For “Beasley’s Christmas Party” Tarkington returns to the Midwest again, though this time he keeps the state a mystery. The town though is known as Wainwright, and the story told through the eyes of the narrator who has just moved to Wainwright to work on the local newspaper. This is short novella length Christmas novel, and not too surprisingly it is aimed at the heart-strings. The title character is David Beasley, a quiet man who has little to say to adults, but who does talk to children. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he has earned the respect of the voters and after a successful time in Congress is being talked about for Governor.
