A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
BY
CHARLES DICKENS
ILLUSTRATED BY ARTHUR RACKHAM
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
The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste and moaning as they went 32
Then old Fezziwig stood out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig 54
A flushed and boisterous group 62
Laden with Christmas toys and presents 64
The way he went after that plump sister in the lace tucker! 100
"How are you?" said one. "How are you?" returned the other. "Well!" said the first. "Old Scratch has got his own at last, hey?" 114
"What do you call this?" said Joe. "Bed-curtains!" "Ah!" returned the woman, laughing.... "Bed-curtains!"
"You don't mean to say you took 'em down, rings and all, with him lying there?" said Joe.
"Yes, I do," replied the woman. "Why not?" 120
"Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," said Scrooge. "I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer." 146
IN BLACK AND WHITE
Tailpiece vi Tailpiece to List of Coloured Illustrations x Tailpiece to List of Black and White Illustrations xi Heading to Stave One 3 They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to behold 12 On the wings of the wind 28-29 Tailpiece to Stave One 34 Heading to Stave Two 37 He produced a decanter of curiously light wine and a block of curiously heavy cake 50 She left him, and they parted 60 Tailpiece to Stave Two 65 Heading to Stave Three 69 There was nothing very cheerful in the climate 75 He had been Tim's blood-horse all the way from church 84-85 With the pudding 88 Heading to Stave Four 111 Heading to Stave Five 137 Tailpiece to Stave Five 147