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A Reversible Santa Claus
Mr. William B. Aikins, _alias_ "Softy" Hubbard, _alias_ Billy The Hopper,
paused for breath behind a hedge that bordered a quiet lane and peered out
into the highway at a roadster whose tail light advertised its presence to
his felonious gaze. It was Christmas Eve, and after a day of unseasonable
warmth a slow, drizzling rain was whimsically changing to snow.
The Hopper was blowing from two hours' hard travel over rough country. He
had stumbled through woodlands, flattened himself in fence corners to
avoid the eyes of curious motorists speeding homeward or flying about
distributing Christmas gifts, and he was now bent upon committing himself
to an inter-urban trolley line that would afford comfortable
transportation for the remainder of his journey. Twenty miles, he
estimated, still lay between him and his domicile.
The rain had penetrated his clothing and vigorous exercise had not greatly
paused for breath behind a hedge that bordered a quiet lane and peered out
into the highway at a roadster whose tail light advertised its presence to
his felonious gaze. It was Christmas Eve, and after a day of unseasonable
warmth a slow, drizzling rain was whimsically changing to snow.
The Hopper was blowing from two hours' hard travel over rough country. He
had stumbled through woodlands, flattened himself in fence corners to
avoid the eyes of curious motorists speeding homeward or flying about
distributing Christmas gifts, and he was now bent upon committing himself
to an inter-urban trolley line that would afford comfortable
transportation for the remainder of his journey. Twenty miles, he
estimated, still lay between him and his domicile.
The rain had penetrated his clothing and vigorous exercise had not greatly
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1917
6 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Nicholson
199 books14 followersMeredith Nicholson was a best-selling author, a politician, and a diplomat.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews
December 25, 2014
Originally published in 1917, a thief trying to go straight finds himself embroiled in a humorous and adventurous caper. Loved this one. Thanks Amber, would not have know it existed and she not read and reviewed.
December 30, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this one; the writing was strange, it was a mixture of romanticizing the mundane mixed with unreadable lines of what the author considered was how uneducated characters talked.
Published in 1917 this novelette left me thinking that the author was totally disconnected from people like The Hopper, Humpy and Mary. The author portrayed them as ignorant and insecure.
Published in 1917 this novelette left me thinking that the author was totally disconnected from people like The Hopper, Humpy and Mary. The author portrayed them as ignorant and insecure.
January 23, 2023
Rocambolesco, divertente e dolce. Proprio il racconto natalizio che desideravo leggere!
Billy detto "il Grillo", un ladro non più giovanissimo e stanco della vita da fuorilegge, ha deciso di mettere la testa a posto aprendo un allevamento di polli insieme alla sua signora (ex taccheggiatrice) e ad uno scassinatore in pensione. Il Natale è alle porte e i tre sono quanto mai intenzionati a rigare dritto.
Un giorno, però, il Grillo viaggia su una metropolitana affollata e non resiste alla tentazione di alleggerire del portafogli l'uomo che gli è accanto.
"La gente non dovrebbe andare in giro con i portafogli che spuntano fuori dalle tasche; era ingiusto e sleale nei confronti di quei deboli membri della razza umana che cedono facilmente alla tentazione"
Questa ricaduta scatenerà una serie di eventi che trascineranno il Grillo a infrangere nuovamente la legge, ma in una maniera del tutto inaspettata...
Billy detto "il Grillo", un ladro non più giovanissimo e stanco della vita da fuorilegge, ha deciso di mettere la testa a posto aprendo un allevamento di polli insieme alla sua signora (ex taccheggiatrice) e ad uno scassinatore in pensione. Il Natale è alle porte e i tre sono quanto mai intenzionati a rigare dritto.
Un giorno, però, il Grillo viaggia su una metropolitana affollata e non resiste alla tentazione di alleggerire del portafogli l'uomo che gli è accanto.
"La gente non dovrebbe andare in giro con i portafogli che spuntano fuori dalle tasche; era ingiusto e sleale nei confronti di quei deboli membri della razza umana che cedono facilmente alla tentazione"
Questa ricaduta scatenerà una serie di eventi che trascineranno il Grillo a infrangere nuovamente la legge, ma in una maniera del tutto inaspettata...
December 21, 2016
A humorous tale. A thief who's been clean for several years slips and "swipes" a pocketbook from a nearby gentleman in the trolley, setting off a chain of events that leads him further and further into crime...grand theft auto, accidental kidnapping, and even art theft!! His wife and his sidekick are sure he's lost his mind. But he's sure that if he simply does one more thing that he will be fine...and sees no other alternative to following this road through to its bitter end. Between him, his cohorts, the child, the child's mother, and two feuding art collectors, this story dashes headlong toward a merry Christmas for all involved, in a way none of them expect!
January 15, 2015
This was a funny read about a thief who stole a child on Christmas eve and set to return him to his rightful owners not knowing the mother has hired him to steal something for her. Will he get caught? Read it and find out.
January 8, 2024
This story from 1917 is delightful. The Kindle version does not have the original (nor any) illustrations, but golly, the Project Gutenberg version does. Regardless, this was a fun story about thievery, going straight, and hijinx, 1917 style. Recommended.
🟢 read via : Project Gutenberg .
🟢 read via : Project Gutenberg .
January 1, 2021
THIS is a Christmas story! From start to finish.
The writing is very good. The plot is better. The solution uncertain to the reader throughout. The characters are excellent. The dialogue is great, but seems others would have accents noted, also.
The length of the story is just right. Pacing excellent.
The story of a sorta-redemption and resolution to a common seemingly impossible family squabble is heart warming and fulfilling.
Great book!
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of ten points.
The writing is very good. The plot is better. The solution uncertain to the reader throughout. The characters are excellent. The dialogue is great, but seems others would have accents noted, also.
