4:4, #595: The Dickens, You Say

Well, I finished A Christmas Carol a bit ago and have a few more things to say. The scene is Ebenezer and Christmas Present overhearing this conversation about Tiny Tim's church going behavior:

'As good as gold,' said Bob, 'and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.' (My italics again.)

Then, in discussing Tim's possible demise, the Spirit reminds Eb of his harsh phrase, "If they're to die, let them do so and decrease the surplus population. This response is even edited out of the 1951 version:

'Man,' said the Ghost, 'if man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child. Oh God! to hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust.'

Finally, when Christmas Future's got him, they see the Cratchits once again, hearing just this phrase read 'from a book' by young Peter Cratchit:

'And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them.'

Where had Scrooge heard those words? He had not dreamed them. The boy must have read them out, as he and the Spirit crossed the threshold. Why did he not go on?

The answer to Dickens' narrator's question: Matthew 18:1-3, “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

So, for those who aver that Dickens was only writing a social gospel story, I would contest... Avaunt, Thee, rump fed runions!! (Tip of the hat to Willie Shakespeare!)

Got hot gin punch?