Father Christmas Letters: 1928 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-17-2011, 05:26 AM

The picture for this year's letter depicts only one scene, though it uses two levels and has some surrounding borders framing it.

It is addressed to "My dear boys" - Priscilla was born the next year, so no girl addressee yet. John, the eldest, apparently no longer believes in FC and hasn't written to him. The story tells of yet another clumsy thing that happened to the North Polar Bear, giving a reason to show the inside of Father Christmas' house, centering on the great staircase.

JRRT does enjoy his puns! This time he plays with the homophones "frieze" and "freeze". Once again the presents are hinted at, with the request to handle them carefully, as they are very good.

There is a second note, dated "Boxing Day" (December 26, for those who aren't familiar with that holiday). In it, FC offers apologies for the lateness of the letter (which was dated December 20th), due to the NPB, who forgot to post it. I wonder if JRRT simply hadn't gotten around to writing earlier and thought of this fictional excuse?

12-17-2011, 05:26 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Father Christmas Letters: 1928 The picture for this year's letter depicts only one scene, though it uses two levels and has some surrounding borders framing it. It is addressed to "My dear boys" - Priscilla was born the next year, so no girl addressee yet. John, the eldest, apparently no longer believes in FC and hasn't written to him. The story tells of yet another clumsy thing that happened to the North Polar Bear, giving a reason to show the inside of Father Christmas' house, centering on the great staircase. JRRT does enjoy his puns! This time he plays with the homophones "frieze" and "freeze". Once again the presents are hinted at, with the request to handle them carefully, as they are very good. There is a second note, dated "Boxing Day" (December 26, for those who aren't familiar with that holiday). In it, FC offers apologies for the lateness of the letter (which was dated December 20th), due to the NPB, who forgot to post it. I wonder if JRRT simply hadn't gotten around to writing earlier and thought of this fictional excuse? __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'