved beyond our bank doors -- mark me! -- in life my spirit neverwent beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole. marley did you know that no amount ofregret can make amends for one life's missed opportunity! that was me, o, that was me.scrooge but you were always a good man of business, jacob. marley business! mankindis our business. the common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, andbenevolence, were, all, my business. the dealings
of my trade were but a drop of water in thecomprehensive ocean of my business! (another moan from the phantoms) marley at this timeof the year. i suffer most. why did i walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyesturned down! (scrooge begins to quake exceedingly.) marley hear me! my time is nearly gone. scroogei will. but don't be hard upon me! don't be flowery, jacob! pray! how it is that i appearbefore you in a shape that you can see? marley that is no light part of my punishment. iam here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate.a chance and hope, ebenezer. scrooge you were always a good friend to me. thank you marleyyou will be haunted by three spirits. (scrooge's countenance fell almost as low as the ghost'shad done.) scrooge (in a faltering voice)
is that the chance and hope you mentioned,jacob? marley it is. scrooge i -- i think i'd rather not. marley without their visits,you cannot hope to avoid the path i made. expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tollsone. scrooge couldn't i take `em all at once, and have it over, jacob? marley expect thesecond on the next night at the same hour. the third upon the next night when the laststroke of twelve has stopped, for your own sake, you will remember what has passed betweenus! narrator scrooge ventured to raise his eyes again, and found his supernatural visitorconfronting him with an attitude, with its chain wound over and about its arm. it beckonedscrooge to approach, which he did. when they were within two paces of each other, marley'sghost held up its hand, warning him to come
no nearer. scrooge stopped. marley all ofthe sudden disappeared. scrooge closed the window, and examined the door. it was double-locked,as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. he tried to say...scrooge hum... narrator but stopped at the first syllable. and from the emotion he hadundergone, or the fatigue of the day, or his glimpse of the invisible world, or the latenessof the hour, scrooge went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep in aninstant. stave 2: the first of the three spirits narrator scrooge found himself face to facewith the unearthly visitor who drew them. it was a strange figure -- like a child: itshair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet theface had not a wrinkle in it. its legs and
feet, were most delicately formed. it worea tunic of the purest white, and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheenof which was beautiful. it held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand, had its dresstrimmed with summer flowers. scrooge are you the spirit, sir, whose coming was foretoldto me. ghost of christmas past (soft and gentle) i am. scrooge who, and what are you? ghostof christmas past i am the ghost of christmas past. scrooge long past? ghost of christmaspast no. your past. narrator perhaps, scrooge could not have told anybody why, but he hada special desire to see the spirits light put out what would you so soon put out, withworldly hands, the light i give? scooge then made bold to inquire what business broughthim there. ghost of christmas past your welfare.
narrator scrooge expressed himself much appreciationbut could not help thinking that a goodnight of sleep would have been more helpful. ghostof christmas past your reclamation, then. take narrator it put out its strong hand asit spoke, and clasped him gently by the arm. ghost of christmas past rise. and walk withme. narrator it would have been in vain for scrooge to plead that the weather and thehour were not friendly to pedestrians ; that bed was warm, and the temperature a long waybelow freezing; that he was clad but lightly in his slippers, dressing-gown. the grasp,though gentle as a woman's hand, was not to be resisted. scrooge i am mortal, and liableto fall. ghost of christmas past a touch of my hand there, (laying it upon his heart)and you shall be upheld. narrator as the words
