Christmas Carol 4.1: Tiny Tim

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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens Retold by Kieran McGovern

4.1: Tiny Tim `I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,' said the Spirit. `Look upon me.'

The ghost now takes Scrooge to his present life, but forward to Christmas Day. They first visit the Cratchit family home where Mrs Cratchit is cooking Christmas dinner. Bob, and his very ill son, Tiny Tim, have just arrived. His eldest daughter is hiding from them for a joke.

Bob returns home Tiny Tim had a little crutch, and had his limbs supported by an iron frame. `Why, where's our Martha.' cried Bob Cratchit, looking round. `Not coming,' said Mrs Cratchit. `Not coming.' said Bob, with drop in his high spirits. `On Christmas Day?' Martha didn't like to disappoint her father, even as a joke. She rushed out from behind the closet door, and ran into his arms. The two young Cratchits took Tiny Tim to see the Christmas pudding. `And how did little Tim behave. asked Mrs Cratchit when Bob had hugged his daughter. `As good as gold,' said Bob, with a tremble in his voice. 'Tiny Tim is growing stronger.’ Before he could say another word, Tiny Tim returned, his little crutch banging against the floor. His brother and sister took him to his stool before the fire.

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Then the two young Cratchits went to fetch the goose. They soon returned with the tiny bird.

A special Christmas dinner Mrs Cratchit made the gravy hissing hot.

Master Peter mashed the potatoes. Miss Belinda sweetened the apple-sauce. Martha brought out the plates.

The two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody. Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table.

At last the dishes were ready, and they said grace. There was then a breathless pause, as Mrs Cratchit slowly pressed the carving-knife into the breast. When she did there a murmur of delight arose all round the table.

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Even Tiny Tim beat on the table with the handle of his knife, and feebly cried Hurrah.

‘There never was a goose like this one!’ said Bob, as they ate every last crumb of the food before them.

Pudding Then it was time for Mrs Cratchit to serve the Christmas Pudding.

‘Oh, what a wonderful pudding!’

Bob Cratchit said to his wife. ‘The best you have ever made.’

‘I wasn’t sure about the amount of flour.’

‘No, it was exactly right!’

Everybody had something to say about it, but nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family. Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing.

After dinner all the Cratchit family gathered in a half-circle round the fire to try the punch.

Bob served it into their ‘glasses’: one of which was a custard-cup without a handle. These held the punch as well as golden goblets.

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Bob served it out with beaming looks, while the chestnuts on the fire cracked noisily. Then Bob proposed a toast: `A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears.

God bless us.' ‘God bless us!’ cried all the family. `God bless us every one.' said Tiny Tim, the last of all.

He sat very close to his father's side upon his little stool.

Bob held his withered little hand in his. He loved the child, and wished to keep him by his side. He dreaded what the future might bring.

Will Tiny Tim live? `Spirit,' said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, `tell me if Tiny Tim will live.' `I see a vacant seat in the corner,' replied the Ghost, `and a crutch without an owner. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.' `No, no,' said Scrooge. `Oh, no, kind Spirit. say he will be spared.'

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`If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future,' returned the Ghost, `will find him here But if he dies won’t that decrease the surplus population?'

Scrooge hung his head with grief to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit.

Mr Cratchit now proposed a final toast. ‘Mr Scrooge.' said Bob; `Mr, Scrooge indeed.' cried Mrs Cratchit, her face going red. `I wish I had him here. I'd tell him - ‘ `My dear,' said Bob, `Not in front of the children.'

A hard, unfeeling man `He is a hard, unfeeling man as Mr Scrooge.

You know he is, Robert. Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow.' `My dear,' said Bob. `It’s Christmas Day.' `I'll drink his health for your sake,' said Mrs Cratchit, `not for his. Long life to him. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. He'll be very merry and very happy, I have no doubt.'

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The children drank the toast after her. Tiny Tim drank it last of all, but he didn't care twopence for it.

Scrooge was the Monster of the family. The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party. But this passed and soon they were ten times merrier than before.

Ghost now takes Scrooge to Fred’s house.

Glossary/Vocabulary Beaming - producing light, like the sun Crutch - a stick to help with walking Dreaded - had great fear Feebly - weakly, without strength Blame - accuse somebody of something Irresistible - compels you to do something Murmur - speaking in low voices Punch - special drink (see recipe here) Toast - touch glasses in celebration Tremble - a vibration, unsteady Withered - badly damaged A glossary, comprehension exercises, key quotes and other learning activities related to this text are here http://christmascarol.esolebooks.com/ 7