A Christmas Carol | Progressive Translation Books for German A1 Learners

A Christmas Carol | Progressive Translation Books for German A1 Learners

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STAVEONE.
MARLEY’SGHOST.
Marleywas
tot
dead
:
tobeginwith.
Thereisnodoubtwhateveraboutthat.
Das
The
registerofhisburialwassignedby
das
the
clergyman,theclerk,theundertaker,
und
and
thechiefmourner.
Scroogesigned
es
it
:
andScrooge’snamewas
gut
good
upon’Change,foranythinghechoseto
legen
put
hishandto.
OldMarleywasas
tot
dead
asadoor-nail.
Mind!
Idon’tmeanto
sagen
say
thatIknow,ofmyownknowledge,whatthereisparticularly
tot
dead
aboutadoor-nail.
Imighthavebeeninclined,myself,toregardacoffin-nailas
das
the
deadestpieceofironmongeryin
das
the
trade.
Butthewisdomofourancestorsisin
die
the
simile;
andmyunhallowedhandsshallnotdisturb
es
it
,ortheCountry’sdonefor.
Youwillthereforepermitmetorepeat,emphatically,thatMarleywasas
tot
dead
asadoor-nail.
Scroogeknewhewas
tot
dead
?
Ofcoursehedid.
How
könnte
could
itbeotherwise?
Scrooge
und
and
hewerepartnersforIdon’tknowhow
viele
many
years.
Scroogewashissoleexecutor,hissoleadministrator,hissoleassign,hissoleresiduarylegatee,hissole
freund
friend
,andsolemourner.
And
selbst
even
Scroogewasnotsodreadfullycutupbythesadevent,
sondern
but
thathewasanexcellentmanofbusinessonthevery
tag
day
ofthefuneral,andsolemniseditwith
ein
an
undoubtedbargain.
ThementionofMarley’sfuneralbringsme
zurück
back
tothepointIstartedfrom.
Thereis
kein
no
doubtthatMarleywas
tot
dead
.
Thismustbedistinctlyunderstood,or
nichts
nothing
wonderfulcancomeofthe
geschichte
story
Iamgoingtorelate.
Wenn
If
wewerenotperfectlyconvinced
dass
that
Hamlet’sFatherdiedbeforetheplaybegan,there
würde
would
benothingmoreremarkableinhistakingastrollatnight,inaneasterlywind,uponhisownramparts,
als
than
therewouldbeinanyothermiddle-agedgentlemanrashlyturningout
nach
after
darkinabreezyspot—saySaintPaul’sChurchyardforinstance—literallytoastonishhisson’sweak
verstand
mind
.
ScroogeneverpaintedoutOldMarley’sname.
Dort
There
itstood,yearsafterwards,above
der
the
warehousedoor:
ScroogeandMarley.
Die
The
firmwasknownasScrooge
und
and
Marley.
Sometimespeoplenewto
die
the
businesscalledScroogeScrooge,
und
and
sometimesMarley,butheansweredto
beide
both
names.
Itwasallthe
gleich
same
tohim.
Oh!
Buthewas
eine
a
tight-fistedhandatthegrindstone,Scrooge!
ein
a
squeezing,wrenching,grasping,scraping,clutching,covetous,oldsinner!
Hart
Hard
andsharpasflint,fromwhich
kein
no
steelhadeverstruckoutgenerous
feuer
fire
;
secret,andself-contained,andsolitaryas
eine
an
oyster.
Thecoldwithinhimfrozehisoldfeatures,nippedhispointednose,shrivelledhischeek,stiffenedhisgait;
madehiseyes
rot
red
,histhinlipsblue;
und
and
spokeoutshrewdlyinhisgratingvoice.
Ein
A
frostyrimewasonhis
kopf
head
,andonhiseyebrows,
und
and
hiswirychin.
Hecarriedhisownlowtemperaturealwaysaboutwith
ihm
him
;
heicedhisofficein
den
the
dog-days;
anddidn’tthawitonedegreeatChristmas.
Externalheat
und
and
coldhadlittleinfluenceonScrooge.
Kein
No
warmthcouldwarm,nowintryweatherchill
ihn
him
.