were spoken, they passed through the wall,and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either hand. the city had entirelyvanished. not a sign of it was to be seen. the darkness was gone, for it was a clear,cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground. scrooge good heaven! i was born in this place.i was a boy here. narrator he was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air,each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long,forgotten. ghost of christmas past your lip is trembling. and what is that upon your cheek.ghost of christmas past you remember the way. scrooge remember it, (excitedly) i could walkit blindfold. ghost of christmas past strange to have forgotten it for so many years. letus go on. narrator entering the bare hall,
and glancing through the open doors of manyrooms, they found empty and cold. the ghost and scrooge went toward a door at the backof the house. it opened before them and at one of the tables sat a lonely boy readingnear a fire; and scrooge sat down near the form, and wept to see his poor forgotten selfas he used to be. the spirit touched him on the arm, and pointed to his younger self,intent upon his reading. narrator he said, in pity for his former self... scrooge (puttinghis hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff)poor boy. i wish... but it's too late now. ghost of christmas past what is the matter?scrooge nothing. nothing. there was some boys singing a christmas carol at my door lastnight. i should like to have given him something:
that's all.' narrator the ghost smiled thoughtfully,and waved its hand. ghost of christmas past let us see another christmas. narrator theroom became a little darker and more dirty. the panels shrunk, the windows cracked; fragmentsof plaster fell out of the ceiling; but how all this was brought about, scrooge knew nomore than you do. he only knew that it was quite correct; that everything had happenedso; that there he was, alone again, when all the other boys had gone home for the jollyholidays. he was not reading now, but walking up and down despairingly. scrooge looked atthe ghost, and with a mournful shaking of his head, glanced anxiously towards the door.it opened; and a little girl, much younger than the boy, came darting in, and puttingher arms about his neck, and often kissing
him. dear, dear brother. i have come to bringyou home, dear brother (clapping her tiny hands, and bending down to laugh) to bringyou home, home, home. scrooge home, little fan. yes. (brimful of glee) home, for goodand all. home, for ever and ever. father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home'slike heaven. he sent me in a car to bring you and have the merriest time in all theworld.' scrooge you are quite a woman, little fan. narrator she clapped her hands and laughed,and tried to touch his head; but being too little, laughed again, and stood on tiptoeto embrace him. then she began to drag him, in her childish eagerness, towards the door.ghost of christmas past always a delicate creature. but she had a large heart. scroogeso she had. you're right. i will not say it
again, spirit. god forbid. ghost of christmaspast she died a woman and had, as i think,children. scrooge one child. ghost of christmas pasttrue, your nephew. scrooge (scrooge seems uneasy in his mind) yes. narrator that momentleft the school behind them, and they were now in the business of a city, here shadowypassengers passed ; and carts and coaches battle for the way, and all the strife andtumult of a real city were. it was made plain enough, by the dressing of the shops, thathere too it was christmas time again; but it was evening, and the streets were lit brightlyup. the ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door, and asked scrooge if he knew it. scroogeknow it. i apprenticed here. narrator they went in. at sight of an old gentleman in awelsh wig, sitting behind such a high desk,
that if he had been two inches taller he musthave knocked his head against the ceiling, scrooge cried in great excitement: scroogewhy, it's old fezziwig. bless his heart; it's fezziwig alive again. narrator old fezziwiglaid down his pen, and looked up at the clock, which announced the hour of seven. he rubbedhis hands; adjusted his waistcoat; laughed all over himself, and called out in a comfortable,oily, rich, fat, jovial voice: mr. fezziwig yo ho, there. ebenezer. dick. narrator scrooge'sformer self, now grown a young man, came briskly in, accompanied by his fellow-prentice. scroogedick wilkins, to be sure. , yes. there he is. he was very much attached to me, was dick.poor dick. dear, dear. mr. fezziwig (with a sharp clap of his hands) yo ho, my boysno more work to-night. christmas eve, dick.
