The Burglar's Christmas

"The Burglar's Christmas"
Short story by Elizabeth L. Seymour (Willa Cather)
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Short story
Publication
Published in	Home Monthly
Publication type	Women's magazine
Publication date	1896

"The Burglar's Christmas" is a short story by Willa Cather. It was first published in Home Monthly in 1896 under the pseudonym of Elizabeth L. Seymour,^[1] her cousin's name.^[2]

Plot summary

Out in Chicago on Christmas Eve, two shabby-looking men are considering getting food after they have not been eating for days. Crawford is too tired to walk however, so the other man goes off by himself. Crawford considers stealing the food as he cannot pay for it, but when a woman drops a parcel he gives it to her instead of running off with it. He feels as if he is a failed thief, in the same manner as he has failed at everything - college, journalism, real estate, performing. He then walks into a house in an attempt to steal the jewellery, and his mother finds him there. She says she forgives him for everything; his father remains distant. They have dinner and he feels warm again.

Characters

Crawford, a shabby-looking man. Crawford is not his real name.
William, Helen and James's son, who run away from college for years.
A woman who drops a parcel in the street.
Helen, William's mother.
James, William's father. Helen says he is 'undemonstrative'.
Ellen, a woman Helen mentions.

Allusions to other works

The text mentions in passing Robert Browning's 1855 poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came and the Dance of Death.
William performed in a theatrical adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Literary significance and criticism

It has been argued by critic Sharon O'Brien that this rewriting of the prodigal son theme bears some resemblance to Willa Cather's own relationship with her mother.^[3]

References

^ Willa Cather's Collected Short Fiction, University of Nebraska Press; Rev Ed edition, 1 November 1970, page 585
^ William M. Curtis and Willa Cather, The World and the Parish: Willa Cather's Articles and Reviews 1893-1902, Volume 1, University of Nebraska Press, 1970, page 307
^ James Leslie Woodress, Willa Cather - A Literary Life, University of Nebraska Press, 1989, page 122

External links

Full Text at the Willa Cather Archive

v t e Willa Cather
Novels	Alexander's Bridge O Pioneers! The Song of the Lark My Ántonia One of Ours A Lost Lady The Professor's House My Mortal Enemy Death Comes for the Archbishop Shadows on the Rock Lucy Gayheart Sapphira and the Slave Girl Hard Punishments
Short stories	"Peter" "Lou, the Prophet" "The Elopement of Allen Poole" "A Tale of the White Pyramid" "A Son of the Celestial" "The Clemency of the Court" "The Fear That Walks by Noonday" "On the Divide" "A Night at Greenway Court" "Tommy, the Unsentimental" "The Princess Baladina – Her Adventure" "The Count of Crow's Nest" "The Burglar's Christmas" "The Strategy of the Were-Wolf Dog" "A Resurrection" "The Prodigies" "Nanette: An Aside" "The Way of the World" "The Westbound Train" "Eric Hermannson's Soul" "The Dance at Chevalier's" "The Sentimentality of William Tavener" "The Affair at Grover Station" "A Singer's Romance" "The Conversion of Sum Loo" "Jack-a-Boy" "El Dorado: A Kansas Recessional" "The Professor's Commencement" "The Treasure of Far Island" "A Death in the Desert" "A Wagner Matinee" "The Sculptor's Funeral" "Flavia and Her Artists" "The Garden Lodge" "The Marriage of Phaedra" "Paul's Case" "The Namesake" "The Profile" "The Willing Muse" "Eleanor's House" "On the Gulls' Road" "The Enchanted Bluff" "The Joy of Nelly Deane" "Behind the Singer Tower" "The Bohemian Girl" "Consequences" "The Bookkeeper's Wife" "The Diamond Mine" "A Gold Slipper" "Ardessa" "Scandal" "Her Boss" "Coming, Eden Bower!" "Uncle Valentine" "Double Birthday" "Neighbour Rosicky" "Two Friends" "The Old Beauty" "Before Breakfast" "The Best Years"
Short story collections	The Troll Garden Youth and the Bright Medusa Obscure Destinies The Old Beauty and Others Five Stories
Collection of poems	April Twilights
Collaborations	The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and the History of Christian Science
Adaptations	A Lost Lady (1934 film) O Pioneers! (1992 film) My Antonia (1995 film) The Song of the Lark (2001 film) O Pioneers! (2009 opera)
Related	Willa Cather Birthplace Willa Cather House Edith Lewis Willa Cather Foundation WILLA Literary Award

