Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, December 29th 1894

A lively sketch opens in a snug London drawing‑room, where a husband lounges with a newspaper while his wife wrestles with the proper wording for a Christmas card. Their banter spirals into a hilarious catalogue of unsuitable illustrations—a moonlit graveyard, an owl, a sailing yacht—each threatening to offend the grieving Mrs. Brown. The rapid back‑and‑forth captures the absurdities of Victorian etiquette, turning a simple seasonal greeting into a battlefield of social nuance.

Interwoven with the domestic squabble is a witty verse addressed to three overseas friends, celebrating camaraderie across distance while gently mocking the wind‑blown futility of sending heartfelt messages in a storm. The piece blends sharp dialogue with lyrical flair, offering listeners a charming glimpse into the everyday comedy of late‑19th‑century British life.