A Christmas Carol

'Mr Scrooge,' said the gentleman. 'I have come to ask for your help because it is Christmas. I want money to help the poor people who have no money and no homes.'

'Aren't there any prisons?' asked Scrooge. 'Aren't there any workhouses? Put these people in prisons and workhouses.'

'But prisons and workhouses are very unpleasant places. I am sure you want people to have a merry Christmas,' replied the gentleman.

'I don't have a merry Christmas,' said Scrooge.
'Christmas is nonsense. It's humbug! I don't believe in Christmas. I'm not giving money to anyone else so they can have a merry Christmas.'

Charles Dickens is one of the greatest English writers. He was born near Portsouth, in the south of England, on 7th February 1812.

In 1833, Charles Dickens started writing stories. He became rich and famous. A Christmas Carol was published in 1843. Other famous books by Charles Dickens are: Oliver Twist (1838), Bleak House (1853), A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Great Expectations (1861) and Our Mutual Friend (!864).

A Note About the Author 4

A Note About Life in England in the Nineteenth Century 5

1 Ebenezer Scrooge 6

2 Visitors for Scrooge 7

3 Marley's Ghost 12

4 News for Scrooge 15

5 The Ghost if Christmas Past 19

6 Scrooge as a Boy 22

7 Christmas with the Fezziwigs 25

8 The Girl Who Loved Scrooge 28

9 The Ghost if Christmas Present 31

10 Christmas with the Cratchits 35

11 A Merrt Christmas Everywhere 39

12 The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come 45

13 Tiny Tim 50

14 A Changed Man 54



Points for Understanding 59

List if titles at Elementary Level 63