Cedric's Christmas Carol - 1957 McCall's Magazine
The "older family" will recall this story. Mom had read this story several times to us in the early years. When she wasn't reading the story, I would look at the pictures and make up "my own stories".
For a number of Christmas seasons, Mom would pull out her old McCalls and Good Housekeeping magazines, and use them to create something new for the Christmas holidays. I'm not certain what happened to these old magazines...probably destroyed in the fire...but they are among the earliest recollections I have about the time before Christmas Day.
This story was actually created by Walt Disney for McCalls. Below is a synopsis of the story (I'm going to see if I can find a copy of the story for future records. Below is a passage from this story:.
It was Christmas Eve, and up in the garret in a cozy corner back of the
chimney, ten little mice were gathered round a candlestick, their ears
all set to hear a Christmas story.
"Now, quiet as a mouse, everyone," said their father as he opened a very
small book with a worn and faded cover and adjusted his tiny spectacles.
"It's a very old story,” he said, “and it’s called A Christmas Carol.
In this version, Bob Cratchet has been replaced by the character of
Cedric Mouse. Cedric works for Ebenezer Scrooge as a clock and watch
repairman in Scrooge’s Clock Shop. Not unlike Bob, Cedric struggles to
care for his family on the mere two pence per week wage that Scrooge
pays him.
Gone are Jacob Marley and the Christmas ghosts. Instead, Scrooge’s old
grandfather clock comes to life and turns himself years ahead to
demonstrate to Scrooge the future consequences of his miserly ways.
