Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy

Little Troide Van Dorf is thrilled to accompany her older brother and sister on their skating journey to Amsterdam in this Christmas tale from 1908, taking along her favorite "child," in the form of her doll Katrina. Staying in the home of her Uncle Dirk and Aunt Greitzie, she enjoys the sites of the city—the shops, the brief sightings of the Queen—and her time away from home. Convinced that the Queen must miss her own children—the dolls about whom she had heard—Troide decides to show more visit her in her palace, and, once in the presence of the sovereign, makes a most generous and kind-hearted gift...

A Loyal Little Subject: A Christmas in Holland is the tenth book I have read in the Christmas in Many Lands series, a collection of short stories, each published separately, each profusely illustrated, and each set at Christmastime in a different country, that was produced by the Boston-based publisher Dana Estes & Company. The series began in 1892, when the American publisher reprinted four Christmas short stories by sisters and author/illustrator team Florence and Edith Scannell, originally published in their native Britain in 1888, and set (respectively) in England, France, Germany and Italy. Each of these brief stories was published separately, in slim 32-page volumes, but it is also worth noting that these first four books in the series were also published in a single volume, Christmas in Many Lands: England, France, Germany, and Italy, in 1888 (the same year they were originally published in the UK). In 1894 the Boston publisher added an American volume to the collection, with Hezekiah Butterworth's The Parson's Miracle and My Grandmother's Grandmother's Christmas Candle: Christmas In America, and then in 1895 Peter Christen Asbjørnsen's 'Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway was added.

The seventh entry in the series, Edward H. Knatchbull-Hugessen's The Forest Fairy: Christmas In Switzerland, was published in 1896, and after a gap of ten years, R.E.C.'s Harry's Temptation; or, Christmas in Canada and Mary Cowden Clarke's Little Paulina: Christmas in Russia, both adapted by one Anna Robinson, were published in 1906. Bertha Davidson Hoxie's Hilda's Wish: Christmas in Denmark, was published in 1908 (the same year as this title) and may in fact be the tenth title instead of this one. Of all the books in the series, it is the only one I have not been able to track down, causing me to skip it, in my reading of these books.

In any case, leaving that aside, this was an entertaining little cream-puff of a story, sweet and heartwarming, and centered on the love young children (especially young girls) have for their dolls. Troide's sacrifice is poignant, and is treated as the true act of generosity that it is by the Queen. The eventual reward our little heroine is given (and the return of Katrina) feels well-earned. This is a sentimental tale, and will be appreciated by those who enjoy such stories. It is to them, and to readers looking for vintage Christmas stories with a Dutch setting, that I would recommend it. show less

Anitia and Antonio Vasquez enjoy a Christmas Eve walk through their home city of Seville with their father in this holiday tale from 1910. After buying presents for the wounded soldiers in the nearby hospital—recently returned from fighting in the Spanish-American War—they are determined to get something for Mariquita, the beautiful young woman living with them, because her own parents insist she marry someone not of her choosing, rather than the young soldier she loves. While visiting show more with the soldiers, their father learns that Mariquita's beloved has been imprisoned for deserting, having snuck away to see her. Fortunately, Señor Valdez is able to argue for his release, as part of the annual Christmas Day pardons, and all ends happily...

