A Christmas Carol (1915)

by Charles John Huffam Dickens

For other versions of this work, see A Christmas Carol (Dickens).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

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

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

BY
CHARLES DICKENS

ILLUSTRATED BY
ARTHUR RACKHAM

PHILADELPHIA J. B. LIPPINCOTT Co

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.

Chapters (not listed in original)

1. MARLEY’S GHOST
2. THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS
3. THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS
4. THE LAST OF THE THREE SPIRITS
5. THE END OF IT

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.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IN COLOUR
to face page
“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
“It's I, your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”		144
“Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," said Scrooge. “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer”		146

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IN BLACK AND WHITE
page
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 III Heading to Stave Five		137
Tailpiece to Stave Five		147