Ever ponder much what happened to old Scrooge in A Christmas Carol<\/em>? Here\u2019s the opening description of Scrooge: Ever ponder much what happened to old Scrooge in A Christmas Carol? Here\u2019s the opening description of Scrooge:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1749],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advent"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u201cHard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him<\/em> froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. [SMcK: this is all from the \u201ccold within him\u201d!] A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days, and didn\u2019t thaw it one degree at Christmas.\u201d
\nMarley\u2019s ghost visits Scrooge, warning him of things to come if he does not better his ways. To which Scrooge pleads: \u201cOld Jacob Marley, tell me more. Speak comfort to me, Jacob!\u201d \u201cI have none to give,\u201d the Ghost replied.
\nScrooge a bit later in that scene: \u201cHe tried to say \u2018Humbug!\u2019 but stopped at the first syllable.\u201d
\nThe story is well-known: he encounters the Ghosts of Christmas to learn of his past, his present, and his potential future if he does not mend his ways. When in Stave 4 the Phantom appears, \u201cit seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.\u201d But, Ebenezer Scrooge, who has been learning and is on the point of crossing the threshold into the room of grace, learns from this encounter.
\nScrooge: \u201cAs I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and to do it with a thankful heart.\u201d
\nHe comes to terms, mends his ways, and \u201cHe went to church.\u201d
\nAnd Dickens ends with this: \u201cA merry Christmas, Bob!\u201d And \u201cHis own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.\u201d
\nGod Bless Us, Every One!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"