scs Fairy Tales

By Authors Unknown

Christmas Story

Sir Henry Cole cursed silently, regretting that his business had brought him to Edinburgh at this time of year. Even though the daylight was not much shorter than in London, the temperature not significantly lower, the damp not noticeably damper, he still felt as if he had been transported to the North Pole.

As he walked along Kirkgate in Leith, shivering in the dusk, a picture in a shop window caught his eye, despite the poor light. He felt compelled to enter and found himself in a bookshop. 'That picture in the window', he said, having checked that there were no other customers, 'might I have a closer look at it ?'

'Of course, sir', said the proprietor, Charles Drummond. 'It's turned out to be very popular. I might have to print another run of them. People are sending them to all their friends with the penny post. Here you are, sir'.

Only now did Sir Henry see that the picture was accompanied by a printed salutation in spelling that made him shudder even more: 'A GUDE NEW YEAR AND MONY O' THEM.' He also noticed, to his great disappointment, that the round, pink object in the drawing was not what he had taken it for, but a glowing-faced, chubby-cheeked young boy.

'Do you like the picture, sir ?' asked the proprietor. 'It was drawn by my good friend Thomas Sturrock, a local man.'

Having shown such an initial interest in the card, Sir Henry felt compelled to say how much he admired the picture, leaving himself with no option but to buy one, along with the accompanying envelope. An idea was forming in his enterprising brain, replacing the original, less salubrious thoughts, of which he now felt somewhat ashamed. 'It might very well catch on in London', he said to himself, 'although it will of course be necessary to substitute a Christmas greeting.'

Sir Henry bade the bookseller good evening and left the shop feeling quite pleased with himself.