A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol with Numerous Original Illustrations by George T. Tobin. New York Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers. Copyright 1899. This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office.

Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date.

A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas was first published in 1843. The story met with instant success, selling six thousand copies within a week. Originally written as a potboiler to enable Dickens to pay off a debt, the tale has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time.— A Christmas Carol Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

More Christmas and Holiday Public Domain Images. Santa Claus, Creche, Ornaments, Reindeer, Angels, Christmas Trees and more (30 Images). Updated Often! CHRISTMAS and HOLIDAY IMAGES You may download a Public Domain copy of A Chrismas Carol complete with all illustrations in PDF format here A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

‘I wear the chain I forged in life,’ replied the Ghost. ‘I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?’ Scrooge trembled more and more. ‘Or would you know,’ pursued the Ghost, ‘the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain!’

It was a strange figure—like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child’s proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those upper members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white, and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful.

It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.

‘I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,’ said the Spirit. ‘Look upon me!’ Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air.

Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.

‘And how did little Tim behave?’ asked Mrs. Cratchit, when she had rallied Bob on his credulity, and Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart’s content. ‘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.’ Bob’s voice was tremulous when he told them this, and trembled more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty.

His active little crutch was heard upon the floor, and back came Tiny Tim before another word was spoken, escorted by his brother and sister to his stool before the fire; and while Bob, turning up his cuffs—as if, poor fellow, they were capable of being made more shabby—compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, and stirred it round and round and put it on the hob to simmer; Master Peter, and the two ubiquitous young Cratchits went to fetch the goose, with which they soon returned in high procession.

The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to One. He advanced towards it trembling. The Phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape. ‘Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point,’ said Scrooge, ‘answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?’ Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood.

‘Men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,’ said Scrooge. ‘But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!’

The Spirit was immovable as ever.

Technorati tags: Public Domain Clip Art and clip art or public domain and A Christmas Carol or Charles Dickens or Fred Thompson TV Ad: Consistent Conservative and Thanksgiving Turkeys' morning exercise and ASU researchers give memory a boost

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Stop the ACLU, Perri Nelson's Website,

Rosemary's Thoughts, Stix Blog, Right Truth, The Populist, Shadowscope, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, Adeline and Hazel, third world county, The Uncooperative Radio Show!, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, CommonSenseAmerica, Right Voices, Church and State, Blog at MoreWhat.com, A Blog For All, 123beta, Adam's Blog, Grizzly Groundswell, The Bullwinkle Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Cao's Blog, , Nuke's, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Faultline USA, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Walls of the City, Blue Star Chronicles, The Yankee Sailor, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Perri Nelson's Website, Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Truth, Shadowscope, Stuck On Stupid, Cao's Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Amboy Times, Big Dog's Weblog, Leaning Straight Up, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Pet's Garden Blog, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, DragonLady's World, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Wake Up America, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

33 Trackbacks to this Post:

Veterans Day 2007 Excerpt: A couple of weeks ago my mother had a get together with my father�s side of the family. We haven�t seen them so much over recent years primarily because all but one of the brothers are gone. They all died within a few short years and the glue that he… Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles, Tracked: 11/11/07 12:01 pm

Google, Excerpt: After years of what I perceive as anti-American defiance during our holidays , Google relents... Nice. Weblog: 123beta Tracked: 11.11.07 - 5:04 pm

Dumb Laws of Illinois. Excerpt: I forgot where I got this from but take a look at some of the ridiculous laws that we have here in the Democratic Republic of Illinois. It is also Open TrackBack Weekend here at the Stix Blog City Laws. Weblog: Stix Blog. Tracked: 11.11.07 - 8:04 pm

Veterans Day 2007. Excerpt: A couple of weeks ago my mother had a get together with my father’s side of the family. We haven’t seen them so much over recent years primarily because all but one of the brothers are gone. They all died within a few short years and the glue that he... Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles, Tracked: 11.11.07 - 9:16 pm

New Orleans Saints vs. St. Louis Rams… Excerpt: The Saints have been teasing its fans I guess with its better play the past couple of weeks. However they reverted to the team that started the season 0-4 by getting embarrassed by the Rams via final score of 37-29. Weblog: The World According To Carl 11/11/07 9:16 pm

PhotoHunt 83: Flexible… Excerpt: The latest PhotoHunt category from tnchick.com is “Flexible” which can be interpreted as one sees fit. This is a photo I took last month of a parsley plant I had in my yard that became infested with parsley caterpillars which we hoped would turn in… Weblog: The World According To Carl 11/11/07 10:14 pm