Nowindthatblewwasbitterer
als
than
he,nofallingsnowwas
mehr
more
intentuponitspurpose,
kein
no
peltingrainlessopentoentreaty.
Foulweatherdidn’tknow
wo
where
tohavehim.
Theheaviestrain,
und
and
snow,andhail,andsleet,
konnte
could
boastoftheadvantage
über
over
himinonlyonerespect.
Theyoften“camedown”handsomely,
und
and
Scroogeneverdid.
Nobodyever
angehalten
stopped
himinthestreetto
sagen
say
,withgladsomelooks,“MydearScrooge,howareyou?
Whenwillyoucometoseeme?”
Kein
No
beggarsimploredhimtobestow
eine
a
trifle,nochildrenaskedhimwhatitwaso’clock,
kein
no
manorwomanever
einmal
once
inallhislifeinquiredthe
weg
way
tosuchandsuch
eine
a
place,ofScrooge.
Eventheblindmen’sdogsappearedto
kennen
know
him;
andwhenthey
sahen
saw
himcomingon,wouldtugtheirownersintodoorways
und
and
upcourts;
andthen
würden
would
wagtheirtailsasthoughtheysaid,“Noeyeatallis
besser
better
thananevileye,darkmaster!”
Aber
But
whatdidScroogecare!
Itwas
das
the
verythingheliked.
Toedgehis
weg
way
alongthecrowdedpathsoflife,warning
alle
all
humansympathytokeepitsdistance,waswhattheknowingonescall“nuts”toScrooge.
Einmal
Once
uponatime—ofall
der
the
gooddaysintheyear,onChristmasEve—oldScroogesatbusyinhiscounting-house.
Itwas
kalt
cold
,bleak,bitingweather:
foggywithal:
und
and
hecouldhearthe
leute
people
inthecourtoutside,gowheezingup
und
and
down,beatingtheirhandsupontheirbreasts,
und
and
stampingtheirfeetupon
die
the
pavementstonestowarmthem.
Thecityclockshadonlyjustgone
drei
three
,butitwasquitedarkalready—ithadnotbeenlightallday—andcandleswereflaringinthewindowsoftheneighbouringoffices,likeruddysmearsuponthepalpablebrown
luft
air
.
Thefogcamepouringinateverychink
und
and
keyhole,andwassodensewithout,thatalthoughthecourtwasofthenarrowest,thehousesoppositeweremerephantoms.
To
sah
see
thedingycloudcomedroopingdown,obscuring
alles
everything
,onemighthavethought
dass
that
Naturelivedhardby,
und
and
wasbrewingonalargescale.
ThedoorofScrooge’scounting-housewas
offen
open
thathemightkeephiseyeuponhisclerk,whoinadismallittlecellbeyond,a
art
sort
oftank,wascopyingletters.
Scroogehadaverysmall
feuer
fire
,buttheclerk’sfirewassoverymuchsmallerthatitlookedlikeonecoal.
Aber
But
hecouldn’treplenishit,forScroogekept
die
the
coal-boxinhisown
zimmer
room
;
andsosurelyas
der
the
clerkcameinwith
der
the
shovel,themasterpredicted
dass
that
itwouldbenecessaryforthemto
trennen
part
.
Whereforetheclerkputonhiswhitecomforter,
und
and
triedtowarmhimselfat
der
the
candle;
inwhicheffort,notbeinga
mann
man
ofastrongimagination,hefailed.
“AmerryChristmas,
onkel
uncle
!
Godsaveyou!”
cried
eine
a
cheerfulvoice.
ItwasthevoiceofScrooge’snephew,whocameuponhimsoquicklythatthiswasthe
erste
first
intimationhehadofhisapproach.
“Bah!”
saidScrooge,“Humbug!”
Hehadsoheatedhimselfwithrapidwalkinginthefog
und
and
frost,thisnephewofScrooge’s,thathewasallinaglow;
his
gesicht
face
wasruddyandhandsome;
hiseyessparkled,
und
and
hisbreathsmokedagain.
“Christmas
ein
a
humbug,uncle!”
saidScrooge’snephew.
“Youdon’t
meinst
mean
that,Iamsure?”
“Ido,”saidScrooge.
“MerryChristmas!
What
recht
right
haveyoutobemerry?
What
grund
reason
haveyoutobemerry?
