TheBurglar’sChristmaswasoriginallypublishednearthebeginningofWillaCather’swritingcareerin1896underthepseudonymofElizabethL.Seymour.ThestoryfollowsWilliamCrawfordonthecoldstreetsofChicagoashecontemplatesthemultiplefailuresplaguinghislife,includinghistimeatcollegeandcareersinjournalism,realestate,andperforming.Distraught,hetriesonemorerole:thief.Attemptingtoburglearesidenceandcaughtintheactbytheladyofthehouse,Williammustcometotermswiththechoicesthatledhimtothatmoment.CatherprovidesaheartwarmingshortstoryofredemptionandloveatChristmas,atimelyreminderthatkindnessisineveryone,justwaitingtobeuncovered.
