What Chris'Mas Fetched the Wigginses
The story revolves around a poor family struggling to make ends meet during the holiday season. Christmas arrives and brings with it a series of unexpected events that ultimately lead to the Wigginses receiving a generous gift from an anonymous benefactor. The narrative explores themes of kindness, generosity, and the transformative power of small acts of charity.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Regionalism · 3,713 words
First lines
Wintertime, er Summertime, / Of late years I notice I'm, / Kindo'-like, more subjec' to / What the _weather_ is. Now, you / Folks 'at lives in town, I s'pose, / Thinks its bully when it snows; / But the chap 'at chops and hauls / Yer wood fer ye, and then stalls, / And snapps tuggs and swingletrees, / And then has to walk er freeze, / Haint so much "stuck on" the snow / As stuck _in_ it -- Bless ye, no! -- / When its packed, and sleighin's good, / And _church_ in the neighborhood, / Them 'at's _got_ their girls, I guess, / Takes 'em, likely, more er less, / Tell the plain facts o' the case, / No men-folks about our place / On'y me and Pap -- and he / 'Lows 'at young folks' company / Allus made him sick! .
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Humor — The narrative includes humorous elements and light-hearted storytelling.
- Regionalism — The text reflects the dialect, culture, and setting of a specific region, emphasizing local color.
- Fiction — The story is a fictional narrative with characters and events created by the author.
Tags
American Literature · Christmas Story · Folk Tale · Humor · Poetic Prose · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Midwestern Fiction · Rural Setting · Family Dynamics · Holiday Theme
What this Textopian page supports
What Chris'Mas Fetched the Wigginses is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Regionalism, Fiction, Family
- Length: 3,713 words
- Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for What Chris'Mas Fetched the Wigginses by James Whitcomb Riley
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