A True Christmas Learn English through story level 3

one

marley’s ghost

it is important to remember

that jacob marley was dead

did scrooge know that

of course he did

scrooge and marley had been partners in

london for many years

and excellent men of business they were

too

when marley died

scrooge continued with the business

alone

both names still stood above the office

door

scrooge and marley

sometimes

people who were new to the business

called scrooge scrooge

and sometimes mali

but he answered to both names

he did not care what name they called

him

the only thing that mattered to him was

the business

and making money

oh

he was a hard clever

mean old man scrooge was

there was nothing warm or open about him

he lived a secretive lonely life

and took no interest in other people at

all

the cold inside him made his eyes red

and his thin lips blew

and his voice high and cross

it put white frost on his old head

his eyebrows and his chin

the frost in his heart

made the air around him cold too

in the hottest days of summer

his office was as cold as ice

and it was just as cold in winter

nobody ever stopped him in the street to

say

with a happy smile

my dear scrooge

how are you

when will you come to see me

no poor man asked him for money

no children asked him the time no man or

woman ever

in all his life

asked him the way

animals as well as people were afraid of

him

dogs used to hide in doorways when they

saw him coming

but what did scrooge care

it was just what he wanted

he liked being on the edge of people’s

busy lives

while warning everyone

to keep away from him

one christmas eve

old scrooge was working busily in his

office

it was cold frosty foggy weather

outside

it was already dark

although it was only three o’clock in

the afternoon

and there were candles in all the office

windows

the fog

covered everything

like a thick gray blanket

scrooge

kept his office door open

in order to check

that his clerk

bob cratchit was working

bob spent his days

in a dark little room

a kind of cupboard

next to his employer’s office

scrooge

had a very small fire

but bob’s fire

was much smaller

it was very cold in the cupboard

and bob had to wear his long white scarf

to try to keep warm

merry christmas uncle

god bless you

cried a happy voice

scrooge’s nephew had arrived

said scrooge crossley

hamburg

christmas is humbug

surely you don’t mean that uncle

said his nephew

i do

said scrooge

why do you call it merry christmas

you’re too poor to be merry

well

replied the nephew smiling

why are you so cross

you’re too rich to be unhappy

of course i’m cross

answered the uncle

when i live in a world full of stupid

people like you

you say merry christmas

but what is christmas

just a time when you spend too much

when you find yourself a year older

and not an hour richer

when you have to pay your bills

everyone who goes around saying

merry christmas

should have his tongue cut out

yes he should

uncle

please don’t say that

said the nephew

i’ve always thought of christmas

as a time to be helpful and kind to

other people

it’s the only time of the year

when men and women

open their hearts freely to each other

and so uncle although

i’ve never made any money from it

i think christmas has been

and will be

a good time for me

and i say

god bless christmas

in the cupboard

agreed loudly without thinking

he immediately realized his mistake

and went quickly back to his work

but scrooge had heard him

if i hear another sound from you

said scrooge

you’ll lose your job

don’t be angry with him uncle

said the nephew

come and have dinner with us tomorrow

dinner with you

i’ll see you dead first

but

why won’t you come why

because christmas is hamburg

good afternoon

i want nothing from you i ask nothing of

you

why can’t we be friends

good afternoon

said scrooge

i am sorry with all my heart

to find you like this

i have never wanted to argue with you

but i came to see you

and invite you

because it’s christmas

and so i’ll say

a merry christmas

uncle good afternoon

said scrooge

and a happy new year

good

afternoon

said scrooge

his nephew left the room

without an angry word

stopping only to wish bob cratchit a

merry christmas

then

two other gentlemen came in

they were large round

comfortable looking men

with books and papers in their hands

this is scrooge and marley’s i think

said one of them

looking at the papers that he was

carrying

am i speaking to mr scrooge

or mr marley

mr marley is dead

scrooge replied

he died seven years ago today

on christmas eve

i’m sure that you are just as kind to

the poor as your partner

said the gentleman smiling

what was true

was that scrooge was just as mean as

marley

and marley had been just as mean as

scrooge

at this

happy time of year mr scrooge

the gentleman went on

taking up his pen

we should help poor people who have no

food or clothes or homes

are there no prisons

asked scrooge coley

plenty of prisons

said the gentleman

and the workhouses

where poor people can live and work

are they still open

yes they are i’m sorry to say

i’m happy to hear it

said scrooge

i thought from what you said at first

that perhaps

these useful places were closed

for some reason

but

some of us feel

replied the gentleman

that these places

don’t offer enough to poor people

we are hoping to give some meat and

drink

and wood for a fire

to people who need all these things

this is a time when we should

all be able to enjoy ourselves

how much will you give sir

nothing scrooge replied

i don’t have a merry christmas myself

and i won’t pay for other people to be

merry

we all have to pay for prisons and

workhouses

they cost enough

the poor will have to go there

many can’t go there

and many prefer to die

if they prefer to die

why don’t they die then

there are too many people in the world

so it’s a good thing if some of them die

all this is none of my business

it’s enough for a man to understand his

own business

and not to think about other people’s

i’m a very busy man

good afternoon gentlemen

the gentleman

shook their heads a little sadly

and left the office

scrooge went back to his work

feeling pleased with himself

now

the fog was at its thickest outside

and the cold was biting

lights shone brightly from the shop

windows

people were hurrying here and there

rich and poor alike

to buy what they needed for tomorrow’s

christmas dinner

at last it was time to close the office

scrooge got up slowly from his desk

bob was waiting for this moment

and he immediately put on his hat

you’ll want a holiday all day tomorrow i

suppose

said scrooge

if you don’t mind sir

i do mind

it’s not fair

i have to pay you for a day’s work when

you don’t do any work

it’s only once a year sir

said bob politely

that’s no reason for robbing me every

25th of december

said scrooge putting on his coat

but i suppose you must have it

be here early next morning

yes sir i will i promise bob said

happily

scrooge walked out

without another word

when bob had closed the office

he ran home to his family in camden town

as quickly as possible

scrooge

always used to eat his dinner alone

in the same miserable little eating

house

tonight was no different from other

nights

he read the newspapers

looked at his bank books

and went home to bed

he lived in rooms which had once

belonged to his dead partner

they were in an old dark building

