Christmas Carol: 3. Christmas Past

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Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens Retold by Kieran McGovern

3. Christmas Past 1. Scrooge

2. Marley’s Ghost

The first spirit Scrooge wakes to see the first of the three visitors predicted by Marley’s Ghost.

`Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me.' asked Scrooge. `I am.'

The voice was soft and gentle. `Who, and what are you.' Scrooge demanded. `I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.’

"Long past?"

"No. Your past. I’m here to help you' said the Ghost. `Rise and walk with me.'

The temperature outside was a long way below freezing and Scrooge did not want leave his warm bed. All he was wearing was his slippers, dressing gown, and nightcap.

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But though Spirit's grasp was gentle as a woman's hand Scrooge could not resist it. He rose with the Spirit and together they moved towards the window.

Childhood Soon they passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either hand. The city had entirely vanished.

The darkness and the mist had vanished Now it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground. `Good Heaven!' said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. `I grew up in this place. I was a boy here.'

A thousand thoughts came flooding back.

Hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten. `Do you remember the way?' asked the Spirit. `Remember it?' cried Scrooge; `I could walk it blindfold.' `Strange to have forgotten it for so many years.' observed the Ghost. `Let us go on.'

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Solitary Child They walked along the road. Scrooge knew every gate, post and tree. Soon a little town

appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river.

Some ponies now were seen coming towards them with boys upon their backs. All these boys were in great spirits. They shouted to each other, until the fields were full of merry music Scrooge knew these boys and named them every one. Why was he so happy to see them?

Why did his cold eye glisten? Why did his heart leap up as they went past?

As they parted for their different homes, the boys said ‘Merry Christmas! It made Scrooge melancholy.

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What was merry Christmas to Scrooge?

What good had it ever done to him? `The school is not quite deserted,' said the Ghost. `A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.'

Scrooge said he knew it. And he sobbed.

Dear Brother They left the high road, and soon approached a large house of dull red brick.

It had large rooms but their walls were damp, their windows broken, and their gates decayed. Chickens ran around the stables. The coach-houses and sheds were over-grown with grass.

Glancing through the open doors, they saw the chilly bareness of a building where there was too much getting up by candlelight, and not too much to eat.

The Ghost and Scrooge went across the hall, to a door at the back of the house. It opened before them, and disclosed a long, bare, melancholy room filled with rows of desks

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At one of these a lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire. Scrooge wept to see the poor forgotten boy he used to be. Poor boy!’ Another Christmas `I wish,' Scrooge muttered, putting his hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff: `but it's too late now.' `What is the matter.' asked the Spirit. `Nothing,' said Scrooge. `Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that's all.'

The Ghost smiled thoughtfully. It waved its hand saying as it did so, `Let us see another Christmas.'

Scrooge's former self grew larger at the words, and the room became a little darker and more dirty. The boy was alone again. All the other boys had gone home for the jolly holidays.

He was not reading now, but walking up and down despairingly.

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Scrooge looked at the Ghost, and with a mournful shaking of his head, glanced anxiously towards the door.

Dear Brother It opened; and a little girl, much younger than the boy, came darting in. Putting her arms about his neck, she kissed him `Dear, dear brother. I have come to bring you home.' said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and bending down to laugh. `To bring you home, home, home.' `Home, little Fan.' said the boy. `Yes.' said the child. `Home forever and ever.

Father is so much kinder than he used to be. I was not afraid to ask him once more if you might come home.'

'What did he say?''

'He said yes! And he sent me in a coach to bring you home!.' said the child, opening her eyes. 'We're to be together all the Christmas long, and have the merriest time in all the world.'

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`You are quite a woman, little Fan.' exclaimed the boy.

A delicate creature She clapped her hands and laughed, and tried to touch his head; but being too little, laughed again, and stood on tiptoe to embrace him. Then she began to drag him, in her childish eagerness, towards the door. `She was a delicate creature,' said the Ghost. `But she had a large heart.' `So she had,' cried Scrooge. `You're right.’ `She died a woman,' said the Ghost,' and had, as I think, children.' `One child,' said Scrooge. `True,' said the Ghost. `Your nephew.'

Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; and answered briefly, `Yes.' Fezziwig The ghost then takes Scrooge the warehouse where he first worked as an n apprentice.

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They went in. An old gentleman in a wig was sitting behind a desk so high that it almost reached the ceiling, Scrooge cried in great excitement: `Why, it's old Fezziwig. Bless his heart; it's Fezziwig alive again.'

Old Fezziwig laid down his pen, and looked up at the clock. Seeing it was 7 o’clock, he rubbed his hands and adjusted his capacious waistcoat.

Laughing to himself he called out in a comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial voice: `Yo ho, there. Ebenezer. Dick.'

A happy young man Scrooge's former self, now grown a young man, hurried in. His fellow apprentice accompanied him. `Dick Wilkins, to be sure.' said Scrooge to the Ghost. `Bless me, yes. There he is. He was very much attached to me, was Dick. Poor Dick.

Dear, dear.'

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`Yo ho, my boys.' said Fezziwig. `No more work tonight. It's Christmas Eve, Dick.