73% Say Police Should Check to See If Traffic Violators are in the Country Legally… Excerpt: And here I have been told that this was just a Republican thing…Looks like it is a bipartisan issue: If someone pulled over for a traffic violation is found to be in the country illegally, 62% of voters say that person should be deported. Sevente… Weblog: Right Voices, 11/11/07 10:56 pm

Outraged: Excerpt: That is the only word I could think to use to describe my feelings about the news I read at Blackfive's site this morning. On Veterans' Day no less. We all must come together to help this man, Lt Col Chessani, fight the Left bastards who are trying t... Weblog: Rosemary's Thoughts. Tracked: 11.11.07 - 11:43 pm

Thank You Veterans!…. Excerpt: “The World According To Carl” wishes to thank all United States veterans for doing what it takes to protect the freedoms we U.S. citizens enjoy. I salute all of you and greatly appreciate what you are doing and have done in service to our great nat… Weblog: The World According To Carl 11/12/07 at 12:27 am

It’s the Early Monday Morning "The Weekends over, get back to work!" Open Trackback & Open Thread post for Nov 12, 2007 Excerpt: Good Morning to all… Nothing new to report… just been tinkering with the Blog all weekend. Discuss what thou wish here… Here’s the trackbacks… Weblog: Chuck Adkins. Tracked: 11/12/07 2:32 am

Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Plants Question in Q&A Excerpt: - Updated: They did it again… Being a natural cynic, I find this more amusing then angering, particularly since i have long suspected candidates of all stripes of doing this at least on occasion. But no, I was sagely assured by more experienced political watchers, th... Weblog: Leaning Straight Up 11/12/07 3:58 am

U.S. and World Politics Excerpt: AN UNDERGROUND SOCIETY OF HOLLYWOOD CONSERVATIVES? (Washington Times, hat tip Instapundit) No doubt studios will force people to name names so that they can ensure these people don't further pollute the culture . . . . "24" Chief Scoffs at Weblog: Right Truth Tracked: 11.12.07 - 8:07 am

U.S. and World Politics Excerpt: AN UNDERGROUND SOCIETY OF HOLLYWOOD CONSERVATIVES? (Washington Times, hat tip Instapundit) No doubt studios will force people to name names so that they can ensure these people don't further pollute the culture . . . . "24" Chief Scoffs at Weblog: Right Truth, Trackbed 11/12/07 11:38 am

Hillary vs. The American Flag (and the flag wins!) Excerpt: Just in case you missed what happened yesterday to Hillary Clinton, ABC News Political Radar caught it for you and you won’t believe it - or the comments! ABC News’ Eloise Harper and Rick Klein Report: It’s been a rough stretch for Hi. Weblog: CommonSenseAmerica. Tracked 11/12/07 12:34 pm

Feel Good Story Of The Week Excerpt: Patrick Hughes was born blind and unable to walk. Yet, today, the determined young man 'marches' in the University of Louisville's marching band ... Weblog: 123beta. Tracked: 11.13.07 - 3:35 pm

The Difference Between Jews and Muslims Excerpt: there should be prizes for innovative techniques for Sex with Goats, How to Molest female infants, the theory and practise of honor killing of wives and daughters and the efficient slaughtering of innocent infidels and even fellow Muslims. Weblog: planck's constant Tracked: 11.13.07 - 4:57 pm

Those Wacky Iranians Get Their Gay On — Excerpt: Yes, it seems that once again, the Iranians are telling us exactly what they believe. Will the Left listen, or just chalk it up to a misunderstand, as when Mahmoud said he wanted to wipe Israel off the map? Weblog: Pirate’s Cove . Tracked: 11/13/07 5:57 pm

U.S. prosecutors: Illegal immigrant worked for FBI, CIA, stole info Excerpt: And that’s not all: The sister-in-law of the indicted fugitive owner of the La Shish restaurant chain got sensitive jobs at the FBI and CIA, despite being an illegal immigrant, federal prosecutors said in court documents unsealed today in Detroit. Weblog: Right Voices. Tracked: 11/13/07 6:29 pm

