"The princess and the pea"

No dia 6 de março, alguns alunos do 7.ºE apresentaram, na Biblioteca Escolar, o conto em língua inglesa "The princess and the pea" a todos os alunos do 2.ºciclo da Escola Básica Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Esta atividade realizou-se no âmbito da Semana da Leitura.

I Concurso de Leitura online - 2ª fase

Frei Genebro

Do fundo da choça rude, que mais parecia cova de bicho, veio um lento gemido:Quem me chama? Aqui, neste canto, neste canto a morrer!... A morrer, meu irmão! Frei Genebro acudiu em grande dó; encontrou o bom ermitão estirado num monte de folhas secas, encolhido em farrapos e tão definhado que sua face, outrora farta e rosada, era como um pedaço de velho pergaminho, muito enrugado, perdido entre os flocos das barbas brancas. Com infinita caridade e doçura, o abraçou. E há quanto tempo, há quanto tempo, neste abandono, irmão Egídio? Louvado Deus, desde a véspera! Só na véspera, à tarde, depois de olhar uma derradeira vez para sol e para a sua horta, se viera estender naquele canto para acabar... Mas havia meses que com ele entrara um cansaço, que nem podia segurar a bilha cheia quando voltava da fonte. E dizei, irmão Egídio, pois que o Senhor me trouxe, que posso fazer eu pelo vosso corpo? Pelo corpo, digo; que pela alma bastante tendes vós feito na virtude desta solidão! Gemendo, arrepanhando para o peito as folhas secas em que jazia, como se fossem dobras dum lençol, o pobre ermitão murmurou: Meu bom frei Genebro, não sei se é pecado, mas toda esta noite, em verdade vos confesso, me apeteceu comer um pedaço de carne, um pedaço de porco assado... Mas será pecado? Frei Genebro, com a sua imensa misericórdia, logo o tranqüilizou. Pecado? Não, certamente. Aquele que, por tortura, recusa ao seu corpo um contentamento honesto, desagrada ao Senhor! Não ordenava ele aos seus discípulos que comessem as boas coisas da terra? O corpo é servo; e está na vontade divina que as suas forças sejam sustentadas, para que preste ao espírito, seu amo, bom e leal serviço. Quando Frei Silvestre, já tão doentinho, sentira aquela longo desejo de uvas moscatéis, o bom Francisco de Assis logo o conduziu à vinha, e por suas mãos apanhou os melhores cachos, depois de os abençoar para serem mais sumarentos e doces... É um pedaço de porco assado que apeteceis? – exclamava risonhamente o bom Frei Genebro, acariciando as mãos transparentes do ermitão – Pois sossegai, irmão querido, que bem sei como vos contentar- E imediatamente, com os olhos a reluzir de caridade e de amor, agarrou o afiado podão que pousava sobre o muro da horta. Arregaçando as mangas do hábito, e mais ligeiro que um gamo, porque era aquele um serviço do Senhor, correu pela colina até os densos castanheiros onde encontrara o rebanho de porcos. E aí, andando sorrateiramente de tronco para tronco, surpreendeu um bacorinho desgarrado que fossava a bolota, e desabou sobre ele, e enquanto lhe sufocava o focinho e os gritos, decepou, com dois golpes certeiros do podão, a perna por onde o agarrava. Depois, com as mãos salpicadas de sangue, deixando a rês a arquejar numa poça de sangue, o piedoso homem galgou a colina, correu à cabana, gritou dentro alegremente: Irmão Egídio, a peça de carne já o Senhor a deu! E eu, em Santa Maria dos Anjos, era bom cozinheiro. Na horta do ermitão arrancou uma estaca do feijoal, que, como podão sangrento, aguçou em espeto. Entre duas pedras acendeu uma fogueira. Com zeloso carinho assou a perna do porco. Era tanta a sua caridade que para dar a Egídio todos os antegostos daquele banquete, raro em terra de mortificação anunciava com vozes festivas e de boa promessa: Já vai aloirando o porquinho, irmão Egídio! A pele já tosta, meu santo! Entrou enfim na choça triunfalmente, com o assado que fumegava e rescindia, cercado de frescas folhas de alface. Ternamente ajudou a sentar o velho, que tremia e se babava de gula. Arredou das pobres faces maceradas os cabelos que o suor da fraqueza empastara. E, para que o bom Egídio não vexasse com a sua voracidade e tão carnal apetite, ia afirmando enquanto lhe partia as febras gordas, que também ele comeria regaladamente daquele excelente porco se não tivesse almoçado à farta na Locanda dos três Caminhos! Mas nem bocado agora me podia entrar, meu irmão! Com uma galinha inteira me atochei! E depois uma fritada de ovos! E de vinho branco, um quartinho! E o santo homem mentia santamente – porque, desde madrugada, não provara mais que um magro caldo de ervas, recebido por esmola à cancela de uma granja. Farto, consolado, Egídio deu um suspiro, recaiu no seu leito de folha seca. Que bem lhe fizera, que bem lhe fizera! O Senhor, na sua justiça, pagasse a seu irmão Genebro aquele pedaço de porco!... E o ermitão, com as mãos postas, Genebro ajoelhado, ambos louvaram, ardentemente, o Senhor que, a toda necessidade solitária, manda de longe o socorro.