v t e The Parable of the Prodigal Son in arts and culture
Source	Luke 15 Parables of Jesus
Art	The Wayfarer (1500s) The Prodigal Son in the Brothel (1637) The Return of the Prodigal Son (1660s) The Prodigal Son (1922)
Film	L'Enfant prodigue (1907) The Prodigal (1955) The Gospel (2005) The Prodigal Trilogy (2008) The Imposter (2008) Preacher's Kid (2010)
Stage	The London Prodigal (1605 play) Prodigal Son (1929 ballet)
Opera	L'enfant prodigue (1850) The Prodigal Son (1968)
Music	The Prodigal Son (1869) L'enfant prodigue (1884)
Songs	Symphony No. 4 "Walkin' to Missouri" (1952) "Prodigal Son" (1994)
Album	Ants'hillvania (1981) The Prodigal Son (1983)
Literature	Tears of the Prodigal Son (1622) Le retour de l'enfant prodigue (1907) "Home-Coming"
Papal	Dives in misericordia (1980) Reconciliatio et paenitentia (1984)
Other	Fatted calf The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's (2007) "Michael" "The Burglar's Christmas"
See also	The Prodigal Son (disambiguation) Return of the Prodigal Son (disambiguation)

Read other articles:

Budhi Achmadi

Budhi Achmadi Panglima Komando Operasi Udara IIPetahanaMulai menjabat 2 Oktober 2023 PendahuluAndi KustoroPenggantiPetahanaKepala Staf Komando Gabungan Wilayah Pertahanan III ke-6Masa jabatan27 April 2023 – 2 Oktober 2023 PendahuluIzak PangemananPenggantiDeni Hasoloan SimanjuntakWaasops Panglima TNIMasa jabatan28 September 2022 – 27 April 2023 PendahuluKustonoPenggantiBonang Bayuaji GautamaKomandan Komando Sektor II Koopsud IIMasa jabatan29 Juli 2022 – ...

Citroën CX

Citroën CX1983 Citroën CX PrestigeInformasiProdusenCitroënMasa produksi1974–1991PerakitanAulnay-sous-Bois, Prancis[1]Arica, ChiliVigo, SpanyolPerancangRobert Opron Geoff Matthews (Series 2 refresh)Bodi & rangkaKelasmobil mewah ukuran medium / Mobil eksekutif (E)Bentuk kerangka4-pintu fastback4-pintu fastback long wheelbase5-pintu brake (estate)Tata letakmesin depan, penggerak roda depanPenyalur dayaMesin2.0L I42.2L I42.3L I42.4L I42.5L Diesel I4Transmisi5-percepatan manu...

Stephanus Versluys

Stephanus Versluijs Gubernur Sailan Belanda ke-21Masa jabatan27 Agustus 1729 – 25 Agustus 1732 PendahuluPetrus VuystPenggantiGualterus Woutersz sebagai gubernur sementara Informasi pribadiLahir(1694-08-20)20 Agustus 1694MiddelburgMeninggal27 Februari 1736(1736-02-27) (umur 41)BataviaSuami/istriAdriana de HaanSunting kotak info • L • B Stephanus Versluys atau Versluijs (20 Agustus 1694 – 27 Februari 1736) adalah Gubernur ke-21 dari Sailan Belan...

Синелобый амазон

Синелобый амазон Научная классификация Домен:ЭукариотыЦарство:ЖивотныеПодцарство:ЭуметазоиБез ранга:Двусторонне-симметричныеБез ранга:ВторичноротыеТип:ХордовыеПодтип:ПозвоночныеИнфратип:ЧелюстноротыеНадкласс:ЧетвероногиеКлада:АмниотыКлада:ЗавропсидыКласс:Пт�...

