Christmas Carol: Final: Merry Christmas

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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens Retold by Kieran McGovern

5.2 Merry Christmas!

The Third and final ghost leaves

THE SpiritIt shrunk, collapsed, and disappeared down into a bedpost.

The bedpost was his own. The bed was his own. The room was his own.

From the street he could hear church bells.

Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist, no night. It was clear and bright. A golden day.

"What's to-day?" cried Scrooge, calling down to a boy in his best clothes.

"EH?" "What's to-day, my fine fellow?"

"To-day! Why, CHRISTMAS DAY." "It's Christmas day! I haven't missed it.

Hallo, my fine fellow!"

"Hallo!"

"Do you know the Poulterer's, in the next street but one, at the corner?"

"I should hope I did."

The biggest turkey "An intelligent boy! Do you know whether they've sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there? The big one?"

"What, the one as big as me?"

"What a delightful boy! It's a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my boy!"

"It's hanging there now."

"Is it? Go and buy it."

"Don’t joke with me sir!" exclaimed the boy.

"No, no, I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell 'em to bring it here, that I may tell them where to take it. Come back with the man in less than five minutes, and I'll give you half a crown!"

The boy was off like a shot.

"I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's! He won’t know who it is from. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim. " He wrote the address and went down stairs to open the street door for the poulterer's man.

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What a Turkey! He was enormous, that bird.

Scrooge dressed himself "all in his best," and at last got out into the streets. The people were by this time pouring forth, as he had seen them with the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Walking with his hands behind him, Scrooge regarded every one with a delighted smile. He looked so happy that three or four fellows said, "Good morning, sir! A merry Christmas to you!"

And Scrooge said often afterwards, that they were the most joyful he ever heard.

Fred’s house In the afternoon, he turned his steps towards his nephew's house.

He passed the door a dozen times, before he had the courage to go up and knock. But he made a dash, and did it.

"Is your master at home, my dear?" said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl! Very.

"Yes, sir."

"Where is he, my love?"

"He's in the dining-room, sir, with his mistress."

"He knows me," said Scrooge, with his hand already on the dining-room lock. "I'll go in here, my dear."

"Fred!"

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"Who’s that?" cried Fred.

"It's I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?"

"Let him in! He nearly shook his arm off.

Scrooge felt at home in five minutes.

Nothing could be merrier. His niece looked just the same. So did every one when they came.

Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonder-ful happiness!

Back to work But he was early at the office next morning. O, he was early there. He wanted to be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late!

And he did it. The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. Bob was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time.

Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come into the office.

Bob's hat was off, before he opened the door; his comforter too. He was on his stool in a second; working away with his pen.

"Hallo!" growled Scrooge. "What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?"

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"I am very sorry, sir. I am behind my time."

"You are? Yes. I think you are. Step this way, if you please."

"It's only once a year, sir. It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir."

"Now, I'll tell you what, my friend. I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer.

Merry Christmas, Bob! And therefore," Scrooge continued, leaping from his stool, and pushing Bob so hard that waistcoat that he fell back into the office again, -- "I am about to raise your salary!"

Bob trembled. What was Scrooge saying?

"A merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and try to assist your struggling family.’

‘I don’t understand, sir.’

‘We will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy a more coal before you write another word, Bob Cratchit!"

And Tiny Tim? 5

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and more. To Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a man as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, or town in the good old world.

Some people laughed to see the change in him; but his own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further visits from the Spirits, and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One! Final Part Glossary/Vocabulary In earnest - serious, not joking Pouring Forth - quickly in great numbers Stand - tolerate Therefore - for this reason/as a result A glossary, comprehension exercises, key quotes and other learning activities related to this text are here: http://christmascarol.esolebooks.com/

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