
A modest mountain presbytery, its beams darkened by winter’s chill, holds a sturdy fir and a massive log that crackle with a warm, amber glow. The flickering candles barely chase the shadows, yet the fire’s light paints the room in a gentle, violet hue, hinting at the quiet magic that a simple Christmas can hold. The tree, raised from the nearby forest, is more than décor—it is a promise of joy that the children of the village have been waiting for.
Four lively youngsters, a mother with sun‑kissed hair and a resilient grandmother, live by turning scarcity into celebration. Summer brings abundant berries, clear streams teeming with trout, and playful adventures in the woods, while the harsh winter forces them to rely on cleverness, shared meals, and the comfort of a communal fire. Their visits to the bustling market, the clatter of the old cart, and the sweet taste of candied treats weave a portrait of humble resilience and the timeless wonder of a Christmas spent together.
Language
fr
Duration
~5 hours (339K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Renald Levesque and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica).
Release date
2005-01-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1860–1933
Known to readers under her married pen name, she wrote gentle French stories shaped by family life, faith, and holiday feeling. Her best-known work, Contes de Noël, gathers warm seasonal tales from the early 20th century.
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