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What is the purpose of stage directions in this scene?:
SCROOGE: Nephew! Keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.
FRED: Keep it! But you don't keep it.
SCROOGE: Let me leave it alone, then! A lot of good it has done you.
FRED: Well, there are many things from which I have benefited, even if they didn't show a profit,
I dare say. Christmas among the rest. But if anything belonging to Christmas can be considered
apart from the sacred source of its name and origin, I am sure I have always thought of
Christmas as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time of year I
know of when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and
think of others as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave. And therefore, Uncle,
though it has never put a scrap of silver or gold in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good,
and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!
(CRATCHIT bursts into applause at this, then stops at SCROOGE'S scowl)
SCROOGE: Another sound out of you, and you'll keep your Christmas by losing your position!
(CRATCHIT slinks back to his work.)
To show that Cratchit agrees with Fred and to add some comedic relief/humor.