
A jovial old gentleman is determined to host a memorable Christmas Eve gathering for the town’s youth, and he enlists his long‑serving housekeeper, Rebecca, to help. Their banter is full of good‑natured ribbing—Rebecca bristles at the idea of endless parties while secretly relishing the chance to prove her organizational prowess. Together with a colorful cast that includes a spirited cook, a quick‑witted Amelia, and a handful of eager youngsters, they convene a “council of war” to iron out every detail, from the placement of furniture to the rules governing charade costumes.
The scene unfolds in a cozy Victorian home where the dining room is cleared for dancing, the breakfast room becomes the supper venue, and a secret key is hidden to protect the gas supply. As plans solidify, the reader gets a taste of the festive chaos, the heartfelt devotion of a loyal servant, and the whimsical spirit that promises a night full of music, jokes, and unexpected merriment.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (226K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
London: Jackson, Walford, & Hodder, 1867.
Credits
Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The University of Florida, The Internet Archive/Children's Library)
Release date
2024-01-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1837–1904
A Victorian writer whose life stretched from Middlesex to New Zealand and back, he turned those experiences into popular travel writing, children's books, biographies, and hymns. His work moves easily between everyday storytelling and earnest religious verse.
View all books
by Edwin Hodder

by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Herodotus

by Royall Tyler

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Dion Boucicault

by Maria Edgeworth