The complete online text of The Spirit of Christmas by Henry van Dyke.

From the opening pages of his first novel, Henry Van Dyke has shown that he is a masterful novelist, an "original" artist with his own voice, his own style, his "language couched in wit and eloquence." One critic has stated that Van Dyke "has refined the...

Writer, minister, critic, professor, outdoorsman--Henry Van Dyke was a man of multiple talents and great energy. As a literary critic he supported the basic tenets of the Genteel Tradition well into the twentieth century, castigating the modern trend tow...

Someone from the South Shore gives $50,000 to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots and insists upon remaining anonymous. Ten West Newbury Junior Girl Scouts, all sixth graders, present Massachusetts State Troopers with 200 teddy bears so the troopers can in turn...

The spirit of Christmas Giving the family a water buffalo By JIMMY BRESLIN Wednesday, December 25, 2002 I always clench my fists in frustration whenever I see one of these wild animal shows that I love so much on public...

Pope Benedict XVI urged Christians on Wednesday to defend the spirit of Christmas against secular trends during his last general audience before the holiday.He wished the several thousand pilgrims and tourists gathered in a Vatican auditorium decorated with Christmas trees a "Happy Christmas" in seven...

Umm Salam draws her curtains across her windows, then settles into an armchair in a living room festooned with colored lights and a portrait of Jesus on the cross. Her Christmas tree glitters in the corner.One of Iraq's estimated 800,000 Christians, the 56-year-old widow celebrates...