In "The Holly Tree," the narrator is an old man who tells his Christmas story, which is that he came close to forsaking his bride. The tragedy was prevented by a providential snowstorm which confined him to an inn and delayed his departure. "The Chimes" celebrates New Year's Eve rather than Christmas, reminding the listener that there is always something for which to be grateful. These 2 festive stories form a trilogy along with Dicken's holiday classic, A Christmas Carol.