The Cricket on the Hearth

The third of Dickens' Christmas books after A Christmas Carol and The Chimes, this is a feel-good festive story of misunderstandings, coincidences, and ultimately redemption Mr. and Mrs. Peerybingle have a very special guardian angel: their family is protected by a cricket who constantly chirps on their hearth. The Peerybingles have been happily married for a year when their miserly acquaintance, Mr. Tackleton, plants a seed of doubt in Mr. Peerybingle's mind, making him start to have second thoughts about the marriage. He even shows Jon a scene where Mrs. Peerybingle appears to be cheating on him with their mysterious lodger. Poor M.r Peerybingle is devastated and contemplating the drastic step of divorce. But in steps their trusty cricket who chirps his way to convincing Mr. Peerybingle that it has all been a huge misunderstanding. The happy ending is complete when the meddling Mr. Tackleton realizes the error of his ways and turns over a new leaf. With his typical wit, Dickens delivers a light-hearted Christmas tale to entertain and amuse.