Each year, winter is a reminder of the fleeting, temporary nature of life. Christmas is a time to let go of the grudges held against others. In her short story “A Christmas Mistake,” L.M. Montgomery shows that grudges aren’t worth holding on to, especially in the season of joy.
A Season to Celebrate
Christmas is tomorrow, and the Grant children share their hopes for the wonderful day. Christmas dinner is what they look forward to most. However, the Grant family isn’t well-off.
Unable to endure their excitement any longer, Mrs. Grant announces to her children that they can’t afford a Christmas dinner. She confesses that she has tried to save money but that it hasn’t been enough. They won’t be having a Christmas dinner tomorrow.
The children cry at the prospect of no Christmas dinner. Keith, the oldest, comforts his mother, saying: “Never mind, Mother. … We know you’ve done your best. It’s been a hard year for you.” Comforted by her son’s brave words, Mrs. Grant says she can still make some bread pudding and molasses taffy.
Keith then ushers all the other children out the door to school. With only the baby at home, Mrs. Grant is left to think over their situation. Then, a visitor arrives.
The visitor is Mr. Palmer, one of the teachers at the children’s school. A rather absentminded man, Mr. Palmer looks at Mrs. Grant (although without really seeming to see her) and announces: “I have just called on my way to school with a message from Miss Millar. She wants you all to come up and have Christmas dinner with her tomorrow.”
Mrs. Grant is shocked at this news and wonders whether the teacher might be sleepwalking. She and Miss Millar, although cousins and once very good friends, haven’t been on good terms for years. But, if Miss Millar will overcome a grudge, Mrs. Grant will, too. She tells Mr. Palmer that she and the children would love to join Miss Millar. The absentminded man heads off to school.
Mistakes Into Miracles
Later that day, Mr. Palmer returns to Miss Millar’s house, where he lives. He finds Miss Millar and Hannah, her maid, preparing for the Christmas dinner. Seeing her boarder, Miss Millar asks him, “Did you call and invite the Smithsons up to dinner as I told you?” He replies that he did, and she turns back to her culinary duties.
Suddenly, Mr. Palmer reappears in the doorway looking rather upset.
“Miss Millar, I am afraid I did make a mistake this morning—it has just dawned on me,” he says. “I am almost sure that I called at Mrs. Grant’s and invited her and her family instead of the Smithsons. And she said they would come.”
Miss Millar is beyond stunned. Mrs. Grant and her children? After the initial shock and confusion have subsided, Miss Millar realizes that she can’t go back on the invitation relayed by Mr. Palmer. So she will have Mrs. Grant, her children, and the Smithsons over for Christmas dinner, come what may.
Through this story, Montgomery shows, as Charlotte Brontë wrote in “Jane Eyre,” that “life appears to [be] too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.” A grudge of yesterday only results in unhappiness and a loss of more todays and tomorrows with those we hold dear.
During this Christmas season, let us shed our grudges and put on the joy and forgiveness of the season, for life is too short to hold a grudge.
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc.
