A Little Book of Christmas

by John Kendrick Bangs, Arthur E. Becher (Illustrator)

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Fantasy, Holiday, Poetry

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1912

About the author

John Kendrick Bangs was an American author and satirist, and the creator of modern Bangsian fantasy, the school of fantasy writing that sets the plot wholly or partially in the afterlife.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Christmas listening 🎶🔰

This is a free novella e-book from Amazon by John Kendrick Bangs.

It is four short stories about the Christmas season with interesting well developed characters lots of merriment and happiness.

I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers looking for Christmas reading 📚 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀💘🏡🎅

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in June? Yep. For a challenge I needed a book set during Christmas, and this was my choice. I had read and enjoyed another book by John Kendrick Bangs last year, so when I saw this title at Gutenberg, I was pretty sure I would have some nice stories to read and I was not disappointed.

Written in 1912, the four stories here take place in New York City. The mix of tension, humor and the joy of the season is perfect in each story. These are not religious tales, the main theme of the entire book is more the Spirit of Santa Claus, that infinite, loving generosity the Jolly Old Elf is known for throughout the world.

I really liked them all, but my favorite (and the one that got me misty-eyed) was Santa Claus And Little Billee. Five-year old Little Billee was in a department store with his mother, who told him to wait for her by the toy display while she went off to run a quick errand somewhere else in the store. But he was not as interested in looking at the toys as she thought he would be so he wandered away and in the crush of all the shoppers got swept out into the street. He walks around awhile, then tries to find his way back to the
store, but has no idea where it is. Then Little Billee sees Santa Claus and he knows he is not 'losted' anymore, because of course Santa will know where Billee's house is and will be able to take him there. But does Santa really know? And if not, how can he find out without destroying Little Billee's faith in him?

I will definitely be reading this again in December....or any other time I want to be reminded that yes, there is a Santa Claus.

[Owlseyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A TOAST TO SANTA CLAUS
Whene'er I find a man who don't Believe in Santa Claus, And spite of all remonstrance won't Yield up to logic's laws, And see in things that lie about The proof by no means dim, I straightway cut that fellow out, And don't believe in him.
The good old Saint is everywhere Along life's busy way

...
No, this ain’t a shades, ghosts or afterlife-conversations…story. It’s just a little Bangsian X’mas story --The conversion of Hetherington--I’ve found; especially sweet that letter by the children you’ll find ahead. Nope, it’s not text-messaging, because it was written back in 1912. G. Hetherington is the unimaginative, skeptical man regarding Santa Claus; until one day he swaps his clothes with Santa's. Meeting with children helps change to happen.

"DEAR SANDY CLORS:—my Popper says hell hand you this here leter when he sees you to ast you not to fergit me and jimmy like you did last yeer. you aint been to see me an jimmy since popper lost his Jobb and he says its becoz you lost our adres so ime ritin to tell you weve moved since you come the lass time and am now livin now on the Topp flor of fore 69 varrick streete noo york which youd ort not to find it hard to git down the chimbley bein on the topp flor closte to the roofe so i thort ide rite and tell you what me and jimmyd like to hav you bring us wenn you come. I nede some noo shues and a hatt and my lasst dol babys all wore out and sum candy if you can work it in sumhow, not havin had much since popper lost his jobb, and jimmies only gott one mitt left and his shues is wore throo like mine is only a little worser, and a baseball batt and hed like sum candy to. if there wass anything lefft ovvur for us from lass crissmis wich you dident kno ware to find us to giv it to us we wuddent mind havin that two but you needent mind about that if its misslayde we can git along all rite all rite on whot ive sed alreddy. ime leven and jimmies nine and we hope youl hav a mery crismiss like wede hav if youd come to see us.
"yure efexinite frend mary muligan.
"p. s dont fergit the adres topp flor 469 varrick strete noo york. take back chimbley middel floo."



“mery crismiss”,
…dear reader.

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.0/5.0

The book has a couple of short stories about Christmas. The first story was longer than the rest though. I don't want to rate the stories individually but I can comfortably say that they are ranging between average and good. The writing was easy to read but still, you can feel the era that the book was written in. I would have preferred if the stories had somehow equal lengths though.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 short Christmas stories written in 1912. It is a true picture of the times when 6 year old boys sold newspapers on the corner and slept on the streets. Heartrending, but heartwarming at the same time. Spirit of Christmas prevails throughout. Vocabulary outstanding. Free on my Kindle, so glad I took advantage of a wonderful read.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose dated - but no more than Dickens which means they are timeless. Worth a reread as full of moralistic and hopeful Christmas cheer - worth a read certainly

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Christmas stories for young children & some poems. Arthur Beecher's illustrations were excellent.

[Gita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sāku lasīt šos stāstiņus pirms Ziemassvētkiem un pabeidzu lasīt šogad - šī ir mana pirmā izlasītā grāmata šogad.

