&quot;The Chimes&quot; is an 1844 novella by Charles Dickens. It is the second of Dickens&#39; five <b><i>Christmas Books</i></b>, the first and best known of which is &quot;A Christmas Carol&quot;. The novella is divided into four parts which are called &quot;quarters&quot;, in reference to the quarter chimes of a striking clock.<br /><br />The story of &quot;The Chimes&quot; concerns a working class man, Toby Veck, who comes to believe that he is worthless and worries that working-class people are wicked by nature. On New Year&#39;s Eve, some goblins show him visions of what will become of his loved ones if they are allowed to continue believing that they are worthless and wicked. In common with &quot;A Christmas Carol&quot;, social commentary forms an important part of the novella and its main character is a man who changes his point of view after a night time encounter with some spirits.