The Chimes
 A Goblin Story of Some Bells That Rang an Old Year out and a New Year In

by Charles Dickens

"The Chimes" by Charles Dickens is a novella published in 1844, the second in his series of Christmas books. Toby Veck, an elderly messenger, loses faith in the poor after reading grim newspaper reports. On New Year's Eve, he climbs to a church bell tower where goblin spirits show him disturbing visions of his daughter's future and the hardships facing working-class people. Through these phantoms, Toby must learn whether the poor are inherently wicked or victims of circumstance.