A Christmas Carol – Chapter SummariesStave 1: The scene unfolds as a foggy and cold Christmas Eve in London during which a mean and selfish old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge works in his counter. . This trading post was co-owned by Jacob Marley, Scrooge's now-deceased business associate who died seven years earlier. Scrooge has an employee, Bob Cratchit, who he has employed to work for him, but he treats him poorly by refusing to pay a single penny for another lump of coal to heat the freezer office (which is relevant because we are in the middle of winter in London). , where it reaches freezing temperatures).Early in the Stave we meet Fred, Scrooges' nephew, who exclaims "Merry Christmas!" and stopped at the counter to invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner. Scrooge responds with a "Bah! Humbug!" and refuses Fred's offer, clearly disdaining his Christmas cheer. After Fred leaves, two charity workers (labeled as "Portly Gentlemen" in the text) enter the counter to ask Scrooge for a donation for the poor. Scrooge responds that prisons and work centers are the only charities he supports, in which he goes on to say: "If they would rather die...they had better do it and reduce the excess population . » and the volunteers leave empty-handed. Scrooge then complains that Bob wants the day off for Christmas Day. “What’s the point of Christmas…to put it out of business?” Scrooge finally agrees to give Bob the day off but tells him he has to arrive at the office early the next day. As Scrooge walks the path toward his house, the knocker on the front door catches his eye. A ghostly image of Jacob Marley's face seems to have become the door knocker that shocks Scrooge, but upon second inspection it seemed nothing was... middle of paper... and just seemed to radiate so much joy and the spirit of Christmas makes it hard for Fred's family to believe that it's really Scrooge! The next morning, Scrooge arrives at the counting office early and puts on a stern expression when Bob Cratchit arrives 18 and a half minutes late. Scrooge, pretending to be disgusted, begins to scold Bob, until he initiates his plan to give Cratchit a pay rise and help his struggling family. Bob is very surprised, but Scrooge promises that he is telling the truth. Over time, Scrooge helps the Cratchits and becomes like a second father to Tiny Tim who does not end up dying as the ghost predicted. People are confused by Scrooge's sudden change in behavior, but he continues without paying attention. The narrator ends the story with a final, impressionable statement, "and so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, may everyone!"