A Christmas Carol: 4.2 Fred

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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens Retold by Kieran McGovern

The Ghost of Christmas Present 4.2 Fred

The ghost now takes Scrooge to visit the home of his nephew, Fred. Again the scene is a joyful Christmas dinner and Fred is laughing. He is telling his guests about the meeting he had with his uncle at Scrooge’s office.

A comical old fellow `He said that Christmas was a humbug!' cried Scrooge's nephew. `He believed it too.' `More shame for him, Fred.' said Scrooge's niece. `He's a comical old fellow,' said Scrooge's nephew. 'And not so pleasant as he might be.

However, his offences carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him.' `I'm sure he is very rich, Fred,' hinted Scrooge's niece. `At least you always tell me so.' `What of that, my dear.' said Scrooge's nephew. `His wealth is of no use to him. He don't do any good with it. He don't make himself comfortable with it.' `I have no patience with him,' said Scrooge's niece.

All the other ladies agreed. `Oh, I have.' said Scrooge's nephew. `I am sorry for him; I couldn't be angry with him.’

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Scrooge hurts himself ‘Who loses most from his behaviour? Himself, always! Here, he dislikes us, and he won't come and dine with us. `Indeed, I think he loses a very good dinner,' said Scrooge's niece.

`He is trapped in his own thoughts,' said Scrooge's nephew. ‘He stays in his mouldy old office, or his dusty chambers.’

‘Silly man!’

‘I will give him the same chance every year,’ said Fred, ‘for I pity him. One year it may move him to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds.

After tea they had some music. Scrooge's niece played a familiar song on the harp. ‘Your

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sister sang this when she fetched you from boarding school,’ said the ghost.

‘I know,’ said Scrooge, his mind now full of that scene from his past.

It was not just a musical evening. Soon they were playing games, starting with blind-man's bluff.

There might have been twenty people there, young and old. They all played the games that followed and so did Scrooge. He was enjoying them so much that he forgot that his voice made no sound in their ears.

Soon he was shouting out his guess quite loud. Very often he guessed quite right, too.

Time to go The Ghost was greatly pleased to find him in this mood.

‘Can I stay until the end? Scrooge asked.

‘We must go,’ said the Spirit. `Here is a new game,' said Scrooge. `Please can I stay? Just for half hour, Spirit.'

It was a game called Twenty Questions.

Scrooge's nephew had to think of something.

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Then the rest tried to find out what it was by asking questions. Fred could only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

From Fred’s answers they learned he was thinking of an animal. It was a savage animal, that growled sometimes.

‘Does it live in London?’

‘Yes.’ ‘Is it sold in a market?’

‘No.’ ‘But it talks sometimes?’

‘Yes.’ ‘Is it a horse?’

‘No.’ Nor was it a cow, or a bull. Or a tiger, or a dog, or a pig, or a cat, or a bear. At every new question, Fred roared with laughter. At last one of the ladies cried out: `I know what it is, Fred! It's your Uncle Scrooge.'

Everyone laughed and Fred lifted his glass in a toast. ‘Here’s to his health! Uncle Scrooge!'

‘Uncle Scrooge!' they cried.

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`A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man.' said Scrooge's nephew. `He doesn’t want to hear it but I will say it. Uncle Scrooge!’

Uncle Scrooge wanted to thank them in return but the Ghost did not give him time. The whole scene passed off in the breath of the last word spoken by his nephew.

He and the Spirit were again upon their travels.

Glossary/Vocabulary Blind Man’s Bluff - see here Growled - low angry sound (e.g dog) Niece - daughter of brother or sister Offences - crimes or sins Roared - big open-mouthed sound Savage - wild, dangerous Wealth - money, things of monetary value.

A glossary, comprehension exercises, key quotes and other learning activities related to this text are here: http://christmascarol.esolebooks.com/

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