Assinala se as afirmações são verdadeiras ou falsas.

1. O irmão Egídio vivia numa cabana agradável.

2. A face magra de Egídio estava coberta de barbas enegrecidas pelo tempo.

3. Já há muito tempo que Egídio se recolhera na sua cabana devido a um enorme cansaço.

4. Frei Genebro perguntou a Egídio se podia arranjar-lhe alimento para a alma.

5. Frei Genebro pensava que não era pecado alimentar o corpo com as “boas coisas da Terra”.

6. Embora tivesse fome, frei Genebro afirmou ter comido imenso, para que Egídio se alimentasse sem se sentir contrariado.

I Concurso de Leitura online - 1ª fase

Frei Genebro

Nesse tempo ainda vivia, na sua solidão nas montanhas da Umbria, o divino Francisco de Assis – e já por toda a Itália se louvava a santidade de Frei Genebro, seu amigo e discípulo.

Frei Genebro, na verdade, completara a perfeição em todas as virtudes evangélicas.

Pela abundância e perpetuidade da Oração, ele arrancava da sua alma as raízes mais miúdas do pequeno, e tornava-a limpa e cândida como um desses celestes jardins em que o solo anda regado pelo Senhor, e onde só podem brotar açucenas. A sua penitência, durante vinte anos de claustro, fora tão dura e alta que já não temia o tentador; agora, só com o sacudir da manga do hábito, rechaçava as tentações, as mais pavorosas ou as mais deliciosas, como se fossem apenas moscas inoportunas.

Benéfica e universal à maneira de um orvalho de verão, a sua caridade não se

derramava somente sobre as misérias do pobre, mas sobre as melancolias do rico. Na sua humilíssima humildade ao se considerava nem igual dum verme. Os bravios barões, cujas negras torres esmagavam a Itália, acolhiam reverentemente e curvavam a cabeça a este franciscano descalço e mal remendado que lhes ensinava a mansidão.

Em Roma, em S. João de Latrão, o Papa Honório beijara as feridas de cadeiras que lhe tinham ficado nos pulsos, do ano em que na Mourama, por amor dos escravos, padecera a escravidão. E como nessas idades os anjos ainda viajavam na terra, com as asas escondidas, arrimados a um bordão, muitas vezes, trilhando uma velha estrada pagã ou atravessando uma selva, ele encontrava um moço de inefável formosura, que lhe sorria e murmurava: Bons dias, irmão Genebro!

Ora, um dia, indo este admirável mendicante de Spoleto para Terni, e avistando no azul e no sol da manha, sobre uma colina coberta de carvalhos, as ruínas do castelo de Otofrid, pensou no seu amigo Egídio, antigo noviço como ele no mosteiro de Santa Maria dos Anjos, que se retirara àquele ermo para se avizinhar mais de Deus, e ali habitava uma cabana de colmo, junto das muralhas derrocadas, cantando e regando as alfaces do seu horto, porque a sua virtude era amena. E como mais de três anos tinham se passado desde que visitara Egídio, largou a estrada, passou embaixo do vale, sobre as alpondras, o riacho que fugiu por entre os aloendros em flor, começou a subir lentamente a colina frondosa. Depois da poeira e ardor do caminho de Spoleto, era doce e larga sombra dos castanheiros e a relva que lhe refrescava os pés doloridos. A meia encosta, numa rocha onde se esguedelhavam silvados, nas ervas húmidas, dormia, ressonando consoladamente, um homem, que decerto por ali guardava porcos, porque vestia um grosso surrão de couro e trazia, pendurada na cinta, uma buzina de porqueiro. O bom frade bebeu de leve, afugentou os moscardos que zumbiam sobre a rude face adormecida e continuou a trepar a colina, com o seu alforje, o seu cajado, agradecendo ao Senhor aquela água, aquela sombra, aquela frescura, tantos bens inesperados. Em breve avistou, com efeito, o rebanho de porcos, espalhados sob as frondes, roncando e fossando as raízes, uns magros e agudos, de cerdas duras, outros redondos, com o focinho curto afogado em gordura, e os bacorinhos correndo em torno às tetas das mães, luzidios e cor-de-rosa.

