A Christmas Carol

Quote

Character

Stave

“He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge’s, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.”

Narrator

1

“Christmas time [...] a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time”

Fred

1

“Men and women by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely”

Fred

1

“The brightness of the shops where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows, made pale faced ruddy as they passed.”

Narrator

1

“The warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ball-room, as you would desire to see upon a winter’s night.”

Narrator

2

“A positive light appeared to issue from Fezziwig’s calves. They shone in every part of the dance like moons.”

Narrator

2

“During the whole of this time, Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. His heart and soul were in the scene, and with his former self. He corroborated everything, remembered everything, enjoyed everything, and underwent the strangest agitation.”

Narrator

2

“He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?”

Ghost of Christmas Past

2

“He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count them up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

Scrooge

2

“There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town, and yet was there an air of cheerfulness abroad that the clearest summer air and brightest summer sun might have endeavoured to diffuse in vain.”

Narrator

3

“The people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee.”

Narrator

3

“The scales descending on the counter made a merry sound, or that the twine and roller parted company so briskly, or that the canisters were rattled up and down like juggling tricks, or even that the blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose.”

Narrator

3

“When Scrooge’s nephew laughed in this way: holding his sides, rolling his head, and twisting his face into the most extravagant contortions: Scrooge’s niece, by marriage, laughed as heartily as he. And their assembled friends being not a bit behindhand, roared out lustily.”

Narrator

3

“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”

Narrator

3

“They all played, and so did Scrooge, for, wholly forgetting the interest he had in what was going on, that his voice made no sound in their ears, he sometimes came out with his guess quite loud.”

Narrator

3

“Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly become so gay and light of heart, that he would have pledged the unconscious company in return, and thanked them in an inaudible speech.”

Narrator

3

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!”

Narrator

5

“May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

Narrator

5