The Old Secretaire, a Christmas Story
The Old Secretaire is a heartwarming Christmas story by Fred M. White. It tells the story of a young girl, Mary, who is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle in the country for the Christmas holidays. Mary is a lonely and unhappy child, and her aunt and uncle are not particularly warm or welcoming. On Christmas Eve, Mary discovers an old secretaire in the attic of her aunt and uncle's house. Inside the secretaire is a mysterious letter, written by a woman who lived in the house many years before. The letter tells the story of a young girl who was sent away from her home on Christmas Eve, and how she found solace in the secretaire. The letter inspires Mary to find her own solace in the secretaire, and she begins to write her own stories and poems. As she does so, she finds a new sense of joy and hope in her life. On Christmas Day, Mary's aunt and uncle are surprised to find the secretaire filled with Mary's stories and poems, and they are moved by her newfound happiness. The Old Secretaire is a touching story of hope and redemption, and a reminder of the power of the Christmas spirit.
By Fred M. White · First published 1887 · Genre: Christmas Fiction, Mystery, Romance · 5 chapters · 12,737 words
First lines
THERE had been a Secretan at Woodside Manor for three hundred years, from the time of Norman Secretan the Catholic, down to that of Myles Secretan, the present representative of the race, who thought as a man of the world of the family dignity, and scoffed openly at the family ghost. A wing of the great house, now fallen partly into disuse, contained the Haunted Chamber, a wing which Myles Secretan vowed to have restored to its pristine glory some day when the fortunes of Woodside should mend; for, three generations of wild Secretans--Walter, with a taste for gambling; Arundel, friend and boon-companion of Edgar Warren of Normanton Grange, a neighbouring great house, for the Warrens and Secretans had ever been closest of friends; and lastly, Clive, who had been one of the Pavilion intimates, and a prime favourite with 'the first gentleman in Europe'--had brought the resources of Woodside to a very low ebb indeed. The favour of kings is proverbially a fickle thing, unless one happens to be a Brummell, as Clive Secretan had found to his cost; and thus it was that the west wing remained in its half-dismantled state, and the ghost walked o' nights, to the awe and terror of the neighbourhood.
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Secretaire, a Christmas Story is listed on Textopian as a novella by Fred M. White, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Fred M. White
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christmas Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction
- Length: 12,737 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 208 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old Secretaire, a Christmas Story by Fred M. White
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Christmas Fiction — The title of the book includes the words 'Christmas Story', indicating that the book is likely to be a work of fiction set during the Christmas season.
- Mystery — The title of the book includes the word 'Secretaire', suggesting that the book may contain elements of mystery or suspense.
- Romance — The author, Fred M. White, is known for writing romantic fiction, so it is likely that this book contains some romantic elements.
- Historical Fiction — The title of the book includes the word 'Old', suggesting that the book may be set in a historical period.
Tags
Christmas · holiday · family · mystery · secrets · tradition · nostalgia · adventure · friendship · love · redemption · historical