Frei Genebro pensou nos lobos e lamentou o sono do pastor descuidado. No fim da mata começava a rocha, onde os restos do castelo lombardo se erguiam, revestidos de hera, conservando ainda alguma seteira esburacada sobre o céu, ou, numa esquina de torre, uma goteira que, esticando o pescoço do dragão, espreitava por meio das silvas bravas.

A cabana do ermitão, telhada de colmo que lascas de pedra seguravam, apenas se percebia, entre aqueles escuros granitos pela horta que em frente verdejava, com os seus talhões de couve e estacas de feijoal, entre alfazema cheirosa. Egídio não andaria afastado porque sobre o murozinho de pedra solta ficara pousado o seu cântaro, o seu podão e a sua enxada. E docemente, para o não importunar, se àquela hora da sesta estivesse recolhido e orando, Frei Genebro empurrou a porta de pranchas velhas, que não tinha loquete para ser mais hospitaleira.

Irmão Egídio!

Entre as frases apresentadas, selecciona a opção correcta.
1.
a. Frei Genebro era amigo e mestre de Francisco de Assis.
b. Francisco de Assis partilhava com frei Genebro ensinamentos e amizade.
c. Frei Genebro vivia nas montanhas sozinho.

2. a. A oração permitia a frei Genebro afastar qualquer pecado.
b. A alma de frei Genebro não tinha pecado porque ele o sacudia com a manga do hábito.
c. As tentações eram afastadas por frei Genebro após longa reflexão.

3. a. Frei Genebro decidiu ir visitar o irmão Egídio porque ele era um anjo que viajava na terra.
b. Frei Genebro decidiu ir visitar o irmão Egídio porque ele não o vi há mais de três anos.
c. Frei Genebro decidiu ir visitar o irmão Egídio porque ele morava numa cabana para estar mais perto de Deus.

4.a. Quando chegou a casa de Egídio, frei Genebro soube que ele estaria por perto dado que a porta estava aberta.
b. Quando chegou a casa de Egídio, frei Genebro soube que ele estaria por perto dado que a sua horta estava verdejante.
c. Quando chegou a casa de Egídio, frei Genebro soube que ele estaria por perto dado que os instrumentos de trabalho estavam à vista.

Entrega as tuas propostas de correcção na Biblioteca numa folha de papel devidamente identificada.

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens - Activities (chapter five)

In Chapter 5 Scrooge does a lot of things for the first time. Mark the right ones and the wrong ones.

1. Scrooge wished a merry Christmas to people in the streets.
2. He gave a tip to a boy.
3. He laughed for the first time in many years.
4. He bought a big turkeyfor the Cratchits.
5. He offered money for the poor.
6. He went to church.
7. He had dinner with the Cratchits.
8. He said ‘Humbug’ again.

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens - Activities (chapter four)

Who's who?Choose the right names from the list below to complete the sentences .


Names:

• very poor people
• Joe
• a dead man
• a woman
• Bob Cratchit
• Fred
• Scrooge
• the ghost
• the Cratchits
• Tiny Tim

Sentences:

1. ..........was in black.
2. ......... brought things to sell to ........... .
3. ......... wanted to sell ..........'s bed curtains, bedclothes and shirt.
4. ........ couldn't see the dead man's face.
5. ........ were sitting quietly and talking about .......... .
6. ........ met ......... in the street.

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (chapter five)

Christmas Day
Scrooge fell down, and held the ghost’s hand... and woke up to find himself holding the bedpost of his own bed.
He got dressed quickly, saying to himself: 'Now I’ll use the lessons I’ve learnt from these three ghosts!'
He laughed. The first time he had laughed for years!
He saw a boy in the street.
'What day is it today?' he asked.
'lt's Christmas Day,' said the surprised boy.
'Go and buy that big turkey from the butcher's,' said Scrooge. There's ten pence for you!'
l will send it to Bob Cratchit, he thought.
Scrooge walked excitedly along the street saying 'Merry Christmas' to everybody.
When he met the man who had wanted help for the poor the day before, he told him to come and see him to get a lot of money.
Then Scrooge went off to his nephew Fred's house.
Fred was very surprised to see him.
'What do you want, uncle?' he asked.
'l want to come to dinner!' said Scrooge. 'Can l?'
'Of course you can!' answered Fred.
Fred was very happy, and so were his wife and all their friends. And they all had a lovely party together.

