Polly: A Christmas Recollection

In Short

Set on a Virginia plantation during the antebellum era, this Christmas tale follows Polly, an orphaned girl raised by her doting, hot-headed uncle, the Colonel. When her childhood companion Bob grows into a promising young Democratic lawyer and asks for Polly’s hand, the staunch Whig Colonel flatly refuses, exiling the suitor from the property. Brokenhearted but resourceful, Polly navigates her uncle's fierce pride and dramatic outbursts to reunite her fractured family. Thomas Nelson Page’s story endures as a gentle, humorous period piece exploring how deep familial affection ultimately melts long-held grievances during the holiday season.

The Story

Brought up on a broad Virginia plantation by her fiercely protective uncle, the Colonel, young Polly has ruled the household since she was a little girl brought back from Mississippi after her parents’ death. Spoiled by the Colonel, her nurse Charity, and the routinely intoxicated butler Drinkwater Torm, Polly grows into a compassionate young woman who constantly uses her charm to temper her uncle’s roaring rage—especially his endless, unfulfilled threats to sell Torm every time the servant gets drunk.

As Polly matures, so does Bob, her nearest male cousin and childhood companion. Though the Colonel adores Bob’s skill with horses and game-chickens, political differences and old family rivalries simmer beneath the surface. Bob excels in college, becomes a prominent Democratic politician, and pays off his mother’s debt to the Whig Colonel. However, Bob’s true ambition lies in winning Polly, whom he has loved all his life.

The breaking point arrives when Bob formally asks the Colonel for permission to marry Polly. Outraged at the thought of losing his niece, the Colonel roars a refusal, declaring that not even the King of England shall have her. Bob vows to marry her regardless and rides away, while the Colonel forbids him from ever setting foot on the plantation again. Trapped between loyalty to her uncle and her love for Bob, Polly falls into despair and ill health.

Fearing for Polly’s well-being, the Colonel plans a sudden winter trip to New Orleans to distract her. On the eve of their departure, Bob meets Polly secretly in the leafless garden path and convinces her to take her destiny into her own hands. Polly elopes with Bob that night, having carefully unloaded her uncle’s pistols beforehand to prevent any violent confrontation.

The next morning, the Colonel discovers the empty room and disabled weapons. Furious and despondent, he locks up Polly's quarters, threatens to change his will, and settles into a dark, silent melancholy that frightens the household servants. Months pass until Christmas Eve, when Polly secretly returns to the plantation home with Bob. The following morning, Torm tricks the Colonel into entering a freshly prepared breakfast room where Polly throws her arms around her uncle's neck. Overwhelmed by love, steaming oysters, and a winter mint julep prepared by Polly, the Colonel surrenders his resentment, welcoming the couple home to celebrate Christmas together.

How It Unfolds

A unruly Christmas Eve The Colonel roars at his drunken butler Drinkwater Torm for knocking over candelabra, threatening for the thousandth time to sell him while young Polly wheedles her uncle into granting the servant a reprieve.

The arrival of an orphan After his brother and former sweetheart die of yellow fever in Mississippi, the Colonel travels South to bring back infant Polly, who quickly becomes the absolute center of life on the plantation.

Childhood games and sharp teasing Polly grows up alongside her cousin Bob, learning to load pistols and practice archery, until a blue silk dress and a sharp kiss mark their transition away from childhood antics.

Political rifts and unspoken love Bob returns from college as a star Democratic lawyer, creating subtle friction with the Whig Colonel while nursing a quiet, intense devotion to Polly that she secretly reciprocates.

A fiery refusal When Bob asks for Polly’s hand in marriage, the Colonel flies into a fury and bans him from the property, prompting Bob to swear he will have her anyway.

The secret departure Faced with an forced trip to New Orleans, Polly agrees to elope with Bob on a winter night, disabling her uncle's bedchamber pistols before slipping away into the dark.

A bitter household waiting Left alone in the silent house, the Colonel shuts down Polly's room and sinks into a morose gloom that terrifies Torm, Charity, and the rest of the plantation staff.

Christmas reconciliation Polly and Bob return on Christmas morning to surprise the Colonel with a lavish breakfast and a mint julep, melting his anger and restoring joy to the estate.

The People

• Polly: The warm-hearted heroine of the plantation. She wants to honor her uncle's deep affection without abandoning the man she loves, eventually finding the courage to elope and orchestrate a joyful holiday reunion.
• The Colonel: Polly’s fiercely proud, hot-tempered uncle. He wants to keep Polly entirely to himself as the center of his world, but his explosive stubborness almost destroys his own happiness until his genuine love for her overcomes his pride.
• Bob: The Colonel’s talented young cousin and political rival. Driven by an unyielding determination to build a life with Polly, he stands up to the Colonel's threats and wins Polly's hand through steadfast resolve.
• Drinkwater Torm: The plantation butler whose frequent drunkenness leads to endless threats of being sold. He serves as comedic relief and a loyal mediator who facilitates the final surprise reunion.
• Charity: The protective plantation cook and Torm's long-suffering wife, who keeps watch over Polly's health and emotional state throughout the family turmoil.

In Its Own Voice

"She had been placed in her chair by the Colonel's side at the club dinner on her first birthday after her arrival... and from that time she had exercised in her kingdom the functions of both Vashti and Esther, and whatever Polly ordered was done."

Describing how the orphaned infant instantly conquered the household.

"'I will!' he said, throwing up his head and looking the Colonel straight in the eyes, his voice perfectly calm, but his eyes blazing..."

Capturing Bob's firm defiance when denied permission to marry Polly.

"...the whole plantation was ablaze with 'Christmas,' and Drinkwater Torm, steadying himself against the sideboard, delivered a discourse on peace on earth and good-will to men so powerful and so eloquent that the Colonel, delighted, rose and drank his health..."

Celebrating the restored harmony of the plantation on Christmas night.

What It's Really About

Behind its lighthearted romance and holiday warmth, the story examines the conflict between paternal possessiveness and individual independence. The Colonel's fierce devotion to Polly leads him to treat her as an eternal child, confusing his own comfort with her best interests. The narrative explores how unyielding pride and ideological stubbornness—mirrored in the era's partisan politics—can isolate individuals within their own homes. Ultimately, the book argues that true love requires yielding control, forgiving past grievances, and allowing room for new relationships to flourish.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy classic Southern literature and traditional Christmas domestic tales will appreciate the story's charm, nostalgic atmosphere, and rapid, lively dialogue. Thomas Nelson Page writes with rich prose and genuine affection for his characters, creating a vivid portrait of plantation social life.

However, modern readers should approach the work with an awareness of its mid-1890s historical context. The book presents a highly romanticized, idyllic depiction of antebellum plantation life that glosses over the harsh realities of slavery. Additionally, the text incorporates heavy 19th-century phonetic dialect for enslaved characters like Torm and Charity, which can be challenging to read and reflects the paternalistic racial attitudes of the era in which it was published. For those interested in late-19th-century American popular fiction and holiday traditions, it remains an illustrative piece of period storytelling about reconciliation and family warmth.