The Cricket on the Hearth

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The Cricket on the Hearth, by Charles Dickens

For the Christmas challenge I chose one of Dickens' short Christmas novels.  We meet a cozy family: John and Dot have been married for just a year, and they have a brand-new baby.  They have several friends, and a neighbor is preparing to marry Dot's best friend May.

Then a Three's-Company-esque misunderstanding occurs, throwing everything into confusion, and it gets straightened out at the end.  I wasn't really all that impressed with the story, but it was OK.

I don't quite understand why everyone seems to have a cricket living by the fireplace.  Did crickets just come in and spend the winters in warm spots?


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