in a lonely side street

where no one except scrooge lived

in the blackness of the night

through the fog and the frost

scrooge had to feel his way along the

street with his hands

he finally reached his front door

and put the key in the lock

suddenly

to his great surprise

he saw that the knocker

was not a knocker anymore

but had become the face of jacob marley

he had not thought of his partner for

seven years

until that afternoon

when he spoke mali’s name to his

but there

in front of him

was marley’s face

white and ghostly

with terrible staring eyes

as scrooge looked

it became a knocker again

he was afraid

but he did not show his fear

he turned the key

open the door

and walked in

he did look around before he shut the

door

and he did look behind the door

to see if anyone was hiding there

but there was nothing there

he shot the door with a bang

to show that he was not afraid

with his one candle he went slowly up

the stairs

it was impossible to see into all the

dark corners

darkness was cheap

and scrooge liked it

but he remembered the face

so he walked through all his rooms

checking that everything was all right

nobody under the table

or the bed

nobody behind the door

on the small fire in the bedroom

there was a pot of soup

and scrooge’s bowl was ready on the

table

nobody

in any of the rooms

sure that he was safe now

scrooge shut and locked his bedroom door

behind him

he sat down by the fire

to eat his soup

the fireplace was an old one

with hundreds of pictures on the tiles

around the fire

but scrooge

could only see marley’s face on every

tile

hamburg

said scrooge to the tiles

and walked across the room

when he sat down again

he noticed a bell on the other side of

the room as he looked

he saw

with great surprise and fear

that the bell was slowly beginning to

move from side to side

soon it was ringing loudly

and so was every bell in the house

suddenly

they all stopped ringing at the same

moment

and then

came a strange noise from down below

it sounded like someone

pulling heavy chains across the floor

scrooge remembered hearing

that ghosts in old houses

sometimes pulled chains behind them

then a door below

opened with a crash

and the noise started coming up the

stairs

it was coming towards his door

it’s hamburg still

cried scrooge

but the color left his face when

without stopping

it came straight through the heavy

locked door

and appeared in front of him

it was marley’s ghost

scrooge

could see right through its body

around its middle was a long chain

which had money boxes

keys

bank books and heavy purses on it

the ghost’s

death cold eyes

stared fixedly at scrooge

well

said scrooge

trying to pretend that nothing strange

was happening

what do you want

and who are you

in life i was your partner

jacob marley

it’s hamburg i tell you

said scrooge

there are no ghosts

but when he said this

the ghost

gave a terrible cry

and shook its chain

in a very frightening way

at once scrooge fell on the ground in

great fear crying

yes yes

you are real

i see that now

why have you come

why do ghosts come back from the dead

tell me jacob

the spirit of every man

who does not help

other people

in life

has to travel endlessly through the

world after his death

we have to carry the chains that we made

for ourselves in our lifetime

do you ebenezer scrooge

recognize my chain

it is very like the one that you wear

scrooge looked around him but could see

no chain

jacob

he said

please tell me more

i cannot help you much ebenezer

i cannot rest

i cannot stay anywhere for long

i have been dead for seven years

and all that time

i have been traveling on the wings of

the wind

no peace

no rest for me in death

because i was never good

or kind in life

but you were always a good man of

business jacob

said scrooge

who is now beginning to worry about his

own life

business

cried the ghost miserably

why didn’t i think of people as my

business

i thought

only about making money

not about being kind and helpful to

other people

listen to me ebenezer

i am here tonight

to warn you

you still have a chance

to save yourself

from what has happened to me

three

spirits

will come to visit you

the first

tomorrow

at one o’clock

the second

at the same time the next night

and the third

at midnight

the following night

you will not see me anymore

and for your own peace after death

remember

what

i have told you

the spirit

walked slowly backwards to the window

which began to open

when the ghost reached the window

it held up its hand

and scrooge listened

he could hear a noise

of sad crying in the air

the spirit began to cry too

and it moved out into the frosty dark

night

to join the others

scrooge

ran to the window

outside the air was full of spirits

all wearing chains like marley’s ghost

all crying miserably as they realized

too late the terrible mistakes that they

had made in their lives

little by little

the spirits and their voices

disappeared into the fog and the

darkness

and the night was silent again

scrooge closed the window

and checked his bedroom door

it was still locked

he started to say

hamburg

but stopped suddenly

perhaps because he was very tired

nor because it was late

he went straight to bed

without taking off his clothes

and fell asleep immediately

[Music]

two

the first of the three spirits

when scrooge woke up

it was very dark in the room

he heard the church clock start striking

and listened to see what the time was

to his great surprise

the heavy bell went on striking up to 12

then stopped

12 o’clock

it was past two in the morning

when he had gone to bed

the clock must be wrong

he looked at his watch

it said twelve o’clock too

have i slept all day

is it the next night already

scrooge asked himself

or

has something

happened to the sun

perhaps it’s midday

not midnight

but that’s impossible

he climbed out of bed

and felt his way to the window

but there was nobody outside in the dark

foggy streets

and he realized

it must be nighttime

he went back to bed again

but could not sleep

he was worried

because he could not understand what was

happening

was

marley’s ghost a dream

he wondered

but it seemed very real

he lay awake

until he heard the clock striking a

quarter to the hour

suddenly he remembered

the ghost had warned him

that a spirit would visit him at one

o’clock

he decided to stay awake until one

o’clock had passed

the quarter of an hour passed very

slowly

but at last he heard the clock striking

the four quarters

it’s one o’clock

cried scrooge delightedly

and nothing has happened

but he spoke before the our bell had

sounded

the clock now struck a deep

sad

one

and immediately light shone into

scrooge’s bedroom

the curtains round his bed were pulled

open

scrooge sat up in bed

and stared at his ghostly visitor

a strange figure

half like a child

half like an old man looked back at him

it had long

white hair

but its skin was soft and young

it wore a short white robe covered with

both summer and winter flowers

but the strangest thing about it

was that from the top of its head

shone a bright clear light

perhaps this light was sometimes too

bright

because under one arm it carried a hat

which looked like a large extinguisher

who and what are you sir

asked scrooge

i am the ghost of christmas past

replied the spirit

in a soft gentle voice

do you mean

long ago in the past

ask scrooge

no

[Music]

