Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and Other Haunting Tales
The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton (1836) ***
Really an excerpt from The Pickwick Papers, this short festive fancy features a proto-Scrooge and what I could only imagine as muppets, not to its detriment.
To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt (1865) **
I think this was his last Christmas story, or the last one I'm prepared to bother with at any rate. At the end of the journey, I can report the totally unforeseen discovery that A Christmas Carol was actually the best one (though I liked The Chimes well enough too).
****
A nice excuse to read (or re-read) a variably whimsical story a day (more often two every other day due to forgetfulness). I've saved the bonus stocking assortment for next year.