Lasīju e-grāmatu angļu valodā (The Project Gutenberg ebook, 2010), bet oriģināli grāmata pirmo reizi publicēta 1912.gada 1. septembrī. Grāmatā ietilpst četri dažādi brīnumaini Ziemassvētku stāsti ar dzejoļiem, visiem ir kāda līdzība, bet visi ir arī atšķirīgi. Grūti izvēlēties, kurš stāsts man patika visvairāk. Jebkuru no tiem varētu stāstīt saviem bērniem pie kamīna Ziemassvētku vakarā.

Stāsti :

''The conversion of Hetherington''
''The child who had everything but - ''
''Santa Claus and Little Billee''
''The house of the Seven Santas''

[Snorki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming collection of poems and short stories about Christmas, originally published I think in 1912. On the surface, feel-good stories about the Christmas spirit - albeit somewhat dated - but lacking any kind of commentary about the society that creates the environment for those stories. Sure, it’s great to hear about a rich stranger showering presents upon poor children, but what about the society that allows children to starve in the streets in the first place? Dickens does this kind of thing better. But they still are charming feel-good stories.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great little book. The stories were very much in the spirit of Christmas, and the poems were a real pleasure to read. I will probably try and remember to read this again when future Christmases come around. I would think older children may enjoy having the stories and poems read to them.

[Rebecca Timberlake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely old-timey!

A mix of sweet hopeful Christmas stories and poems, I can see this being read aloud to kiddos in a library in December by a couple dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus. It's simplistic, but cute, and would pair well with a candy cane and hot cocoa.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public domain Christmas stories seem to come in two flavors: ghost stories or sentimental moral tales. This short book is the latter sort (although the second story has a small supernatural element). Two of the tales involve down on their luck fathers trying desperately to provide for their families, one is about a newsboy found in a blizzard, and the fourth has a poor little rich boy. Life sucked for a lot of people in 1912, but the stories all end on a hopeful note and are not too depressing.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining holiday yarns and verse

I recommend this book to fans of Louisa May Alcott, for the tales are charming and sweet, just the thing for relaxing over the holidays. Waifs and Scrooge types populate the pages, as well as one determined Christmas spirit.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four short stories and some poems by John Kendrick Bangs.

[Coco Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of short stories and poems about Christmas. My absolute favorite was the House of the Seven Santa’s 😍

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old fashioned stories

And some will find them hackneyed, but I loved these Christmas tales and enjoyed them. If you liked O. Henry stories, you'll like this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Santa Clause and Little Billie the best.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little book filled with Christmas spirit stories.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely darling collection of short stories.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three short stories about the joys of giving.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful, a perfect vintage group of Christmas stories. I loved them

[Sam Woodfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book comprising a number of short stories and poems all in the spirit of Christmas. Each of the stories focuses on the real meaning of Christmas - good will to all men and helping those less fortunate than yourself. Each one really makes you think about what you can give to others and the things that are really important.
Although very short, each story is complete, we get to understand the characters and their social status - something which is important in this book and reflects the time - and the moral is really clear. It's a lovely little quick read and very apt for this time of year.

[Derek · Rating 1 out of 5]

"A Little Book of Christmas", or, "Rich Guys Save Little Boys", or "The Top 1% Have Feelings Too!" or "Wealthy White Dudes Like Toys!" This was a Bangsian attempt at modern Dickens without all the wit and panache I'm so fond of. These stories were a bit too sappy for me and without a lot of substance. There is one particular moment that sticks out to me: as a character plays with a lonely child, he creates a particularly violent, gory scene with some toy soldiers and "a bit of red ink". Military combat is super Christmas-y!

[kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This antiquated work was first published in 1912 and contains four short Christmas stories. I listened to them while I baked my holiday pies. The stories were interesting and each contained a main character or characters that performed a good deed at Christmas time. I enjoyed the style of writing, the stories themselves and the little touch of the paranormal. My favorite story was Santa Claus and Little Billee.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories. One author used too many big words. I usually enjoy reading the older words, but one story was just too much through the first half. The last half of the story was much better. I really liked the last story in the book. I like sweet sentimental Christmas stories this time of year. This was a short quick read.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few short stories and poems about Christmas, in the american way. My favourite are the the last two: Santa Claus and Little Billie, where a poor man in a worn-out red suits pretend to be Santa and take homes a lost little boy, and The House of Seven Santa, where the members of a gentlemen club save a little news boy from the storm and give him the best Christmas of his life.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book published in 1912 is a delight! It contains four separate short stories about Christmas, and all are interesting. You might consider the stories quaint and sweet, but that is the draw. A great read for Christmas! The volume I read also contained several Christmas poems.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a compilation of Christmas poems and essay type stories. All of the short stories pull at your heart-strings and make you remember the true meaning of Christmas. I will definitely use these stories in the future in lessons and to tell my children.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY liked this one! Except for the formatting at the very beginning, because it's a public domain book, this had all the Christmas messages and spirit you could want! Loved every story!
I'll be keeping this one to return to season after season.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little collection of Christmas stories, liked the poems too.

Three were very similar with people assuming the role of Santa Claus.

Liked 'The Child Who Had Everything But-' best.

Very quick read.

Good sense of humour, but tongue-in-cheek in places.