- 8/3/2025
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00:00Hello and welcome to Christopher Close-Up. I'm your host, Monsignor Jim Lissanti. You know, during the holiday season when people think of the name Charles Dickens, they think of A Christmas Carol, his great work.
00:29But there's another great story he had to tell called The Chimes. It tells the story of a man looking for meaning in his life, searching for love, searching for hope. He finds that in God, he finds that in others, and happily he finds it in himself. Please sit back and enjoy now our special holiday program, The Chimes, by Charles Dickens.
00:59The Chimes. The story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in.
01:05The Chimes.
01:07The Chimes of Time.
01:08Times.
01:09Times.
01:10Read all about it.
01:12Times.
01:13Times!
01:15Dinner time, Toby Beck, dinner time, Toby Beck.
01:26Time, sir.
01:29There's nothing more regular than dinner time.
01:34And there's nothing less regular than dinner.
01:38Hey there, Trotty.
01:39What are the bells saying today, then, eh?
01:42Ha, ha, ha, ha.
01:44Oh, Toby's the name.
01:47Toby Beck.
01:48Nobody can call me anything else.
01:51It'd take a special act of parliament.
01:53Good day, sir.
01:54I was christened legal just like them chimes.
02:00Toby was his name, but everyone called him Trotty because of his peculiar walk.
02:06Toby was a ticket porter who took a great pride in earning his living.
02:11He was very poor, but with an 18-penny message or a small parcel in hand, no one could be prouder.
02:19Mostly, though, Toby Beck would stand in front of the old church waiting for a job,
02:25with only the bells high above to keep him company.
02:29Hello, Father.
02:30Hey!
02:32I've got something for you, Father.
02:34You don't mean to say.
02:36Here, Father, smell it, and guess what it is.
02:40Oh.
02:41It's very nice.
02:43It's too strong for sausages.
02:47Liver.
02:48No, it ain't.
02:49No, it ain't.
02:50Try again.
02:53Chicken.
02:54No, Father, it's not even close.
03:00Oh, why.
03:02What am I thinking of?
03:04Oh, forget me, I was so mixed.
03:08Try.
03:09And where will you dine today, Father?
03:14On the post or on the steps?
03:15Posts in the wet weather.
03:17Steps in the dry.
03:19Oh, dear me.
03:20How grand we are.
03:21Two places to choose from.
03:22Amen.
03:23Amen.
03:31Amen to the bells, Father.
03:33The bells are saying grace, me dear.
03:36Men is the kind word they say to me.
03:38The bells, Father.
03:39Yes, me dear.
03:41They say,
03:42Toby Vick.
03:44Toby Vick.
03:45Keep a good heart.
03:46Toby Vick.
03:48Job coming soon.
03:49Job coming soon.
03:50And it comes at last, Father.
03:52Never fail.
03:54Never fail.
03:56Well, I never.
03:57Meg had heard this from her father over and over.
04:01It was always on his mind.
04:03No, forgive me.
04:22Father?
04:23Here I am.
04:25Stuffing myself.
04:26I'm you.
04:27Oh, Father.
04:28I have my dinner already with Richard.
04:30And Richard says...
04:31Eh?
04:32Eh?
04:32Eh?
04:32Yes.
04:33Yes, me dear.
04:33Richard says his blacksmith work's been made more certain.
04:37And he says...
04:38He...
04:39He...
04:39He wants to marry me on New Year's Day.
04:45That's tomorrow.
04:46Yes, Father.
04:47I know.
04:48So I wanted to make today special and surprise you with this little treat.
04:52And look how he leaves it cooling on the step.
04:56It's Richard.
04:57Hello, mate.
04:58Oh.
05:00Out of the way here, will you?
05:03What's the matter?
05:04What's the matter?
05:06You must always be a sitting on our steps, must you?
05:11Hmm?
05:11Hmm?
05:12That'll do.
