《圣诞颂歌AChristmasCarol》转载请注明来源：151看书网151kanshu.com
Preface
IhaveendeavouredinthisGhostlylittlebook，toraisetheGhostofanIdea，whichshallnotputmyreadersoutofhumourwiththemselves，witheachother，withtheseason，orwithme。Mayithaunttheirhousespleasantly，andnoonewishtolayit。
TheirfaithfulFriendandServant，
C。D。
December，1843。
Chapter1Marley'sGhost
Marleywasdead：tobeginwith。Thereisnodoubtwhateveraboutthat。Theregisterofhisburialwassignedbytheclergyman，theclerk，theundertaker，andthechiefmourner。Scroogesignedit。AndScrooge'snamewasgoodupon‘Change，foranythinghechosetoputhishandto。
OldMarleywasasdeadasadoor-nail。
Mind！Idon'tmeantosaythatIknow，ofmyownknowledge，whatthereisparticularlydeadaboutadoor-nail。Imighthavebeeninclined，myself，toregardacoffin-nailasthedeadestpieceofironmongeryinthetrade。Butthewisdomofourancestorsisinthesimile；andmyunhallowedhandsshallnotdisturbit，ortheCountry'sdonefor。Youwillthereforepermitmetorepeat，emphatically，thatMarleywasasdeadasadoor-nail。
Scroogeknewhewasdead？Ofcoursehedid。Howcoulditbeotherwise？ScroogeandhewerepartnersforIdon'tknowhowmanyyears。Scroogewashissoleexecutor，hissoleadministrator，hissoleassign，hissoleresiduarylegatee，hissolefriend，andsolemourner。AndevenScroogewasnotsodreadfullycutupbythesadevent，butthathewasanexcellentmanofbusinessontheverydayofthefuneral，andsolemniseditwithanundoubtedbargain。ThementionofMarley'sfuneralbringsmebacktothepointIstartedfrom。ThereisnodoubtthatMarleywasdead。Thismustbedistinctlyunderstood，ornothingwonderfulcancomeofthestoryIamgoingtorelate。IfwewerenotperfectlyconvincedthatHamlet'sFatherdiedbeforetheplaybegan，therewouldbenothingmoreremarkableinhistakingastrollatnight，inaneasterlywind，uponhisownramparts，thantherewouldbeinanyothermiddle-agedgentlemanrashlyturningoutafterdarkinabreezyspot--saySaintPaul'sChurchyardforinstance--literallytoastonishhisson'sweakmind。
ScroogeneverpaintedoutOldMarley'sname。Thereitstood，yearsafterwards，abovethewarehousedoor：ScroogeandMarley。ThefirmwasknownasScroogeandMarley。SometimespeoplenewtothebusinesscalledScroogeScrooge，andsometimesMarley，butheansweredtobothnames。Itwasallthesametohim。
Oh！Buthewasatight-fistedhandatthegrind-stone，Scrooge！asqueezing，wrenching，grasping，scraping，clutching，covetous，oldsinner！Hardandsharpasflint，fromwhichnosteelhadeverstruckoutgenerousfire；secret，andself-contained，andsolitaryasanoyster。Thecoldwithinhimfrozehisoldfeatures，nippedhispointednose，shrivelledhischeek，stiffenedhisgait；madehiseyesred，histhinlipsblue；andspokeoutshrewdlyinhisgratingvoice。Afrostyrimewasonhishead，andonhiseyebrows，andhiswirychin。Hecarriedhisownlowtemperaturealwaysaboutwithhim；heicedhisofficeinthedogdays；anddidn'tthawitonedegreeatChristmas。
ExternalheatandcoldhadlittleinfluenceonScrooge。Nowarmthcouldwarm，nowintryweatherchillhim。Nowindthatblewwasbittererthanhe，nofallingsnowwasmoreintentuponitspurpose，nopeltingrainlessopentoentreaty。Foulweatherdidn'tknowwheretohavehim。Theheaviestrain，andsnow，andhail，andsleet，couldboastoftheadvantageoverhiminonlyonerespect。Theyoften`camedown‘handsomely，andScroogeneverdid。
Nobodyeverstoppedhiminthestreettosay，withgladsomelooks，`MydearScrooge，howareyou？Whenwillyoucometoseeme？‘Nobeggarsimploredhimtobestowatrifle，nochildrenaskedhimwhatitwaso'clock，nomanorwomaneveronceinallhislifeinquiredthewaytosuchandsuchaplace，ofScrooge。Eventheblindmen'sdogsappearedtoknowhim；andwhentheysawhimcomingon，wouldtugtheirownersintodoorwaysandupcourts；andthenwouldwagtheirtailsasthoughtheysaid，`Noeyeatallisbetterthananevileye，darkmaster！’
ButwhatdidScroogecare！Itwastheverythingheliked。Toedgehiswayalongthecrowdedpathsoflife，warningallhumansympathytokeepitsdistance，waswhattheknowingonescall`nuts‘toScrooge。
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