story of christmas1
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A mean old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his office on a freezing
Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the next room because
Scrooge refuses to spend money on heating.
Scrooge's nephew, Fred, pays his uncle a visit and invites him to his
annual Christmas party. Two gentlemen also drop by and ask Scrooge for a
contribution to their charity. Scrooge reacts to the holiday visitors
with bitterness and venom, spitting out an angry "Bah! Humbug!" in
response to his nephew's "Merry Christmas!"
Later that evening, after returning to his dark, cold apartment, Scrooge
receives a chilling visitation from the ghost of his dead partner,
Jacob Marley. Marley relates his unfortunate story. As punishment for
his greedy life his spirit has been condemned to wander the Earth
loaded with heavy chains. Marley hopes to save Scrooge from sharing the
same fate. Marley informs Scrooge that three spirits will visit him
during each of the next three nights.
After the ghost disappears, Scrooge collapses into a deep sleep.
He wakes moments before the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past,
a strange childlike phantom with a brightly glowing head. The spirit
takes Scrooge on a journey into the past to previous Christmases from
his earlier years. Invisible to those he watches, Scrooge revisits his
childhood school days, his apprenticeship with a jolly merchant named
Fezziwig, and his engagement to Belle, a woman who leaves Scrooge
because his lust for money eclipses his ability to love another.
Scrooge, deeply moved, sheds tears of regret before the phantom returns
him to his bed.
The Ghost of Christmas Present, a majestic giant wearing a green
fur robe, takes Scrooge through London to unveil Christmas as it will
happen that year. Scrooge watches the large Cratchit family prepare a
miniature feast in its poor home. He discovers Bob Cratchit's crippled
son, Tiny Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness and humility warms
Scrooge's heart. The specter then takes Scrooge to his nephew's to
witness the Christmas party. Scrooge finds the happy gathering
delightful and asks the spirit to stay until the very end of the
festivities.
As the day passes, the spirit ages, becoming much older. Toward the end
of the day, he shows Scrooge two starved children, Ignorance and Want,
living under his coat.
He vanishes instantly as Scrooge notices a dark, hooded figure coming toward him.
The Ghost of Christmas Future leads Scrooge through a sequence of
mysterious scenes relating to an unnamed man's recent death. Scrooge
sees businessmen discussing the dead man's riches, some vagabonds
trading his personal effects for cash, and a poor couple expressing
relief at the death of their creditor. Scrooge, anxious to learn the
lesson of his latest visitor, begs to know the name of the dead man.
After asking the ghost, Scrooge finds himself in a cemetery, the spirit
pointing to a grave. Scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to
read his own name. He desperately implores the spirit to alter his fate,
promising to renounce his insensitive, avaricious ways and to honor
Christmas with all his heart.
Whoosh! He suddenly finds himself safely tucked in his bed.
Scrooge is really happy to have the chance to redeem himself and
grateful that he has been returned to Christmas Day. He runs onto the
street hoping to share his new Christmas spirit. He sends a giant
Christmas turkey to the Cratchit house and attends Fred's party, to the
surprise of the other guests. As the years go by, he holds true to his
promise and honors Christmas with all his heart: he treats Tiny Tim as
if he were his own child, provides gifts for the poor, and treats his
fellow human beings with kindness, generosity, and warmth.