05:12That'll do.
05:14Hmm.
05:14Oh, hello, Father.
05:18Come here.
05:18Come here.
05:19Yes, sir.
05:20Oh, what's...
05:21What's that?
05:23A dinner?
05:24Yes, sir.
05:25Hmm.
05:25Don't leave it there.
05:27Bring it here.
05:27Bring it here.
05:28Oh, bring it here.
05:29Oh.
05:33Oh.
05:34This is your dinner, eh?
05:37Yes, sir.
05:38Look over here, Mr. Feiler.
05:41What would you call this, eh?
05:48Yes.
05:49Is a description of animal food, known to the working people, as tripe.
05:59And what about it, Mr. Feiler?
06:02Hmm?
06:03Oh.
06:04My father, most wasteful article of food available to the poor.
06:10Uh, do eat this tripe, Mr. Feiler, eh?
06:18Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
06:20You do, Porter.
06:23You snatch it from the mouths of widows and orphans.
06:27Oh.
06:28But soonest after death, sir.
06:30Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
06:32Yes.
06:33And you, boy?
06:35Do you love her?
06:36Ha, ha, ha.
06:37Ha, ha, ha.
06:37Yes, Master.
06:39We're gonna be married on New Year's Day.
06:41I can prove by facts and figures that these two have no business getting married.
06:49Indeed, they have no business being born.
06:55Come here, my girl, come here.
07:00Yes, sir?
07:01As a judge, it's my duty to give you advice.
07:08Yes, you will marry and have children, boys, yes?
07:15They will run wild in the streets and be brought before me.
07:20And I'll put them in jail, everyone.
07:24Your husband will die young and you, you will wander the streets with your infant.
07:32I'm determined to imprison all wandering mothers.
07:38Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
07:43Go along with you now, and don't do a foolish thing like getting married on New Year's Day.
07:52Ah, Porter, since you happened to be here, you shall carry this letter for me.
08:04For my good friend, Sir Joseph.
08:17Come on, Scylla, come on.
08:22Don't be fake, don't be fake, no business being born.
08:49Hey, Toby fake, bull bad, no place on this earth, bull bad.
08:58Alderman Cute's letter was addressed to a very distinguished gentleman, Sir Joseph Bowley, member of Parliament.
09:05Sir Joseph lived in the finest district in London.
09:09The letter felt heavy in Toby's hand.
09:13Not so much from the large wax sea, as from all the riches and power it stood on.
09:19It stood on.
09:21Letter, sir.
09:22Everything goes straight in this time of year.
09:25I allow no debts to be carried over into the new year.
09:35I settle all my accounts by the clues of the old...
09:40Letter, sir.
09:42Mr. Fish, will you have the goodness to attend?
09:46It's from Alderman Cute, Sir Joseph.
09:55Alderman Cute inquires whether it will be agreeable to me if he sends a certain, um...
10:03...William Fern to preserve him.
10:08He was found sleeping in a gentleman's shed.
10:12Make an example of him.
10:14Fern was a labourer on our estate in Dorsetshire.
10:18He was the worst man among them.
10:21Mr. Fish, if you would have the goodness to attend.
10:25My dear Alderman Cute, I find nothing good to say of this, um, William Fern.
10:37When he comes before you, by all means, put him in prison.
10:43Hmm.
10:45Yes, absolutely.
10:47With compliments and thanks.
10:49Stop.
10:50Ah.
10:51Stop.
10:54Now, my friend, lay your hand upon your heart and tell me that you, too, will start off the new year with a clean slate.
11:06I'm afraid, sir, there's a matter of utensilings, old Mrs. Chickenstalker.
11:12Mrs. Chickenstalker?
11:15I'm a little behind in the rinks.
11:18How a, how a, how a man, grown grey, can look the new year in the face.
11:24The letter, the letter, Mr. Fish.
11:28I wish it weren't so, Sammy.
11:30Take the letter.