your past

spirit

please tell me why you are here

i am here for your own good

answered the

ghost thank you

replied scrooge politely

but secretly he thought

a night of unbroken sleep is a more

useful thing to have

the spirit

seemed to hear him thinking

and said at once

i am here to help you change your life

watch

and listen

it put out a strong hand

and hell scrooge by the arm

get up

and come with me

it was dark and cold outside

scrooge did not want to go anywhere

and for a moment

he thought about pretending to be too

ill to go out

but he did not like to refuse

so he said nothing

and got out of bed

together

they passed through the wall of the

house

out into the darkness

suddenly

scrooge realized they were standing on

an open country road

with fields on each side

london the fog

and the darkness had all disappeared

and it was a clear

cold winter day

with snow on the ground

good heavens

cried scrooge

i was born near here

i remember it well

the spirit

looked kindly at the old man

how strange that you’ve forgotten it for

so many years

what is that on your face

are you crying

scrooge

put a hand over his eyes

it’s nothing

i’ve got a cold that’s all

take me where you want spirit

scrooge recognized every field post and

tree

as they walked along the road towards a

little market town

all around them were young schoolboys on

horses and in farmer’s carts

laughing and wishing each other a merry

christmas

as they travel to their homes for the

christmas holiday

they are only shadows from the past

said the spirit

they cannot see us

scrooge knew

and named all of them

why was he so delighted to see them

why did his cold heart

beat faster when they went past shouting

merry christmas

what was

merry christmas to scrooge

what good had it ever done to him

not everyone has left the school

said the ghost

there is one

lonely child there still

one child whose friends have all gone

i know

said scrooge

and now he was crying openly

they turned into a smaller road

and soon came to the school

inside

in the long cold silent classroom

a lonely boy sat reading near a small

fire

when he saw his poor

forgotten past self

scrooge

sat down at one of the desks

put his head in his hands and cried

poor boy

i wish

but it’s too late now

what’s the matter

ask the spirit

there was a boy

singing

christmas carols at my door yesterday

i’m sorry i didn’t give him anything

that’s all

the ghost smiled

and lifted its hand saying

let’s see

another past christmas

the school room became darker and

dirtier

there was the young scrooge again

a little older and bigger than before

he was not reading this time

but was walking up and down

looking very unhappy

the door opened

and a little girl

much younger than him came running in

putting her arms round his neck

she said lovingly to him

i’ve come to bring you home dear brother

father is so much kinder than he used to

be

the other day

i asked him if you could come home

and he said yes

and we’re going to spend christmas

together

and have the merriest time

she was laughing delightedly

as she began to pull him towards the

door

they went out happily together

hand in hand

what a warm heart she had

said the ghost

you’re right

said scrooge

i i agree with you spirit

she married i understand

continued the ghost

and had children i think

before she died

one child

answered scrooge

true

said the ghost

your nephew

scrooge

did not answer at once

yes

he said at last

now the school had disappeared

and they were in the middle of a busy

town

with shadowy crowds and carts all around

them

here

it was christmas time again

but it was evening

and there were lights in the shops and

streets

the ghost stopped at an office door

do you know this place scrooge

he asked

know it

cried scrooge why i was a clerk here

they went in

and when they saw a large

kind looking old gentleman sitting at a

high desk

scrooge cried excitedly

good heavens uh it’s old fizzy wig

god bless him it’s fuzzyweek alive again

old fezziwig

put down his pen

and looked at the

clock fastening his coat buttons over

his fat stomach

he started laughing

as he called out in a rich deep happy

voice

ebenezer

dick

seven o’clock

no more work tonight

it’s christmas eve remember

the young scrooge hurried in with

another clerk

that’s dick wilkins

said scrooge quietly to the ghost

he always liked me

oh dear

poor dick

together

the two young clerks put away all the

pens and papers

and following feziwig’s orders

cleared all the furniture away from the

center of the room

in came a fiddler

in came mrs fezzywig fat and smiling

in came the three fezziwig daughters

sweet and pretty

in came the six young men who were in

love with them

in came the cook with her young man the

milkman

in came the boy from next door

with the girl from the house opposite

in they came

some quietly

some noisily

but all happy

because it was christmas eve

the fiddler started playing

and away they all went in the dance

twenty pairs at the same time

round and round

down the middle and up again

when they were all tired

old fezziwig cried out

well done

now

have something to eat and drink

there was cake

and hot meat

and bread

and cold meat and fruit

and all kinds of drinks

on a long table near the door

and after they had eaten

they danced again

when the clock struck 11 the dancing

ended

mr and mrs fezziwig stood by the door

shaking hands with each person as he or

she went out

and wishing him or her

a merry christmas

during this time

scrooge had thought of nothing

except what was happening in front of

his eyes

he remembered and enjoyed it all with

the greatest delight

but when the dancing came to an end

he realized that the ghost was looking

at him

the light on the spirit’s head was

burning very clearly

it seems easy enough to amuse these

childish people

said the ghost

it was nothing much that feziwig did was

it

after all

he only spent a few pounds on food and

drink and paying the fiddler

it isn’t a question of money

replied scrooge warmly

he was speaking like the young man he

used to be

not the old man he was now

no spirit

you see

our employer can make us happy or sad

his words his looks

all these things

are so important

the happiness that he gives

is just as valuable as money

he suddenly stopped speaking

when he felt the spirit watching him

closely

what’s the matter

asked the ghost

uh nothing

said scrooge

just that

i’d like to be able to say a word or two

to my clerk now

now scrooge could see himself again

he was older now

and it was clear that he was beginning

to show an unhealthy interest in money

his eyes were restless

and his mouth looked thin and mean

he was not alone

but was sitting beside a lovely young

girl

the light that shone brightly from the

ghost of christmas past

showed that she was crying

i know

it doesn’t matter very much to you

she said softly

you care about gold

more than you care about me

perhaps i shouldn’t be sad

money will give you the happiness that i

wanted to give you

but

i haven’t changed towards you have i

you have changed

we promised to marry

a long time ago

when we were both poor

and happy to be poor

i have stayed the same

but you have different hopes and dreams

now

i loved the man that you used to be

but i know that you do not wish to marry

me anymore

so

i’ve come to tell you

that you’re free

be happy in the life that you’ve chosen

and she left him

spirit

cried scrooge

show me no more

take me home

this is too painful

one shadow more

said the ghost

no more

cried scrooge

i don’t wish to see any more

but the spirit held his arms and he

could not escape

now they were in another place

in a room which was not very large but

comfortable

near the fire

sat a beautiful young girl

scrooge thought she was the girl that he

had just seen

until he saw her

now a good-looking married lady

sitting opposite her daughter

the room

was full of children and noise and

shouting and laughing

just then the door opened

and the father entered

carrying a great pile of christmas

presents

the noise became twice as loud

as the children received their presence

with delight

and kissed their father gratefully

finally

the younger ones went upstairs to bed

and scrooge watched more sadly than ever

as the father sat down with his loving

daughter and her mother by the fire

bell

said the husband

turning to his wife with a smile

i saw an old friend of yours this

afternoon

guess who

mr scrooge

he was sitting alone in his office

his partner is dying

and i don’t think he has any other

friends

spirit

said scrooge in a broken voice

take me away from this place

these are shadows of the things that

happened in the past

said the ghost

you chose the life that you preferred

so why cry now

i can’t watch anymore it’s too awful

leave me alone spit it

and scrooge

noticing that the ghostly light was

burning high and bright

suddenly took the extinguisher

and pushed it down hard on the spirit’s

head

but although it covered the ghost’s head

and body

scrooge could not hide the light

which continued to shine out strongly

from underneath

now scrooge

found himself back in his own bedroom

again

feeling very tired

he climbed into bed

and at once fell into a deep

heavy sleep

[Music]

[Music]

