A Christmas Carol; Or, The Miser's Warning!

Frank. Done it! Done what, man?

Bob. Stole my Christmas dinner – my – salary – I mean my fifteen shillings, that your uncle paid me not an hour ago.

Frank. That's unfortunate!

Bob. Unfortunate! Think of Tiny Tim's disappointment – no goose – no pudding – no nothing!

Frank. Tiny Tim shall not go without his Christmas dinner notwithstanding your loss – no, nor you either – nor any of your family, Bob Cratchit. At such a time as this, no one should be unhappy – not even my hard-hearted uncle, much less a worthy fellow like you. Here, Bob, here's a sovereign – you can return it when my uncle raises your wages – no thanks, but go and be as happy as you deserve to be – once more, a merry Christmas to you! (Exit r. h.

Bob. He's a regular trump! I wanted to thank him, and couldn't find the words! I should like to laugh, and I feel as if I could cry. If Tiny Tim don't bless you for this my name's not Bob Cratchit! I've lost fifteen shillings, and I've found a sovereign! (Dances.) Tol lol li do! Oh, Mrs. Cratchit! Oh, my little Cratchit! what a happy Christmas Day we shall spend, surely! What a pity Christmas don't last all the year round! (Exit l. h.)

SCENE III.– Scrooge's chamber, as before

Scrooge discovered, sleeping in a chair. The Stage becomes suddenly quite light, and the Ghost of Christmas Present discovered, as in Work, page 78, the wall at back covered with ivy, holly, and mistletoe – heaped upon the floor, almost to form a throne, are turkeys, geese, plum puddings, twelfth cake, etc. (See Page 78.)

2nd Spirit. Know me, man? I am the ghost of Christmas Present. Look upon me. (Scrooge rises, approaches, and gazes at the figure.) You have never seen the like of me before?

Scr. Never!

2nd Spirit. Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family, meaning, for I am very young, my elder brothers born in these latter years.

Scr. I'm afraid I have not. Have you had many brothers, Spirit?

2nd Spirit. More than eighteen hundred!

Scr. A tremendous family to provide for! (The Spirit rises.) Spirit, conduct me where you will – if you have ought to teach me, let me profit by it. Why do you carry that torch?

2nd Spirit. To sprinkle the light and incense of happiness every where – to poor dwellings most.

Scr. Why to poor ones most?

2nd Spirit. Because they need it most. But come – touch my robe – we have much to see. (As Scrooge approaches nearer to him, the Scene changes.)

SCENE IV.—A Bleak and Barren Moor. A poor mud cabin. (Painted in the flat.)

The Second Spirit and Scrooge enter

Scr. What place is this?

2nd Spirit. A place where miners live, who labour in the bowels of the earth – they know me. See! (As he speaks, the window is lighted from within. The Spirit draws Scrooge to window.) What seest thou?

Scr. A cheerful company assembled round a glowing fire – an old man and woman, with their children, and children's children all decked gaily out in their holiday attire. I hear the old man's voice above the howling of the wind upon the barren waste; singing a Christmas song, while all swell out the chorus.

2nd Spirit. Come, we must not tarry – we will to sea – your ear shall be deafened by the roaring waters.

Scr. To sea? no, good Spirit!

2nd Spirit. See yonder solitary lighthouse built on a dismal reef of sunken rocks. Here we men who watch the light, have made a fire that sheds a ray of brightness on the awful sea, joining their horny hands over the rough table where they sit, they wish each other a merry Christmas in can of grog and sing a rude lay in honour of the time. All men on this day have a kinder word for one another – on such a day – but come – on – on! (As he speaks the Scene changes.)

SCENE V.—Drawing-room in Frank Freeheart's house

Frank, Caroline his wife, Mr. Cheerly, and male and female Guests discovered – some are seated on a sofa on one side, others surround a table on the other side. Scrooge and the Spirit remain on one side. (At opening of Scene all laugh.)

Frank. Yes, friends, my uncle said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live! He believed it, too!

Omnes. More shame for him.

Frank. He's a comical old fellow! However, his offences carry their own punishment.

Cheer. He's very rich!

Frank. But his wealth is of no use to him. He don't do any good with it. He don't make himself comfortable with it. He hasn't the satisfaction of thinking – ha, ha, ha! – that he is ever going to benefit us with it!

Ladies. We have no patience with him!

Frank. But I have! I'm sorry for him! I couldn't be angry with him if I tried. Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself! He loves a good dinner – pleasant moments, and pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, or in his mouldy chambers. He may rail at Christmas till he dies, but he can't help thinking better of it, I defy him! If he finds me going there, year after year and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, that's something, and I think I shook him yesterday! (All laugh.) Well, he has given us plenty of merriment so here's his health. Uncle Scrooge!

Omnes. (Drinks.) Uncle Scrooge!

Frank. A merry Christmas and a happy new year to him wherever he is!

Scr. Spirit, their merriment has made me so bright and gay, that I could almost pledge them in return, and join in all their innocent mirth!

A servant enters, l. h. and gives a letter to Frank, then exits

Frank. (Opens it and reads. Aside.) Ah! what do I see, the vessel lost at sea that bore my entire wealth within her! Then I'm a lost and ruined man! (His wife approaches him.)

Cheer. No ill news, I hope, Mr. Freeheart.

Frank. (Aside.) The stroke is sudden and severe but I will bear it like a man! Why should I damp the enjoyment of those around by such ill tiding? No, it is Christmas time – I will not broach such bad news now – no – at least to-night. All shall be happy – nor word of mine shall make any otherwise. (To his friends.) Come, friends, let's have a merry dance, shall we not?

Omnes. A dance! a dance! (Short, Country Dance, in which Scrooge joins without being observed by the rest. Towards the conclusion of it the Spirit advances – draws Scrooge back from the group – a bright glow lights up the Scene, as the Spirit and Scrooge sink through the Stage unnoticed by the groups.)

END OF ACT I

ACT II

SCENE I.—Humble Apartment in Bob Cratchit's House. Table, chairs, etc., on

Mrs. Cratchit and Belinda Cratchit discovered laying the cloth. Peter Cratchit is by fire. Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Present rise through the Stage, and stand aside and observe them.

Scr. So, this is my clerk's dwelling, Spirit – Bob Cratchit's. You blessed it with the sprinkling of your torch as we passed the threshold. Bob had but fifteen Bob a week. He pockets on Saturdays but fifteen copies of his Christian name, and yet the Ghost of Christmas Present blessed his four-roomed house. (Two of Cratchit's younger children, Boy and Girl, run in.)

Boy. Oh, mother – outside the baker's we smell such a goose! It must have been ours – no one has got such a goose. Oh, gemini! (They dance round the table in childish glee.)

Mrs. C. Whatever has got your precious father, Bob, and Tiny Tim. And Martha warn't as late this Christmas Day by half an hour!

Enter Martha, l. h