11:31Take the letter.
11:32Oh.
11:48Oh.
11:49A letter for the old man, sir.
12:02Oh, no!
12:09Oh, no!
12:15Oh, bad, no glasses.
12:17Oh, bad, no glasses.
12:21Oh!
12:22I hope I haven't hurt you.
12:34No harm.
12:35I hardly felt that friend.
12:37Nor the child, I hope.
12:39Nor the child.
12:41She never even woke up.
12:43I thank you kindly.
12:45Is it possible you know where Olderman Cute lives?
12:50There.
12:51Across the road.
12:53I was to appear in his court tomorrow.
12:56But I want to see him first.
12:58What?
13:00It's not possible.
13:02Is your name Wilfern?
13:05Aye, that's the name.
13:07For heaven's sake, don't go to Cute.
13:10He'll put you in jail as sure as your bop.
13:13Toby told Wilfern all about Olderman Cute's letter to Sir Joseph.
13:18Well, I don't know if this Olderman could hurt me much
13:22boy sending me to jail.
13:24But what about...
13:25Oh, she has a beautiful face.
13:32Lillian's me brother's child.
13:33She's an orphan now.
13:37Her mother once had a friend here in London.
13:40But we're trying to find her.
13:42But...
13:43Oh, it's a large place.
13:45I'll steer clear of this, uh...
13:51Judge.
13:52Thank you, friend.
13:54And good night.
13:55And happy new year.
13:57Oh, happy new year.
14:01Oh.
14:03Oh, no.
14:04No.
14:05Uh, wait.
14:06Wait, wait, wait.
14:08Just a minute, just a minute.
14:10New year'll never be happy for me if I let you wander off with a little girl.
14:14I can give you lodging for one night and never miss it.
14:18Come home with me.
14:20Toby's my name.
14:21Toby Vink.
14:24Here, here.
14:25Come here.
14:27Oh, she's as light as a feather.
14:32Here we are.
14:35And here we go.
14:43Meg!
14:48Surprise, surprise!
14:49My precious Meg, surprise!
14:54Uncle Will Fern and Lily will be staying with us tonight.
15:03Yes.
15:05Here we go.
15:16I'll put the kettle on for some tea, Meg.
15:19Ta-da-da-bum, ba-bum, ba-da-ba-di-da, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.
15:25Pew, pew, pew.
15:27Pew, pew.
15:28Toby and Meg ate nothing themselves.
15:30But never before had they taken such delight in watching others.
15:35That's not nice.
15:36No.
15:39That's my sweetheart.
15:42Get that down, you.
15:47Meg,
15:47You take Lily with you.
15:50Will, you come with me.
15:52Things will all look different in the morning, you'll see.
15:56There's plenty of soft hair up in the loft.
16:01Thank you kindly.
16:02How's our little sweetheart?
16:14What's that?
16:17Oh.
16:20Oh.
16:23No.
16:27No.
16:29Oh, it's too horrid.
16:35It's true.
16:37All I've heard today,
16:40you bump, bang.
16:42No place on this earth, no sort.
16:45No business being born.
16:52Toby Vecch.
16:55Toby Vecch.
16:58Waiting for you, Toby Vecch.
17:03Oh, boy.
17:06윤.
17:06So loud tonight.
17:08Oh, boy.
17:09Oh.
17:12Oh.
17:13Oh.
17:13Oh.
17:14Oh.
17:15Oh.
17:15Oh.
17:15Oh.
17:16Oh.
17:17Oh.
17:18Oh.
17:18Oh.
17:21Oh.
17:21Oh.
17:22Oh.
17:25Oh.
17:26Oh, oh, oh.
17:27Oh.
18:28No, baby, it's her.
18:35Look, Toby make.
18:39Look at a future without hope.
18:44She has a husband.
18:47A blacksmith who cannot find work.
18:51That's Richard.
19:01Five years have passed.
