A Christmas Carol

• 1914
• 0 Hrs 22 Mins
• Drama, Other

Old Scrooge is a miser. The timid Christmas greeting of his old-ill-paid clerk, Bob Cratchit, exasperates him; the cheery urchins who assemble to sing a carol outside his window are driven off with threats and imprecations, and when his nephew, accompanied by his young wife, comes to press him to join them at their Christmas dinner, he greets them with black looks and bitter words. Later in the day Scrooge's ire is further increased by a visit from two benevolent gentlemen, who solicit from him in vain a small subscription for the poor. Evening comes at last. Bob Cratchit hurries on to his humble home, where his wife and merry children eagerly await him, happy in the preparation of such Christmas cheer as their small means can afford. Meanwhile Scrooge has also reached his door. His eyes are suddenly attracted to the knocker. A curious change has come over it. What he sees is not a knocker at all, but the ghastly, yet living face of old Marley, his seven-years-dead partner. While Scrooge gazes the vision fades; the knocker is once more in its place, and Scrooge, trying to persuade himself that his eyes have played him a trick, enters the dismal house. Having reached his own room in safety, he fastens the door, gets into his dressing-gown and proceeds to warm his gruel over a miserable fire. Suddenly a small bell in his room begins to swing softly to and fro, he hears strange sounds upon the staircase, and the ghost of Marley enters through the closed door. The ghost calls the horrified Scrooge's attention to the heavy chain it drags after it, and Scrooge sees it is composed of ledgers, cashboxes, deeds, etc. The ghost then warns him that he also, by his miserly habits, is forging a similar chain for himself, and urges him to change his manner of life while there is yet time. He tells Scrooge that he will shortly be visited by three spirits, counsels him to profit by what they will reveal to him, and departs. Worn out with terror and emotion, Scrooge throws himself upon his bed and falls asleep Presently the ghost of Christmas Past enters He commands, and the spirit of Scrooge, leaving his body still slumbering on the bed, arises and follows him down the stairs and out into the snowy streets. The spirit leads him to a lonely country schoolhouse. The scholars have left for their holidays, the dreary schoolroom is deserted by all, save by one solitary boy who, neglected by his friends, has been left to spend his Christmas there alone. Scrooge recognizes in the lonely child his own young self and weeps. The spirit next leads Scrooge to the house of his genial old employer, Mr. Fezziwig. A Christmas dance is going on, and Scrooge sees himself as a young man joining heartily in the festivities. He would gladly linger, but the ghost of Christmas Past hurries him away. Scrooge's spirit re-enters his slumbering body, but is soon called forth again by the ghost of Christmas Present. This time the spirit leads him to his nephew's house. A merry party is gathered together, and Scrooge's nephew proposes "a toast to Mr. Scrooge," in which he makes the whole company join. Scrooge's face beams with pleasure; he would gladly pledge the company in return, but he is once more hurried off. He is next visited by the ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come, a mysterious veiled figure, who leads him to a lonely churchyard and shows him his own neglected grave. Scrooge, with terror and remorse, falls upon his knees and begs the spirit to grant him one more chance. At this moment he awakes. To his great joy and relief he realizes that it is Christmas morning, that he is still alive; still has time before him in which to make amends. He falls upon his knees and prays for forgiveness and help. Then he dresses and hastens into the street. Then he hurries on to the market, where he selects that largest turkey in the store and orders it to be taken to Bob Cratchit's house with Mr. Scrooge's compliments. The next morning old Scrooge, now as lighthearted as a boy, hurries to his office, eager to play a trick upon his old clerk. He terrifies Bob, who comes in a few minutes later, by pretending that he is about to dismiss him; then, suddenly changing his tone, he digs the poor old fellow in the ribs and tells him his salary is doubled. The picture ends with a glimpse of a Christmas Yet-to-Come, in which Scrooge, happy and beloved by all, is seen seated in the midst of the Cratchit family with Tiny Tim, Bob's crippled son, in his arms.