a christmas carol short story

One cold December night, Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter and miserly old man, sits in his office on Christmas Eve, counting his money. Suddenly, a mysterious figure appears in his office. "What do you want?" Scrooge demands. The figure, dressed in a dark cloak, replies, "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. I've come to show you the true meaning of Christmas." Scrooge scoffs at the idea of a ghost, but the figure insists that he follow. Scrooge reluctantly follows the ghost into a strange and magical world.