Christmas Eve at Swamp's End

"Christmas Eve at Swamp's End" by Norman Duncan is a heartwarming story set in a small lumber town covered in snow, exploring themes of love, longing, and the true meaning of Christmas. The story focuses on Pattie Batch, a seventeen-year-old girl with a kind heart, dreaming of having a baby to care for and to ease the pain of losing her family. On Christmas Eve, hoping for the feeling of belonging, she makes a thoughtful Christmas gift for a bartender’s baby, secretly wishing to share in the happiness of motherhood. Meanwhile, the town's minister, John Fairmeadow, finds an abandoned baby who becomes a surprise Christmas gift meant for Pattie. The story comes to a emotional end when Pattie meets the baby, showing hope and the realization of dreams, celebrating the holiday season and the importance of connections.