The narrow space within which it was necessary to confine these Christmas Stories when they were originally published, rendered their construction a matter of some difficulty, and almost necessitated what is peculiar in their machinery. (Author's Preface)

Marley was dead, to begin with. (A Christmas Carol)

There are not many people - and as it is desirable that a story-teller and a story-reader should establish a mutual understanding as soon as possible, I beg it to be noticed that I confine this observation neither to young people nor to little people, but extend it to all conditions of people: little and big, young and old: yet growing up, or already growing down again - there are not, I say, many people who would care to sleep in a church. (The Chimes)

The kettle began it! (The Cricket on the Hearth)

Once upon a time, it matters little when, and in stalwart England, it matters little where, a fierce battle was fought. (The Battle of Life)