19:06Your husband will die young.
19:09Listen to the creature dearest to your heart.
19:17Then I'll cook them in jail, everyone.
19:26Learn, Toby Vick.
19:30Learn from the creature dearest to your heart.
19:36And you, you will wander the streets with your infant.
19:41And I'll put them in jail.
19:56I'll put them in jail.
19:57Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
20:00Cover, cover, cover, man.
20:03Oh, great.
20:05The new year.
20:07Father.
20:09Father.
20:10Oh.
20:11And whatever you do, Father, don't eat tripe again.
20:14No.
20:15It doesn't agree with you.
20:17How have you been carrying on?
20:18You woke our visitors.
20:20And tomorrow's your wedding day, my pet.
20:24Sorry to not tell me, Meg.
20:26Never.
20:27It's Mrs. Chickenstalker.
20:30Hello, Toby.
20:31This is Will Fern and Lillian.
20:37Lillian Fern, whose mother passed away in Dorseshire?
20:41Yes.
20:43I'm her uncle.
20:44Her mother was a very dear friend of mine.
20:47Oh, we've searched for you, Lily.
20:49And now we have searched London looking for you, ma'am.
20:52Oh, Lily, my angel.
20:55Trotty Vick.
20:56Oh, Trotty Vick.
20:57Oh, my honor.
20:59Call in.
20:59Trotty Vick.
21:02Trotty Vick.
21:07Hello, Mr. Vick.
21:08It's Richard.
21:12Trotty Vick.
21:14We hear your daughter Meg is to be married.
21:17There's not a soul that knows you that don't wish you well.
21:21And the same for your daughter and Richard.
21:24All the happiness that New Year can bring.
21:27Meg and Richard were married.
21:29And what a fine couple they made.
21:31The family friend Will and Lillian had been searching for turned out to be Mrs. Chicken Stalker.
21:44Ladies and gentlemen, if you will have the goodness to attend.
21:49Mrs. C. Shall we dance?
21:52And as for Toby, well, he danced and danced
22:16In a step unknown before or since
22:20A step based on his own peculiar trot
22:25Happy New Year
22:39One and all
22:42Happy New Year
22:45Happy New Year
22:50I want to thank you for watching our show and hopefully enjoying this special holiday presentation.
23:09The holidays are a great time for reflection, time in which we remember the importance of family and friends, but also a reminder the end of one year has come and we're about to face a new year.
23:19I think all of those things remind us that every day is a new opportunity to do the good that we can, to maybe make peace with people with whom we've been at war, to maybe be a little more generous to those who are in need, to try to be bridge builders between people.
23:33The holidays are a time when our happiness is pumped up, but unless we put our happiness into action by doing concretely for others, we miss a great chance.
23:42Maybe one of the great lessons of the recent past is that every day is an opportunity to do the good we know we should.
23:48You know, we call in the church these things sins of omission, all the missed opportunities to do the good we know we should.
23:55At the end of this holiday season, as we look to a new year, let's examine our own lives.
24:00Have we used every day to make this world a better place?
24:03Have we reached out to those who are most in pain, the broken, the forgotten?
24:07Have we been sources of love, not just to ourselves and our family, but to all of humanity?
24:12I'm Onsenio Jim Lissanti.
24:14You're watching Christopher Close Up.
24:15Think about these things.
24:16Make the new year the best it can ever be.
24:19And thank you so much for being with us.
24:25This program has been brought to you by the Christophers, New York, New York, 10017.
24:47Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.
24:55Thank you for being a part of the Smile of a Child Children's Television Network.
25:07We hope that you've been blessed by the programming that airs here on Smile of a Child every day.
25:12Because this network is viewer-supported, we would love to hear from you.
25:15Please take the time to write to us at Smile of a Child.
25:18EO Box 10700, Santa Ana, California, 92711-0700.
25:26Or visit us at www.smileofachild.org.
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