The Best Christmas Present in the World written by Michael Morpurgo is an emotion related to history.
Short Summary
The narrator went to a junk shop where everything seemed quite expensive except one roll-top desk made of oak. It was of early nineteenth century. It was in bad condition but narrator bought it and started mending it. It was Christmas Eve.
He removed the roll top and pulled out the drawers. The last drawer was shut tightly, he pulled it out with full force and found a secret drawer inside. It contained a black tin box in which there was a letter. He read the letter and found it was Jim’s last letter, received on 25th Jan, 1915. It was addressed to Mrs. Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset; Dated 26th Dec., 1914.
The letter contained the story of British and German soldiers during First World War, how the soldiers of two enemies forgot all fighting on the day of Christmas, they enjoyed the drinks and sang with each other. They became friends before going to their own trenches. They even played games with each other. This showed how two armies longed for peace.
The narrator folded the letter again and put it carefully into its envelope. He went to the address mentioned on the envelope and discovered that the house was damaged but the man there told him that Mrs. Macpherson was about one hundred and one years old and admitted in a hospital.
He drove to the hospital, he found the old lady on a wheelchair, gazing at the garden. He wished her a very happy Christmas. He handed her the letter. When she saw the letter, she was very happy. She considered the narrator as Jim. Suddenly her eyes filled with tears, she kissed him and requested him to read the letter as she wanted to listen to her husband.
Summary
The author went to a junk shop in Bridport. He noticed a rolltop desk. It was very old and made of oak. It was in a bad condition. It had burn-marks down one side. Since it was cheap, the author decided to buy it and get it repaired. He began working on it on Christmas Eve.
He removed the roll-top and tried hard to pull out the drawer. It had suffered much damage due to fire and water. The drawer was jammed. He hit it hard with his fist and pulled it out. He found a secret drawer underneath. He took out a small black tin box. There was a note on it that said: “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915”.
The letter writer also wished to put it in her grave. Out of curiosity he opened the box. Inside it he found an envelope with the address: “Mrs. Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset.” The letter was dated Dec. 26, 1914. The letter had been written by Jim to his wife Connie. He was a soldier, set against the Germans during the First World War. Jim wrote to her that he was very happy because something wonderful had happened. The soldiers on both sides of the no man’s land were taking up positions in their trenches. It was Christmas morning, cold and frosty.
Jim saw the German soldiers waving a white flag. They were calling out the English soldiers to say Happy Christmas. It was a big surprise to be greeted like friends by the enemies. But it was true, not a trick. The English soldiers also wished them in return.
The leader said that they wanted to celebrate the festival. Jim was the office in command. He allowed his men to join the Germans. Grey coats and Khaki coats mingled in the middle. In the time of war, they were making peace. The German soldier who came first was named Hans Wolf. Before joining the army he used to play the cello in an orchestra. Jim had been a school teacher in Dorset. Hans lied that he knew Dorset well. In fact, he had read about that place in Hardy’s novel, Far from the Madding Crowd.
The soldiers from the rival camps smoked, laughed, drank and feasted. Hans said that he liked the marzipan, the sweet covering on Jim’s bread. Jim wrote in the letter, that he had never seen or imagined a Christmas Party like that. They played football also. Both agreed on one point. The countries should have better resolved their disputes by playing a football or cricket match because no one dies in a match whereas war leaves behind orphans and widows.
The game was finished, so did the drinks and cakes. Jim told Hans that they hoped to see families as soon as the fighting ended by Christmas next year.
The author put the letter back into the envelope and drove into Bridport. He meant to hand over the letter to Connie (Mrs. Macpherson). Connie was now 101 years old. Her house had caught fire, but she was saved. She was in a conservatory.
The author wished her ‘Happy Christmas’ and gave the letter to her. She recognised the writing of her husband and felt very happy. She mistook the author for Jim who had come home, as promised on Christmas. She kissed the author on the cheek and asked him to read the letter to her. She wanted to listen to the voice of her husband. She said that he (Jim) himself was the best Christmas present to her.