Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Reginald's Christmas Revel

Reginald's Christmas Revel is a short story by Saki. Join me in a cup of something hot while you read it?


You can read it online here. It begins,
They say (said Reginald) that there's nothing sadder than victory except defeat. If you've ever stayed with dull people during what is alleged to be the festive season, you can probably revise that saying. I shall never forget putting in a Christmas at the Babwolds'. Mrs. Babwold is some relation of my father's -a sort of to-be-left-till-called-for cousin- and that was considered sufficient reason for my having to accept her invitation at about the sixth time of asking; though why the sins of the father should be visited by the children -you won't find any notepaper in that drawer; that's where I keep old menus and first-night programmes.

Mrs. Babwold wears a rather solemn personality, and has never been known to smile, even when saying disagreeable things to her friends or making out the Stores list. She takes her pleasures sadly. A state elephant at a Durbar gives one a very similar impression. Her husband gardens in all weathers. When a man goes out in the pouring rain to brush caterpillars off rose-trees, I generally imagine his life indoors leaves something to be desired; anyway, it must be very unsettling for the caterpillars.

Of course there were other people there. There was a Major Somebody who had shot things in Lapland, or somewhere of that sort; I forget what they were, but it wasn't for want of reminding. We had them cold with every meal almost, and he was continually giving us details of what they measured from tip to tip, as though he thought we were going to make them warm under-things for the winter. I used to listen to him with a rapt attention that I thought rather suited me, and then one day I quite modestly gave the dimensions of an okapi I had shot in the Lincolnshire fens. The Major turned a beautiful Tyrian scarlet (I remember thinking at the time that I should like my bathroom hung in that colour), and I think that at that moment he almost found it in his heart to dislike me. Mrs. Babwold put on a first-aid-to-the-injured expression, and asked him why he didn't publish a book of his sporting reminiscences; it would be so interesting. She didn't remember till afterwards that he had given her two fat volumes on the subject, with his portrait and autograph as a frontispiece and an appendix on the habits of the Arctic mussel.

It was in the evening that we cast aside the cares and distractions of the day and really lived. Cards were thought to be too frivolous and empty a way of passing the time...
You can listen to the story here:



I'm headed over to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering to see what everybody else is up to during the season.

17 comments:

  1. ...Reginald is name that you rarely hear these days.

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  2. Good morning, thank you for the story and I love your Christmas mug and cookie looks yum
    Happy T and Merry Christmas Kathy

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  3. NICE snowman mug. I looked quickly at first as and thought it matched mine. Very close but not the same. Thanks for the cup of tea and a story. What could be better? Have a super T day. hugs-Erika

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  4. Obviously, Saki was an introvert and couldn't stand the energy needed to get through small-talk at parties. 😺 I love the snowman mug and the sugar cookie is so pretty. Happy T Day

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  5. I love your snowman mug. It's adorable. And I think the tea will go good with that cooking I really want to taste right about now. Thanks for sharing it and this story with us for T this Tuesday, dear friend. I'm off to find something sweet (grin)!

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  6. That snowman mug is adorable and I love the look of the cookie too - yum 😀. Thanks for the story and wishing you a Happy T Tuesday! Hugs, Jo x

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  7. Darling mug and very pretty cookie. My impression of the book was that they were very boring people - lol.

    I'd never heard of HIRT exercise, so looked it up. I'm pleased to be able to do HIIT at my age; but I think my intense resistance training days are over. I appreciate the information. As you know, I'm really into exercise like you.

    Happy T-day and Merry Christmas! Hugs, Eileen

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    1. They did a study that indicated that HIRT is better for building bone, so I'm looking into it. It's hard to find videos...

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  8. Nice setting for a good read ~ or audio even! ~ Enjoy the season

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  9. Yummy looking cookies! Perfect to go along with a story.
    Happy Tea Day and Merry Christmas,
    Kate

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  10. Listened. What a pain in the butt kind of guy--LOL! Geez!
    Have a merry Christmas!! Much merrier than Reginald's. ;)

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  11. I'll have to make time to listen to this. It sounds perfect for the season!

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  12. I really like your mug and the cookie for sure. I wish I could get audio books. I don't have a device to listen to them on. Have a very nice day.

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    1. I like the Youtube options (as embedded above) where I can listen on my computer.

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  13. This sounds like a fun story! I had an Uncle Reginald (who preferred to be called Jim) who came from Lincolnshire (as did I)! Belated Happy T Day and Happy Christmas, Chrisx

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  14. Love your mug and cookie! thanks for the story. Merry Christmas!

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  15. I love your mug. Merry Christmas and Happy belated T-Day!

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