Published in volume 13 of the periodical The Argosy in 1872, Mark Hardcastle’s short story “In the Christmas Firelight” shows how family is more important than any material amusement. Dorius, a 17-year-old girl, travels for two years enjoying all the world has to offer. Her family, and the reader, are shocked when she returns home and admits her adventures were nowhere near as fulfilling as her family’s love. Teaching the timeless Christmas lesson that the world cannot replace a family’s love, this story shows how the British had happy Christmas tales amidst the many ghost stories and social commentaries common at the time.