christmas, ebenezer. let's have the shuttersup, before a man can say jack robinson. narrator you wouldn't believe how those two fellowswent at it. they charged into the street with the shutters -- one, two, three -- had themup in their places -- four, five, six -- barred them and pinned then -- seven, eight, nine-- and came back before you could have got to twelve, panting like race-horses. mr. fezziwighilli-ho! (skipping down from the high desk, with wonderful agility) clear away, my lads,and let's have lots of room here. hilli-ho! narrator clear away. there was nothing theycouldn't have cleared away, with old fezziwig looking on. it was done in a minute. everymovable was packed off, dismissed from public life for evermore; the floor was swept, thelamps were set bright, fuel was heaped upon
the fire; and the warehouse was as snug, andwarm, and dry, and bright a ball-room, as you would desire to see upon a winter's night.no more. no more, i don't wish to see it. show me no more. scrooge (in a broken voice)spirit, remove me from this place. ghost of christmas past i told you these were shadowsof the things that have been. that they are what they are, do not blame me. scrooge removeme. i cannot bear it. narrator he turned upon the ghost, scrooge leave me. take me back.haunt me no longer. narrator the spirit dropped beneath so that the extinguisher cap coveredits whole form; but though scrooge pressed it down with all his force, the light floodupon the ground and disappeared. he was conscious of being exhausted, and overcome by drowsiness;and, being in his own bedroom, his hands relaxed;
and had barely time to crawl to bed, beforehe sank into a heavy sleep. stave 3: the second of the three spirits narrator awaking in themiddle of a tough snore, and sitting up in bed to get his thoughts together, scroogeknew the bell was again upon the stroke of one.. he turned uncomfortably cold when hebegan to wonder which of his curtains this new spirit would choose. for, he wished tochallenge the spirit on the moment of its appearance, and did not wish to be taken bysurprise. prepared for almost anything when the bell struck one, and no shape appeared,he was afraid. five minutes, ten minutes, a quarter of an hour went by, yet nothingcame. he began to think that the source and secret of this ghostly light might be in thenext room, he got up softly and shuffled in
his slippers to the door. that moment, a strangevoice called him by his name, and told him enter. he obeyed. it was his own room. therewas no doubt about that. but it had undergone a surprising transformation. the walls andceiling were hung with living green, that it looked a garden. the crisp leaves of holly,mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light. there, heaped up on the floor, to form a kindof throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, meat, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels ofoysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears andin an easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly giant, glorious to see:, who borea glowing torch, to shed its light on scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. ghost ofchristmas present come in. come in. and know
me better, man.' narrator scrooge enteredtimidly, and hung his head before this spirit; and though the spirit's eyes were clear andkind, he did not like to meet them. ghost of christmas present i am the ghost of christmaspresent. look upon me. narrator scrooge reverently did so. it was clothed in one simple greenrobe, bordered with white fur. on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath,set here and there with shining icicles. ghost of christmas present you have never seen thelike of me before. scrooge never. ghost of christmas present have never walked forthwith the younger members of my family. scrooge i don't think i have, i am afraid i have not.have you had many brothers, spirit. ghost of christmas present more than eighteen hundred.scrooge a tremendous family to provide for.
scrooge spirit i went forth last night oncompulsion and i learnt a lesson which is working now. to-night, if you have to teachme, let me profit by it. ghost of christmas present touch my robe. narrator scrooge didas he was told, and held it fast. holly, mistletoe, red berries, ivy, turkeys, geese, sausages,pies, puddings, and punch, all vanished instantly. so did the room, the fire, and they stoodin the city streets on christmas morning, where the people, in scraping the snow fromthe pavement in front of their dwellings, and from the tops of their houses. the grocers'.oh the grocers'. nearly closed, with perhaps two shutters down, was not alone that theregisters on the counter made a merry sound or that the blended scents of tea and coffeewere so grateful to the nose, or even that