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (chapter four)

The Third Ghost
Finally, the ghost took Scrooge home and, as he disappeared, the church clock rang midnight.
At once a new ghost appeared, much more frightening than the other two. It was covered from head to toe in a long, black coat.
'You' re The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come,' said Scrooge nervously.
The dark ghost said nothing and did not move.
'I imagine you've going to show me the things which haven't happened yet,' Scrooge said, looking at the strange ghost.
The ghost silently moved its head a little, and pointed with its hand.
Scrooge suddenly found himself in the middle of the City of London. He saw many of the people he worked with every day, changing, buying and selling money.
The ghost stopped and pointed to some men standing together talking.
'l don't know what happened. I only know he's dead,' said the first man.
'What's he done with his money?' asked the second man.
'He didn't give it to me!' said the first man, laughing.
'His funeral will be very cheap,' said another man.
'Why?' asked the second man.
'He had no friends. Nobody will go,' answered the first man.
Scrooge did not understand why the ghost wanted him to listen to this conversation, but he knew the ghost did not answer questions, so he did not ask.
He looked around trying to see himself, but on the corner where he usually stood at this time there was another man doing business.
Next the ghost took him to a bad part of London which he had never been to before.
The streets were smll and dark and full of the poorest people. They went into a dirty shop full of every horrible old thing you can imagine -metal, bones, books, clothes...
Scrooge watched as three people brought things to sell to the shopkeeper. They were from the same dead man's house.
The first had some small things: buttons and a pencil-case.
'He doesn't need these now,' said the first woman pointing to the towels, silver teaspoons and boots she had.
'Look, Joe,' said the other woman, showing the bed curtains and blankets she had taken from the dead man's bed.
'Is this shirt from the dead body?' asked Joe.
'Yes,' she answered. 'He doesn't need a new shirt now he's dead.'
This could happen to me when I die, thought Scrooge.
Suddenly, Scrooge found himself in another terrible room. It was very dark, with just a little light coming through the window.
There was a bed with no curtains on it, and on the bed, a dead body covered by a sheet.
The ghost pointed to the body, as silent as ever.
Scrooge looked.Who was this dead man? Why were there no friends or family there to cry over the body, to feel sad that he had died?
The ghost still pointed. Scrooge understood it wanted him to look at the face of the dead man, but he could not.
'l cannot look at this man's face,' said Scrooge. 'But if there's anybody in London who feels something because this man is dead, show them to me.'
The ghost took Scrooge into another room.
A woman stood up nervously when her husband came in.
'Is there any news?' she asked.
'When l went to ask him if we could pay the money one week later,' he said, 'an old woman told me he was dead.'
'That's good news,' she said. I'm sorry. l mean that now we have time to get the money we have to pay.'
'No, ghost!' said Scrooge. 'l want to see someone who's sorry about a death, not someone who's happy because of one!'
The ghost took him to Bob Cratchit’s house. He saw the Cratchit family sitting quietly around the fire. They were talking about Tiny Tim.
'l met Mr Scrooge's nephew, Fred,' said Bob, 'and he said he was very sorry to hear about Tiny Tim.'
Bob turned to his family: 'Let's never forget what a good, gentie boy he was, even if he was just a little child.'
'No, never father!' shouted all the children.
'Tell me, ghost,' said Scrooge. 'Who was the dead man we saw?'
The ghost took him to a churchyard. It was a dark place with the walls of houses all around and no flowers on the graves.
The ghost pointed to one grave.
'Before I look,' said Scrooge, 'tell me if the things we've seen are things which will definitely happen, or only things which may happen?'
The ghost stood in silence.
Scrooge looked at the name on the grave. It said EBENEZER SCROOGE.
'Was I the dead man?' he asked.
The ghost pointed to the grave, then at Scrooge.

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (chapter three) - Activities

1 - Insert the coloured words.

happy sees potatoes table takes dinner walk house help goose son ill

The Ghost of Christmas Present (a)……… Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s (b)........ . There he (c)……… his clerk’s family for the first time. Mrs Cratchit is making (d)……… . It is a small Christmas dinner: a (e)........... and some (f)........... . Scrooge looks at Tiny Tim, Bob's youngest (g)……… . The child cannot (h).......... because he's (i)..........and he may die if he doesn't get (j)........ . They all sit round the Christmas (k)……… and are very (l)........... .


