A Christmas Carol — Episode Twenty Four: Christmas Day

Podcast: The Merry Beggars
Date: December 23, 2025
Episode Duration: ~8 minutes

Episode Overview

This special episode of A Christmas Carol marks the joyful climax of Charles Dickens’ beloved story: Ebenezer Scrooge’s miraculous awakening on Christmas Day. The episode follows Scrooge as he realizes he has been given a second chance at life, exulting in his transformation and making good on his promise to embrace generosity and the spirit of Christmas. The dramatized narration captures both the humor and warmth of Dickens’ original text, blending heartfelt emotion with jubilant energy.

Key Discussion Points & Narrative Highlights

1. Scrooge Awakens – Realization & Relief

• Scrooge awakes in his own bed after the revelatory journey with the spirits, initially in disbelief, then overwhelmed by emotion and gratitude.
  • [00:29–01:15]
  • “It is. It is my own bed. My old bedpost. My curtains.” — Scrooge [00:58]
  • The narration marvels: "The best and happiest of all — the time before him was his own to make amends in." [01:03]

2. Scrooge’s Exuberance and New Outlook

• Overflowing with joy and bewilderment, Scrooge struggles even to dress himself in his excitement.
  • [01:43–02:34]
  • “I'm as light as a feather. I'm as happy as an angel. I'm as merry as a schoolboy. I'm as giddy as a drunken man.” — Scrooge [02:10]
  • "He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the spirit, and his face was wet with tears." [01:32]
• He laughs—a sound he hasn't truly made in years.
  • “For a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh... the father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs.” — Narrator [03:04]

3. New Wonder at Old Surroundings

• Scrooge surveys his room, marveling at ordinary things with fresh, grateful eyes.
  • “There's the saucepan that the gruel was in. And there's the door by which the ghost of Jacob Marley entered... It's all true. It all happened, really.” — Scrooge [02:39]

4. The Joy of Christmas Morning

• Church bells ring out; Scrooge drinks in the “glorious” morning and the clear, cold air.
  • [03:32–04:10]
  • “No fog, no mist. Clear, bright, jovial, stirring. Cold, cold piping for the blood to dance to. Golden sunlight, heavenly sky, sweet fresh air, Merry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious.” — Narration [03:32]

5. Acts of Kindness – The Turkey for the Cratchits

• Scrooge enlists a street boy to purchase the prize turkey for the Cratchit family—a gesture of secret charity and humor.
  • [04:10–06:41]
  • “Go and buy it and tell him to bring it here that I may give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man and I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I'll give you half a crown.” — Scrooge [04:56]
  • “Joe Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob's will be... It's twice the size of Tiny Tim.” — Scrooge [05:27]

6. Reconnecting with Humanity – Newfound Joy

• Scrooge pays the cab and the butcher with an infectious chuckle, savoring every moment of generosity.
  • [06:41–07:06]
  • “The chuckle with which he said this and the chuckle with which he paid for the turkey, and the chuckle with which he paid for the cab... were only to be exceeded by the chuckle with which he sat down breathless in his chair again and chuckled till he cried.” — Narrator [07:06]
• Extreme cheer transforms Scrooge’s public face, causing passersby to greet him with warmth.
  • [07:06–08:12]
  • “He looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good humored fellows said, ‘Good morning, sir. A Merry Christmas to you.’” — Narrator [07:38]
  • Scrooge often recalled, “of all the blithe sounds he had ever heard, those were the blithest in his ears.” — Narrator [07:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I will live in the past, the present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me.” — Scrooge [01:15]
• “The shadows of the things that would have been may be dispelled. They will be. I know they will.” — Scrooge [01:43]
• “What a turkey! Why, he could stand upon his own legs. But you two, it's impossible to carry that to Camden Town. You must have a cab.” — Scrooge [06:51]
• “Jacob Marley, may your soul be at rest — I have never had, nor ever shall have, a better friend than thee.” — Scrooge, reflecting in gratitude [06:23]

Key Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Scrooge awakens, realizes redemption | Scrooge’s astonished discovery and promise to change | 00:29–01:43 | | Exuberance and self-mockery | Clumsy dressing, laughter, babylike wonder, proclamation | 01:43–03:16 | | Marveling at Christmas morning | Description of sights, sounds, and clear air | 03:32–04:10 | | The Prize Turkey for the Cratchits | Interaction with street boy, secret charity for Bob and Tiny Tim | 04:10–06:41 | | Scrooge in the joyful streets | Spreading cheer, his new face to the world | 07:06–08:12 |

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode radiates exuberance, gratitude, and comic warmth, closely following Dickens’ text. Scrooge’s dialogue is frenetic, sincere, and tinged with self-deprecating humor, while the narrator offers gentle, affectionate commentary that amplifies the sense of transformation and hope.

Final Thoughts

Episode 24 beautifully dramatizes Scrooge’s rebirth and his first joyful acts of charity, setting the scene for a true Dickensian Christmas. The sound design and lively performances make this a heartwarming, triumphant episode—perfect for listeners young and old, whether familiar with Dickens or discovering the story anew.