the raisins were so plentiful, the almondsso extremely white, the sticks of cinnamon so long and straight, the other spices sodelicious, the candied fruits so caked and spotted with sugar, the customers were allso eager in the hopeful promise of the day, that they tumbled up against each other atthe door, crashing their wicker baskets wildly, and left their purchases upon the counter,and came running back to fetch them, and committed hundreds of the like mistakes, in the besthumour possible; soon the steeples called all good people, to church and chapel, andaway they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes, and with their smilingfaces. and at the same time emerged from side streets, lanes, and nameless alleys, weremany people, carrying their dinners from the
baker' shops. the sight of these poor revellersappeared to interest the spirit very much, for he stood with scrooge beside him in abaker's doorway, sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch. and it was a veryuncommon kind of torch, for once or twice when there were angry words between some dinner-carrierswho had jostled each other, he shed a few drops of water on them from it, and theirgood humour was restored directly. for they said, it was a shame to quarrel upon christmasday. and so it was, so it was. scrooge is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinklefrom your torch. ghost of christmas present there is. my own. scrooge would it apply toany kind of dinner on this day. ghost of christmas present to any kindly given. to a poor onemost. scrooge why to a poor one most ghost
of christmas present because it needs it most.narrator and perhaps it was the pleasure the good spirit had in showing off this powerof his, or else it was his own kind, generous, hearty nature, and his sympathy with all poormen, that led him straight to scrooge's clerk's; for there he went, and took scrooge with him,holding to his robe; and on the threshold of the door the spirit smiled, and stoppedto bless bob cratchit's dwelling with the sprinkling of his torch. think of that. bobhad but fifteen dollars a-week himself; he pocketed on saturdays but only fifteen; andyet the ghost of christmas present blessed his four-roomed house. mrs cratchit what hasever got your precious father and your brother, tiny tim and martha late this christmas dayby half-an-hour? martha cratchit we'd a deal
of work to finish up and had to clear awaythis morning, mother. mrs cratchit well. never mind so long as you are here. sit down beforethe fire, my dear, and get warm! narrator so martha warmed herself, and in came littlebob, the father, with at least three feet of comforter hanging down before him; andhis clothes ironed and brushed, to look seasonable; and tiny tim upon his shoulder. for tiny timbore a little crutch, and had his legs supported by an iron frame. mrs. cratchit and how didlittle tim behave? bob cratchit as good as gold, and better. he told me, coming home,that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might bepleasant to them to remember christmas day. scrooge spirit, tell me if tiny tim will live?ghost of christmas present i see a vacant
seat in the corner, and a crutch without anowner. if these shadows remain unaltered by the future, the child will die. scrooge no,no. oh, no, kind spirit. say he will be spared. ghost of christmas present if these shadowsremain unaltered by the future, none will find him here. what then, if he be like todie, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. (scrooge hangs his headwhen hearing his own words quoted by the spirit, and is overcome with penitence and grief.)ghost of christmas present at last the dinner was all done, and the fire made up. the merryjug being tasted, and considered perfect, apples and oranges were put upon the table,and a shovel-full of chestnuts on the fire. then all the cratchit family sat round thewarmth bob cratchit a merry christmas to us
all, my dears. god bless us. all cratchits(some form of) merry christmas! tiny tim cratchit god bless us, every one. narrator he sat veryclose to his father's side upon his little stool. bob held his withered little hand inhis. because of his love for the child, he wished to keep him by his side, and dreadedthat he might be taken from him. bob cratchit (raising a toast) mr scrooge. i'll give youmr scrooge, the founder of the feast.' mrs. cratchit the founder of the feast indeed.i wish i had him here. i'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and i hope he'dhave a good appetite for it. bob cratchit my dear, the children. christmas day. mrs.cratchit it should be christmas day, i am sure, when one drinks to the health of sucha stingy, hard man as mr scrooge. you know
