Once upon a time, on Christmas Eve, Scrooge sat in his office. The door of his office was open. He wanted to keep his eyes on his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Bob sat in a cold, gloomy, little cell. Scrooge had a very small fire, but Bob's was even smaller. Bob couldn't add any more coal because Scrooge kept the coal scuttle in his room.
"A Merry Christmas, uncle!" cried a happy voice. It was Scrooge's nephew Fred.
"Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug! Merry Christmas! What reason have you got to be merry? You are poor." "OK, then," replied Fred cheerfully. "What reason have you got to be sad? You are rich. Don't be cross, Uncle!".
"I live in a world of fools. What's Christmas time to you? It's a time for paying bills without money. It's a time for finding yourself a year older, but no richer." said Scrooge.
"Uncle," said Fred, "I have always thought of Christmas time as a kind, charitable, happy time. And so, Uncle, although Christmas has never put any gold or silver in my pocket, I think it has done me good. And it will do me good. And I say, God bless it!"
The clerk in the cell applauded. Then realizing his mistake, he poked the fire and put out the last little spark forever.
Then Scrooge's nephew invited him to have dinner the next day, but he refused. As his nephew left the room, two kind old gentlemen came in.
"At Christmas time, Mr Scrooge," said the gentleman, "we should give to the poor who have no shelter or food. They really suffer at this time of year."
"Are there no prisons? And the workhouses? Are they still in operation?" asked Scrooge.
"They are, but I wish they were not." replied the gentleman. "We don't think that workhouses do enough for people. Many people prefer to die than to go there. So we are trying to raise money to buy the poor some clothes and food. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing. Let them die. There are too many people in the world anyway. Good afternoon, gentlemen!" Scrooge said. The gentlemen left. And Scrooge felt pleased with himself.
—Taken from A Christmas Carol