Christmas in Spain; or, Mariquita's Day of Rejoicing is the twelfth book I have read in the Christmas in Many Lands series, a collection of short stories, each published separately, each profusely illustrated, and each set at Christmastime in a different country, that was produced by the Boston-based publisher Dana Estes & Company. The series began in 1892, when the American publisher reprinted four Christmas short stories by sisters and author/illustrator team Florence and Edith Scannell, originally published in their native Britain in 1888, and set (respectively) in England, France, Germany and Italy. Each of these brief stories was published separately, in slim 32-page volumes, but it is also worth noting that these first four books in the series were also published in a single volume, Christmas in Many Lands: England, France, Germany, and Italy, in 1888 (the same year they were originally published in the UK). In 1894 the Boston publisher added an American volume to the collection, with Hezekiah Butterworth's The Parson's Miracle and My Grandmother's Grandmother's Christmas Candle: Christmas In America, and then in 1895 Peter Christen Asbjørnsen's 'Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway was added. The seventh entry in the series, Edward H. Knatchbull-Hugessen's The Forest Fairy: Christmas In Switzerland, was published in 1896, and after a gap of ten years, R.E.C.'s Harry's Temptation; or, Christmas in Canada and Mary Cowden Clarke's Little Paulina: Christmas in Russia, both adapted by one Anna Robinson, were published in 1906. Bertha Davidson Hoxie's Hilda's Wish: Christmas in Denmark was published in 1908, as was Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy's A Loyal Little Subject: A Christmas in Holland, and Pomeroy's Saburo's Reward: A Christmas in Japan was published in 1909.

This 1910 volume is the third of Pomeroy's four contributions to the series, and proved entertaining. The stories in this series are sentimental, and there is no doubt as to each happy ending, but that does not spoil the pleasure they bring, and feels fitting for Christmas fare. I thought it was interesting that Pomeroy addressed the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, which occurred in 1898, indicating that her story is set some decade before publication. Given that feeling would have still been high in the United States, and that this is an American publication, the choice to address this theme, and to tell it from the Spanish perspective, was intriguing. Pomeroy avoids any discussion of wider issues of the war, or of Spain's adversary, focusing instead on the bravery of Spain's soldiers, and their return to their families. In any case, I recommend this one to those seeking vintage children's stories set in Spain, or featuring the Christmas season. show less

The Edgecombe family—Professor and Mrs. Edgecombe and their children, Dorothy and John—head to Europe for a year when the professor is sent on sabbatical in this brief holiday tale from 1911. Here, in Uppsala, the family settle in and begin to learn Swedish customs and ways from their new friends, the Bjerkanders. They celebrate the Christmas season as it is done in the far north—the Festival of Light—and, discovering that their maid Stena is the cousin of their Swedish-American maid show more at home, Freda, they arrange a wonderful New Year's party for Freda's family, fulfilling their promise to deliver her gifts to her family in the old country...

Christmas in Sweden: A Festival of Light is the thirteenth book I have read in the Christmas in Many Lands series, a collection of short stories, each published separately, each profusely illustrated, and each set at Christmastime in a different country, that was produced by the Boston-based publisher Dana Estes & Company. The series began in 1892, when the American publisher reprinted four Christmas short stories by sisters and author/illustrator team Florence and Edith Scannell, originally published in their native Britain in 1888, and set (respectively) in England, France, Germany and Italy. Each of these brief stories was published separately, in slim 32-page volumes, but it is also worth noting that these first four books in the series were also published in a single volume, Christmas in Many Lands: England, France, Germany, and Italy, in 1888 (the same year they were originally published in the UK). In 1894 the Boston publisher added an American volume to the collection, with Hezekiah Butterworth's The Parson's Miracle and My Grandmother's Grandmother's Christmas Candle: Christmas In America, and then in 1895 Peter Christen Asbjørnsen's 'Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway was added. The seventh entry in the series, Edward H. Knatchbull-Hugessen's The Forest Fairy: Christmas In Switzerland, was published in 1896, and after a gap of ten years, R.E.C.'s Harry's Temptation; or, Christmas in Canada and Mary Cowden Clarke's Little Paulina: Christmas in Russia, both adapted by one Anna Robinson, were published in 1906. Bertha Davidson Hoxie's Hilda's Wish: Christmas in Denmark was published in 1908, as was Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy's A Loyal Little Subject: A Christmas in Holland. Pomeroy's Saburo's Reward: A Christmas in Japan was published in 1909, and her Christmas in Spain; or, Mariquita's Day of Rejoicing in 1910.