2 - Write the answers.

a) Scrooge: ‘Will Tiny Tim live?’
Ghost: ………………………………………
b) Scrooge: ‘Who are they?’
Ghost: ………………………………………
c) Fred: ‘Merry Christmas.’
Ghost: ………………………………………

A Christmas Carol (Chapter three)

The second ghost

Later, Scrooge woke up suddenly. He looked around his bedroom - there was nobody there. He went to the door of his living room.
'Come in, Ebenezer Scrooge,' said a voice.
He opened the door, and saw something very strange.The room looked so different! The walls of the room were covered with Christmas trees and there was a big fire burning.The floor and table were hidden by the most delicious kinds of Christmas foods you can imagine. There was holly all around the room and the green leaves were bright with the light from the fire.
Sitting on top of all the food was a happy young giant, holding a burning torch which lit the room. He was wearing a long, green dress with white fur at the bottom. He had curly brown hair and a hat made of holly.
'Come in, come in,' said the giant. I'm The Ghost of Christmas Present.'
'If you've something to teach me,' said Scrooge, 'take me anywhere you want. l learnt a lot from the first ghost.'
Touch my dress,' said the ghost.
Scrooge did, and soon the trees, the food and the room had disappeared.
Scrooge found they were walking in a London street on Christmas morning.The shops were full of lovely things to eat. Everyone there was happy.
The ghost took him to the Cratchit's house, where they were preparing their small Christmas dinner. Scrooge watched as the poor family ate one goose and some potatoes, and a very small Christmas pudding. They were still as happy as if they had eaten a king's dinner.
Scrooge looked at Tiny Tim, the youngest child, who was ill and could not walk.
'Will he be here next Christmas?' he asked.
'With help,' replied the ghost.
They left the Cratchit's poor but happy house, and walked through the snowy streets of London. Everyone was going out to evening parties with their friends and families. Suddenly they were in a cold, grey, empty place. Scrooge and the ghost looked through the window of a small house. Inside there was a big family in a small room. They were all singing Christmas songs together. They were very happy.
'Who are they?' asked Scrooge.
'They are poor miners,' said the ghost. 'People who work hard inside the Earth we live on.'
The ghost took Scrooge back to London, to Scrooge's nephew, Fred's house where there was a big party. Fred was telling everyone about his visit to his uncle.
'When l said "Merry Christmas" to him, he replied "Humbug!"' said Fred.
Everyone laughed.
'He's rich,' said Fred, 'but he doesn't do anything good with his money and he doesn't enjoy Christmas Day. Every year, l'll ask him to our party and wish him "Merry Christmas". Perhaps one day he'll understand, and give some money to poor Bob Cratchit too.'
Scrooge and the ghost watched Fred and his friends all evening.

"A Christmas Carol" - Activities (2nd chapter)

1. What’s the right name?

Scrooge          Mr. Fezziwig         The First Ghost
a) ….. spent Christmas without any friends.
b) ….. ‘s party made everybody very happy.
c) ….. wanted to help Scooge.
d) ….. was more interested in money than in other people.
e) ….. took Scrooge to his past Christmas.
f) ….. was the man Scrooge had worked for.


2. Choose the correct answers:

• In the story, Christmas time means:

a) working hard
b) being with your family
c) writing
d) eating and drinking
e) dancing
f) sleeping a lot
g) playing music

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (chapter two)