he is, robert. nobody knows it better thanyou do, poor fellow. bob cratchit my dear,'christmas day. mrs. cratchit i'll drink his health foryour sake and the day's, not for his. long life to him. a merry christmas and a happynew year. he'll be very merry and very happy, i have no doubt. narrator the children drankthe toast after her. tiny tim drank it last of all, but he didn't care for it. scroogewas the ogre of the family. the mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party,which held the room for full five minutes. narrator and now, without a word of warningfrom the ghost, they stood upon a bleak mass of stone, as though it were the burial-placeof giants; and water spread itself wheresoever it wanted; and nothing grew but moss. scroogewhat place is this. ghost of christmas present
a place where miners live, who labour in thebowels of the earth. but they know me. see. alight shone from the window of a hut, itwas a great surprise to scrooge, to hear a hearty laugh. it was a much greater surpriseto scrooge to recognise it as his own nephew's and to find himself in a bright, dry, gleamingroom, with the spirit standing smiling by his side, and looking at that same nephewwith approvingly. fred ha, ha. ha. narrator: when scrooge's nephew laughed this way: holdinghis sides, rolling his head, and twisting his face into the most extravagant contortions:scrooge's niece, by marriage, laughed as heartily as he. and their assembled friends, roaredout merrily. fred ha, ha. ha, ha, ha, ha. he said that christmas was a humbug, as ilive. he believed it too. fred's wife (indignantly)
more shame for him, fred. fred he's a comicalold fellow, that's the truth: and not so pleasant as he might be. however, his offences carrytheir own punishment, and i have nothing to say against him. fred's wife i'm sure he isvery rich, fred. at least you always tell me so. fred what my dear. his wealths no useto him. he don't do any good with it. he don't make himself comfortable with it. he hasn'tthe satisfaction of thinking that he is ever going to benefit us with it. fred's wife ihave no patience with him. fred oh, i have. i am sorry for him and couldn't be angry withhim if i tried. who suffers by his attitude? himself, always. fred's wife indeed, i thinkhe loses a very good dinner narrator after tea. they had some music. all the things thatghost had shown scrooge, came to his mind;
he softened more and more; the ghost was greatlypleased to find him in this mood, and looked upon him with such favour, that scrooge beggedlike a boy to be allowed to stay until the guests departed. but this the spirit saidcould not be done. scrooge here is a game! one half hour, spirit, only one. narratorit was a game called yes and no, where scrooge's nephew had to think of something, and therest must find out what; only answering to their questions yes or no. the round of questioningto which he was exposed, elicited from him that he was thinking of an animal, a liveanimal, rather a disagreeable animal, a savage animal, an animal that growled and gruntedsometimes, and talked sometimes, and lived in london, and walked about the streets, andwasn't made a show of, and wasn't led by anybody,
and was never killed in a market, and wasnot a horse, or an ass, or a cow, or a bull, or a tiger, or a dog, or a pig, or a cat,or a bear. at every fresh question that was put to him, this nephew burst into a freshroar of laughter; and was so inexpressibly tickled, that he was obliged to get up offthe sofa and stamp. at last the plump sister, falling into a similar state, cried out: fred'sguests i have found it out. i know what it is, fred. i know what it is.' fred what isit. fred's guests it's your uncle scrooge. fred he has given us plenty of laughter, iam sure, and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health. here is a glass of wineready to the moment; and i say, "uncle scrooge"! fred's guests uncle scrooge. fred a merrychristmas and a happy new year to the old
man, whatever he is. he wouldn't take it fromme, but may he have it, nevertheless. uncle scrooge.' narrator uncle scrooge had becomeso gay and light of heart, that he would thanked them in speech, if the ghost had given himtime. but the whole scene passed off in the breath of the last word spoken by his nephew;and he and the spirit were again upon their travels. scrooge are spirits' lives so short.ghost of christmas present my life upon this globe, is very brief, it ends to-night. scroogeto-night. ghost of christmas present to-night at midnight. the time is drawing near.' sound:the chimes were ringing at that moment. sound: the bell struck twelve. narrator scrooge lookedabout him for the ghost, and saw it not. sound: as the last stroke ceased to vibrate, he rememberedthe prediction of old jacob marley, and lifting
up his eyes, beheld a phantom, draped andhooded, coming, along the ground, towards him. stave 4: the last of the spirits narratorthe phantom slowly, 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.it was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, andleft nothing of it visible but one outstretched hand. but for this it would have been difficultto detach its figure from the night scrooge i am in the presence of the ghost of christmasyet to come. (a delay) scrooge you are about to show me shadows of the things that havenot happened, but will happen in the time before us. is that so? spirit. (a delay) scroogeghost of the future. i fear you more than