three

the second of the three spirits

when scrooge woke up

he realized immediately

that the church clock was just going to

strike one

he felt sure

that the second spirit would soon visit

him

this time

he wanted to be ready

so he pulled back all the curtains round

his bed himself

and lay there

waiting

at one o’clock

instead of a spirit

a strong light shone down on scrooge’s

bed

he felt very frightened

after a few minutes

he thought that perhaps the light was

coming from the next room

so he got up

and went to the door

when he touched it

a strange voice called his name and

asked him to enter

he obeyed

although he recognized it as his own

room

it looked very different now

the walls were covered with bright green

leaves

and there was a good fire burning in the

fireplace

on the floor

were big piles of the best christmas

food

wonderful rich dark cakes

warm soft bread

colorful apples and oranges

plates of yellow butter

cooked chickens

boxes of chocolates and sugared sweets

sitting beside all this

was a large smiling spirit

who called out cheerfully to scrooge

come in

come in man

i am the ghost of christmas present

look at me

since the first ghost visit

scrooge was no longer very sure of

himself

so although the spirit’s eyes were clear

and kind

scrooge was afraid to look straight into

its face

but he could see that its body was

dressed in a long green robe

its long brown hair fell freely down its

back

and its face wore a warm and friendly

smile

light shone from the torch which it was

holding in its strong right hand

spirit

said scrooge quietly

take me where you want

last night

i learned a lesson which is working now

if you have anything to teach me tonight

let me learn from you

touch my robe

said the spirit

and scrooge obeyed

the food the room the fire all

disappeared

and they were standing outside in the

cold snowy streets on christmas morning

although the sky was grey

and the streets were dirty

the people looked surprisingly cheerful

as they hurried to the baker’s shops

with their christmas dinners

all ready for cooking

the spirit seemed specially interested

in poor people

he stood with scrooge in a baker’s

doorway and held his torch over the

dinners as they were carried past him

sometimes when he saw people pushing

each other or getting angry

he lifted his torch over their heads

and immediately they became kinder

or stopped arguing

because it’s christmas

they told each other

what does your torch do spirit

a scrooge

it gives a special taste to people’s

dinners on this day

answered the spirit

why do you use it most on poor people

said scrooge

because poor people need it most

was the reply

they went on through london

and came to the small house where

scrooge’s clark lived

here the spirit smiled

and held his torch high over the door

inside

bob cratchit’s wife and second daughter

belinda

in their everyday dresses

but looking clean and pretty

were putting plates on the table for

their christmas dinner

bob’s son peter

was helping to cook the potatoes

and two smaller cratchits

a boy and a girl

were running round excitedly

just then the eldest daughter martha

arrived home from work

here’s martha mother

cried the two young cratchits happily

we’re having a really big chicken for

dinner martha

in fact

it was only a small chicken

but it seemed large to the excited

children

my dear

how late you are

said mrs cratchit

kissing her daughter several times

we were so busy yesterday mother

replied the girl

that’s why we didn’t finish until this

morning

well

never mind

now that you’re here

god bless you

sit down by the farm my dear

no no father’s coming cried the two

young cratchits

hide martha hide

so martha hid herself

and in came bob

in his thin coat and long white scarf

with his son tiny tim in his arms

poor tiny tim

he had not walked since he was born

and although he could pull himself and

his thin little legs along with the help

of a wooden crutch

he was not strong enough to travel far

alone

why

where’s martha

cried bob looking round

not coming

said mrs cratchit

not coming

repeated bob his cheerful smile

disappearing

not coming on christmas day

but martha didn’t like to worry her

father for a minute

so she ran out from behind the door and

kissed him

while the two young cratchits showed

tiny tim the chicken

now ready to eat

scrooge and the spirit watched

as the family sat down to eat

it was a poor enough meal

but to them it seemed wonderful

and they ate every bit of it

it’s the best chicken i’ve ever tasted

said bob smiling around at his family

who with their mouths full all agreed

and then

the most exciting moment of the day

belinda

put a clean plate in front of each

person

and they all turned to look at mrs

cratchit as she came in from the kitchen

her face was hot from her morning’s work

but she was smiling happily as she

carried in

the christmas pudding

in its little circle of blue fire

oh

it was a wonderful pudding

they were all delighted with it

it’s your greatest success

in all the years that we’ve been married

my dear

said bob

well

i did wonder how much fruit to put in it

said his wife

but yes

it’s a good one

and she laughed

just like a young girl

nobody said that it was a very small

pudding for a large family

nobody even thought it

no cratchit ever said or thought things

like that

at last

when they had finished their meal

the children cleared the table

and washed the plates

then they all sat round the fire eating

apples and oranges

there was a large bowl of fruit and

sugar and hot water

and something a little stronger

but only three people could drink at the

same time

because the family only owned two

glasses and a cup

but this did not worry the cratchit at

all

now

bob lifted his glass and said

a merry christmas to us all my dears

god bless us

the family repeated his wish

and tiny tim said last of all

god bless us

everyone

he sat very close to his father

on a small chair

bob held his son’s thin little hand in

his own

the boy had a special place in his

father’s heart

spirit

said scrooge

with an interest that he had never felt

before

tell me if

tiny tim will live

in the future

i see an empty chair by the fire with a

crutch beside it

if these shadows do not change

the child will

die no no

said scrooge oh no kind spirit

say that he will live

