In his fairy tale “The Poor Count’s Christmas,” Frank R. Stockton shows how the true spirit of giving and gratitude spread warm light upon all those involved. As things begin to look a lot more like Christmas, Stockton encourages children to open their hearts to these generous and grateful spirits.
A Generous Spirit
Count Cormo is one of the most generous, giving people and, every Christmas, he puts together a Christmas festival for all of the children around his castle. Through this festival, Count Cormo ensures that all the children, no matter how rich or poor, experience a proper Christmas.
However, over the years, Count Cormo has spent so much of his wealth on the children and their festival that he has had to sell many of his belongings to fund the festival. Now, he and his wife, the Countess Cormo, are barely able to afford necessary food and clothing for themselves. Even with nothing left, Count Cormo is determined to sell anything he can so that he can host the Christmas festival once more.
While he and Countess Cormo worry over how to fund the Christmas festival, a giant named Feldar and a fairy make their way through the countryside. They travel toward the castle of the giant Omscrag to see how he is, since Feldar is one of his heirs. Upon arriving at the castle, Feldar discovers that Omscrag has died and that the inheritance has already been distributed.
Enraged at this, Feldar finds that Katofan (another giant) has taken charge of Omscrag’s old throne and castle. Feldar looks at Katofan and says: “The truth is, no doubt, that you were here when my grandfather’s uncle died, and that you took possession, and have since kept everybody out.”
Having confronted Katofan, Feldar proceeds to walk around the castle and claim his inheritance. He marks up furniture that he wants with a special chalk, and then gathers gold and diamonds to finish off his inherited share.
A Giant Spirit
Feldar then strides out of the castle with the fairy. As they walk away from Omscrag’s old castle, the fairy asks what Feldar will do with all of his newfound wealth. Feldar replies: “I am going to give one bag of it to Count Cormo so that he can offer the children a decent Christmas-tree, and the rest I shall carry to my castle on Shattered Crag.”
The fairy tells Feldar that she doesn’t think that Count Cormo will take the money. The count is too proud and would, no doubt, reject Feldar’s kind offer.
Feldar acknowledges the fairy’s words, but decides that he will help Count Cormo. He concocts a plan, which will not only help Count Cormo, but will also enable the children to have their Christmas festival.
Through this fairy tale, Stockton uses the characters of both Count Cormo and the giant, Feldar, to show children the wonder and beauty of giving and how it can benefit and bless both the giver and receiver.
Unlike Katofan, who hoards Omscrag’s inheritance and keeps it from the rightful heirs, Count Cormo and Feldar give what they have so that they help spread joy and love around them.
Generosity warms and brightens the world for others, while gratitude helps reflect and share that generous light, thus illuminating the whole world.
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