Piteå

Place in Norrbotten, Sweden Place in Norrbotten, SwedenPiteåOne of the two town squaresPiteåShow map of NorrbottenPiteåShow map of SwedenCoordinates: 65°19′00″N 21°29′00″E / 65.31667°N 21.48333°E / 65.31667; 21.48333CountrySwedenProvinceNorrbottenCountyNorrbotten CountyMunicipalityPiteå MunicipalityArea[1] • Total24.74 km2 (9.55 sq mi)Population (2018)[1] • Total23,350 • Density926/...

Dorsten

Town in North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyDorsten TownHistorical town hall and St. Agatha cathedral Coat of armsLocation of Dorsten within Recklinghausen district Dorsten Show map of GermanyDorsten Show map of North Rhine-WestphaliaCoordinates: 51°39′36″N 6°57′51″E / 51.66000°N 6.96417°E / 51.66000; 6.96417CountryGermanyStateNorth Rhine-WestphaliaAdmin. regionMünster DistrictRecklinghausen Government • Mayor (2020–25) Tobias Stockhoff[1...

Pippin II

Pippin IIAdipati dan Pangeran Franka MayordomoPippin II (kanan) yang ditawarkan jasa Hubert dari Liège (kiri)Adipati dan Pangeran FrankaBerkuasa687 – 714Penobatan687PendahuluPosisi didirikanPenerusKarl MartellMayordomo AustrasiaBerkuasa680 – 714Penobatan680PendahuluWulfoaldPenerusTheudoaldMayordomo NeustriaBerkuasa687 – 695Penobatan687PendahuluBercharPenerusGrimaud IIMayordomo BourgogneBerkuasa687 – 695Penobatan687PendahuluPosisi dipulihkanPenerusDrogoInformasi pribadiKelahiran635Kem...

هنود

هنودمعلومات عامةنسبة التسمية الهند التعداد الكليالتعداد قرابة 1.21 مليار[1][2]تعداد الهند عام 2011ق. 1.32 مليار[3]تقديرات عام 2017ق. 30.8 مليون[4]مناطق الوجود المميزةبلد الأصل الهند البلد الهند الهند نيبال 4,000,000[5] الولايات المتحدة 3,982,398[6] الإمار...

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226 signPennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226LocationPine Township and Madison Township, Columbia County, PennsylvaniaNearest cityMillvilleCoordinates41°7′53″N 76°35′44″W / 41.13139°N 76.59556°W / 41.13139; -76.59556Area4,335 acres (1,754 ha)DesignationPennsylvania State Game LandsOwnerPennsylvania Game Commission Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226 are Pennsylvan...

Гари (Татарстан)

СелоГари 55°52′11″ с. ш. 52°01′04″ в. д.HGЯO Страна Россия Субъект Федерации Татарстан Муниципальный район Елабужский Сельское поселение Бехтеревское История и география Первое упоминание 1678 Часовой пояс UTC+3:00 Население Население 342 человека (2010) Национальнос...

Delhi

City and union territory of India For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). National Capital Territory redirects here. For the generic term, see Capital districts and territories. Not to be confused with New Delhi, the capital of India, entirely within the limits of Delhi. This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Megacity and Union territory in IndiaDelhiMegacit...

Днепр-Арена

«Днепр-Арена» Стадион УЕФА категории 4 Местоположение Украина, Днепр, ул. Херсонская, 7 Построен 2005—2008 Открыт 14 сентября 2008 Стоимость постройки 65 млн €455 млн 330 тыс. ₴ Архитектор Юрий Серёгин Владелец «ПриватБанк» Застройщик «Hochtief» Вместимость 34 000 (полная) 31 003 (мест для зр...

