Learning English - ''A Christmas Carol'' The festival seasons is here again and as a way of celebrating this time

I have decide to tell you a story. However this is no ordinary tale. for what you are about to hear is one of the most famous stories ever written. the author's name is Charles Dickens. And the story is "A Christmas Carol". 1. A ghost story for christmas. To decribe Ebenezer Scrooge as mean is- to say the least-a ghost understatemant. Scrooge is what you might call-a miser. A tight fisted businessman, who does not take kindly to parting with his money. A gentleman who lives frugally and prefers to keep himself to himself. Since his long-term business partner Jacob Marley died, Scrooge preferred to work alone. Well that is not entirely true. he had help, in the shape of Bob cratchet, who worked for scrooge as a clerk. Cratchet is a humble family man and devolted husband and father to five children. the youngest of whom is Timothy. or as he is more commonly known...'Tiny Tim'. Little Timothy is a sickly child, who has to walk using a crutch. more often than not-Tiny Tim can be seen being carried around, high on his devoted father's shoulder. Every Christmas Bob Cratch would ask for the day off from work. And every year came the same reply from Scrooge... "No!" After a hard day at the bank speculating and inversting, Ebenezer heads home through the cold streets of London. It is the day before Christmas and Everyone is full of joy. Well almost everyone. Scrooge meets his nephew, who kindly offers a place at his Chistmas lunch the next day. Scrooge bluntly refuses the offer with a curt "Good afternoon". "Merry christmas Uncle Scrooge"- Chirped the Nephew.''Merry chistmas?" "Bah Humbug!" -barked Scrooge. Beggars and harity collectors line the streets holding out their hands to Scrooge, who in return pushes them aside with a despising qrunt. "Are there n workhouses for these people?" "I say let them die, and reduce the surplus population.'' As he comtinued his way hiome Scrooge passed many people, including a gas lamp lighter, a theatre promoter and finally an old blind woman. they all received a scolding as in turn, they encountered Scrooge, the old woman replied with a warning to Scrooge to change his ways, or bad things will happen to him. Of course ignored these words of warning and continued on his way. Finally Scrooge arrived at his front door, but just as he was about to put the key in the lock, a ghostly green light appeared before him and what eemed to be a human face briefly stared back at him. the face spoken once and hen was gone. Scrooge froze in terror-on the spot. Could it be Jacob marley, his former partner? Of course not. By coincidence, Marley had died seven years ago on that every day -Christmas eve. Shrugging off his fright, Scrooge walked in to his house, sat down and poured himself a hot bowl of qruel. Sitting comfortably in hi high backed chair, tired and a little shaken from his earlier fright, scrooge began to eat. Suddenly he doorbell rang. But who could be calling at such a late hour? The clork had just stuck midnight. Scrooge looked out of his bedroom window and down towards his front door. But there was no one there. Suddenly the sound of footsteps and ratting chains filled the room. Scrooge sat down again, by now, shaking with fear. Then without warning, the bedroom door flew open and a ghostly figure entered the

room. his face, while with dead staring eves, his body bound with chains. Behind him dragged a large metal cash box. "What do you want with me?" screamed Scrooge. "Much!" replied the ghost. "Do you not recognise me?" "In life I was your partner Jacob Marley". "I don't beleive you!" said Scrooge. " You might be an undigested bit of beef, or an underdone potato." "There is more of the gravy then the grave about you!" These words angered Marley so much, that he roared with rage, making the whole room shake. "i believe, oh i believe" screamed scrooge. Marley's ghost spoke again..."My greed has forced me to wear these chains forever, you Scrooge have a chance to escape this fate." "Tonight you will be visited by three ghosts, the first will arrive at midnight" . A combination of fear and tiredness overwhelmed Scrooge, so he made his way to his bed, climbed in and went to sleep, but not for long. The church bell struck midnight. Scrooge awoke with a start. Then into th bedroom came the firsat spirit. A while glowing appartion that seemed to float on air. The spirit spoke. "hello' "I know you!" said Scrooge. " Hush now and let me speak-I am the ghost of Chrismas past." ' come, let me show your earlier life, walk with me." With those words came a flash and there is was. A scence from Scrooges childhood. Scrooges father was being taken away by a jailer. He was going to prison. The father called out to the young Scrogge. " Don't mke the same mistake as me Ebenezer, work hard and save your money!" This was a evry painful sight, as it was the last time he ever saw his father alive. The spirit of Christmas past spoke. " You have lost all those you have loved-your mother, your sister, who died while giving birth to your nephew." "Why do you remind me of these things?" asked Scrooge. "it is not all bad, remember your early working days as an apprentice at Fezziwigs, and the girl you would meet during that time?" They were indeed very happy times. Oh what fun it was working for Fezziwig. he always looked after his emplayees. Christmas was alays celebrated in a big way, with a large party. which included lots of food and plenty of dancing. " From spending just a couple of pounds, all that happiness was created" said the spirit. Crooge seemed to agree. The sight of his younger self had melted scrooges cold heart, just a little. Antoher scence appeared before them. This time it was an older Scrooge, with the girl he had met in the previous vision. This time the vision was not a happy one. By this time Scrooge had become obsessed with making money. the girl was breaking up with scrooge. " Oh spirit show me no more" cried Scrooge. The spirit spoke. " Do not blame me for this, for these are the things which have happened and they are what they are." " They are what they are." Scrooge found himself back in his bedroom and the light from the ghost slowly faded away. All Scrooge could doss now was to get back into bed and wait....wait for the next hour to strike. The clock struck midnight again! Scrooge knew something was about to happen. He crept out of bed and walked around the house. "i'm behind you!" Scrooge turned round and found himself starting back at a large figure. Aman dressed in a flowing green robe, with a crown of holly sitting on his head. "I know you!" said Scrooge. "maybe you do, I am the ghost of christmas present." The ghost held out his hand. " Touch me cloak." Scrooge hesitantly took hold of the sleeve and suddenly they were in another place. A small London street. they were standing outside the window of small house. The ghost and Scrooge peered through the window of a small house. the ghost and Scrooge peered through the window at the scence taking place inside. it is bob