You’re
arm
poor
enough.”
“Come,then,”returned
der
the
nephewgaily.
“Whatright
sein
have
youtobedismal?
What
grund
reason
haveyoutobemorose?
You’rerichenough.”
Scroogehavingnobetter
antwort
answer
readyonthespurofthemoment,said,“Bah!”
again;
und
and
followeditupwith“Humbug.”
“Don’tbecross,uncle!”
said
der
the
nephew.
“WhatelsecanIbe,”returned
der
the
uncle,“whenIliveinsucha
welt
world
offoolsasthis?
MerryChristmas!
OutuponmerryChristmas!
What’sChristmas
zeit
time
toyoubuta
zeit
time
forpayingbillswithout
geld
money
;
atimeforfindingyourselfa
jahr
year
older,butnotan
stunde
hour
richer;
atimeforbalancingyourbooks
und
and
havingeveryitemin’em
durch
through
arounddozenofmonthspresented
tot
dead
againstyou?
IfI
könnte
could
workmywill,”saidScroogeindignantly,“everyidiotwhogoesaboutwith‘MerryChristmas’onhislips,
sollte
should
beboiledwithhisownpudding,
und
and
buriedwithastakeofholly
durch
through
hisheart.
Heshould!”
“Uncle!”
pleaded
den
the
nephew.
“Nephew!”
returnedthe
onkel
uncle
sternly,“keepChristmasinyourown
weise
way
,andletmekeepitinmine.”
“Keepit!”
repeatedScrooge’snephew.
“Butyoudon’tkeepit.”
“Letmeleaveitalone,then,”saidScrooge.
“Muchgoodmayit
tun
do
you!
Muchgoodithasever
getan
done
you!”
“TherearemanythingsfromwhichI
könnte
might
havederivedgood,bywhichI
haben
have
notprofited,Idaresay,”returnedthenephew.
“Christmasamong
den
the
rest.
ButIam
sicher
sure
IhavealwaysthoughtofChristmas
zeit
time
,whenithascomeround—apartfromthevenerationduetoitssacredname
und
and
origin,ifanythingbelongingtoit
kann
can
beapartfromthat—as
eine
a
goodtime;
akind,forgiving,charitable,pleasant
zeit
time
;
theonlytimeIknowof,inthelongcalendaroftheyear,whenmen
und
and
womenseembyoneconsentto
öffnen
open
theirshut-upheartsfreely,
und
and
tothinkofpeoplebelowthemasifthey
wirklich
really
werefellow-passengerstothegrave,
und
and
notanotherraceofcreaturesboundon
andere
other
journeys.
Andtherefore,uncle,
obwohl
though
ithasneverputascrapofgoldorsilverinmypocket,I
glaube
believe
thatithasdoneme
gut
good
,andwilldome
gut
good
;
andIsay,Godblessit!”
Der
The
clerkintheTankinvoluntarilyapplauded.
Becomingimmediatelysensibleoftheimpropriety,hepokedthe
feuer
fire
,andextinguishedthelastfrailsparkforever.
“Letmehearanother
klang
sound
fromyou,”saidScrooge,“andyou’llkeepyourChristmasbylosingyoursituation!
You’re
ziemlich
quite
apowerfulspeaker,sir,”headded,
wandte
turning
tohisnephew.
“Iwonderyoudon’t
gehen
go
intoParliament.”
“Don’tbeangry,
onkel
uncle
.
Come!
Dinewithusto-morrow.”
Scroogesaid
dass
that
hewouldseehim—yes,indeedhe
tat
did
.
Hewentthewholelengthof
die
the
expression,andsaidthathe
würde
would
seehiminthatextremity
zuerst
first
.
“Butwhy?”
criedScrooge’snephew.
“Why?”
“Whydidyougetmarried?”
saidScrooge.
“BecauseIfellinlove.”
“Becauseyoufellinlove!”
growledScrooge,as
ob
if
thatweretheonlyone
sache
thing
intheworldmoreridiculousthan
ein
a
merryChristmas.
“Goodafternoon!”
“Nay,
onkel
uncle
,butyounevercametoseeme
bevor
before
thathappened.
Whygiveitasa
grund
reason
fornotcomingnow?”
