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), published in the 1840s. Dickens's Christmas stories are not just tales for children, but a collection of unique moral messages that... touch on the pressing issues of English society in the mid-19th century.In a large cozy house, filled with harmony and love, a mysterious traveler unexpectedly appears. He was brought to the house by the owner himself—the mail carrier John, who found the freezing old man on the road. An air of anxiety settles in the house. It is felt by the lovely hostess Mary, whom her husband calls Little One, the young nanny Tilly, and the kind spirit and guardian of the hearth, the Cricket, who remains invisible to all. An almost detective story begins, which could lead to terrible injustice. But goodness is strong, albeit sometimes naive. The wise Cricket will not allow the "hearth to be extinguished." Christmas is on the doorstep, and on Christmas Eve, all sorts of miracles happen...We present to the readers the text of the story with comments and a dictionary.