if his life

does not change soon

he will die before next christmas

what does that matter

there are too many people in the world

so it’s a good thing if some of them die

scrooge was ashamed and sad to hear his

own words spoken by the spirit

but he lifted his head

when he heard his name

mr scrooge

said bob

let’s drink

to mr scrooge

whose money has paid for this meal

his money

said mrs cratchit angrily

what can we buy with his 15 shillings a

week

why should we drink to the health of a

hateful hard

unfeeling mean old man like scrooge

dear

said bob gently

remember

it’s christmas

well bob

i’ll drink to his health

only because of you

and because it’s christmas

long life to mr scrooge

a merry christmas

and a happy new year to him

he’ll be very merry

and very happy i’m sure

when the children heard scrooge’s name

a dark shadow came over their happiness

for a while

and they were quiet

and a little sad

but five minutes later they were talking

and laughing and telling stories

ten times merrier than before

they were not a good looking

or a well-dressed family

but they were happy

and grateful

and loved each other

as they disappeared

in the light of the spirit’s torch

scrooge could not take his eyes off them

especially tiny tim

by this time it was getting dark and

snowing

heavily the spirit

took scrooge into many houses

where fires were burning cheerfully and

food was cooking

and people were merrily welcoming their

friends and families into their homes

the ghost was delighted to see all this

excitement

and made sure that he lifted his torch

over every poor family

to give them more fun and better food

and greater happiness

then the spirit took scrooge away from

the busy capital

to a wild lonely place

in the country

where no trees grew

here

they visited a small

stone house

a long way from any town or village

where an old man and woman

were singing christmas carols with their

children and grandchildren

the spirit did not stay long here

but told scrooge

to hold his robe again

where are we going

not up in the air surely

and scrooge

terribly frightened

looked down as they flew over the land

and then over the sea

it was stormy windy weather

and the waves crashed violently

underneath them

the spirit took scrooge to a lighthouse

built on a lonely rock several miles

from land

a light was kept burning at the top

in order to warn sailors to keep away

from the dangerous rocks

two men lived here in this cold

unfriendly place

far away from their families

but the spirit

smiled to see them shake hands

wish each other a merry christmas

and sing a carol together in front of

their fire

again the spirit and scrooge flew on

and together they landed on a ship in

the middle of the sea

here

every man

although many miles from home

had a kind word for his friend

or thought warmly of his family

because it was christmas

it was a great surprise to scrooge

while listening to the noise of the wind

and waves

to hear a happy laugh

he recognized it

as his nephews

and found himself

with the smiling spirit beside him

in his nephew’s bright

warm sitting room

when scrooge’s nephew laughed

everybody who was with him wanted to

laugh too

he had that kind of laugh

and at that moment

his very pretty wife

and several of his friends were laughing

with him

he said that christmas was humbug

cried scrooge’s nephew

that’s very bad of him fred

said his wife

he’s a strange old man

said scrooge’s nephew

but

i’m sorry for him

his money is no use to him you see

he isn’t at all happy

or comfortable

although he’s rich

it’s sad to think of him sitting alone

in his cold room

and so

i’m going to invite him every christmas

he can be cross and miserable if he

likes

but i’ll go on inviting him

and one day

perhaps he’ll think better of christmas

after tea

the cheerful little group sang songs and

played music

scrooge

recognized the song that his little

sister used to sing

and remembered sadly

what the ghost of christmas past had

shown him

later the friends played guessing games

and scrooge joined in the games with

delight

nobody except the spirit could hear him

but he often guessed the right answer

it’s time to go now

said the ghost

smiling at the old man’s childish

excitement

no spirit please

let me stay a little longer

look

they’re playing a new game

it was a game called yes

and no

in which scrooge’s nephew

had to think of something

and the others

had to ask questions

to discover what it was

the only possible answers were yes or no

scrooge heard that fred was thinking of

a living animal

a wild animal

sometimes an angry animal

which lived in london

and walked in the streets

every time he answered a question

fred could not stop himself laughing

at last

his wife’s dark pretty sister

started laughing too

i i know what it is fred i know

she cried out

it’s your uncle scrooge

everyone laughed until they cried

what a wonderful game what a clever idea

of fred’s

but at last fred dried his eyes and said

we’ve been

very merry because of him

so

i think we should drink to his health

here’s to uncle scrooge

a merry christmas

and a happy new year to the old man

uncle scrooge

to uncle scrooge they all cried

cheerfully lifting their glasses

uncle scrooge wanted to thank them

but the spirit hurried him away

the ghost seemed much older now

his brown hair had become gray

are spirits live so short

ask scrooge

my life in this world ends at midnight

tonight

listen

it’s a quarter to midnight now

the church clock was striking the three

quarters

excuse me for asking spirit

said scrooge

but what are those strange things near

your foot

oh man look here

said the spirit sadly

and brought out from under his robe

two ghostly figures

a boy

and a girl

they were thin and poorly dressed with

cold mean eyes

and dry yellow skin

and their faces showed only a

frightening and murderous hate

scrooge had never seen anything so

terrible

or so sad

these miserable children are mans

said the spirit

the boy is crime

the girl is need

they will destroy man

if nothing is done about them

can’t anyone help them

cried scrooge

are there no prisons

said the spirit

turning on scrooge for the last time

with his own words

are there no workhouses

the clock struck twelve

scrooge looked

but could no longer see the ghost

or the children

he was alone again

[Music]