The First Ghost

The first ghost appeared at one o'clock in the morning, and opened the curtains round Scrooge's bed. The ghost was an old man with long, white hair. He wore a short, brilliant white dress with a bright belt and (a strange thing at Christmas!) summer flowers along the bottom. His arms and legs were bare, and in his hand he held a bunch of green holly.
‘I’m The Ghost of Christmas Past,' he said.
'Whose past?' asked Scrooge.
'Your past,' answered the ghost.
'What do you want?' asked Scrooge.
'To help you,' answered the ghost. 'Come'.
Scrooge got up from his bed. Together they flew through the wall and London disappeared. Scrooge saw they were looking at the place in the country where he had lived as a boy.
They saw many boys going home across the fields, happily shouting 'Merry Christmas' to each other. Then they saw Scrooge as a boy, reading on his own in an empty classroom.
Seeing himself as he had once been, Scrooge sat down at a desk and started to cry.
'l wish l'd given some money to that poor boy who sang Christmas songs to me yesterday,' said Scrooge.
The ghost smiled. 'Let's see another Christmas,' he said.
This time Scrooge saw the office where he had first worked. He saw Mr Fezziwig, the man he had worked for, and his wife. Young Scrooge was helping them prepare the office for a Christmas party. Soon there were many young people there. They were enjoying the dancing, the music and the food. Even he, Scrooge, was dancing and enjoying himself!
At the end of the party, Mr and Mrs Fezziwig said 'Merry Christmas' to everybody.
'l wish l'd said something to Bob Cratchit yesterday said Scrooge.
The ghost smiled again. 'Another Christmas,' he said.
Scrooge saw a beautiful woman smiling with her children in a warm home.
The door opened and the father came in, his arms full of Christmas presents. Scrooge looked at the woman; she had been his girlfriend when he was a young man! She had left him because he had been more interested in money than in her. Looking at the happy family, Scrooge understood what he had lost.
'No more!' shouted Scrooge sadly. 'Leave me, ghost!'
The first ghost disappeared, leaving Scrooge back in bed where he slept deeply.

" A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (chapter one)

Christmas Eve

It was Christmas Eve. London was very cold and foggy. Ebenezer Scrooge was working in his office. His secretary, Bob Cratchit, was writing letters in the next room, with a very small fire. Bob was very cold. Scrooge did not give Bob much wood for his fire because he did not like to spend money.
Scrooge did not like anything. He did not like the people in the streets or the people he worked with. He did not like eating good food or drinking nice drinks.
He especially hated Christmas.
Scrooge was an old man. He was very thin, with thin, white hair on his head and face. His lips were blue and his eyes were red.
He had worked in the same dark office for very many years. Once it had been the office of SCROOGE AND MARLEY, and those names were still on the door. But Jacob Marley had died seven years before and Scrooge worked on without him. Work was important. Work brought money, and Scrooge always wanted more money. So Scrooge worked hard, and made Bob Cratchit work hard, too.
Work, work, work!
'A Merry Christmas, uncle,' said Scrooge's nephew, Fred, coming into the cold, dark office.
'Bah!' replied Scrooge.'Humbug!' He really hated Christmas.
'Oh, come on, uncle,' said Fred. I'm sure you don't mean it.'
'l do,' answered Scrooge. 'Why are you merry? You're a poor man.'
'And why aren't you merry?' asked Fred. 'You're a very rich man. And it's Christmas!'
'Bah!' said Scrooge again. 'Humbug!'
'Please come to dinner with us tomorrow, uncle,' said Fred.
'Goodbye,' answered Scrooge.
'l don't want to be angry with you, uncle,' said Fred, 'so Merry Christmas.'
'Goodbye,' said Scrooge again.
Later two men came into Scrooge's office.
'Mr Scrooge? Mr Marley?' asked the first man, who had seen the names on the door.
'Mr Marley died seven years ago,' answered Scrooge.
'Mr Scrooge, then,' said the man. 'At Christmas, it's nice for everyone to give something to people who have nothing - no homes, no clothes, no food.'
'But there are hospitals and other places to help them,' said Scrooge.
There are,' replied the second man. 'But they always need a little more.'
'lt's not my problem,' said Scrooge. I've my work to worry about.'
The two men left.
Later a boy came to sing Christmas songs, but Scrooge sent him away.
When it was time to close the office, Bob Cratchit was excited about the holiday next day.
'l imagine you don't want to come to work tomorrow?' said Scrooge to Bob.
'No, sir, l don't,' he answered nervously.
'And you want me to give you money for the whole week?' asked Scrooge.
'Well, Christmas is only one day a year, sir,' replied Bob.
'You're still taking my money for nothing!' said Scrooge. 'Well, if you must, you must. But come to work earlier the morning after.'
That night when Scrooge was at home, he had a surprise visit. He had the sound of chains coming upstairs, and then Jacob Marley walked through his door.
“Marley” said Scrooge. “You´re dead! What do you want from me?”
“I´m a ghost” said Marley. “I´ve been travelling since I died.”
“Why?” asked Scrooge.
“Because I´m unhappy”, said Marley´s ghost. “I was very bad to people when I was alive, and I want to help you not to be unhappy like me when you die.”
“How?” asked Scrooge.
“You´ll be visited by three more ghosts”, answered Marley´s ghost.