poverty

• "I'll raise your salary and endeavour to assist your struggling family " ( scrooge bob cratchit , stave 5 )
• "I see a vacant seat. the child will die "( the ghost of Christmas present about tiny Tim , stave 3 )
• " the owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbles by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs "(Christmas caroller , stave 1 )