The Cricket on the Hearth

"The Cricket on the Hearth" is one of the "Christmas stories" by the great English writer Charles Dickens (1812–1870), which were published in the 1840s. Dickens' Christmas stories are not just tales for children, but a collection of unique moral messages addressing the pressing issues of mid-19th century English society. In a large cozy house, where everything is imbued with harmony and love, a mysterious stranger unexpectedly appears. The master of the house, John the postman, brought the old man in after finding him frozen on the road. A sense of unease settles in the house. It is felt by the lovely mistress Mary, whom her husband affectionately calls Little, by the young nanny Tilly, and by the invisible but ever-present good spirit and guardian of the household hearth—the Cricket. A near-detective story unfolds, which could lead to a terrible injustice. But goodness, though sometimes naive, is powerful. The wise Cricket will not allow the "hearth to be extinguished." Christmas is approaching, and during Christmas night, all sorts of miracles can happen... We present to readers the text of the story with commentary and a glossary.