This 1911 volume is the fourth and final of Pomeroy's contributions to the series, and was something of a disappointment, unfortunately. Given the sub-title here, I expected that the Swedish celebration of Saint Lucia Day, which occurs on December 13th, and which involves a young girl wearing the candlelit Saint Lucia crown, would make an appearance, but regrettably it was never mentioned. In addition, I was confused at Professor Edgecomb's retelling of the story of "Freya," in that Freya is described as the god of the sun rather than the goddess of beauty and fertility. I think it is the god Freyr who was being described, and who was perhaps anglicized as Freya in this telling. This idea is reinforced by the mention of the three tombs/mounds outside Uppsala that the family intend to visit, as these were traditionally thought to be the burial place of Odin, Thor and Freyr. That said, I didn't think this god was associated with the sun, although there may be alternate traditions of which I am unaware, as I have not studied Norse Mythology in depth. In any case, I did find the story charming overall, and would have been more enthusiastic, were it not for the absence of Saint Lucia Day, and my confusion over the retelling of Norse mythology. I'm not sure I would strongly recommend this one, although I am glad to have read it, having read so many other entries in the series. show less

Saburo Hisada and his younger sister Ayako are educated at the mission school in this holiday story from 1909, but maintain their ancient aristocratic family's traditional customs and Shinto beliefs. Much struck by "Miss Chrysanthemum"—a nickname he has given a little American girls visiting the mission school—and by the Christmas celebration put on by the school, Saburo is looking forward to the traditional New Year festival his own family will be celebrating. The he discovers that his show more father is in debt, and might not be able to repay what he owes, thereby bringing disgrace on the family. How can he, a little boy, help...?

Saburo's Reward: A Christmas in Japan is the eleventh book I have read in the Christmas in Many Lands series, a collection of short stories, each published separately, each profusely illustrated, and each set at Christmastime in a different country, that was produced by the Boston-based publisher Dana Estes & Company. The series began in 1892, when the American publisher reprinted four Christmas short stories by sisters and author/illustrator team Florence and Edith Scannell, originally published in their native Britain in 1888, and set (respectively) in England, France, Germany and Italy. Each of these brief stories was published separately, in slim 32-page volumes, but it is also worth noting that these first four books in the series were also published in a single volume, Christmas in Many Lands: England, France, Germany, and Italy, in 1888 (the same year they were originally published in the UK). In 1894 the Boston publisher added an American volume to the collection, with Hezekiah Butterworth's The Parson's Miracle and My Grandmother's Grandmother's Christmas Candle: Christmas In America, and then in 1895 Peter Christen Asbjørnsen's 'Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway was added.

The seventh entry in the series, Edward H. Knatchbull-Hugessen's The Forest Fairy: Christmas In Switzerland, was published in 1896, and after a gap of ten years, R.E.C.'s Harry's Temptation; or, Christmas in Canada and Mary Cowden Clarke's Little Paulina: Christmas in Russia, both adapted by one Anna Robinson, were published in 1906. Bertha Davidson Hoxie's Hilda's Wish: Christmas in Denmark was published in 1908, as was Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy's A Loyal Little Subject: A Christmas in Holland.

This volume from 1909 is the second of Pomeroy's four contributions to the series, and was enjoyable. Like its predecessors it was a brief read, being no more than an illustrated short story, but I found it entertaining and its eponymous hero sympathetic. There was never much doubt that Saburo would find a way to help out, given the title, but it was still satisfying watching him get to that point. I found many of the traditional Japanese details interesting, and found myself wondering whether the author had ever traveled to the country. The game played by the Hisada family at one point—the Ancient Odes card game—made me rather curious to know about the real game being referenced. I have read of at least one Japanese card game, Uta-garuta, which is based on Japanese waka poetry, which might be what the author had in mind, although it is not possible to be sure. In any case, I do recommend this one to those seeking vintage children's stories set in Japan, or featuring the Christmas and/or New Year season. show less