Introduction
A Christmas narrative is told in the middle of a conflict in the lesson “The Greatest Christmas Gift in the World.” It illustrates the soldiers’ desire to be reunited with their families. On the other side, it also highlights the yearning of these soldiers’ families. One of these wives, Connie, was 101 years old and the wife of a British army veteran. She mistook her guest for her husband Jim and dubbed the alleged reunion as “The Greatest Christmas Gift in the World.”
Summary
The author decides to purchase an outdated roll-top desk in poor shape at the start of the story “The Greatest Christmas Gift in the World.” He had long yearned for one, and he was also sure he could repair it. As a result, he brings the desk home and begins using it on the Eve
When it was written, Britain and Germany were at war. It listed the subsequent set of occasions on the Christmas day of that year, 1914, or, in Jim’s words, “a fantastic thing that happened.” He described how for a while, they put aside their disagreements and discovered how much they shared. Schnapps, sausages, and rum were shared. Jim and Hans Wolf, the two cops, got along well over chit-chat.
They both believed that nations should settle disputes through peaceful negotiations and games of cricket or football. The men played football that day and realised it was time to head back to their respective trenches when their food and water supplies ran out. They sang Christmas carols to each other that evening. Jim promises Connie in his letter that they will be together for Christmas the following year as he describes the day. After reading this letter, the author decided to get in touch with Connie.
He locates the location listed in the mail and learns that Connie, a 101-year-old woman, now resides in a nursing facility after the house was burned down. reviewing the mail. Jim is referred to as “The Greatest Christmas Gift in the World” by the author, who she believes to be her spouse.
Detailed
It was a roll-top desk that I saw at a junk store in Bridport. The early nineteenth century, according to Guy, and Oak. While I had desired one, they were incredibly pricey. This vehicle was in poor shape, with the roll-top broken into numerous parts, one leg crudely patched, and burn scars along the length of one side. It was being sold at a very low price. I believed I could fix it. While it would be risky and difficult, I had to have it. I gave the man his money and took it back to my workshop in the garage’s rear. It’s something I started on Christmas Eve.
The narrator is present in a store selling used items as the story begins. For a while, he had been desiring a roll-top desk but had been unable to acquire one due to the high cost. At last, he discovered one in the Bridport junk store. The vendor informed him that it was oak and dated to the early nineteenth century. Even though it was old, it was in bad condition; the roll top was broken, one of its legs had been carelessly fixed, and one of its sides had burn scars. It was offered for an extremely low price due to its age and the state it was in.
He believed that the desk was in really bad shape and that fire and water had already done enough damage to it. The likelihood that there was water damage increased since so much of the ornamental wood or veneer was flaking off. He completely removed the roll-top and then began to remove the drawers. The final drawer was stuck while the others were all pulled out. He attempted to remove it gently, but when that didn’t work, he had to apply great force. When he pounded the drawer with the side of his fist, it opened to reveal a space beneath. There was a hidden drawer that contained a box that looked like a black tin.
There was a note stuck to its top side that said, “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. In unsteady handwriting: “To be buried alongside me when the time comes. He was conscious of his inner knowledge that opening the
As he opened the tin box, he discovered an envelope inside. On it was written an address. Ms. Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset, it stated. The narrator pulled out the letter, opened it up, and started to read. According to the date scribbled in pencil on top of it, it was written on December 26, 1914.
The letter begins with an informal and friendly salutation to someone named Connie. Jim reveals that he is writing in a very happy mood and he is about to share the details of something great that he had experienced. He tells her about the day when all of them (the army) were in their positions in trenches the day before. It was Christmas day.
The weather was cool and quiet, which made the morning, as he described it, one of the most beautiful mornings he had experienced. There was frost all around, just like it should be on a Christmas morning.
He says he really wants to inform Connie that the Nazi soldiers started everything. He expresses his discomfort at having to admit that the Germans ( Fritz, a typical German name), were the ones who began it. He enumerates the sequence of events leading up to their first white flag raising. The white flag represents capitulation, a ceasefire, and negotiation.
