A CHRISTMAS CAROL

[Illustration: _"How now?" said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. "What do you want with me?"_]

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

[Illustration]

BY

CHARLES DICKENS

[Illustration]

ILLUSTRATED BY ARTHUR RACKHAM

[Illustration]

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK

FIRST PUBLISHED 1915

REPRINTED 1923, 1927, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973

ISBN: 0-397-00033-2

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

PREFACE

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book to raise the Ghost of an Idea which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their house pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant,

C. D.

_December, 1843._

CHARACTERS

Bob Cratchit, clerk to Ebenezer Scrooge. Peter Cratchit, a son of the preceding. Tim Cratchit ("Tiny Tim"), a cripple, youngest son of Bob Cratchit. Mr. Fezziwig, a kind-hearted, jovial old merchant. Fred, Scrooge's nephew. Ghost of Christmas Past, a phantom showing things past. Ghost of Christmas Present, a spirit of a kind, generous, and hearty nature. Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, an apparition showing the shadows of things which yet may happen. Ghost of Jacob Marley, a spectre of Scrooge's former partner in business. Joe, a marine-store dealer and receiver of stolen goods. Ebenezer Scrooge, a grasping, covetous old man, the surviving partner of the firm of Scrooge and Marley. Mr. Topper, a bachelor. Dick Wilkins, a fellow apprentice of Scrooge's.

Belle, a comely matron, an old sweetheart of Scrooge's. Caroline, wife of one of Scrooge's debtors. Mrs. Cratchit, wife of Bob Cratchit. Belinda and Martha Cratchit, daughters of the preceding.

Mrs. Dilber, a laundress. Fan, the sister of Scrooge. Mrs. Fezziwig, the worthy partner of Mr. Fezziwig.

CONTENTS

STAVE ONE--MARLEY'S GHOST 3 STAVE TWO--THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS 37 STAVE THREE--THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS 69 STAVE FOUR--THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS 111 STAVE FIVE--THE END OF IT 137

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

_IN COLOUR_

"How now?" said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. "What do you want with me?" _Frontispiece_

Bob Cratchit went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve 16

Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall 20

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• 2: The air was filled with phantoms
• 3: Above the warehouse door Scrooge and Marley
• 4: Was what the knowing ones call 'nuts' to Scrooge
• 5: Talking about a merry Christmas
• 6: At the ominous word 'liberality' Scrooge frowned
• 7: With an ill will Scrooge dismounted from his stool
• 8: But looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look
• 9: As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon
• 10: Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels
• 11: Scrooge could not feel it himself
• 12: That Scrooge held on tight to his chair
• 13: ' he demanded in a faltering voice
• 14: It beckoned Scrooge to approach
• 15: Its rapid little pulse beat twelve
• 16: 'Perhaps Scrooge could not have told anybody why
• 17: Scrooge recognising every gate
• 18: ' Scrooge exclaimed in ecstasy
• 19: Poor Robin Crusoe he called him
• 20: 'Old Fezziwig laid down his pen
• 21: In came the three Miss Fezziwigs
• 22: Fezziwig There were more dances
• 23: 'This was not addressed to Scrooge
• 24: So like that last that Scrooge believed it was the same
• 25: ' said Scrooge in a broken voice
• 26: Without venturing for Scrooge quite as hardily as this
• 27: He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been
• 28: And glanced demurely at the hung up mistletoe
• 29: For he stood with Scrooge beside him in a baker's doorway
• 30: ' cried the two young Cratchits
• 31: Excited by the two young Cratchits
• 32: Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing
• 33: Scrooge was the Ogre of the family
• 34: And as Scrooge and the Spirit went along the streets
• 35: But bade Scrooge hold his robe
• 36: 'Scrooge's nephew revelled in another laugh
• 37: I can assure you especially Topper
• 38: Scrooge had observed this change
• 39: Scrooge looked about him for the Ghost
• 40: As Scrooge had seen them often
• 41: ' observed the gentleman with the excrescence on his nose
• 42: Where Scrooge had never penetrated before
• 43: 'Let the laundress alone to be the second
• 44: 'Don't drop that oil upon the blankets
• 45: Scrooge glanced towards the Phantom
• 46: 'Where had Scrooge heard those words
• 47: Then the two young Cratchits got upon his knees
• 48: The two young Cratchits kissed him
• 49: Scrooge hastened to the window of his office
• 50: And dwindled down into a bedpost
• 51: And the chuckle with which he paid for the turkey
• 52: ' And Scrooge said often afterwards that
• 53: Scrooge was better than his word