<Tr> <Th> Relatives </Th> <Td> The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come </Td> </Tr> <P> The Ghost of Christmas Present or The Spirit of Christmas Present is a fictional character in the work A Christmas Carol by novelist Charles Dickens . The Spirit closely resembles Father Christmas from local folklore . </P> <P> The Ghost of Christmas Present is the second of the three spirits (after the visitations by Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Past) that haunt the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to repent . When he first appears before Scrooge, he invites him to "come in and know me better, man ." According to Dickens' novel, the Ghost of Christmas Present appears to Scrooge as "a jolly giant" with dark brown curls . He wears a fur - lined green robe and on his head a holly wreath set with shining icicles . He carries a large torch, made to resemble a cornucopia, and appears accompanied by a great feast . He states that he has had "more than eighteen hundred" brothers and later reveals the ability to change his size to fit into any space . He also bears a scabbard with no sword in it, a representation of peace on Earth and good will toward men . </P> <P> The spirit transports Scrooge around the city, showing him scenes of festivity and also deprivation that are happening as they watch, sprinkling a little warmth from his torch as he travels . Amongst the visits are Scrooge's nephew, and the family of his impoverished clerk, Bob Cratchit . Scrooge takes an interest in Cratchit's desperately - ill son, Tiny Tim, and asks the Ghost if Tim will live . The Ghost first states that "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die," and then--quick to use Scrooge's past heartless comments to two charitable solicitors against him--states, "What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population ." The spirit then warns Scrooge to "forebear that wicked tongue until you have discovered for yourself what the surplus is, and where it is ." and chillingly tells him "It may be, that in the sight of heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than MILLIONS like this poor man's child ." </P>

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