American Humor: Trapping Santa in the Chimney

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ILLUSTRATION: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF
"Gotcha!" Otis chortled from the fireplace below, delighted thet his chimney snare had caught Father Christmas.

The Plumbtree Crossing families remember the local childhood story of a mischievous little boy trapping Santa in the chimney on Christmas Eve.

American Humor: A Childhood Story of Trapping Santa in the Chimney

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.”
–Franklin P. Jones

Well sir, in these parts there’s a certain tale what’s told most ev’ry year, ’round yuletide. Some folks say it’s a true story, an’ thet–though the names has changed over the years–it actually concerns Ott Bartlett when he was a young scamp. (An’ those who know old Mister Bartlett’s downright ornery nature don’t see any reason to doubt that supposition.) But wherev’r the story comes from, it’s pretty much a Plumtree Crossin’ tradition thet one night before Santa Claus comes down the chimney, the members of each family will gather together, an’ someone present will retell the local legend . . . the story of “The Boy Who Trapped Christmas”.

  • Published on Nov 1, 1982
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