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The third classic of Charles Dickens Christmas stories, "The Cricket on the Hearth" can now be watched by the entire family this Christmas season.
John Peerybingle, a carrier, lives with his wife Dot (who is much younger than he), their baby, their nanny Tilly Slowboy, and a mysterious lodger. A cricket constantly chirps on the hearth and acts as a guardian angel to the family, at one point assuming a human voice to warn John that his suspicions that Dot is having an affair with the lodger are wrong.
John Perrybingle and his wife Dot, their child, and nanny Tilly Slowboy, and an lodger live together. A crickets acts as a guardian angel to the family and sits on their hearth chirping to warn the family of things.
The life of the Peerybingles frequently intersects with that of Caleb Plummer, a poor toymaker employed by the miser Mr. Tackleton. Caleb has a blind daughter Bertha, and a son Edward, who travelled to South America and seemingly never returned. Tackleton is now on the eve of marrying Edward's sweetheart, May.
In the end, the lodger is revealed to be none other than Edward. Tackleton's heart is melted by the Christmas season, like Ebenezer Scrooge, and surrenders May to marry her true love. It is suggested ambiguously that Bertha regains her sight at the end.
Link other Christmas Stories written by Charles Dickens, Tackleton's heart is changed by the spirit of the Christmas Season. |
