Written as part of a collection of children’s fairy tales, “A Christmas Cake” is one of Alcott’s lesser-known works; it tells the story of a young boy and his mishaps as he gathers the ingredients for his family’s Christmas cake. Revolving around the Christmas season and the feelings of goodwill that come with it, this tale encapsulates the idea that good works triumph over any evil temptations. Rather than the typical Victorian ghost stories often used to scare children away from any misdeeds, this fairy tale instead persuades children to do good – and by doing so they are rewarded.
