A Story of the Child by Elizabeth Harrison is today's story. Harrison, 1849-1927, wrote many children's stories and made a career of early childhood education and advancement.
It is based on the legend of the Christ Child, disguised as a homeless boy, traveling the land searching for someone who will take him in on Christmas Eve. This version of the story is simple and can be shared with even the younger children. Many families turn away the poorly dressed and cold child. But the family who takes him into their home is rewarded by seeing the child revealed as Christ.
This is a very quick read that I found in a digital collection 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages edited by Christopher Hong for under $1 at Amazon. It can also be found as an individual story at Archive.org to be read online or downloaded in a variety of formats including PDF, EPUB, Kindle and Daisy.
Showing posts with label 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages. Show all posts
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Day 7 Christmas Story
Today I offer up another old favorite, The Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen. I remember this story from childhood but did not really appreciate how sad it was until I had children and tried to read it to them with a cracking voice. Now that I have grandchildren I wouldn't even attempt it out loud. This story is well worth the tears.
This classic tale is about a little girl who is sent out in the freezing weather each day to sell small bundles of matches on the street corners. On the last night of the year she seeks shelter from the cold and strikes a match to warm herself. In the light she sees visions including her grandmother. She strikes one match after another to maintain the vision of the only person who ever loved her.
Although not truly a Christmas story, The Little Match Girl is found in several anthologies such 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages and Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales: A Selection (Oxford World's Classics) both free on Kindle. You can also read it free in one file from Daily Lit. There have been a couple of movies based on this winter classic.
This classic tale is about a little girl who is sent out in the freezing weather each day to sell small bundles of matches on the street corners. On the last night of the year she seeks shelter from the cold and strikes a match to warm herself. In the light she sees visions including her grandmother. She strikes one match after another to maintain the vision of the only person who ever loved her.
Although not truly a Christmas story, The Little Match Girl is found in several anthologies such 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages and Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales: A Selection (Oxford World's Classics) both free on Kindle. You can also read it free in one file from Daily Lit. There have been a couple of movies based on this winter classic.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Day 3 Christmas Story
Today's story is a true Christmas classic. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry was published in 1906 but never grows old. O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). He wrote many classic short stories including The Ransom of Red Chief which many of us read in school.
If you haven't read this story you are in for a treat. Della and her husband Jim are newlyweds with little money but a strong sense of love and sacrifice. As Christmas approaches they choose the perfect gifts for each other, giving their gifts is an ironic twist. I have read this story every Christmas for years now and still feel the jolt of truth at the end of the tale. My daughter remarked that if I included only one Christmas story this month it should be The Gift of the Magi. It will have that impact on you as well.
The Gift of the Magi is available in book format, as part of many different Christmas collections, free on Kindle or through Daily Lit. If you haven't tried Daily Lit I highly recommend it. After a free sign-up you can have stories emailed in one or more daily portions. A $.99 Kindle collection 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages includes today's selection as well as many other well known classics.
If you haven't read this story you are in for a treat. Della and her husband Jim are newlyweds with little money but a strong sense of love and sacrifice. As Christmas approaches they choose the perfect gifts for each other, giving their gifts is an ironic twist. I have read this story every Christmas for years now and still feel the jolt of truth at the end of the tale. My daughter remarked that if I included only one Christmas story this month it should be The Gift of the Magi. It will have that impact on you as well.
The Gift of the Magi is available in book format, as part of many different Christmas collections, free on Kindle or through Daily Lit. If you haven't tried Daily Lit I highly recommend it. After a free sign-up you can have stories emailed in one or more daily portions. A $.99 Kindle collection 10 Best Loved Christmas Classic Stories for All Ages includes today's selection as well as many other well known classics.
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