Old Scrooge: A Christmas Carol in Five Staves.. Dickens Charles
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showing shadow of a group inside, 1st G. Snow. Torch and ladder for lamp lighter.
SCENE IV. – Drawing room 4th G. Arch 3d G. Handsome suite of furniture. Large table R. Sideboard with wine and glasses at flat C. Piano L. 2d E. Coffee-urn and cups on small table R. 3d E. Piano-stool, music stand. Sheet music on piano. Salver for waiter.
SCENE I. – Scrooge's bed room 2d G. as in scene 1, act 2.
SCENE II. – Street 1st G. Snuff-box for Snuffer to enter with.
SCENE III. – Pawn shop 3d G. Doors R. and L. C. in flat – Table C., four common chairs; a smoky oil lamp – lighted, and a piece of white chalk on table. Bundle of bed curtains – same as on Scrooge's bedstead – blankets and shirts for Mrs. Mangle to enter with. Bundle of under-clothing, towels, sheets, sugar-tongs, tea-spoons and old boots for Mrs. Dilber to enter with. A package containing a seal, pencil-case, pair of sleeve-buttons and scarf pin, for Shroud to enter with. Purse of coins for Old Joe.
SCENE IV. – Street – exterior of Scrooge and Marley's 1st G. Window L. C. No properties.
SCENE V. – Bob Cratchit's home – same as scene 2, act, 3. Table C., candles and work-basket on table. Book for Peter on table; calico or muslin for Mrs. Cratchit and Belinda to sew.
SCENE I. – Scrooge's apartment, as in scene 2d act 1st. No additional properties.
SCENE II. – Street – exterior of Scrooge's house 1st G. Brass knocker on the door. Turkey for boy to enter with.
SCENE III. – Drawing room same as scene 4, act 3. Handkerchief for Fred to blindfold.
OLD SCROOGE
STAVE ONE
SCENE I. —Christmas Eve. Counting house of Scrooge & Marley. Set fireplace with small grate fire L. Centre door in flat, thrown open, showing a small inner chamber and desk, at which Bob Cratchit is discovered seated, endeavoring to warm his hands over the candle. Small desk, L. C., at which Scrooge is discovered busy at figures.
Scrooge. And six makes twenty-eight pounds, four shill – What do you want in here?
Bob. My fire is nearly out, sir, and I thought I would take one or two lumps of coal, and —
Scro. You think more of your personal comforts than you do of your business and my interest.
Bob. The room, sir, is very cold, and I —
Scro. Work sir, work! and I'll warrant that you'll keep warm. If you persist, in this wanton waste of coals, you and I will have to part. (Bob retires to his desk, puts on his white comforter, and again tries to warm his hands. Scrooge resuming). Four shillings and ninepence —
Enter Fred'k Merry, C. D., saluting Bob as he passes him.
Fred. A Merry Christmas, uncle. God save you.
Scro. Bah; humbug.
Fred. Christmas a humbug, uncle! You don't mean that, I'm sure?
Scro. I do. Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough.
Fred. Come then. What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You're rich enough.
Scro. Bah; humbug.
Fred. Don't be cross, uncle.
Scro. What else can I be when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon Merry Christmas! What's Christmas-time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in 'em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with "Merry Christmas" on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should.
Fred. Uncle!
Scro. (sternly). Nephew, keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.
Fred. Keep it! But you don't keep it.
Scro. Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you. Much good it has ever done you.
Fred. There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas-time, when it came round – apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that – as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And, therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it. (Cratchit applauds, but observing Scrooge, endeavors to be intent on something else.)
Scro. (to Bob). Let me hear another sound from you, and you'll keep your Christmas by losing your situation! (To Fred). You're quite a powerful speaker, sir, I wonder you don't go into Parliament.
Fred. Don't be angry, uncle. Come, dine with us to-morrow?
Scro. I'd see you in blazes first.
Fred. But why? Why?
Scro. Why did you get married?
Fred. Because I fell in love.
Scro. Because you fell in love! The only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a merry Christmas. Good afternoon.
Fred. Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that happened. Why give it as a reason for not coming now?
Scro. Good afternoon.
Fred. I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?
Scro. Good afternoon!
Fred. I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humor to the last. So a Merry Christmas, uncle.
Scro. Good afternoon!
Fred. A merry Christmas.
Bob. The same to you, and many of them.
Scro. There's another fellow, my clerk, with fifteen shillings a week, and a wife and family, talking about a Merry Christmas. I'll retire to the lunatic asylum.
Mr. Mumford. Scrooge & Marley's. I believe (referring to paper). Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?
Scro. Mr. Marley his been dead these seven years. He died seven years ago this very night.
Mr. M. We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner. (Presents list. Scrooge frowns, shakes his head, and returns it.) At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.
Scro. Are there no prisons?
Mr. M. Plenty of prisons.
Scro. And the union work-houses – are they still in operation?
Mr. M. They are. I wish I could say they were not.
Scro. The tread-mill and the poor law are in full vigor, then?
Mr.