About the Author
Michael Morpurgo is a famous British writer who loves telling stories for children. He was born in 1943 in England. He has written over 120 books, and many of them are about animals, bravery, and big feelings like love and hope. One of his most loved books is War Horse, which became a big movie and play. Morpurgo used to be a teacher, and he knows how to make stories fun and easy to understand. He started a charity to help city kids learn about farms and nature. His writing often talks about peace and family, just like in this chapter. He lives in England with his family and keeps writing new tales.
What’s the Story About?
This story is a warm and touching tale about Christmas, love, and a special moment during a scary war. It starts with a man who loves old things. He finds a broken wooden desk in a small shop that sells junk. The desk is old and scratched, but he buys it because he dreams of fixing it up. He brings it home and starts working on it on Christmas Eve, right before the big holiday.
While cleaning the desk, he pulls out a hidden drawer by mistake. Inside, there is a small black tin box. The box has burn marks, like it went through a fire. He opens it carefully and finds an old letter inside. The letter is yellow with age and smells a bit musty. It is from a man named Captain Jim Macpherson, written to his wife, Mrs. Connie Macpherson. The date on the letter is December 26, 1914—long ago, during World War I, when British and German soldiers were fighting each other.
The letter tells a magical story from the war. Jim was a British army captain hiding in deep ditches called trenches with his men. It was a freezing Christmas morning, with frost on the ground and everything quiet like a winter wonderland. Suddenly, from the other side—where the German soldiers (called Fritz) were—they saw a white flag waving. A white flag means "stop fighting, let's talk." The Germans shouted, "Happy Christmas, Tommy!" Tommy is a fun name for British soldiers.
At first, the British soldiers were scared. But then they shouted back, "Happy Christmas!" The Germans came out from their hiding spots, wearing grey coats, and waved more flags. They called the British over to the open ground between the two sides, called no man's land. The British were nervous but curious. They put down their guns and went out too.
What happened next was like a dream! The enemies became friends for a day. The Germans shared sausages and a strong drink called schnapps. The British gave them English cake and cigarettes. They laughed, sang Christmas songs together, and even played a game of football with a bumpy ball made from an old tin. Jim met a German officer named Hans Wolf. They talked about home, music, and how they both hated the war. Hans said he loved playing the piano and hoped to go back to Germany soon. Jim felt the same—he missed his wife Connie and wanted to be home for Christmas.
The letter ends with Jim saying this was the best Christmas ever, full of peace and joy, even in war. He promises Connie he will come home soon.
The man who found the letter feels he must give it back to Connie. He looks up her name and finds she is now 101 years old, living in a home for old people. Her house burned down years ago, so she lost everything, including this letter. On Christmas Day, he visits her. Connie is old and a bit confused. When he walks in, she thinks he is Jim, come home after all these years! She smiles big, holds his hand, and says, "You promised you'd be home by Christmas, my dear. And here you are—the best Christmas present in the world." She even baked a cake for Jim. The man doesn't correct her; he just lets her be happy in her memory. He leaves the letter with her, knowing it brings back her lost love.
The story shows how one kind act and a bit of hope can light up even the darkest times. It's like a hug from the past.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Narrator (the finder of the desk): He is the main storyteller. He buys the old desk and finds the letter. He is kind and decides to return it to Connie. He visits her and lets her think he is her husband to make her smile.
- Captain Jim Macpherson: He is a brave British army leader during World War I. He writes the letter to his wife. In the letter, he shares the happy Christmas truce with the Germans. He loves his wife a lot and promises to come home.
- Mrs. Connie Macpherson: Jim's wife, now an old lady of 101 years. She waits for her husband all her life. When the narrator comes, she mistakes him for Jim and calls him her best gift. She is sweet and full of love, even in old age.
- Hans Wolf: A German army officer Jim meets during the truce. He is friendly and talks about peace. He loves music and his home in Germany. He shows that soldiers on both sides are just people who want the war to end.
- The Soldiers (Tommys and Fritz): The British (Tommys) and German (Fritz) troops. They are the fighters in the war, but on Christmas, they become friends, share food, and play games.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Big Ideas in the Story):
- Peace in War: The story shows that even in a big fight like war, people can stop and be kind. The Christmas truce proves enemies can share joy and forget hate for a while.
- Love and Waiting: Connie waits her whole life for Jim. Her love stays strong, and the letter brings back happy memories. It teaches that true love never fades.
- Hope and Memory: Old things like the letter keep good times alive. Hope helps us through sad days, like Connie's joy when she thinks Jim is back.
Moral (Lesson to Learn):
War brings only pain and loss, like Jim never coming home. But peace, friendship, and love are the real gifts. Christmas reminds us to be good to everyone, even those who seem different. Always choose kindness—it can change a bad day into the best one.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story. I explain them in simple words, like chatting with a friend.
- Roll-top desk: A wooden table for writing with a curved cover that rolls down to hide things inside. (Like a secret hiding spot on a table.)
- Junk shop: A small store that sells old, broken, or used items cheap. (Where you find treasures in trash.)
- Scorch marks: Black burns on something from fire or heat. (Like spots left after touching a hot pan.)
- Trenches: Long, deep holes in the ground where soldiers hide during war. (Like giant ditches for safety.)
- No man's land: The empty, dangerous area between two enemy sides in a battle. (A scary open space no one owns.)
- White flag: A plain white cloth waved to say "stop fighting, let's talk peacefully." (A sign for truce, like a timeout in a game.)
- Tommy: A nickname for British soldiers. (Fun way to call English army men, like calling friends by a pet name.)
- Fritz: A nickname for German soldiers. (Same as above, but for the other side.)
- Schnapps: A strong drink from Germany, made from fruits or grains. (Like a warm, spicy juice for grown-ups.)
- Parapet: A low wall on top of a trench to protect soldiers from being seen. (A small barrier like a playground fence.)
- Frame of mind: Your mood or feelings at a time. (How you feel inside, happy or worried.)
- Best Christmas present in the world: Not a toy or money, but something full of love, like seeing a loved one after a long time. (The biggest joy from the heart.)
These words make the story come alive. Read them again while thinking of the tale!