A Christmas Carol

Click on any of the filenumbers belowto quickly view each ebook. 46 (Original First Edition Cover; 1843 Original Illustrations in Color by John Leech) 19337 (Published in 1905; Illustrations in Black and White by G. A. Williams) 24022 (Published in 1915; Illustrations in Black and White and Color by By Arthur Rackham) 30368 (First edition with original hand written pages; Black and White illustrations.) "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 J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK FIRST PUBLISHED 1915 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…