Oh, this lovely – a beautifully and loving crafted warm security blanket of a book!
The story opens on Christmas eve, in a harbour town in the west of England, two centuries ago.
Polly was spending her first Christmas there with two maiden aunts, Dorcas and Constantia. She had lived with them since the death of her parents in an accident earlier in the year, and she was beginning to realise that her aunts’ ideas about celebrating Christmas were rather different to hers. At her parents farmhouse home the door had been left unlocked day and night to offer hospitality to all: friends, neighbours, travellers, the needy ….
“But we always did it at home,” said Polly.
“My dear,” said Aunt Dorcas, “at home you had a man in the house.”
“But we’ve got The Hat in the hall,” said Polly.
“My dear,” said Aunt Dorcas, “it is not such an adequate protection.”
The aunts were eminently sensible; there hadn’t been a man in the house since one of their brothers had married and the other had run away to sea. But Polly couldn’t accept that. She believed that she would see three ships come sailing in, bringing three wise men to see them, and she believed that angels would visit them, because every Christmas she had heard their feathers brushing the panelling on the stairs.
The aunts locked the door and hid the key. It wasn’t that they were unkind, they were just the opposite; they just wanted Polly to be safe and secure, and they’d had a lovely time creating the perfect Christmas stocking for her.
They would find that their niece had been right. They were visited by three wise men of a most unexpected kind, they brought three gifts that had the same symbolism as gold, frankincense and myrrh, and three ships did come sailing into the harbour on Christmas morning.
They couldn’t have been happier – and neither could I – the ending was perfect!
It was a happy tears kind of ending ….
I’d love to say more, to re-tell the whole story, but I mustn’t.
The story is beautifully written, it’s very well thought out, it’s full of lovely details, and it’s told with warmth, understanding, and just a little bit of humour.
The characters – including a very amenable cat – are nicely differentiated and very well drawn, the historical setting is evoked so well, and the words of the carol that gives the story its title are threaded through.
You might say that the story is old-fashioned, and maybe it is.
And you might think that it sounds sentimental, but I’d say that it isn’t. It’s a story underpinned by real emotions and real faith.
It’s a lovely story for Christmas. A very small book, written for children but very readable for grown-ups.
I just have to thank Lory for mentioning it and Open Library for lending me a copy.
Merry Christmas!
Fleur in her World 
Sometimes comfort reading, and something with a cosy, happy ending is all you want! Have a wonderful Christmas, Jane and Briar!
Exactly – and I wish the same to you.
Never read Elizabeth Goudge, this does sound cosy and charming.
It is. Elizabeth Goudge’s books are slow, and her faith always underpins them, so they aren’t for everyone but I love her.
Lory’s planning a reading week next April, so maybe that will inspire you.
So glad you were able to locate this one! A lovely way to start the Christmas season.
It is lovely, and thank you so much for steering me towards it.
Oh, I have to read this! I’m putting it on the list for next year!
I’m sure you’ll fall in love with this one too.
Going to check this out on Open Library! Have a wonderful Christmas.
That’s great – and I wish the same to you and your loved ones.
What perfect Christmas reading! I haven’t read anything holiday related this year and I’m regretting it. I like sentimental stories around this time of the year so I’m sure I would enjoy this.
I rarely read anything seasonal, but when I read about this one and found it on Open Library I just had to.
Oh this sounds lovely. I love the cover. I’ve not read Elizabeth Goudge in a long time but want to read her again. An Elizabeth Goudge reading week sounds wonderful.
I’ve only started reading Elizabeth Goudge is recent years, though I remember my mother loving her books and recommending her to me a long time ago. I am looking forward to Elizabeth Goudge reading week and I’m sure it will be lovely.
I have never read Elizabeth Goudge but this sounds delightful.
You say it was written for children. Well that’s another recommendation. It’s a great idea to revisit children’s books from time to time. My all time favourite is Mary Norton’s The Borrowers.
Have a happy Christmas.
The best children’s books should work for all ages; this one does and when I re-read The Borrowers a year or two ago that did too. I hope you have a lovely Christmas, Jane.
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I shall find time to re-read A Christmas Carol as I’ve done every Christmastide for the past half century. It has been known for me to be stirring the gravy with a wooden spoon in one hand and my old well thumbed book in the other!
Love and best wishes xx
That is a lovely image, and I do hope that you and your loved ones have a wonderful Christmas. I re-read A Christmas Carol too, but not every year, and you’ve reminding me that I have some of Dickens’ other Christmas writing still to read.
Sounds delightful. Merry Christmas Jane to your and yours including Briar of course.
It is, and I wish just the same to you and your loved ones, Annabel.
This does sound lovely. I haven’t read anything by Elizabeth Goudge yet, so I’m looking forward to Lory’s reading week. Merry Christmas to you and Briar!
It is lovely, and I do think you’ll like Elizabeth Goudge, Helen. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
Merry Christmas, Jane – wishing you peace, joy and many festive delights.
That you – I wish just the same to you.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! I always think of Elizabeth Goudge at Christmas with The Dean’s Watch. But reading this I wish I could wave a magic wand and have a copy of this book in my hands instantaneously.
And to you and yours! I have The Dean’s Watch in hand for next year, and though I can’t magic this one into your hands I can tell you that it has or is just about to be reissued in the USA.
Lovely – I haven’t read any Elizabeth Gouge for ages but I very much remember loving this one!