Chapter 22, Christmas Festivities Summary and Analysis

Christmas comes near and Linda, still in her den, is busy sewing clothes and toys for her children. When Christmas day finally comes, Benny and Ellen have stockings stuffed with presents from "Santa Claus". When a playmate tells Benny that Santa Clause isn't a real man and that the gifts come from the children's mothers, Benny replies that he knows that is false because he and Ellen had received a lot of presents even though their mother was far away. Little does he know that his mother is nearby, listening to his words.

For Christmas dinner, Aunt Marthy invites over two guests—both slave-hunters who had been searching for Linda. Aunt Marthy welcomes them in, opening every room in the house to them, in order to alleviate any suspicions they might have had that Linda was...