title: A Christmas Carol: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas
author: Charles Dickens
description: Purists may object to this careful abridgement of the holiday classic, aimed at young readers who may not have someone around to read the original out loud. Mayer has retained much of the language of Dickens's work, making sensitive cuts in the text and adding lavish paintings of 19th century England. The charactersmice, rabbits, a reptilian Ghost of Christmas Yet to Comewill draw the youngest pre-Dickensian into the story. The gloomy mood of Scrooge's Christmas Eve gives way to warm, welcoming tints the morning after he is visited by the three Spirits and has learned his lesson. It's a charming alternative to most of the TV adaptations that appear throughout December. (All ages<br />Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: AFFECTIO NATELY INSCRIBED TO  TH E H O N. Miss
  DO LTO N AND Mr. PEREPELKIN O F WALTO N-O N-
  TH AMES, SURREY
  
  Contents
  Title Page
  Dedication
  VERSE I
  VERSE II
  VERSE III
  VERSE IV
  VERSE V
  VERSE VI
  TH E FIRST APPARITIO N
  VERSE VII
  TH E SECO ND APPARITIO N
  VERSE VIII
  TH E TH IRD APPARITIO N
  VERSE IX
  AN EPILO GUE
  Copyright
  
  M
  VERSE I
  arley was still dead: to begin with. O f that, there cannot be the
  smallest morsel of doubt. H e was quite as dead as a doornail.
  Deader, if that is possible, because having died he had gone so far
  as to appear to Ebenez er Scrooge as a ghost and there can surely
  be no better proof of death than that. If it is not possible, then the
  adage will have to do, and I will reiterate the simple fact that Marley
  was as dead as a doornail, and in his grave.
  Marley had first died on Christmas Eve and then several years
  later reappeared on Christmas Eve, and as it was that very day
  today it can hardly be considered surprising that, when Scrooge sat
  by his fireside for his ea