“Goodafternoon,”saidScrooge.
“Iwant
nichts
nothing
fromyou;
Iask
nichts
nothing
ofyou;
whycannotwebefriends?”
“Goodafternoon,”saidScrooge.
“Iamsorry,withallmyheart,tofindyousoresolute.
We
haben
have
neverhadanyquarrel,towhichI
haben
have
beenaparty.
ButIhavemade
den
the
trialinhomagetoChristmas,
und
and
I’llkeepmyChristmashumourto
den
the
last.
SoAMerryChristmas,uncle!”
“Goodafternoon!”
saidScrooge.
“And
Ein
A
HappyNewYear!”
“Goodafternoon!”
saidScrooge.
Hisnephew
verließ
left
theroomwithoutanangry
wort
word
,notwithstanding.
Hestoppedattheouterdoortobestowthegreetingsoftheseasonontheclerk,who,
kalt
cold
ashewas,waswarmerthanScrooge;
forhereturnedthemcordially.
“There’sanotherfellow,”mutteredScrooge;
whooverheard
ihn
him
:
“myclerk,withfifteenshillingsa
woche
week
,andawifeand
familie
family
,talkingaboutamerryChristmas.
I’llretiretoBedlam.”
Dieser
This
lunatic,inlettingScrooge’snephewout,hadlet
zwei
two
otherpeoplein.Theywereportlygentlemen,pleasanttobehold,
und
and
nowstood,withtheirhats
ab
off
,inScrooge’soffice.
Theyhadbooks
und
and
papersintheirhands,
und
and
bowedtohim.
“Scrooge
und
and
Marley’s,Ibelieve,”said
einer
one
ofthegentlemen,referringtohislist.
“HaveI
das
the
pleasureofaddressingMr.Scrooge,orMr.Marley?”
“Mr.
Marleyhasbeen
tot
dead
thesesevenyears,”Scroogereplied.
“He
starb
died
sevenyearsago,thisverynight.”
“We
haben
have
nodoubthisliberalityis
gut
well
representedbyhissurvivingpartner,”said
der
the
gentleman,presentinghiscredentials.
Itcertainlywas;
fortheyhadbeen
zwei
two
kindredspirits.
Attheominous
wort
word
“liberality,”Scroogefrowned,andshookhis
kopf
head
,andhandedthecredentials
zurück
back
.
“Atthisfestiveseasonoftheyear,Mr.Scrooge,”saidthegentleman,takingup
eine
a
pen,“itismore
als
than
usuallydesirablethatweshouldmake
etwas
some
slightprovisionforthePoor
und
and
destitute,whosuffergreatlyatthepresenttime.
Viele
Many
thousandsareinwantofcommonnecessaries;
hundredsofthousandsareinwantofcommoncomforts,sir.”
“Aretherenoprisons?”
fragte
asked
Scrooge.
“Plentyofprisons,”saidthegentleman,layingdownthepen
wieder
again
.
“AndtheUnionworkhouses?”
demandedScrooge.
“Aretheystillinoperation?”
“Theyare.
Still,”returned
der
the
gentleman,“IwishI
könnte
could
saytheywerenot.”
“TheTreadmill
und
and
thePoorLawareinfullvigour,then?”
saidScrooge.
“Both
sehr
very
busy,sir.”
“Oh!
Iwasafraid,fromwhatyousaidat
zuerst
first
,thatsomethinghadoccurredto
stoppen
stop
themintheirusefulcourse,”saidScrooge.
“I’m
sehr
very
gladtohearit.”
“UndertheimpressionthattheyscarcelyfurnishChristiancheerofmindorbodytothemultitude,”returnedthegentleman,“afewofusareendeavouringtoraiseafundto
kaufen
buy
thePoorsomemeat
und
and
drink,andmeansofwarmth.
Wechoose
diese
this
time,becauseitis
eine
a
time,ofallothers,whenWantiskeenlyfelt,
und
and
Abundancerejoices.
WhatshallIputyoudownfor?”
“Nothing!”
Scroogereplied.
“You
wollen
wish
tobeanonymous?”
“Iwishtobeleftalone,”saidScrooge.
“Sinceyou
fragen
ask
mewhatIwish,gentlemen,thatismy
antwort
answer
.