any ghost i have seen. but i know your purposeis to do me good, and as i hope to live to be another man from what i was, i am preparedto bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. will you not speak to me. (a delay)scrooge (big) lead on. lead on. the night is fast, and it is precious time to me, iknow. lead on, spirit. narrator they seemed to enter the city; for the city rather seemedto spring up about them, and encompass them of its own act. the spirit stopped besideone little group of business men. observing that the hand was pointed to them, scroogeadvanced to listen to their talk. man with monstrous chin no, i don't know much aboutit, either way. i only know he's dead. another man when did he die? man with monstrous chinlast night, i believe. a third man (taking
a vast quantity of snuff out of a very largesnuff-box) why, what was the matter with him? i thought he'd never die. man with monstrouschin (with a yawn) god knows. a man with red face what has he done with his money? manwith monstrous chin i haven't heard. left it to his company, perhaps. he hasn't leftit to me. that's all i know.' all men (laugh) man with monstrous chin it's likely to bea very cheap funeral; for upon my life i don't know of anybody to go to it. suppose we makeup a party and go.' a man with red face i don't mind going if a lunch is provided. buti must be fed, if i make one. all men (laugh) man with monstrous chin well, i am the mostdisinterested among you, after all i never eat lunch. but i'll offer to go, if anybodyelse will. bye, bye. scrooge spirit, this
is a fearful place. in leaving it, i shallnot forget its lesson, trust me. let us go. scrooge (quite agonised) if there is any personin the town, who feels emotion caused by this man's death, `show that person to me, spiritscrooge let me see some tenderness connected with a death, spirit, which we left just now.narrator the ghost conducted him and they entered poor bob cratchit's house; the dwellinghe had visited before; and found the mother and the children seated round the fire. quiet.the noisy little cratchits were as still as statues in one corner, and sat looking upat peter, who had a book before him. the mother and her daughters were engaged in sewing.but surely they were very quiet. peter cratchit and he took a child, and set him in the midstof them. (and stopped) narrator why did he
not go on. the mother laid her work upon thetable, and put her hand up to her face. mrs. cratchit the colour hurts my eyes. mrs. cratchitthey're better now again. it makes them weak by candle-light; and i wouldn't show weakeyes to your father when he comes home. peter cratchit it is past, rather; but i think hehas walked a little slower than he used, these few last evenings, mother. mrs. cratchit ihave known him walk with -- i have known him walk with tiny tim upon his shoulder, veryfast indeed. but he was very light to carry, and his father loved him so, that it was notrouble: there is your father at the door. narrator she hurried out to meet him; andlittle bob in his comforter came in. his tea was ready for him, and they all tried whoshould help him to it most. bob was very cheerful
with them, and spoke pleasantly to all thefamily. he looked at the work upon the table, and praised the industry and speed of mrscratchit and the girls. they would be done long before sunday, he said. mrs. cratchitsunday. you went to-day, then, robert. narrator he broke down all at once. he couldn't helpit he left the room, and went up-stairs into the room above, which was lighted cheerfully,and hung with christmas. there was a small chair set close, and there were signs of someone having been there, lately. poor bob sat down in it, and when he had thought a littleand composed himself, he kissed the little face. bob cratchit just a little down youknow but know when ever we part from one another, i am sure none of us will forget poor tinytim -- all cratchits never, father. bob cratchit
and i know when we remember how patient hewas; although he was a little, little child; we shall not fight easily among ourselves,and forget poor tiny tim in doing it. all cratchits no, never, father. bob cratchiti am very happy: i am very happy. scrooge spectre, something informs me that our finalmoment is at hand. i know it, tell me what man that was we saw lying dead? let me seewhat i shall be, in the future. the spirit stopped; the hand was pointed elsewhere. scroogethe house is yonder. why do you point away. narrator the spirit stood among the graves,and pointed down to one. he advanced towards it trembling. scrooge before i go near tothat stone, answer me one question. are these the shadows of the things that will be, orare they shadows of things that may be, only.
