O. Henry often found the heart of a story in the everyday moments most people overlook. The Purple Dress is one of those pieces — a small, vivid glimpse into life in early-1900s New York, told with his familiar mix of humor, warmth, and gentle surprise.

William Sydney Porter, or O. Henry, wrote more than six hundred short stories marked by humor, warmth, and his famous twist endings. His work captures the daily lives of ordinary Americans — especially the clerks and shopgirls of early-20th-century New York — with compassion and insight.

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One of the most beloved Christmas poems of all time, A Visit from St. Nicholas — better known as ’Twas the Night Before Christmas — first appeared anonymously in 1823. Fourteen years later, it was credited to Clement Moore. This classic tale of a father’s midnight encounter with Santa Claus remains one of the most cherished holiday stories ever written.

For nearly two centuries, debate has surrounded the true authorship of A Visit from St. Nicholas. Though Clement Moore is credited, some literary scholars argue that the style and spirit better match Major Henry Livingston Jr. Regardless of who wrote it, the poem remains one of the most enduring and beloved pieces of Christmas literature.

Season’s Readings is part of Short Storyverses — discover more timeless tales for every season at shortstoryverses.com.

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A quiet winter story about something overlooked… and the gentle miracle of being seen.

A tale with soft edges, stillness, and a bit of warmth where you least expect it.

Season’s Readings is part of Short Storyverses — find more holiday tales at ShortStoryverses.com.

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On a cold prairie Christmas Eve, a small family waits for something more than presents: the return of a brother who left home to seek his own way. Christmas at Red Butte is a gentle, reflective story about hope, forgiveness, and the way love can knit together what once felt lost. It’s the kind of tale that reminds us that even in the quiet corners of winter, miracles still find their way home.

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) was a Canadian writer best known for Anne of Green Gables and its many sequels. Growing up on Prince Edward Island, she drew deeply from its landscapes, communities, and family ties to create stories filled with emotional richness and keen observations of everyday life. Her work has remained beloved for more than a century, cherished for its humor, humanity, and enduring warmth.

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On Christmas Eve, four mischievous imps decide the world has grown far too cheerful. The source of all that bothersome joy, of course, is Santa Claus himself. So they sneak into his cozy workshop in the Valley of the Laughing Bells and whisk him away. What follows is a struggle between gloom and gladness as Santa’s friends rally to rescue him and restore Christmas. It’s a fantastical little tale filled with whimsy, gentle suspense, and a reminder that delight often needs defending.

L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) is best remembered as the creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its many sequels, but he was also a prolific writer of fairy tales, fantasy stories, and imaginative seasonal fables. He believed that stories should nourish “the child-heart,” wherever it lives, in both children and adults. A Kidnapped Santa Claus reflects Baum’s signature mix of gentle humor, mythmaking, and moral warmth.

To discover more seasonal stories and classic tales, visit ShortStoryverses.com.

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What if Christmas didn’t come just once a year—but every single day? In William Dean Howells’ charming tale, a young girl makes a wish that the holiday spirit might last forever. At first it’s magical: endless presents, feasts, carols, and cheer. But soon the town begins to sag under the weight of too many fruitcakes, too many toys, and far too much goodwill. The joy wears thin. The tinsel droops. Even Santa looks tired. This light-hearted fable reminds us that what makes Christmas meaningful is the anticipation—and the pause—between celebrations.

William Dean Howells (1837–1920), often called the “Dean of American Letters,” was a guiding voice in the rise of American literary realism. As editor of The Atlantic Monthly, he championed writers like Mark Twain, Henry James, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. His own fiction blends humor, social insight, and gentle satire, and stories like Christmas Every Day continue to charm readers more than a century later.

To discover more classic and original short stories, visit ShortStoryverses.com — your companion for thoughtful, timeless listening and reading.

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George Ade’s A Set of Poe follows Mr. Waterby, a man who wants just one indulgence: a beautifully bound set of Edgar Allan Poe. When his wife discourages the purchase, he spirals inward, convincing himself she must be selfish and unloving. The small misunderstanding blossoms into resentment, silent punishment, and wounded pride — until Christmas morning reveals an entirely different truth. A gentle, funny, and deeply human portrait of how love can be hidden beneath our worst assumptions.

George Ade was an American humorist at the turn of the twentieth century, best known for stories that reveal our everyday vanities and tender blind spots. He had a gift for showing how small misunderstandings can shape lives — sometimes painfully, sometimes sweetly.

If this story moved you, or made you wince with recognition, I hope you’ll follow, rate, and share Season’s Readings. And explore more short stories, classic and new, at ShortStoryverses.com.

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Some gifts arrive quietly, without ribbons, tags, or spectacle. They’re born in that private space between two people who love each other more than they love their own comfort. The Gift of the Magi is a story about that kind of love. Not the glossy holiday sort, but the kind that hurts a little… because it asks something of you.

