Fezziwig’s Care

Last weekend I sat with some friends and family as we took part in reading aloud Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol. I’ve read it many times, and we always watch multiple movie versions of it every year. Every time we read it, something else jumps out at me.

This past time through the piece, I was struck by the conversation between Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Past when they leave the Fezziwig Christmas party. If you’re not familiar, Fezziwig is Scrooge’s former employer, who throws a generous Christmas party for the employees every year. As they depart, the ghost comments that Fezziwig could have spent more, and yet the employees seem so thankful:

“A small matter,” said the Ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.”

“Small!” echoed Scrooge.

The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig: and when he had done so, said,

“Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?”

“It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

Here we see the relationship between Fezziwig’s ability to create happiness for his little band of employees, and his willingness to do so. Because he plays so great a role in their lives, he has the potential to make them greatly happy with small gestures. A small amount of care from someone further off would not be so precious to these people; because he is a great man playing a great role in their lives, even his smallest efforts are special.

The passage brought to mind the truth that our words and actions bear greater weight on those on whom we exert greater influence. There is a tight relationship between Fezziwig’s authority over the people, his influence on them, and the responsibility he bears for them.

Many of us want to be influential, but not all of us want the responsibility that comes with it. Some of us want authority, but few want the responsibility that comes with that. And yet, when someone is responsible in that way, and bears it well, what a service they provide to their community who depend on them.

This undeniable relationship between authority, responsibility, and influence ought not be ignored. At Christmas time, it might mean an extra shot of generosity; the rest of the year, it means careful attention to those under our care.

Of course a great capacity for harm comes with these categories, but also—in the inverse, what capacity for great good.

May it be truly said of us, and all of us.