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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

The Ghost of Christmas Past2. Fezziwig

The ghost then takes Scrooge the warehouse

where he first worked as an n apprentice.

They went in. An old gentleman in a wig

was sitting behind a desk so high that it almost

reached the ceiling,

Scrooge cried in great excitement:

`Why, it's old Fezziwig. Bless his heart; it's

Fezziwig alive again.'

Old Fezziwig laid down his pen, and looked

up at the clock. Seeing it was 7 o’clock, he

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rubbed his hands and adjusted his capacious

waistcoat.

Laughing to himself he called out in a

comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial voice:

`Yo ho, there. Ebenezer. Dick.'

A happy young man

Scrooge's former self, now grown a young

man, hurried in. His fellow apprentice

accompanied him.

`Dick Wilkins, to be sure.' said Scrooge to

the Ghost.

`Bless me, yes. There he is. He was very

much attached to me, was Dick. Poor Dick.

Dear, dear.'

`Yo ho, my boys.' said Fezziwig. `No more

work tonight. It's Christmas Eve, Dick.

Christmas, Ebenezer. Let's have the shutters

up,'

The two young men charged into the street

to put up the shutters. They soon rushed back,

panting like race-horses.

`Hilli-ho!' cried old Fezziwig, skipping down

from the high desk. `Clear away, my lads, and

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let's have lots of room here. Hilli-ho, Dick.

Chirrup, Ebenezer.'

Everything was cleared away in a minute.

The floor was swept and watered. The lamps

were trimmed. Fuel was heaped upon the fire.

Soon the warehouse was as snug, warm

and dry - a bright ballroom, on a winter's night.

The guests arrive

In came a fiddler with a music-book.

In came Mrs Fezziwig, one vast smile.

In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming

and lovable. In came the six young followers

whose hearts they broke.

In came all the young men and women

working for the Fezziwigs.

In came the housemaid, with her cousin,

the baker. In came the cook, with her brother's

particular friend, the milkman.

In they all came, one after another. Some

came shyly, some boldly, some gracefully, some

awkwardly, some pushing, some pulling.

In they all came,.

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Sad memories of happy times

A wonderful party follows. Everyone eats and

drinks and dances all evening.

When the clock struck eleven, this domestic

ball broke up.

Mr and Mrs Fezziwig took their stations,

one on either side of the door. They shook

hands with every person individually as he or

she went out, wishing him or her a Merry

Christmas.

When everybody had retired the two

apprentices went to their beds; which were

under a counter in the back-shop.

Scrooge remembered everything, enjoyed

everything. It was not until now, when the

bright faces of his former self and Dick were

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turned from them, that he remembered the

Ghost.

It was looking full upon him, while the light

upon its head burnt very clear.

'A small matter,' said the Ghost,' to make

these silly folks so full of gratitude.'

`Small.' echoed Scrooge.

Cost of Kindness

The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two

apprentices. They were pouring out their hearts

in praise of Fezziwig.

`Does he deserves so much gratitude?'

asked the Spirit. 'He only spent a few pounds

on these boys

`It isn't that, Spirit' said Scrooge, speaking

like his former self. `Mr Fezziwig has the power

to make us happy or unhappy. His power lies in

words and looks: things so slight and

insignificant that it is impossible to add and

count them up. The happiness he gives, is quite

as great as if it cost a fortune.'

Scrooge felt the Spirit's glance, and stopped.

`What is the matter.' asked the Ghost.

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`Nothing in particular,' said Scrooge.

`Something, I think.' the Ghost insisted.

`No,' said Scrooge,' No. I should like to be

able to say a word or two to my clerk just now.

That's all.'

Next > Fezziwig

Glossary/Vocabulary

Bless his heart - term of affection

Gratitude - thanks/appreciation

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