Santa Claus' Message: A Christmas Story
E. Franklin Tregaskis’ A Christmas Story is a heartwarming tale of a young boy named Tommy who is struggling to find the true meaning of Christmas. When his parents are too busy to take him to the mall to see Santa Claus, Tommy decides to take matters into his own hands and sets out on a journey to find Santa himself. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters who help him on his quest, including a kind old man who gives him a magical snow globe that shows him visions of Christmas past. Tommy eventually finds Santa and learns the true meaning of Christmas. He discovers that Christmas is about giving, not receiving, and that it is a time to be with family and friends. With this newfound knowledge, Tommy is able to bring joy to his family and friends and make this Christmas the best one yet. A Christmas Story is a timeless tale of the power of giving and the importance of family. It is sure to bring joy to readers of all ages.
By E. Franklin Tregaskis · First published 1921 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Holiday Fiction · 4,696 words
First lines
Twenty-foot was an almost deserted mining camp, and presented the desolate appearance of such localities: A wide valley, honeycombed by old workings, and strewn with debris. On one side stretched miles of barren ranges, denuded of heavy trees, which had been felled to feed the boilers and timber the underground workings when some of the quartz reefs had been developed, after the alluvial gold had been won. These also had petered out. On the other side of the valley were farms, for here rich volcanic soil overlay the silurian formation. Consequently, there was still a small population in the district, which accounted for the survival of a place of worship, a State school, general store, blacksmitreplace with shop, and, on a side road, a coffee palace. There were only two men here now seeking gold, or fossicking, as it is called. One was a relic of the sixties, known behind his back as Bushranger Bill, or B.B., who, needless to say, had never followed that occupation, and probably, had he visited the barber (who was also the local blacksmith) more regularly, would never have been so designated. The second fossicker was a man of different stamp. With his family, he lived about a mile above the township, at the head of the gully, in a comfortable, though small, cottage, surrounded by a garden. He had brought his young wife here in the early seventies, just after the volcanic land had been made available for selection, but too late to secure a holding, and here he had remained, digging, with varying results. When there was enough rain, he sluiced the old workings, and, with the aid of one of the defunct companies' dams, could win gold during several months of the year. During the dry spells he sought old tailings and headings among the abandoned holes, and had them carted to the sluice boxes. It was a precarious existence (I use the word purposely). Still, to him, the life presented a certain fascination, and occasional "windfalls" lured him on.
What this Textopian page supports
Santa Claus' Message: A Christmas Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by E. Franklin Tregaskis, dated 1921 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E. Franklin Tregaskis
- Date: 1921 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Holiday Fiction, Fiction
- Length: 4,696 words
- Structure: 1 section, 68 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Santa Claus' Message: A Christmas Story by E. Franklin Tregaskis
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Fantasy — The title and plot of the book suggest a fantastical story about Santa Claus and his message.
- Children's Literature — The title and plot of the book suggest a story intended for children, as it is about Santa Claus and Christmas.
- Holiday Fiction — The title and plot of the book suggest a story that is centered around the holiday of Christmas.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, as it is not based on real events or people.
Tags
Australia · Christmas stories · Fiction · buy · children · christmas · could · end · father · gold · grace · hope