It is waved to alert the opposing party to the purpose and to request that they refrain from firing. Later, he describes how they overheard someone shouting, “Merry Christmas, Tommy! Merry Holidays!” As “Tommy” is a popular British moniker, they used it to allude to the English troops.
The British troops wanted the Germans back once they saw what was going on. They too believed it to be the end, but it wasn’t until then that they were visible in the no-land, men dressed in grey greatcoats, waving the white flag and yelling at the English soldiers not to shoot.
When the Germans emerged one by one, the soldiers held fire. James told his guys to remain covert since he thought it may be a ruse. But, it was not a trick in reality.
James was directing everyone, indicating that he was their leader or chief.
One of their soldiers, a German, shouted that they should celebrate Christmas while swinging a bottle above his head in the no man’s land.
They soon noticed several Germans wandering around without their guns in the no-man’s land. Little Private Morris from the English Army was the first to exit the trench. Everyone then followed, and as Jim put it, “There was no stopping them.” Jim admits that, as their officer, he now feels as though he should have stopped them, but he also admits that, at the time, it never even occurred to him to stop them from rejoicing or from making peace.
Men in khaki and grey jackets were the only thing he could see at the time as they moved towards the center of the landscape to meet. He claims that even he was a part of it and that they were establishing peace when the two countries were at war.
Beyond what can be described in words or even envisioned, he depicts how he felt at that very instant. He stared the approaching German officer in the eyes directly, who extended his hand and introduced himself, and he was overcome. His name was Hans Wolf, and he belonged to a place named Düsseldorf. He introduced himself as a cellist for the symphony before wishing Jim a Merry Christmas.
Jim returned the greeting and identified himself as well, going by “Captain Jim Macpherson.”
Hans was enthused about Dorset after learning about it. He claimed to be familiar with the area, but it turned out he had never been there or anywhere else in England. He learned what he knew about England in school or through the English literature he read.
Jim recalled how they split Hans’ sausages and his allotted amount of booze. The letter made it plain that Jim was ecstatic with their talk. They discussed Thomas Hardy’s novel Far from the Madding Crowd, which is one of Hans’ favorites, he confessed. He described to Connie how they discussed the book’s characters, including Bathsheba, Gabriel Oak, and Sergeant Troy.
The families of each other were discussed. Hans was also married and had a son who was six months old. Even the remaining cake that Jim’s wife had baked was divided. Hans praised the marzipan, saying it was the best he had ever tasted. Jim had the same viewpoint. Even though they were each other’s enemies, Jim claims that they both agreed on everything.
He tells how he looked at the no man’s land and could see men in gray and khaki enjoying themselves. They were smoking, eating, laughing, drinking, and, most of all, celebrating. Jim mentions how it was a very unique Christmas party.
Jim says that someone he doesn’t know pulled out a football, and the next thing they knew, a football game was being played in the middle of the no-land. man’s The goalposts were constructed out of greatcoats. Hans and Jim did nothing but observe and support the teams. To get warm, they also clapped and stomped their feet. It was cold, and Jim could even hear their breaths mingling in the air.
Hans also observed it, and the two of them exchanged smiles. After some time, Hans said that this is just how the conflict should be resolved—without resorting to force. A football game never results in a fatality, an orphaned kid, or a widowed wife.
Jim counters Hans’ suggestion to settle the dispute with football by suggesting cricket instead since the “Tommies” would have a better chance of winning. They both laughed heartily. Sadly, Jim reports that Fritz won by a score of two to one. The kindhearted Hans said that it was a little unfair because their objective was wider than Tommies’.
Rum, Schnapps, and sausages were all out. The match was over. They didn’t realise how quickly it all ended. Jim wished Hans well and expressed his desire for the situation to conclude quickly and amicably so that they could all return to their homes and be with their families.
Every soldier wants to be reunited with their family and for things to turn out nicely, Hans said. He ends by wishing Jim well and saying that he and Jim will both always remember that day. Hans turned to wave once before slowly walking away following the salute. Jim thought Hans was moving hesitantly, but before long, he was among the guys in grey coats who retreated back to their trenches.
When they returned to their dugout homes, they immediately heard the Germans singing a wonderful hymn. They sang the Silent Night or Stille Nacht. The Tommies then began singing While Shepherds Watched. They sang carols to one another that night in just this manner, and then they all fell silent. Jim refers to it as a “period of peace and friendliness” and declares that he will always treasure it.
Jim promises Connie that by the next Christmas, the war will just be a “far memory” after telling her about the extraordinary Christmas night. He explains to her that his interaction with them has shown him how much both sides yearn for peace. He promises that they will soon be together. Then, he concludes.
He knew he shouldn’t have read the letter in the first place, but he did anyway, and he carefully reinserted it into the envelope. That night, the narrator had trouble sleeping, and the following day, he was utterly aware of his obligations. He then took a car to Bridport, which was only a few kilometers from his home.
He requested instructions to the Copper Beeches from a little child who was walking his dog. He went there in search of the location listed in the letter, but home No. 12 was completely destroyed. All of the windows were covered with boards for protection, and the roof was completely exposed. He knocked to the home next door to ask about Mrs Macpherson’s whereabouts. The woman was personally known to the elderly man in the slippers.
She was described as a charming lady who was occasionally confused, but he put it down to her advanced age because she was 101 years old. She was rescued by the firemen after her house caught fire. Although the exact source of the fire is unknown, candles are thought to be the likely culprit. The elderly woman frequently lit candles because she believed power to be too costly. The elderly guy informed the narrator that she now resided at Burlington House Nursing Home, which is located on Dorchester Road on the opposite side of the town.
The narrator visited Burlington House Nursing Facility, which was not difficult for him to locate. The entire place was decked out for Christmas; the corridor was covered in paper chains, and there was a Christmas tree with an asymmetrical angel on top at the end. He identified himself as Mrs Macpherson’s acquaintance who had come to deliver a Christmas present.
Everyone in the dining room was visible to him. They all had paper hats and were singing. The matron also wore one similar hat.
She handed the narrator a slice of mince pie and was delighted to see him. She informs him that Mrs Macpherson doesn’t have many visitors because she has no relatives as she leads him down the hallway.
She said Mrs Macpherson would be thrilled to meet him. She explains that she is not celebrating today since they decided it would be best for her to relax because she was feeling a little disoriented. She led him to a conservatory filled with potted plants and seats made out of wigs.
The author proceeded to introduce himself. He proceeded to wish her a “Merry Christmas” and handed her the letter as she turned to face him. She kept staring at his face as he talked. Her eyes didn’t start to glow with glee until he handed her the tin box. The author proceeded to introduce himself. He proceeded to wish her a “Merry Christmas” and handed her the letter as she turned to face him. She kept staring at his face as he talked. Her eyes didn’t start to glow with glee until he handed her the tin box.
An elderly woman in a wheelchair with her hands folded was seated in the conservatory. Her white hair was neatly bunned. He walked in as she was sitting there looking out at the garden.
After handing the tin box over to her, he explained the events that led him to the letter but she didn’t listen to a word he said as she was filled with so much happiness. Nor did she say a word. She just sat there holding the letter in her hands with gentleness, kindness and affection.
Connie approached and held his hand while her eyes were watering as he stood there motionless. She said that he kept his commitment to arrive before Christmas. He is the “greatest Christmas present in the world,” she even stated. Then she motioned for him to go close and take a seat next to her. She addressed the writer as “Jim”.
He followed her advice. She gave him a cheek kiss as he approached her and sat down. She explained to him how reading his letter each day made her feel as though she was with him (Jim was her assumed author). Though she yearned to hear his voice, she later said that now that he is present, he may read the letter to her in his voice..
She would be thrilled if he could do it for her. They could even have tea afterwards, she said. She continued by telling him that she had even used marzipan to make his favourite Christmas cake. She is aware of how much he cherished Marzipan.
