The Trippertrots and the Christmas Tree
The story follows the Trippertrot children—Mary, Johnny, and Tommy—who are prone to getting lost. While wandering, they encounter a kind old man whose hat was blown off by the wind. The children help him retrieve it, and in gratitude, he offers to take them home. Along the way, they stop at a toy store, where the man generously buys each child a toy as an early Christmas present. As they continue their journey, they meet various characters, including Jiggily Jig, the funny boy, and others who offer to help them find their way home. However, the children decide to stick with the old man. Eventually, the man leads them to a street where their house is visible, but he must leave to catch a train. The children, now confident they can reach home, are distracted by a wagon carrying Christmas trees. One tree falls off, and in their attempt to alert the driver, they end up being dragged along with it. Their nursemaid, Suzette, sees them and quickly rescues them, ensuring they safely return home. Despite their adventurous day, the children are reminded of the importance of staying close to home, especially with Christmas approaching.
By Howard R. Garis · First published 1912 · Genre: Children's Literature, Christmas Fiction, Fantasy · 2,493 words
First lines
For a while they walked on silently.
"Do you think you can find our house for us? " asked Mary, of the kind old man, as she took a closer hold of his hand.
What this Textopian page supports
The Trippertrots and the Christmas Tree is listed on Textopian as a short story by Howard R. Garis, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Howard R. Garis
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Christmas Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Humor
- Length: 2,493 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Trippertrots and the Christmas Tree by Howard R. Garis
- 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
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is tailored for young readers with whimsical adventures, simple language, and moral lessons.
- Christmas Fiction — Central Christmas themes, including holiday settings, Christmas trees, and presents, drive the plot.
- Fantasy — The story features magical and improbable elements reminiscent of fairy tales, with a surreal journey and eccentric characters.
- Adventure — The narrative follows the children's journey with unexpected twists and encounters, creating an adventurous plot.
Tags
children's literature · holiday · Christmas · adventure · family · animal characters · classic · fiction · whimsical · imagination · festive · storybook
More by Howard R. Garis
- The Second Adventures of Uncle Wiggily (1914)
- Uncle Wiggily on the Farm (1903)
- Uncle Wiggily's Silk Hat (1923)
- Uncle Wiggily's Fishing Trip (1902)
- Uncle Wiggily's Rolling Hoop (1918)
- Uncle Wiggily and Baby Bunty (1918)
- Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's Skates (1902)
- Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's Ride (1918)
- All works by Howard R. Garis