A Christmas Story Man in His Element: or, A New Way to Keep House

"A Christmas Story" by Samuel W. Francis is a comical tale from the 1800s that pokes fun at housekeeping and traditional gender roles through the story of William d'Aubrey and his sister, Mary. Mary is tired of the constant struggles of running a household with difficult servants, so William boldly volunteers to handle all the chores himself, thinking he can make things much easier than she does. As he tries his own methods, he discovers the funny side of dealing with servants and home life, which creates some funny situations and unexpected insights. Through humor, the story looks at what society expects from men and women when it comes to managing a home and highlights how silly both approaches can be.