A Christmas Carol
The story of a miser, three Christmas ghosts, and a second chance
Page 1
On Christmas Eve in London, the cold, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge sat in his counting-house. His nephew Fred burst in, face glowing. "A merry Christmas, uncle!" cried Fred. Scrooge only grumbled. "Bah! Humbug!" Fred invited him for Christmas dinner, but Scrooge would not hear of it. "Good afternoon!" he snapped. He then argued with his clerk, Bob Cratchit, about having Christmas Day off. "It is not convenient," Scrooge complained, "and it is not fair." He grudgingly agreed, but told Bob to be in all the earlier the next morning. Scrooge then shut up the office and went home through the dense fog, his mood as dark and cold as the winter evening.
Page 2
Scrooge lived in gloomy rooms that had belonged to his dead partner, Jacob Marley. As Scrooge sat by his tiny fire, an old bell began to swing. Then he heard a clanking noise, as if someone were dragging a heavy chain. Suddenly, a figure walked right through the heavy door. It was Marley's ghost, transparent, and bound in a long chain of cash-boxes and ledgers. "I am here tonight to warn you," the ghost moaned. "You have a chance of escaping my fate. You will be haunted by Three Spirits." Scrooge trembled. "I... I think I'd rather not," he stammered. But Marley was firm. "Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls one," said the ghost, before floating backwards through the window and vanishing into the night.
Page 3
When the clock struck one, a strange figure appeared: the Ghost of Christmas Past. "Rise, and walk with me," it said softly. The Ghost took Scrooge's hand and they passed through the wall into the past, to a long, bare schoolroom. It was empty except for a single boy, sitting at a desk and reading. All the other boys had gone home for Christmas. Scrooge looked at the lonely child and began to cry. "It is me," he whispered. "Poor boy." The Ghost watched him carefully. "What is the matter?" it asked. Scrooge hesitated. "Nothing," he said, but then admitted, "There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that's all."
Page 4
"Let us see another Christmas!" said the Ghost. They were in a bustling warehouse, cleared for a party. "Why, it's old Fezziwig!" cried Scrooge. "Bless his heart; it's Fezziwig alive again!" He watched as a younger version of himself danced happily. The party was full of food, music, and warmth. "A small matter," said the Ghost, "to make these silly folks so full of gratitude." "Small!" replied Scrooge indignantly. "He has the power to make us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or heavy. The happiness he gives is as great as if it cost a fortune." He stopped, suddenly thinking of his own clerk. The Ghost nodded, its point made without another word.
Page 5
The Ghost showed Scrooge one final scene. On a park bench sat a younger Scrooge, his face already showing lines of greed. Beside him was Belle, her eyes full of tears. "Another idol has displaced me," she said softly. "A golden one. You are changed." Young Scrooge started to argue. "Have I ever sought release?" he asked. "In words, no, never," she answered. "In a changed nature, yes." He could not deny it; he loved money more than he loved her. "May you be happy in the life you have chosen!" she said, and walked away forever. "Spirit!" cried old Scrooge, his heart breaking. "Show me no more! Take me home!"
Page 6
Scrooge awoke to a new spirit: the joyful Ghost of Christmas Present. They went to Bob Cratchit's small house, filled with love and laughter. Scrooge's eyes were fixed on Tiny Tim, who sat with a crutch beside him. "Spirit," said Scrooge anxiously, "tell me if Tiny Tim will live." "I see a vacant seat," replied the Ghost, "and a crutch without an owner. If these shadows remain unaltered, the child will die." Scrooge was horrified. As the family ate, Bob Cratchit raised his glass. "Mr. Scrooge!" he said. "I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!" Though his wife protested, they all drank the toast for Bob's sake. Scrooge felt a deep shame.
Page 7
Next, the Ghost took Scrooge to his nephew's bright, warm house. The drawing-room was filled with Fred's friends and family, all laughing and playing games. Scrooge found himself enjoying the party immensely. Then, Fred raised a glass. "A Merry Christmas to the old man, wherever he is!" he said. His wife laughed. "I have no patience with him!" But Fred insisted. "He is a comical old fellow, and I feel sorry for him. I'll keep trying to ask him every year. To Uncle Scrooge!" The guests all drank the toast. Scrooge felt a pang of gratitude and sadness, wishing he could thank them. The Ghost smiled, and led him away as the party's music and laughter continued.
Page 8
As the night wore on, the Ghost grew older. He led Scrooge to a bleak place beneath a bridge. "My life upon this globe is very brief," said the Ghost. "It ends tonight." From the folds of his robe, the Ghost brought two children; wretched, ragged, and sad. "Spirit, are they yours?" Scrooge cried. "They are Man's," said the Ghost. "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both!" Scrooge was appalled. "Have they no refuge or resource?" he cried, remembering his own cruel words from earlier. "Are there no prisons?" returned the Ghost. "Are there no workhouses?" As the clock struck twelve, the Ghost vanished, leaving Scrooge in darkness.
Page 9
A solemn Phantom, draped and hooded, came towards him: the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The Spirit was silent, simply pointing. It showed Scrooge a future where men callously discussed his death. Finally, the Ghost brought him to a lonely churchyard and pointed to a neglected grave. Trembling, Scrooge read the name on the stone: EBENEZER SCROOGE. "No, Spirit! Oh, no, no!" he cried, clutching at the Phantom's robe. "I am not the man I was. I will honour Christmas in my heart!" He fell to his knees. "Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!" The Phantom's pointing hand only trembled slightly, then remained fixed.
Page 10
When Scrooge awoke, he was in his own bed. "The Spirits have done it all in one night!" he laughed. He ran to the window. It was a glorious, sunny Christmas morning. "What's to-day, my fine fellow?" Scrooge shouted to a boy below. "To-day?" replied the boy. "Why, CHRISTMAS DAY." Scrooge paid the boy to buy the prize turkey from the butcher's and have it sent to Bob Cratchit's. Then he dressed in his best and went out, smiling at everyone. He gave money to the poor, went to church, and joined his nephew for dinner. Scrooge became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew. And to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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