The Chimes

"The Chimes" is one of the "Christmas stories" by the great English writer Charles Dickens, published in the 1840s. Dickens' Christmas stories are not just children's tales but a collection of unique moral messages that address the pressing issues of mid-19th century English society. The messenger Toby Veck and his beautiful daughter live in poverty but with joy. They both love listening to the chimes of a nearby church. The father can distinguish the "voices" of all the bells. One New Year's Eve, as his daughter was preparing for her wedding, it seemed to him that the bells were ringing strangely... We present to readers the story "The Chimes" with commentary and a glossary.