The length of the story is just right. Pacing excellent.
The story of a sorta-redemption and resolution to a common seemingly impossible family squabble is heart warming and fulfilling.
Great book!
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of ten points.
January 1, 2024
Hopper is a recovering thief who is trying to go on the straight and narrow but succumbs to temptation on the subway, stealing a wallet, and then, thinking that he is being followed, steals a car to get home. It is only once he is well on his way that he notices the toddler beside him. He nicknames the baby Shaver and brings him home to his wife, Mary, and thieving partner, Humpy. Hopper goes back to the house to see how he can return Shaver without getting caught but the house is empty. Roger wrote to his wife, Muriel, that he was going to his father’s and left Billie in the car and she must have come and driven off. Muriel, an hour later, left a note for Roger that she just got home from her father’s house and noticed that he and Billie were gone and she assumed that they were at his father’s home. Unfortunately, just at the moment that he was reading the note, Muriel returns and has a pistol in Hoppe’rs face. She makes an agreement with him that she will forget this incident if he goes and steals a priceless Ming Dynasty vase from her father’s house and her father-in-law’s house since they keep fighting about them and she wants everyone to have a merry Christmas. He agrees and gets the one vase but then sees her father sneaking over to Roger’s father’s house to do his own thieving. While they are all distracted and yelling at each other, he gets the second case and takes off. The next morning, he returns to Muriel’s with Shaver and the vases and hears the grandfathers arguing and Muriel crying over the missing Billie. Hopper tells them that he found Billie alone in the car and came to the house which is when he met Muriel and they set their plan. Everyone agrees to give both vases to Billie and to teach him how to collect the rare pieces. And everyone lives happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2023
Rather fun and somewhat surprising story. I did like The Hopper and wanted him to succeed, but I didn’t care for the lies. The side characters, were quite the collection of personalities! The story went here and there and I wasn’t sure how it was going to all come right, but it did.
I didn’t agree with the idea that you win favor with God by being good or “playing the white card.” But it was a fun read.
I didn’t agree with the idea that you win favor with God by being good or “playing the white card.” But it was a fun read.
December 10, 2016
A short novella surrounding Christmas high-jinks and thievery in 1917. When an ex-thief inadvertently kidnaps a toddler in a fleeting moment of weakness, he braves the cold Connecticut weather to try and reunite the child with his family.
Amusing collection of characters that range from thieves, arts collectors, and femme fatales, and a plot that snowballs into more mischief as it races along. Let down a little by some godawful eye-dialect that, despite being a product of its time, is really only there to mark out the ex-thief and his gang as the economically deprived segment of society adding little to the dialogue. Although the eye-dialect doesn't add anything considerable to the characters, Nicholson includes a smattering of 1920s-era criminal slang to the story -- and that is a treat!
Having been barraged with A Christmas Carol far too many Christmasses, this wintry alternative is a breath of fresh-air.
Amusing collection of characters that range from thieves, arts collectors, and femme fatales, and a plot that snowballs into more mischief as it races along. Let down a little by some godawful eye-dialect that, despite being a product of its time, is really only there to mark out the ex-thief and his gang as the economically deprived segment of society adding little to the dialogue. Although the eye-dialect doesn't add anything considerable to the characters, Nicholson includes a smattering of 1920s-era criminal slang to the story -- and that is a treat!
Having been barraged with A Christmas Carol far too many Christmasses, this wintry alternative is a breath of fresh-air.
July 13, 2018
This book, written in 1917, is typical of that era. Overblown characters with a moral message. Still it is very amusing. For the record, a reversible Santa Claus is one who does not bring presents but who takes away things you don't appreciate.
May 20, 2023
Entertaining family listening 🎧
I listened to this as part of Megapack X is for Xmas. It is very good with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to the conclusion. I like to listen to Holiday novels and would recomend this Megapack to like readers. 2023
I listened to this as part of Megapack X is for Xmas. It is very good with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to the conclusion. I like to listen to Holiday novels and would recomend this Megapack to like readers. 2023
April 8, 2021
A lovely book, and a first edition too. Will definitely read again, at Christmas.
June 25, 2021
I started reading this book and began thinking Here we go again. Another predictable Christmas tale. But wait! It we somewhere completely unexpected. I enjoyed it!
January 10, 2022
Read as part of "The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries" anthology. It was a fun read about crooks with a heart
December 14, 2022
Amusing in an old black and white comedy kind of way. Some dated/racist language.
January 3, 2023
A delightful little story.
December 19, 2023
A nice little story of redemption and the bringing together of people at Christmas time. Very likable characters.
Next Christmas book: Miss Santa Claus of the Pullman by Annie Fellows Johnson (1913).
Next Christmas book: Miss Santa Claus of the Pullman by Annie Fellows Johnson (1913).
December 19, 2023
Nonsensical and foolish.
December 22, 2023
Uma história natalina adorável. Não é uma história inovadora e em alguns momentos é inverossímil, mas é um clichê gostosinho de natal.
December 24, 2023
3.5*
uma história bem levinha e divertida no clima natalino, mas o que fez ela brilhar mesmo foi a qualidade do audiobook do skeelo
uma história bem levinha e divertida no clima natalino, mas o que fez ela brilhar mesmo foi a qualidade do audiobook do skeelo
December 24, 2023
Amusing, humorous story of a burglar caught up in circumstances on Christmas Eve. All ends well!
April 1, 2012
This is one of those "Christmas stories", but with a twist and is utterly delightful.
May 29, 2012
This novelette was a delightful romp from beginning to end.
August 6, 2016
Entertaining short tale of mishaps, transgressions, and moral conscience, woven into the spirit of Christmas. A public domain book free: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15044
April 10, 2021
Joyful story of reformation. Fun to read a story from early 1900s.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews