In the approach to Christmas 1938, much is happening in the lives of the Bailey and Sutton families of New Bedford. Grace Mainwairing and her mother - the Bailey family matriarch, May Bailey - are in Europe collecting the remains of Grace's husband, Van, who was killed in the war in Spain. Hub Bailey is in the seminary at the University of Toronto. Back in New Bedford, Hub's mother, Honey Sutton, is following in her son's footsteps and is also a University of Toronto student. She is taking courses by correspondence although she would rather take classes in person in Toronto. Honey's husband, Max, has to take over many of the household duties because of Honey's busy schedule, this in addition to his regular work as the school's principal and the town mayor. This leaves no time for his passion, writing. Even this year's Christmas pageant, which is being directed by May's daughter-in-law, Toppy Bailey, was written by science teacher, Jim Flett.