Chapter 1: Marley's Ghost
Ebenezer Scrooge was a rich old man who lived in London. He had a lot of money, but he never gave any of it away. He was cold and hard, like ice. People in the street never stopped to say hello to him. Even the dogs ran away when they saw him.
Scrooge had a business partner called Jacob Marley. Marley died seven years ago, on Christmas Eve. Scrooge was not sad. He just kept the money and continued working.
It was Christmas Eve again. The weather was cold and foggy. Scrooge was working in his office. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, was working in a small, cold room next door. Bob wanted to put more coal on the fire, but Scrooge said no. Coal cost money.
Suddenly, the door opened. It was Fred, Scrooge's nephew. "Merry Christmas, Uncle!" he said with a big smile. "Come and have dinner with us tomorrow."
"Christmas? Humbug!" said Scrooge. "Christmas is a time for paying bills without money. No, I will not come."
Fred left, but he was still smiling. "Merry Christmas anyway, Uncle!"
Later, two gentlemen came in. They were collecting money for poor people. "Many people have no food or warm clothes at Christmas," they said. "Can you give something?"
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge. "Are there no workhouses? I pay for those. That is enough." The gentlemen looked at each other and left.