The First Christmas Apart
The story revolves around a young couple, Robert and Eelia, who are spending their first Christmas apart due to Robert's business obligations. Eelia stays behind in their hometown, while Robert travels to the city for work. The narrative explores their emotional struggles as they cope with the separation during the holiday season.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1879 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Spiritual · 350 words
First lines
The shadows watch about the house; / Silent as they, I come. / Oh, it is true that life is deaf, / And not that death is dumb.
The Christmas thrill is on the earth, / The stars throb in the sky. / Love listens in a thousand homes, -- / The Christmas bells ring by.
What this Textopian page supports
The First Christmas Apart is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1879 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Date: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Spiritual, Holiday, Drama
- Length: 350 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The First Christmas Apart by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- 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
Similar titles
- Little Queen by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Rafes Chasm by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- My Lady Of Verne by Madison Cawein
- A Prayer by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Vittoria by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Love Well The Hour by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter.
- Romance — Themes of love and emotional connection are central to the narrative.
- Spiritual — Explores themes of life, death, and the afterlife.
- Holiday — Set during Christmas and incorporates elements of the holiday season.
Tags
Christmas Fiction · Family Drama · Social Commentary · Women's Rights · American Literature · 19th Century Novel · Holiday Story · Domestic Life · Marriage and Relationships · Female Protagonist · Social Reform · Feminism