St. Clair County, Illinois

County in Illinois, United States County in IllinoisSt. Clair CountyCountySt. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville FlagSealLocation within the U.S. state of IllinoisIllinois's location within the U.S.Coordinates: 38°28′N 89°56′W / 38.47°N 89.93°W / 38.47; -89.93Country United StatesState IllinoisFounded1790Named forArthur St. ClairSeatBellevilleLargest cityBellevilleArea • Total674 sq mi (1,750 km2) • Land658...

List of American films of 1973

American filmsby year 1890s 1890–1899 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 19041905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 19141915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 19241925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 19441945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 19541955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 19641965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 19741975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981...

Murad Mirza (son of Akbar)

Shahzada of the Mughal Empire Murad Mirza مراد میرزاShahzada of the Mughal EmpirePortrait of Murad, c. 1600Born15 June 1570Fatehpur Sikri, AgraDied12 May 1599(1599-05-12) (aged 28)Mughal EmpireBurial13 May 1599Humayun's TombSpouse Habiba Banu Begum (m. 1587)Daughter of Bahadur KhanIssue Rustam Mirza Alam Sultan Mirza Jahan Banu Begum HouseHouse of BaburDynasty Timurid dynastyFatherAkbarMotherConcubineReligionSunni Islam Din-e-Ilahi Murad M...

Jimmy McIntosh

Scottish footballer and manager (1918–2000) For other people with the same name, see James McIntosh. Jimmy McIntosh Personal informationFull name James McLauchlan McIntoshDate of birth (1918-04-05)5 April 1918Place of birth Dumfries, ScotlandDate of death 4 April 2000(2000-04-04) (aged 81)Place of death Berwick-on-Tweed, EnglandHeight 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]Position(s) ForwardSenior career*Years Team Apps (Gls)–1935 Droylsden 1935–1937 Blackpool[2] 5 (...

Aubrieta

Come leggere il tassoboxAubrietaClassificazione APG IVDominioEukaryota RegnoPlantae (clade)Angiosperme (clade)Mesangiosperme (clade)Eudicotiledoni (clade)Eudicotiledoni centrali (clade)Superrosidi (clade)Rosidi (clade)Eurosidi (clade)Eurosidi II OrdineBrassicales FamigliaBrassicaceae GenereAubrietaAdans. Classificazione CronquistDominioEukaryota RegnoPlantae DivisioneMagnoliophyta ClasseMagnoliopsida OrdineCapparales FamigliaBrassicaceae GenereAubrieta Specievedi testo Aubrieta con fiori viol...

Athletics at the 2022 Asian Games – Men's 1500 metres

Men's 1500 metres at the 2022 Asian GamesVenueHOC StadiumDate30 September – 1 October 2023Competitors21 from 15 nationsMedalists Mohamad Al-Garni Qatar Ajay Kumar Saroj India Jinson Johnson India← 20182026 → Athletics at the2022 Asian GamesTrack events100 mmenwomen200 mmenwomen400 mmenwomen800 mmenwomen1500 mmenwomen5000 mmenwomen10,000 mmenwomen100 m hurdleswomen110 m hurdlesmen400 m hurdlesmenwo...

Élections législatives de 1986 dans les Hautes-Pyrénées

1981 1988 Élections législatives de 1986 dans les Hautes-Pyrénées 3 sièges de députés à l'Assemblée nationale 16 mars 1986 Corps électoral et résultats Population 227 922 Inscrits 171 143 Votants 136 994 80,05 % 10,1 Votes exprimés 131 021 Droite parlementaire – Pierre Bleuler Liste Union pour la démocratie françaiseRassemblement pour la République Voix 48 566 37,07 %  7,1 Députés élus 2 2 Part...

Kingdom of Altava

Kingdom in present-day Algeria Kingdom of Altava578–708The Kingdom of Altava (1) and other romanized berber kingdoms of the early sixth century.StatusRump state of the Mauro-Roman KingdomCapitalAltavaCommon languagesBerber, African Romance LatinReligion ChristianityGovernmentMonarchyKing • 578-670s (Unknown)• 670s Sekerdid• 680-690 Caecilius Historical eraMedieval• Collapse of the Mauro-Roman Kingdom 578• Annexed by Umayyad Caliphate 708 Preceded...