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