Ben Barry's Christmas-Box by Ruth Lamb
"Ben Barry's Christmas-Box" by Ruth Lamb tells the story of Ben Barry, a well-known man in town who owns a wagon and horse used for delivering goods. Despite his good nature and popularity, Ben has a drinking problem, which affects his work and the well-being of his horse and son, Jack. During a particularly cold winter, Ben's drinking worsens, leading his wife to send Jack to accompany him on deliveries to ensure the parcels' safety. At Christmas, Ben receives many gifts, often in the form of drinks, but at the post office, the teetotaler postmaster offers gifts for Jack and the horse instead. This includes a nose-bag of corn for the horse, a warm rug, an overcoat for Jack, and a shilling for a savings account. The postmaster explains that he prefers to give gifts where they are most needed, rather than money that might be spent on drink. This encounter serves as a turning point for Ben, who begins to change his ways, spending more time with his family and less at the pub. The postmaster's lesson leads Ben to seek a more meaningful life, ultimately finding happiness and fulfillment in faith.
By Ruth Lamb · First published 1883 · Genre: Christmas Fiction, Christian Fiction, Humorous Fiction · 1,341 words
First lines
THERE was not a better known man in all the town than old Ben Barry. He was the owner of a large tilted wagon with a truck attached to the back of it by a chain, and a horse which looked neither strong enough nor fat enough for the labour of dragging wagon and truck when fully laden.
Ben was a handsome fellow, who had been a sailor, and who still went to and fro in a river steamer from the comparatively small town in which he lived to the large seaport near the river's mouth. People called him old, not because he was so, but because everybody knew him so well, and looked on him as a person of large experience.
What this Textopian page supports
Ben Barry's Christmas-Box is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ruth Lamb, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ruth Lamb
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christmas Fiction, Christian Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Social/Family Fiction, Historical/Period Fiction
- Length: 1,341 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ben Barry's Christmas-Box by Ruth Lamb
- 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
- Christmas Fiction — The narrative centers on the Christmas season, with traditions, gift-giving, and the spirit of the holiday playing a pivotal role in the plot and character transformation.
- Christian Fiction — The story features a spiritual journey and a turning point in the protagonist's life through the discovery of Jesus, reinforcing Christian values and redemption.
- Humorous Fiction — The work employs wit and light-hearted irony, notably in the portrayal of characters and their misadventures, to create a humorous narrative tone.
- Social/Family Fiction — The depiction of community interactions, familial relationships, and societal customs highlights themes of cooperation, generosity, and transformation within a small town.
Tags
Christmas · holiday · inspirational · family · community · miracle · redemption · love · spiritual · heartwarming · festive · tradition