Cratchet's house. they were preparting to eat their christmas lunch. Bob entered the room, carrying Tiny Tim on his shoulder and they both sat down to join the rest o the family to eat. However the table was almost bare. Just a pot of potatoes and small goose was all that was there. Despite the meagre meal, the family still seemed happy, they all laughed and cheered as they celebrated together. After the meal Bob held Tiny Tim close to him. the little boy looked weak and sickly. "What will happen to Tiny Tim?" asked Scrooge. "Will he live?" The spirit looked at Scrooge, "It would be better for him to die now...and decrease the surplus population!" Scrooge cried out "Oh Spirit, you use my own words against me!" "The shadows are already cast, If future events follow the same course as now, then the boy will surely die." "three cheers for mr Scrooge!" bob Cratchet raises his glass. Scrooge felt a pang og guilt. he always treats Bob so cruelly, yet he was still willing to raise a glass and wish him well. The cratchets have so little, yet htye are so happy and content. Scrooge looked through the glass one more time, as the scence slowly faded from view. the spirit of Christmas present carried Scrooge off again. To a group of miners working deep underground. A lighthouse in the middle of nowhere and a boat out at sea in a storm. In all of these places the people were cheering and celebrating. Despite the terrible conditions, they all appeared happy and content. Finally they arrive at the home of scrooges nephew-Fred. The house is full of happy people and the dining table sits groaning under the weight of all the food. the guest sit down to eat. Fred tells his guests about his encourter with scrooge and his use of the word "humbug', along with his hatred of Christmas. "Scrooge has money, but he does nothing good with it," " He depises christmas and the celebrating of it with us,but the only person he is really hurting is himself." Finally Scrooge and the ghost walked on along the street until they saw a small boy and girl huddled together. they appeared cold and miserable. "Whose children are they?" asked Scrooge. They are the children of mankind."The boy is 'ignorance' and the girl is 'want'." "beware of the boy, for on his brow is written 'doom', unless that writting is erased. Scrooge looked concerned. "What will happen t thesechildren?'' The spirit spoke."are there no workhouses?" The same words spoken by Scrooge earlier. "the hour is upon us, soon I must leave'' said the ghost. the clock began to strike and the Ghost of christmas present was no more. A ghoulish howl and a thick mist crept forth. This was the third ghost arriving and the one that Scrooge feared most. the Ghost of Christmas yet to come. The spirit stood before Scrooge. A friendish figure in a black hooded cloak pointed towards yet another scence. however this one was not so easy to understand. Three people nstood together, each clutching a small sack. one by one they reveal the contents to a man, who wishes to buy them. the contents include bed sheets, clothing and curtains. Obviously stolen from a dead man. "He won't need these now he's gone." " Good riddance too!" Scrooge tried to make sense of the vision. "So spirit you are saying that the fate of this man may one day be my own?' the ghost said nothing, but pointed again, to a group of people standing together in the distance. As Scrooge got closer he could see that they were standing at a grave side. A small wooden cross marker the spot. ////http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrYIMmUTFdo&feature=relmfu