Samantha's Surprise is the third book in the Samantha series.
Characters
- Samantha Parkington
- Mary Edwards
- Gardner Edwards
- Cornelia Pitt
- Mrs. Hawkins
- Hawkins
- Elsa
- Jessie
- Ida Dean
- Nellie O'Malley
Only in Samantha's Surprise
Chapter by Chapter Summary
Chapter One: Christmas Wishes
Chapter Two: Presents and a Party Dress
Chapter Three: Decorations and Disappointments
Chapter Four: Someone Very Special
Chapter Five: Exchanging Gifts
Looking Back: Christmas in 1904
Discusses the Christmas season in turn of the century America. Topics covered:
- How wealthy people made Christmas the most lavish holiday of the year
- Fascination and imitation of English holiday traditions and lifestyles among the upper class
- The introduction of Christmas trees during the holiday season by Queen Victoria and common ornaments of the time, such as watches, tops, and glass ornaments
- Gifts wealthy children might expect on Christmas, such as imported toys from Europe and teddy bears, a popular toy of the time
- Lavish holidays meals for wealthy families, and common after-dinner entertainment such as singing, games, and puppet shows for children
- Increased workload for servants of wealthy households during the holiday season
- Boxing Day, a holiday in which servants would receive their gifts or get a day off from work
- Charity donations from the wealthy to orphanages and hospitals
Book Covers
First Cover from 1986-1998
Third Cover from 2000-2004
Fourth Cover from 2004 - Present
Add a photo to this galleryItems associated with Samantha's Surprise
References
- ↑ In Chapter 2, Samantha mentions to Jessie there are two weeks until Ida's party on the 22nd, and then to Grandmary that it's a week from the coming Thursday. She also has plans that Saturday and it's not the weekend yet, so the most likely day is around Friday, December 9th as the start of the book.
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