The Christmas Peace is a novella about a multi-century feud between two families. The Hampden and Drayton families had been feuding since early Colonial days. Like so many inter-family feuds, the original reason -- who had the most prestigious title, "Captain" Hampden or "Colonel" Drayton -- may seem silly on the surface of it to outsiders, like us. But, just as with the famous Hatfield and McCoy feud, there is nothing silly about it if you live in the middle of it. And so it was with Hampden-Drayton feud. Perhaps is was not as bloody as the Hatfields and McCoys, but it was no less contentious. In a surprise ending, as so often as happens in real life, it takes a child to bring the two families together at last, fittingly, on Christmas Eve. Fittingly, because what better present can Christmas bring than peace?