Two young newlyweds, short on money and long on devotion, each set out to give the other a perfect Christmas gift. What happens next has been retold for more than a century for one reason: the ending lands right in the heart.

O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter, a master of the short story whose work is known for its wit, sharp observation, and always—always—a twist at the end. Born in North Carolina in 1862, he lived a life full of dramatic turns of his own, including years spent working as a draftsman, a bank clerk, and eventually, a prisoner—an experience that helped sharpen his empathy and storytelling voice. His stories, including The Gift of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief, and The Last Leaf, remain favorites for their warmth, humanity, and clever construction.

If you love short stories please visit ShortStoryverses.com—a growing library of classic and original tales, told with care.

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In a small New England village, Christmas can be measured in curtains and lace, in who has a tree and who doesn’t, in who seems to live just one notch above everyone else. And Marg’ret Poole has always felt that notch.

She is raising three bright, restless children on almost nothing — sewing, scraping, stretching every little thing — while across the road her neighbor displays beauty like a banner. A tree. Ribboned lace. Comfort. Admiration. And the more Marg’ret pretends not to look, the more she does.

One evening, too-tired hope gives way to something sharper — and Marg’ret makes a choice she has never made in her life. It is not wickedness, not even temptation. It is hunger for joy, for the children, just once.

But Christmas has a habit of revealing secrets — and sometimes the hardest part of grace is believing we deserve any.

This is a story of pride, poverty, and a gift that was never stolen at all.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852–1930) wrote about the quiet negotiations of dignity — how people survive each other, and themselves. Her New England women are stubborn, tender, fierce, ashamed, proud, and astonishingly real. She does not offer sentiment; she offers recognition. And in this story, she offers mercy.

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A holiday gathering, a knowing smile, and a narrator who sees more than he lets on. Reginald’s Christmas Revel blends elegance and humor in that unmistakable Saki way—light as champagne, sharp as its bubbles. A perfect seasonal listen.

If you enjoy this story, you’ll find more like it at ShortStoryverses.com, home of Litreading, New Tales Told, Season’s Readings, and more.

Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) balanced elegance and satire with effortless skill. His stories continue to resonate for their humor, subtle bite, and perfect brevity. If you enjoyed this performance, consider rating or reviewing the podcast, and share it with someone who might appreciate timeless short fiction.

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In a quiet New England village where everyone knows everyone else’s business, Joan stands out for her fierce devotion and unshakable certainty. She believes she’s been called to serve a higher purpose, and with clear-eyed conviction she begins to reshape the life of her small town—one doorstep, one neighbor, one soul at a time. Mary E. Wilkins Freeman invites us into the delicate line between faith and fervor, charity and pride, and the complicated ways good intentions ripple through a community. This is not a sermon. It’s a study of the heart—its hopes, its blind spots, and its astonishing power to change the world around it.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852–1930) was one of America’s most insightful chroniclers of village life, particularly the lives of women whose strength and will rarely made daily headlines. Through stories grounded in the rhythms, humor, stubbornness, and tenderness of New England towns, she illuminated the quiet heroism of ordinary people. Her work stands as a reminder that the smallest communities can hold the greatest drama.

If this story spoke to you, I invite you to discover more at ShortStoryverses.com, where classic tales live alongside new ones, all waiting for your next quiet moment.

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Season’s Readings is your fireside refuge from life’s troubles — a curated collection of timeless holiday tales read by Don McDonald.

In this episode, we feature Three Thanksgiving Kisses by William Dean Howells, a tender 19th-century story about love, humility, and gratitude in a small New England home.

Discover more classic and original stories at ShortStoryverses.com — a universe of stories for every season.

Three Thanksgiving Kisses was written by William Dean Howells (1837–1920), the “Dean of American Letters.” As editor of The Atlantic Monthly and a lifelong friend of Mark Twain, Howells championed realism in American fiction — finding truth and beauty in everyday lives.

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In this beloved O. Henry tale, two men meet every Thanksgiving to share a meal — a tradition rooted in charity, pride, and an unexpected twist of fate. “Two Thanksgiving Gentlemen” is both humorous and touching, a timeless reminder that generosity often runs deeper than appetite.

This story was performed by voice actor, Don McDonald for “Season’s Readings” — classic and original holiday stories read with warmth and heart. Make sure to check out of other “Short Storyverses” podcast at shortstoryverses.com

O. Henry (William Sydney Porter, 1862–1910) was an American short-story writer celebrated for his wit, warmth, and trademark twist endings. After working a series of odd jobs — from bank clerk to cowboy and even serving a stint in prison — he began writing stories that captured the humor and heart of ordinary life. His best-known works include The Gift of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief, and Two Thanksgiving Gentlemen. Porter’s enduring tales continue to charm readers with their humanity and gentle irony.

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