Melchior's Dream and Other Tales

"Melchior's Dream and Other Tales" by Juliana Horatia Ewing is a selection of stories that use symbols to teach lessons, primarily exploring family relationships, the purity of childhood, and ethical principles during the late 1800s. The book tends to show these themes through the experiences of young characters as they deal with their emotions and connections with one another. The first tale tells of Melchior, a boy annoyed by his many siblings, who wants to be alone and enjoy Christmas by himself, which leads to a richer look at affection, family, and the results of wanting only what benefits you. "Melchior's Dream" starts with Melchior, the oldest child in a lively home, as he shows displeasure with the problems caused by having a big family, wishing he could celebrate Christmas as he wants. Following a talk with his father regarding the value of family and sharing, Melchior feels cut off. As the night goes on, he vividly dreams of driving through life alongside his brothers and sisters, facing the effects of loneliness, as the dream grows into a moral voyage where Melchior struggles with losing someone and the inherent worth of family ties, which establishes the topics of development and awareness seen across the collection.