Hesperus Classics This is one of Dickens" earliest collections of stories. Intended for the holiday season, A Round of Stories by the Christmas Fire offers tales of romance, theft, justice and heart-warming family reunions. Continuing the tradition of ghost stories for Christmas, some of the haunting tales are inspiring while others are chilling. The voices of this round include servants and employers alike - host and charwoman, mother and nursemaid - and some surprising ruminations on topics as diverse as disability and interracial love.