four

the last of the spirits

the third spirit will come at midnight

scrooge suddenly remembered the words of

jacob marley’s ghost

and lifting his eyes

saw a spirit

all in black

coming slowly towards him

it was a tall

silent figure

wearing a long black robe which hid its

head and body

when it came close to him

it stopped

and pointed onwards with one hand

scrooge

was more afraid of this spirit

than he had been of the others

and his voice was shaking as he asked

are you the spirit of christmas yet come

the ghost neither spoke nor moved

but still pointed onwards

are you going to show me

shadows of the things which haven’t

happened yet

but will happen in the future

scrooge asked

there was no answer

ghost

of the future

he continued

you frighten me very much

but i think

you can help me to change my life

i’ll be very grateful to you

if you show me the future

won’t you speak to me

again

no reply

well

show me the way spin it

said scrooge finally

the night is passing

and time is valuable to me i know

the ghost moved away

with scrooge following in its shadow

suddenly they were in the heart of the

capital among the businessmen and

moneylenders

the ghost pointed to one small group of

men

so scrooge went closer

to listen to their conversation

no

i don’t know much about it

said one fat man

i only know he’s dead

when did he die

asked another man

last night i think

why what was the matter with him

asked a third

i’ve no idea

replied the fat man looking bored

who cares

what’s he done with his money

asked a red-faced gentleman

i haven’t heard

said the fat man

he hasn’t left it to me that’s all i

know

they all laughed at this

scrooge knew the men

and looked towards the spirit

hoping it would explain what the

conversation meant

but the ghost moved on

pointing at two more men

scrooge listened again

he knew these men well

they were rich and important

and he had often done business with them

how are you

said one

how are you

replied the other

well

said the first

the old man has died at last has he

so they tell me replied the second

cold isn’t it

nice and frosty for christmas

good morning

not another word

that was the end of their meeting

scrooge wondered why the spirit wanted

him to hear these conversations

what could they mean

the dead man

could not be his partner jacob

because he was already dead

scrooge watched carefully

trying to understand

he looked round for his own shadow

but could not see himself anywhere

perhaps

that’s not surprising he thought

because

if i change my life

and i’m planning to do that

i won’t be the same person in the future

just then

he noticed the spirit

standing quiet and dark beside him

with its pointing

hand he felt the unseen eyes staring

fixedly at him behind the black robe

scrooge’s body shook

and he felt cold

they left the busy offices and banks

and went to another part of the capital

where scrooge had never been before

the streets were narrow and dirty

the houses miserably poor

the people unwashed and half dressed

down one street there was a small shop

where an old man was sitting waiting for

customers

his business was buying old furniture or

clothes

and selling them again to the poorest

people in london

as scrooge and the spirit watched

three women arrived at the shop door at

the same time

each carrying a large bundle

they looked very surprised

and a little ashamed to see each other

suddenly they all started laughing

ladies

you couldn’t find a better place to meet

said joe

the old man getting up

now

come inside

and show me what you’ve got to sell

inside

the first woman put her bundle on the

table and said

i don’t care

if everybody knows where this comes from

we all have to take care of ourselves

he always did

that’s right agreed the second woman

very true

agreed the third

does a dead man need these things

continued the first woman

and why was he so mean while he was

alive

we all worked for him didn’t we

cleaned his house

washed his clothes

cooked his soup

and what did we get

three shillings a week

it’s no surprise that he died alone with

no friends around him

you never spoke a truer word

said the second

he was a bad man we all know that said

the third

now

what have we here

said old joe

opening the women’s bundles

buttons

pencils

boots

silver spoons

some excellent bed curtains

blankets and

a very good shirt

he added feeling the fine cotton

yes

it was his best

said the first woman

they put it on him after he died

but he doesn’t need it now that he’s

dead

and the blankets and bed curtains

he doesn’t need them either

you took the shirt off a dead body

and the blankets and curtains off his

bed

while he was lying there

well well

said joe shaking his head

here’s your money

and he counted out several shillings

into the women’s hands

laughed the first woman

he frightened everyone away when he was

alive

and we’ve made money out of him now that

he’s dead

scrooge

felt sick

and angry at the same time

spirit he said

i see now

i could be that unhappy man

good heavens what’s this

joe and the women had disappeared

and scrooge was standing in a dark room

opposite him was a bed

with no blankets or curtains

a light shone down from above

onto the body of a dead man

covered with a sheet

how sad

thought scrooge

to die with no friends or family around

him

to lie in an empty room

with no candles

or flowers

and robbed of his clothes

to know that nobody loves him

because he loved nobody in his life

money

can’t buy a happy life

or a peaceful death

he looked at the spirit

whose hand was pointing at the man’s

covered head

it would be easy to lift the sheet

and see who the man was

but for some reason

scrooge could not do it

spirit

he said

this is a terrible place

let’s go

still the ghost’s unmoving finger

pointed at the man’s head

i understand you but i can’t look at him

