Charles Dickens Christmas (From The Pickwick Papers) 1956

[Music] the pck papers were first published in monthly installments beginning in April 1836 illustrated by the famous artists Seymour and Fizz they were an overnight sensation not because of the fine illustrations but because of the genius of a virtually unknown young writer Charles Dickens who was then 24 years old with each monthly installment Dickens created a host of delightful characters the pwians and their friends the pwians travel about England observing events and Custom sys as Mr pck put it for the advancement of knowledge and the diffusion of learning many and curious were their Adventures but none more heartwarming than their Christmas holiday spent at Manor Farm dingly Dell County of Kent experience yes Mr pck Mr pck come in come in good day Mr Nice how do you do how how nice to see you again a little late I fear oh well it's very cold as brisk as bees did the four P wickins assemble on the morning of the 24th day of December somewhat tardy but in his customary Good Humor was Mr Samuel pck himself the Amorous Mr Tracy tman the poetic Mr Augustus Snodgrass and the sport of Mr Nathaniel a Winkle ah Mr P's Dr yes sir Mr pqu thank you this is yours Winkle thank you gentlemen I give you Christmas Christmas in all his bluff and Hearty honesty Christmas to Christmas Father Christmas gay and m is is the time and right gay and merry are at least four of the numerous hearts that are gladdened by his coming here here Mr pwi here here and numerous indeed are the hearts to which Christmas brings a brief season of happiness and enjoyment numerous indeed right how many families whose members have been dispersed and Scattered far and wide in the Restless struggle of Life of then re United happy happy Christmas that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth that can transport the Sailor and the traveler thousands of miles away back to his own Fireside and his quiet home now then gentlemen the muggleton coach is about to depart if you please have you got everything sir yes I byebye come along with come thank you very much all right I'm glad we had that R punch before we let me help you Grandpa thank up you st up there now than is that all right go are we all right now care already Coachman yes we're all here we're all here come on [Music] in e [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] and so at 3:00 that afternoon the pck ends arrived high and dry safe and sound hail and Hearty at the Blue Lion in muggleton thank you Sam thank you now then uh see to the luggage [Music] yes he why it's none other than Mr W's favorite servant did he send you to meet us yes Mr pck Merry Christmas to and a Merry Christmas to you my young friend you look Rosy enough I've been asleep right in front of the Tap Room fire Master sent the Shak cart to carry a luggage up to the house he' to sent some saddle hes but he thought you'd rather walk being a cold day uh yes yes we would rather walk good for the circulation here uh Sam yes sir help uh Mr wle servant to put the luggage into the cart and then ride with him yes sir we shall walk on come gentlemen forward to dingly Dell so I to help you put the luggage in this hair cut that's [Music] [Music] right well you're a nice specimen of a prize boy you are thank you you ain't got nothing on your mind as makes you frck yourself have you not as I know Z I should rather have thought to look at you that you was laboring under an unrequited attachment for some young woman w h well long I'm glad to wear [Music] it do you ever drink anything I likes eating better I should have suppose that but what I mean is should you like a drop of something as it warm you but then I suppose you never was cold was you sometimes and I likes a little something when it's good oh you do do you come this way then [Music] meanwhile Mr pck and his friends proceeded cheerfully [Music] on the paths were hard there was snow on the ground the air Had A Fine Dry bracing coldness but if they were social and happy outside the house what was the warmth cordiality of their reception when they reached the farm you Merry Christmas Merry Christmas welcome to thank a [Music] journey I trust you shall find the Christmas spirit here oh I'm quite sure we shall Christmas is always our favorite season here in dingl oh I know I know now come and see my mother she's eagerly awaiting you as you know now that indeed will be a great pleasure sometimes mother is something less than pleas but uh come along now tell me did Joe fetch your luggage oh yes yes he's been most helpful and he's bringing my servant Sam back with him in the shakar a reliable boys both now we'll surprise mother yes mother look who's here Mr pck you recollect him never mind don't trouble Mr pck about an old Critter like me nobody cares about me now it's very natural that they shouldn't oh come come Mom I can't let you cut an old friend like this the day before Christmas I have come down here expressly to have a long talk with you and uh we'll show those boys and girls how to dance a minuette before they're Ag and 40 hours older ah I can't hear him nonsense mother now come come don't be cross there's a good Soul ah Mr pck young people was very different when I was a girl no doubt of that M no doubt of that and so whether the old lady was touched by Mr pwi's affectionate good nature or whatever was the cause she was fairly melted and all her little ill humor evaporated [Music] it a happy party they were that Christmas Eve the carpet was up the candles burned bright the fire blazed and crackled on the Hearth and for the first time within the memory of his oldest friends Mr pwi's appearance was most remarkable well pck enjoying yourself a delightful evening delightful you mean to dance I dig it of course I do don't you see I am dressed for the purpose you in silk stockings and why not sir why not I suppose there's no reason why you shouldn't wear them sir I imagine not sir I imagine not you see nothing extraordinary in the stockings as stockings I trust sir certainly not certainly not we are all uh ready for the dancing I believe we are gentlemen choose your part are we all ready yes we are sir then begin at work [Music] now stop stop what's the matter what's happened Winkles Missy and Arabella areab wink say Winkle get here we are what a extraordinary thing it is that you couldn't have been in your place before not at all Extraordinary well I don't know that it was so extraordinary either after all [Music] [Applause] enjoy very much all the mlto can I help you sir thank you my boy you're younger than I am oh what this is the real Spirit of Christmas isn't it yes now see that I think so ah Mr Pig first in the field eh mom it is an honor to salute so Charming a lady under the Mystic BR mqu tman Winkle snowgrass come [Applause] along now don't be Qui come along submit with good grace upon this Soul they are having a go [Music] [Music] [Music] Capital Cap but enough gentlemen enough supper is ready [Music] [Music] the screaming had subsided and faces were in a glow and curls in a tangle and they all sat down by the huge fire of Blazing logs to a very substantial supper here we are Mr pck thank you this is a indeed Comfort our invariable custom at Christmas time everybody sits down with us on Christmas Eve as you see now servants and all and here we wait till the clock strikes 12 to Usher Christmas in winkleby boy break up the fire up flew the bright Sparks and myriads as the logs were stirred the deep red Blaze sent forth a rich glow and cast its cheerful tint on every [Music] face ladies and Gentlemen let's drink to Christmas Christmas christas