"The Bride of the Mistletoe" by James Lane Allen 'is the story of two middle-aged people from a humble Kentucky farmhouse who have lived through the twists and turns of life from having children to suffering deaths but who aren't prepared for everything left to expereince. Beginning as a romantic tale that starts on Christmas Eve, the traditions of Christmas are explored in a slow and dark descent into a tragedy which leaves readers on a philosophical note about what is truly important.