(a pause) narrator scrooge crept towards it,trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected gravehis own name... sound: ebenezer scroooooge! scrooge (upon his knees) am i that man wholay dead? (a pause) no, spirit. oh no, no. (a pause) scrooge (tight clutching at itsrobe) spirit, hear me. i am not the man i was. i will not be the man i must have been(a pause) scrooge good spirit, your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. assure methat i yet may change these shadows you have shown me (a pause) scrooge i will honour christmasin my heart, and try to keep it all the year. i will live in the past, the present, andthe future. the spirits of all three shall strive within me. i will not shut out thelessons that they teach. oh, tell me i may
erase away the writing on this gravestone.(holding up his hands in a last prayer to have his fate aye reversed, he saw an alterationin the phantom's hood and dress. it shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost.)stave 5: the end of it narrator 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, to makeamends! scrooge i will live in the past, the present, and the future narrator he was sofluttered and so glowing with his good intentions and his face was aglow. scrooge (laughingand crying in the same breath) i don't know what to do. i am as light as a feather, iam as happy as an angel, i am as merry as a schoolboy. i am as giddy as a drunken man.a merry christmas to everybody. a happy new
year to all the world. hallo here. whoop.hallo. narrator he had whisked into the sitting-room, and was now standing there: perfectly winded.scrooge (starting off again, and going round the fireplace) there's the saucepan with somestew. there's the door, where the ghost of jacob marley entered. there's the corner wherethe ghost of christmas present, sat. there's the window where i saw the wandering spirits.it's all right, it's all true, it all happened. ha ha ha. sound: clash, clang, hammer; ding,dong, bell. bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash. scrooge oh, glorious, glorious. narratorrunning to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. no fog, no mist; clear, bright,jovial, stirring, cold; golden sunlight; heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. scroogeoh, glorious. glorious. what's to-day. narrator
... calling downward to a boy in sunday clothes,who perhaps had loitered in to look about him. intelligent, fine lad (with all his mightof wonder) eh.? scrooge what's to-day, my fine fellow? intelligent, fine lad to-day?why, christmas day. scrooge it's christmas day. i haven't missed it. the spirits havedone it all in one night. they can do anything they like. of course they can. of course theycan. hallo, my fine fellow.' intelligent, fine lad hallo! scrooge do you know the store,in the next street at the corner? intelligent, fine lad i should hope i do. scrooge an intelligentboy. a remarkable boy. do you know whether they've sold the prize turkey that was hangingup there -- not the little prize turkey: the big one. intelligent, fine lad what, the oneas big as me?. scrooge what a delightful boy.
it's a pleasure to talk to him. yes, my buck.intelligent, fine lad it's hanging there now. scrooge is it? go and buy it. intelligent,fine lad no way! scrooge no, no, i am in earnest. go and buy it, and tell them to bring it here,that i may give them the direction where to take it. come back with the man, and i'llgive you a shilling. come back with him in less than five minutes and i'll give you 5shillings. narrator the boy was off like a shot. scrooge (rubbing his hands, and splittingwith a laugh) i'll send it to bon cratchit's . he wont know who sends it. it's twice thesize of tiny tim. he wrote the address, and went down-stairs to open the street door,ready for the coming of the delivery man. scrooge here s the turkey. hallo. whoop. howare you. merry christmas.! it was a turkey!
