For the First Time Ever...
Have you ever wondered how Ebenezer Scrooge became Scrooge, the most reviled and despised man in old London Town? I was fortunate enough to be given access to the personal papers of one Cornelius Scrooge the father of Ebenezer. Unfortunately time had not been kind to Cornelius' papers and by the time that I got my hands on them far too much of the content had been lost too us. In Fortunately there was enough left to be able to piece together an account of how Ebenezer became Scrooge.
A True Celebration of Christmas
For me there has always been something special about Christmas. I've heard far too many people say that Christmas is just for the children, and to them I say, BAH, HUMBUG. As far as the Christmas Spirit is concerned it belongs to all those who are prepared to let it in.
I don't know what it is about the Christmas Carol but it strikes a chord in me, whether in the written form or on the screen, I find it an intensely powerful and moving story, one that brings the magic of Christmas to life.
Excerpt...
"...First Ebenezer was to leave Fezziwig's and Cornelius would set him up in business. As to what the business was I'm not too sure, I know that part of the plan was to offer loans at punitive rates of interest and then strip the debtor of their assets in the event of non-payment of the loans. Cornelius was to have no apparent involvement in the business, but so that he could keep an eye on the business he proposed to introduce a partner into the business, one Jacob Marley. Jacob had come to Cornelius' attention in the East India Company; he was a few years older than Ebenezer, fiercely ambitious and totally unprincipled.
Regarding the thorny issue of Ebenezer's betrothed; Cornelius' advice was to ignore her. With Ebenezer no longer working at Fezziwig's, she would have less opportunity to meet him, and it was hoped that in time she would give up waiting for him and release him from his promise.
All went according to plan. The firm of Scrooge & Marley was established and it ruthlessly pursued every penny that it could get its avaricious hands on, there were some questions raised as to the methods that they used, but when gold eases the way nothing could be proved. 1803 saw the start of the Napoleonic wars which would drag on until Napoleons final defeat at Waterloo in 1815.
Cornelius was overjoyed at the prospect of a long and profitable war, but before he could work out a way to loosen more than his fair share out of the Exchequer, he died. Cornelius died on December the 8th and his dearly beloved daughter followed him just a few days later on the 12th whilst giving birth to her son Fred.
Ebenezer had a chance not to repeat the sins of his father and to do what he could for his nephew. But just as his father turned his back on him, Ebenezer turned his back on his nephew, cursing him for killing the only person in this world that he loved.
And so Ebenezer was all alone. He had no family and no interest in one all that mattered to him was profit. His one friend was his business partner Jacob Marley and he died in 1836, and then Ebenezer had no one."
Enjoy the Book
I hope that you like what I have done with Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol," and if you have a moment I would appreciate it if you could leave me a review. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas I wish you all the joy of the season.