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Cover of Betty's Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin's Farm; and the First Christmas of New England

Betty's Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin's Farm; and the First Christmas of New England

by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896)

  • Free to read
  • 2 hours to read
  • 17 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"Betty's Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin's Farm; and the First Christmas of New England" by Harriet Beecher Stowe is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The narratives explore themes of social responsibility, charity, and the spirit of giving during the Christmas season, focusing on characters from various walks of life who are deeply affected by their circumstances. The stories highlight the contrast between wealth and poverty, emphasizing the importance of kindness and philanthropy. The opening portion introduces "Betty's Bright Idea," centering around a young girl named Florence, who finds herself disenchanted with the commercialism of Christmas. Struck by a desire to give meaningfully, she contemplates how to help those less fortunate, reflecting on the biblical idea of generosity towards the needy. Simultaneously, we are introduced to the struggles of John Morley and his family, who are confronted with hardships stemming from his past mistakes. The scene showcases the interplay between Florence's wealth and the plight of John’s family, setting the stage for a narrative rich in moral reflections and the greater purpose of the holiday spirit.

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  • Christmas stories
  • New England · Social life and customs

Read the opening

Scene I

A young girl's boudoir in one of our American palaces of luxury, built after the choicest fancy of the architect, and furnished in all the latest devices of household decoration. Pictures, statuettes, and every form of bijouterie make the room a miracle of beauty, and the little princess of all sits in an easy chair before the fire, and thus revolves with herself:

"O, dear me! Christmas is a bore! Such a rush and crush in the streets, such a jam in the shops, and then such a fuss thinking up presents for everybody! All for nothing, too; for nobody Wants anything. I'm sure I don't. I'm surfeited now with pictures and jewelry, and bon-bon boxes, and little china dogs and cats—and all these things that get so thick you can't move without upsetting some of them. There's papa, he don't want anything. He never uses any of my Christmas presents when I get them; and mamma, she has every earthly thing I can think of, and said the other day she did hope nobody'd give her any more worsted work! Then Aunt Maria and Uncle John, they don't want the things I give them; they have more than they know what to do with, now. All the boys say they don't want any more cigar cases or slippers, or smoking caps. Oh, dear!"

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Scene I
  3. Scene II
  4. Scene III
  5. Scene IV
  6. Scene V
  7. Scene VI
  8. Chapter I
  9. Chapter II
  10. Chapter III
  11. Chapter IV
  12. Chapter V
  13. Chapter VI
  14. Chapter VII
  15. Chapter II
  16. Chapter III
  17. Chapter IV

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About this edition

This free edition of Betty's Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin's Farm; and the First Christmas of New England by Harriet Beecher Stowe comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #10723, released 2004-01-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories, Children & Young Adult Reading, American Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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