A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Stave 1 Page 9

“What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You're rich enough.”

Scrooge, having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said, “Bah!” again; and followed it up with “Humbug!”

“Don't be cross, uncle!” said the nephew.

“A Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” cried a cheerful voice. “A Merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” cried a cheerful voice.

“What else can I be,” returned the uncle, “when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What's Christmas-time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not