A Christmas Carol
/ə ˌkrɪsməs ˈkærəl/
/ə ˈkrɪsməs kærəl/
- a short novel (1843) by Charles Dickens. It is about Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean old man, who on the night before Christmas sees ghosts of Christmasses past, present and future. He realizes that he has been very unpleasant to people and that no one likes him. He immediately changes and sends gifts to his poor employee, Bob Cratchit, and to Cratchit's family, including his little lame son, Tiny Tim.