The Chimes. The Cricket on the Hearth / Charles Dickens

“The Chimes” and “The Cricket on the Hearth” by Charles Dickens (1812–1870) belong to his well-known cycle “Christmas Stories”. The events of the first one develop on the New Year’s Eve when the casual messenger Toby after his talk with the alderman begins to believe that all the poor people are bad ones already by birth and therefore his daughter does not deserve happiness as well. However, the spirits of the bells do not agree with him — the fairy-tale charms change the chain of events, and Toby himself. In the second story, the ideal family of the carrier has been described: he and his wife have a lot of friends, a little baby, a songful Cricket and a dog, Boxer. Dramatic events caused by the appearance of a stranger menace the family’s happiness. Still, the magic creatures come to their relief again, that is why this story will have quite unexpected finale.