he never could have stood upon his legs, thatbird. he would have snapped them short off in a minute, like small sticks. scrooge why,it's impossible to carry that to camden town, you must have a cab. the chuckle with whichhe said this, and the chuckle with which he paid for the turkey, and the chuckle withwhich he paid for the cab, and the chuckle with which he recompensed the boy, were onlyto be exceeded by the chuckle with which he sat down breathless in his chair again, andchuckled till he cried. he dressed himself all in his best, and at last got out intothe streets. the people were by this time pouring forth, scrooge regarded every onewith a delighted smile. he looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good-humouredfellows said,' good morning, sir. a merry
christmas to you.' and scrooge said oftenafterwards, he had not gone far, when coming on towards him he beheld the portly gentleman,who had walked into his counting-house the day before, and said,' scrooge and marley's,i believe.' pain shot across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look athim when they met; quickening his pace, and taking the old gentleman by both his hands...scrooge my dear sir. how do you do? i hope you succeeded yesterday. it was very kindof you. a merry christmas to you, sir.' gentleman #1 & #2 mr scrooge! scrooge yes. that is myname, and i fear it may not be pleasant to you. allow me to ask your pardon. and willyou have the goodness... (here scrooge whispered in his ear.) gentleman #1 (as if his breathwere taken away.) lord bless me! gentleman
#2 my dear mr scrooge, are you serious. scroogeif you please. not a dollar less. a great many back-payments are included in it, i assureyou. will you do me that favour. gentleman #2 my dear sir. i don't know what to say tosuch generosity.' scrooge don't say anything please. come and see me. will you come andsee me. gentleman #1 we will. scrooge thank you. i am much obliged to you. i thank youfifty times. bless you. . in the afternoon he turned his steps towards his nephew's house.he passed the door a dozen times, before he had the courage to go up and knock. but hemade a dash, and did it: scrooge is your master at home, my dear? fred's maid yes, sir.' scroogewhere is he, my love. fred's maid he's in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress.i'll show you up-stairs, if you please. scrooge
thank you. he knows me. with his hand alreadyon the dining-room lock. scrooge i'll go in here, my dear. he turned it gently scroogefred? fred why bless my soul. who's that. scrooge it's i. your uncle scrooge. i havecome to dinner. will you let me in, fred. let him in. it is a mercy he didn't shakehis arm off. he was at home in five minutes. nothing could be heartier. his niece lookedjust the same. so did the plump sister when she came. so did every one when they came.wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, wonderful happiness. he was earlyat the office next morning. oh, he was early there. if he could only be there first, andcatch bob cratchit coming late. the clock struck nine. no bob. a quarter past. no bob.he was full eighteen minutes behind his time.
scrooge sat with his door wide open, thathe might see him come into the tank. his hat was off, before he opened the door; his comfortertoo. he was on his stool in a jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying toovertake nine o'clock. scrooge (growled scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he couldfeign it) hallo. what do you mean by coming here at this time of day.' bob cratchit iam very sorry, sir. i am behind my time. scrooge you are. yes. i think you are. step this way,sir, if you please. bob cratchit it's only once a year, sir,' pleaded bob, appearingfrom the tank. `it shall not be repeated. i was making rather merry yesterday, sir.'scrooge now, i'll tell you what, my friend, i am not going to stand this sort of thingany longer. and therefore,leaping from his
stool, and giving bob such a dig in the waistcoatthat he staggered back into the tank again. scrooge ...and therefore i am about to raiseyour salary. bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. he had a momentary ideaof knocking scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the courtfor help and a strait-waistcoat. scrooge a merry christmas, bob. a merrier christmas,bob, my good fellow, than i have given you for many a year. i'll raise your salary, andendeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this veryafternoon,.' scrooge was better than his word. he did it all, and infinitely more; and totiny tim, who did not die, he was a second father. he became as good a friend, as gooda boss, and as good a man, as the good old
city knew, or any other good old city, town,or borough, in the good old world. some people laughed to see the change in him, but he letthem laugh he had no further run-ins with spirits, but lived uponthe total abstinenceprinciple, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep christmaswell! and so, as tiny tim observed, all god bless us, every one! owowowowowowowo h$xvh$xv h$xv h&sg hjdr hjdr h>v| hjdr uaumu3u h;!f h
theme/theme/_rels/thememanager.xml.relspk
0 Komentar untuk "winter lady"