spirit i can’t

said scrooge wildly

if there’s anyone in this town

who feels

anything at this man’s death

show that person to me spirit please

for a moment

the spirit lifted its dark robe like a

wing

and showed scrooge a room

where a mother and her children were

sitting

the young woman kept looking at the

clock

and when her husband arrived she hurried

to meet him

what is the news

she asked him worriedly

is it good

or

or bad

there is still hope caroline he replied

how can there be hope

if that hard mean old man

wants us to pay back the money now

they’ll send us to prison

we haven’t got enough to pay him

he is dead caroline

answered her husband

thank god for that

cried the young woman from her heart

the next moment

she realized what she had said

oh

i didn’t mean that

i’m sorry if anyone dies

perhaps the person who inherits his

business

will give us

more time to pay the money back

and we’ll have the money by then

tonight

we can sleep well caroline

so

spirit

said scrooge in a broken voice

you can

show me

only happiness

at this man’s death

it frightens me spirit

show me

please

that there can be sadness

at a death

the ghost

took him silently through the streets

to poor bob cratchit’s house

the room seemed strangely quiet

the mother and her daughters

were making a small white cotton shirt

together

while the usually noisy young cratchits

sat silently in a corner and peter was

reading a book

mrs cratchit

put her work down on the table

and covered her face with her hand

the color hurts my eyes she said

the color

ah

poor tiny tim

they’re a little better now she went on

it’s difficult to work by candlelight

and i don’t want to show red eyes to

your father when he comes home

he’s a bit late

said peter

but i think he’s walked more slowly

these last few days mother

they were very quiet again

at last she said bravely

i’ve known him walk with

with tiny tim in his arms

very fast indeed

so have i cried peter

often

but he was

very light to carry

and your father loved him so much

and there’s your father at the door now

she got up quickly to kiss bob as he

came in

he looked tired and thin

and needed his long scarf poor man

martha took his boots and scarf off

and belinda brought him his tea and the

little cratchits sat close to him

he was very cheerful with all of them

and was pleased with the little shirt

that his wife and daughters were making

it’ll be ready long before sunday won’t

it he said

sunday

you went there today then bob

asked his wife

yes my dear

you’d love to see it

it’s a beautiful green place

but you’ll see it often

i promised him that we would go there

every sunday

my little

little child

cried bob

hiding his face in his hands

he had loved the boy very much

he went upstairs to the quiet bedroom

where the child lay

poor bob sat down beside him

and when he felt karma

he kissed the little face

and went downstairs again

almost happy

my dears

he said to his children

one of these days

some of you will marry and leave home

in a few years time

perhaps all of you will

but i’m sure

none of us

will ever forget tiny tim will we

never father

they all cried

and i know

said bob

that when we remember

how patient

and gentle he was

although he was only a little child

we won’t argue among ourselves

we’ll remember

poor tiny tim

and love each other

we will father

they all cried again

i am very happy

said bob

i am very happy

mrs cratchit kissed him

his daughters kissed him

the two young cratchits kissed him

and he and peter shook hands

tiny tim

your goodness lives on in your family

spirit

said scrooge

i know

that you will leave me soon

tell me who that dead man on the bed was

no answer came in words

but the ghost of christmas yet to come

took scrooge through the streets of

london again

wait a moment

said scrooge

we’re passing my office

let me see how i shall look in the

future

the spirit stopped

its hand was pointing away from the

office

but scrooge hurried up to the window and

looked in

it was an office still

but not his

the furniture was not the same

and the figure in the chair was not

himself

the ghost continued to point onwards

and scrooge followed

they reached a church

and entered the churchyard

here

among the untidy graves and the uncut

grass

lay the miserable man

whose name scrooge would soon learn

it was a lonely place

most suitable for a man so unloved

the spirit stood

and pointed down at one of the graves

scrooge was strangely afraid

before

i look

more closely at that gravestone he said

answer me one question

are these the shadows

of the things that will be

or are they only shadows

of the things that may be

without replying

the ghost pointed silently down at the

grave

scrooge moved slowly towards it

and following the finger

read on the stone his own name

ebernesa scrooge

am i that man who was lying on the bed

he cried

the spirit pointed from the grave to him

and back again

no spirit

oh no no

the finger was still there

scrooge

fell to the ground in front of the ghost

holding its long dark robe

spirit listen

i am a changed man

i have learnt my lesson from you spirits

why show me this terrible end

if there is no hope for me

for the first time

the hand appeared to shake

spirit

tell me that my future will change

if i change my life now

the kind hand shook again

i will remember the past

and think of the future

i will be good to other people

i will keep christmas in my heart

and will try to be kind

and cheerful

and merry every day

oh

tell me

i can clean away the writing on this

stone

wildly he caught the ghostly hand and

held it for a moment

but the spirit was stronger than him

and pulled its hand away

just then

scrooge noticed that something strange

was happening to the spirit

it was getting smaller and smaller

and suddenly it became

a bed post

[Music]