Thank you for my freedom Excerpt: Dear Morgan, thank you. It is not my best poem, but it is for you and all the others. Keep the faith, my dear friend. We do appreciate you so very deeply. Our prayers are with you, and 'O' and Maniac. Also your teams. Take care on this and every day.... Weblog: Rosemary's Thoughts. Tracked: 11.13.07 - 6:29 pm

Now I Know Why I'm So Smart!!!! Excerpt: Good News!!! Curvy figures equal smarter women who have smarter children!! Now I know why I’m so smart and so are my kids! ~~~ heh ~~~ Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles. Tracked: 11.13.07 - 7:10 pm

George Clooney Says Liberals Would Have Saved Sale Excerpt: The 40th anniversary issue of Rolling Stone interviewed several top actors on their political views. One of the interviewees was Meryl Streep who did the usual leftist rant about conservatives being ‘Nazis’. Weblog: Blue Star Chronicles. Tracked: 11.13.07 - 7:49 pm

DR EHRENFELD FIGHTS FOR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS TOMORROW Excerpt: Is the U.K. beginning to become a key player in global law enforcement due to their E.U. sympathetic repressive justice system? Will Muslim-friendly law in the U.K. be able to reach citizens of other countries, like yours, for example? Dr Rachel Ehre... Weblog: THE MIDNIGHT SUN Tracked: 11.14.07 - 2:55 am

Race to the Moon, Again. Excerpt: No lofty statements by presidents or leaders of nations this time, but the race is on for the moon, again. From 1961 to 1969 the USSR and the United States were locked in a history-making race to land the first Weblog: Right Truth Tracked: 11.14.07 - 4:50 am

2 post Veteran’s day stories Excerpt: First up is a story about a flag memorial for the fallen in Iraq. The memorial was placed by an person who does not support the war, but wants to memorialize the troops fallen. To those who preach that you cannot oppose the war a... Weblog: Leaning Straight Up, Tracked: 11/14/07 5:59 am

INTERNET COMPANIES TARGET ANTI-JIHAD BLOG Excerpt: A campaign of harassment has been carried out against the excellent anti-jihadi blog, The Religion of Peace with the help of several internet companies. Weblog: THE MIDNIGHT SUN Tracked: 11/14/07 6:54 am

WTW: The War On Christmas Has Started Begins Early Excerpt: Good morning, infidels. Prophet Sallami Sallami Mohammed is in the house on this وهتي ترسه وإدنسداي (White Trash Wednesday.) Its been awhile since I made an appearence. Been doing some of that jihad stuff, working to convince your gullible left to continue their opposition to anything that George Bush does or recommends, Weblog: Pirate’s Cove: 11/14/07 7:07 am

The Unreported Crime of Illegal Immigration Excerpt: The City of San Francisco has decided to give ID cards to residents including those who are here ILLEGALLY. On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors voted to issue municipal ID cards to residents regardless of their immigration status. As with all these f..Weblog: Big Dogs. trackbed 11/14/07 7:26 am

Tuesday and Wednesday Open Trackback & Open Thread Excerpt: So, what’s new in your world? Discuss. Weblog: Chuck Adkins. Tracked: 11/14/07 10:32 am

4 Quick Cat Facts Excerpt: Cat collars usually feature a section of elastic fabric. This is so the cat is able to release itself should it get caught in a tree. Weblog: The Pet Haven, Tracked: 11/14/07 12:32 pm

Dems feed on victims, then each other Excerpt: …for Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards inventing villains and feeding on their campaign-designed victims is not enough.... Weblog: Blog at MoreWhat.com Tracked: 11.14.07 - 3:29 pm

Sorcerer Executed in Saudi Arabia Excerpt: He turned me into a newt. An Egyptian man accused of practicing “sorcery” was executed in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that evidence of witchcraft such as books on black magic, a candle with... Weblog: The Amboy Times, Tracked 11/14/07 6:19 pm

Episode 1: New DNA #1 Excerpt: Here you see the first episode of Barb Gigamaster's latest comic strip. I'm hoping this can be a weekly thing, but Bruce says I'm not allowed to interfere with her schoolwork. (I love the man, but sometimes his priorities... Weblog: Conservative Cat. Tracked: 11.14.07 - 8:17 pm

Hillary, Spitzer, and the driver’s license fiasco Excerpt: Today on Chris Matthews’ show, NY Post reporter Fred Dicker claimed that Hillary’s people pressured Spitzer to drop the unpopular and controversial driver’s license plan for illegal aliens. Weblog: nuke’s. Tracked: 11/14/07 9:33 pm