Peace On Earth, Good-Will to Dogs

Eleanor Hallowell Abbott's 1912 Christmas gem is a love letter to two things she openly admits she cannot resist: dogs and the holiday season. Set in a bitter-cold December where snow refuses to fall until the final pages, the story follows a family whose lives are invaded by a series of large and very romp-worthy dogs. Abbott writes with unmistakable delight, her prose dripping with fir balsam and tinsel as she conjures the magic of a child's Christmas morning. The tale captures something true about the way animals teach us generosity and joy, all wrapped in the warm glow of holiday tradition. It's slight, sentimental, and completely unapologetic about both. For readers who believe Christmas isn't complete without a dog by the fire.