Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!
Charles Dickens
The NYT has an article on the original manuscript of “A Christmas Carol” The manuscript is 66 pages and can be seen here: NYT Christmas Carol Pages.
“A Christmas Carol” has been housed at 225 Madison Avenue, once the financier’s home and now the heart of the museum, since Mr. Morgan bought the manuscript just over a century ago. It went on display this year, turned to page 37, on Nov. 20, and will remain on exhibit until Jan. 10.
This year’s page describes a moment when Scrooge hears Bob Cratchit report that the sickly Tiny Tim is “growing strong and hearty.’’ Initially, Dickens had Scrooge demand: “Is that so, Spirit?” only to be disabused of that notion by the Ghost of Christmas Present. “The child will die,’’ the spirit advises him.
Dickens regretted divulging that fact so soon and restored the passage two pages later in the text, employing a half-cross-out approach with his quill pen that came in handy when he was not quite ready to throw words away.
“I just love this change,’’ Mr. Kiely said, “because you see Dickens realizing he’s going to save this dramatic moment for later.’’
At least one change did not occur until the book was at the printer. You will note that the manuscript is silent on whether Tiny Tim lives. But before the first editions went out the door, a line was curiously inserted on page 65 noting that “and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.”
The first rule is, to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.
Marcus Aurelius
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You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.
Harlan Ellison