阅读理解
I have tried to write a ghost（鬼魂） story that won't make you unhappy with yourselves，with each other，with the seasons，or with me．I hope it haunts（飘荡） your houses pleasantly．
By Charles Dickens One Christmas Eve，old Scrooge and Bob were working busily in his office．It was a cold，foggy day．The fog was so thick that the houses opposite were like ghosts．It was only three o'clock in the afternoon，but it was already quite dark．
"Merry Christmas，Uncle!"cried a happy voice．It was Scrooge's nephew（侄子）．
"Bah!"said Scrooge，"Humbug（骗人的话）!"
"Christmas is a humbug？Surely you don't mean that，Uncle．"said his nephew．
"I do，"said Scrooge．"Merry Christmas!What reason have you got to be merry？You're poor．"
"OK，then，"replied the nephew cheerfully．"What reason have you got to be sad？You are rich．Don't be angry，Uncle!"said his nephew．
"What else can I be？"answered the uncle，"I live in a world of fools!Merry Christmas!What's Christmas time to you？It's a time for paying bills without money？!It's a time for finding yourself a year older，but not richer．
Everyone who goes around saying 'Merry Christmas' should have his tongue cut out．Yes，he should!"
"Uncle!Please don't say that!"said the nephew．"I've always thought of Christmas time as a good time，a kind，and a charitable（慈善的）and happy time．And so，Uncle，Christmas has never put any gold or silver in my pocket，but I think it has done me good．And it will do me good．I'm sure．"
Bob，standing in the corner of the room，applauded．He realized his mistake very soon，and went quickly back to his work，but Scrooge had heard him．
"One more sound from you，Bob Cratchit，"said Scrooge，"and you'll celebrate Christmas by losing your job!"
"Don't be angry with him，Uncle．Come and have dinner with us tomorrow．"said Scrooge's newphew．
"No．"said Scrooge．
I'm sorry you don't want to celebrate Christmas．But I do．So a Merry Christmas，Uncle!"
"Good afternoon!"said Scrooge．
"And a Happy New Year!"said his nephew．
"Good afternoon!"said Scrooge again．
His nephew left the room．He stopped to wish Bob a Merry Christmas．And Bob replied，"A Merry Christmas to you，too．"