five

the end of the story

yes

and the bed post was his own

the bed was his own

the room was his own

best

and happiest of all

the future was his own

to change his life in

i will remember the past

and think of the future

repeated scrooge as he jumped out of bed

god bless you jacob marley

and god bless christmas

in his excitement

he found it difficult to speak

his face

was still wet from crying

here are my bed curtains

he cried delightedly

they aren’t stolen

and i’m alive

those were only shadows of things that

maybe

the future will be different

i know it will

all this time

his hands were busy

hurriedly putting on his clothes

he put his left foot

in his right shoe

couldn’t find the buttons on his shirt

and forgot to brush his hair

i don’t know what i’m doing

said scrooge laughing and crying at the

same time

a merry christmas

to everybody

a happy new year

to all the world

hurrah

there’s the door which jacob’s ghost

came through

there’s the corner

where the ghost of christmas presents

sat

there’s the window

where i saw the traveling ghosts

it’s all true

it all happened

really

for a man who hadn’t laughed for so many

years

it was an excellent laugh

the father of a long line of excellent

laughs

i don’t know

what day of the month it is said scrooge

i don’t know how long i’ve been with the

spirits

i don’t know anything

i’m just like a baby

never mind

i prefer being a baby hurrah

just then he heard the church bells ring

out louder than he’d ever heard before

running to the window

he opened it and looked out

no fog at all

a clear bright

cold day

golden sunlight blue sky sweet clean air

mary bells

oh wonderful wonderful

watch today he cried calling down to a

boy in the street

today

replied the boy in great surprise

why it’s christmas day

so i haven’t missed it thought scrooge

the spirits have done it all in one

night

he called down to the boy again

hello young man

do you know the meat shop at the corner

of the next street

of course i do

replied the boy

what an intelligent boy said scrooge

do you know if they’ve sold the big

turkey that was in the shop window

yesterday

what the one as big as me

ask the boy

what a delightful boy

said scrooge it’s wonderful talking to

him yes that’s the one

it’s still there in the window

said the boy

is it

said scrooge well

go and buy it

you don’t mean it

cried the boy

i do i do

i’m serious

go and buy it

and tell the man

to bring it back here

come back with the man and i’ll give you

a shilling

come back in less than five minutes and

i’ll give you three shillings

the boy went off like a bullet from a

gun

i’ll send the turkey to bob cratchits

laughed scrooge

he’ll never know who sent it

it’s twice as big as tiny tim

he went on laughing as he wrote bob’s

address

gave it to the man with the turkey

and paid for a taxi

because the turkey was much too heavy to

carry all the way to camden town

now he finished dressing and went out

into the streets wearing his best

clothes

the town was full of happy busy people

and scrooge smiled at all of them

three or four men said cheerfully to him

good morning sir

and a merry christmas to you

scrooge thought these were the best

sounds that he had ever heard

as he was walking

he suddenly noticed one of the

comfortable looking gentlemen who had

come to his office to ask for money for

the poor

scrooge

went straight up to him

took the old gentleman by both hands

and said my dear sir

how are you

a merry christmas to you sir

mr scrooge

ask the gentleman surprised

yes that’s my name

i’m very sorry for what i said to you

when you visited me yesterday

oh will you please

and he spoke very quietly in the

gentleman’s ear

good heavens

cried the gentleman

my dear mr scrooge

are you serious

i am

not a shilling less

i must tell you

i haven’t given anything to anyone for

years

my dear sir

said the gentleman shaking hands with

him

i don’t know how to thank you for

don’t say anything please replied

scrooge

will you come and see me tomorrow about

it

i will

cried the old gentleman happily

thank you

and god bless you

said scrooge

he went to church

and watched the people

and gave children money for sweets

and discovered that he had never been so

happy in his life

in the afternoon he went to his nephew’s

house

he passed the door several times before

he was brave enough to knock

but at last he did it

and was taken into the sitting room

where fred and his pretty wife were

waiting for their friends to arrive for

dinner

fred

said scrooge

it’s your uncle scrooge

i’ve come to dinner

will you let me stay fred

let him stay

fred almost shook his uncle’s arm off

scrooge felt at home in five minutes

nothing could be merrier

and what a wonderful dinner they had

wonderful party

wonderful games

wonderful happiness

but he was early at the office next

morning

oh he was there early

he wanted to catch bob cratchit arriving

late

and he did

the clock struck nine

no bob

a quarter past

no bob

he was 18 and a half minutes late when

he finally hurried in

scrooge was sitting with his office door

open

hello

said scrooge in his old hard voice

what do you mean by coming here so late

i’m very sorry sir

said bob

i am late

it’s only once a year

we were rather merry yesterday sir

now

i’ll tell you what my friend

said scrooge

i’m not going to have this any longer

and so

he continued jumping off his chair

and shaking bob’s hand

i’m going to pay you twice as much

bob’s face went white

for a second or two

he thought that scrooge had gone crazy

a merry christmas bob

said scrooge

and it was clear that he meant it

a merrier christmas bob

than i’ve given you for a long time

i’m going to pay you well

and help you with your family

and we’ll discuss it all this afternoon

over a christmas drink bob

put more wood on the fire at once bob

cratchit

and let’s be comfortable

scrooge

did everything that he had promised and

more

to tiny tim

who did not die

he became a second father

he became as good a friend employer and

man

as anyone in london or in the world

some people laughed to see the change in

him

but he did not care

his own heart laughed inside him

and that was good enough for him

he never had any more conversations with

spirits

but kept christmas cheerfully

and lived a happy life

that is what all of us want

and so

as tiny tim said

god bless us

everyone

[Music]

[Applause]

you