On a stormy Christmas Eve, an unexpected delay leads one lonely traveler to the holiday celebration she never knew she needed.
Known affectionately as "the Princess," a wealthy young woman is traveling by carriage when a wheel becomes hopelessly trapped in the mud. While her driver searches for help, she follows a faint light through the trees and finds shelter in a small cottage occupied by two sisters, Jenny and Jinny.
Their home is modest, their Christmas tree is little more than a cedar branch, and their holiday meal consists of bean soup, homemade dumplings, and a chicken they plan to pretend is a turkey. Yet the cottage is filled with a warmth and happiness that the Princess has rarely experienced in her own grand but lonely home.
As the evening unfolds, she helps the girls pop corn, decorate their tree, share stories, and prepare for Christmas morning. What begins as a temporary refuge soon becomes an opportunity to create an unforgettable celebration-and to discover that generosity can bring as much joy to the giver as it does to those who receive.
Tender, nostalgic, and filled with old-fashioned holiday charm, Temple Bailey's *A Night Before Christmas* is a heartwarming tale of kindness, belonging, and the simple human connections that make Christmas truly magical.
