A CHRISTMAS CAROL

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

1 Scrooge hears a warning It was Christmas Eve and everyone was hurrying home. Mr Scrooge stayed on in his cold, gloomy office, adding up how much money people owed him. Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's helper had to work too, but he longed to go home.

Just then, Scrooge's nephew Fred popped into the office. “ Hello, Uncle, " he said cheerfully, “ will you come round for Christmas tomorrow?" Scrooge scowled. “ No! Christmas is a waste of time, " he grumbled. “ Go away! You too, Cratchit. "

Scrooge went home his footsteps echoing along the cold, empty streets. As he approached his gloomy housea dreadful figure appeared from the fog. It was ghostly white and had dark, hollow eyes. Scrooge stared. “ It can't be, " he stammered. It reminded him of his old friendMarley. But Marley was dead.

As Scrooge went inside, his front door slammed shut behind him. He was so scared that he ran up to his room and lit every candle. Suddenly the clocks rang out on and on, but then Scrooge heard something far worse. Iron chains were rattling up the stairs, closer and closer. A terrible ghost entereddragging a metal chest full of rusty money. It was Marley's ghost!

“ I'm here to warn you Scrooge, " he howled. “ Three strange ghosts will visit you tonight. Look and listen or it'll be the worse for you. " With a terrible cry, Marley's ghost disappeared. Scrooge dived into bed and pulled the covers up tightly.