Christmas, Ebenezer. Let's have the shutters up,' The two young men charged into the street to put up the shutters. They soon rushed back, panting like race-horses. `Hilli-ho!' cried old Fezziwig, skipping down from the high desk. `Clear away, my lads, and let's have lots of room here. Hilli-ho, Dick.

Chirrup, Ebenezer.'

Everything was cleared away in a minute.

The floor was swept and watered. The lamps were trimmed. Fuel was heaped upon the fire.

Soon the warehouse was as snug, warm and dry - a bright ballroom, on a winter's night.

The guests arrive In came a fiddler with a music-book.

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In came Mrs Fezziwig, one vast smile.

In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable. In came the six young followers whose hearts they broke.

In came all the young men and women working for the Fezziwigs.

In came the housemaid, with her cousin, the baker. In came the cook, with her brother's particular friend, the milkman.

In they all came, one after another. Some came shyly, some boldly, some gracefully, some awkwardly, some pushing, some pulling.

In they all came,.

Sad memories of happy times A wonderful party follows. Everyone eats and drinks and dances all evening.

When the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball broke up.

Mr and Mrs Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side of the door. They shook hands with every person individually as he or

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she went out, wishing him or her a Merry Christmas.

When everybody had retired the two apprentices went to their beds; which were under a counter in the back-shop.

Scrooge remembered everything, enjoyed everything. It was not until now, when the bright faces of his former self and Dick were turned from them, that he remembered the Ghost.

It was looking full upon him, while the light upon its head burnt very clear.

'A small matter,' said the Ghost,' to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.' `Small.' echoed Scrooge.

Cost of Kindness The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices. They were pouring out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig. `Does he deserves so much gratitude?' asked the Spirit. 'He only spent a few pounds on these boys

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`It isn't that, Spirit' said Scrooge, speaking like his former self. `Mr Fezziwig has the power to make us happy or unhappy. His power lies in words and looks: things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count them up. The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.'

Scrooge felt the Spirit's glance, and stopped. `What is the matter.' asked the Ghost. `Nothing in particular,' said Scrooge.

`Something, I think.' the Ghost insisted. `No,' said Scrooge,' No. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now.

That's all.'

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Young love The ghost now takes Scrooge forward in time to see to when he was a man in the prime of life' when 'his face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years; but it had begun to wear the signs of care and avarice.'

Scrooge's is 'sat by the side of a fair young girl: in whose eyes there were tears.' This is his fiancĂŠe, Belle. She has told Scrooge that he loves money too much to love her.

'I am not changed towards you.' said Scrooge She shook her head. `Our engagement was made when we were both poor and content to be so. You are changed. When it was made, you were another man.' ; `I was a boy,' he said. `You were not what you are,' she said sadly. `I am. I must let you go.' `Have I ever tried to end our engagement?' `In words. No. Never.' `In what, then.'

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`In everything that made my love of any worth or value to you. If this had never been between us,' said the girl, looking at him steadily. 'Would you seek me out and try to win me now?'

'You think not?' `I would gladly think otherwise if I could,' she answered. 'My heart is full with the love of the person you once were. But I must let you go. May you be happy in the life you have chosen.'

She left him, and they parted. `Spirit.' said Scrooge,' show me no more.

Take me home. Why do you delight to torture me?' `One shadow more.' exclaimed the Ghost. `No more.' cried Scrooge. `No more, I don't wish to see it. Show me no more.'

But the Ghost forced him to observe what happened next.

The daughter Scrooge never had It is now many years later. 'A beautiful young girl' is sitting next to winter fire with her mother. At first 15

Scrooge mistakes the girl for Belle - it is in fact her daughter.

The room was not very large or handsome, but full of comfort. Noise filled it, for there were now more children there than Scrooge could count.

A knocking at the door was heard. The children ran to the door to greet their father, who came home weighed down with Christmas toys and presents.

The children climbed all over him with shouts of wonder and delight, using chairs for ladders to dive into his pockets and grab brown-paper parcels.

Later when most of the children were in bed the master of the house, sat down by the fireside. Leaning against him was a daughter was the daughter Scrooge never had. `Belle,' said the husband, turning to his wife with a smile,' I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon.' `Who was it?' `Guess.'

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`How can I? Oh I know.' she added in the same breath, laughing as he laughed. `Mr Scrooge.' `Mr Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was not shut up, and he had a candle inside, I could see him. ‘His partner lies close to death, I hear; but he sat alone. Quite alone in the world.' `Spirit.' said Scrooge in a broken voice,' remove me from this place.' `I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,' said the Ghost. `They are what they are. Do not blame me.' `Leave me. Take me back.' Scrooge exclaimed,' Haunt me no longer. I cannot bear it.'

He reached out and put out the ghost's candle. In the darkness Scrooge felt an irresistible drowsiness.

Soon his eyes were closing and he was drifting back to his bedroom into heavy sleep.

End of Stave 2

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Glossary/Vocabulary Grasp - grip, the way you hold something Clasp - holding tight Deserted - empty Solitary - alone; without company Glisten - shine with water or tears Chilly - cold, uncomfortable Bless his heart - term of affection Gratitude - thanks Engagement - promise to marry FiancĂŠe - person you are engaged to marry Blame - accuse somebody of something Irresistible - compels you to do something Drowsiness - feeling sleepy A glossary, comprehension exercises, key quotes and other learning activities related to this text here:

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