Read the chapter ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ and write the summary of the content of the letter found by the author in your own words.
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Answer:
The Best Christmas present in the World is a story by Michael Morpurgo. In this story, the author buys a roll-top table from a junk shop, and to restore it starts working on it on Christmas Eve. While repairing it, he finds a secret space in the last drawer. In that secret space was a small tin box. He finds a letter inside the tin box written by Jim Macpherson, a captain of the English Army to his wife Connie. It was a narration of an incident that took place on the battlefield in 1914 on Christmas Day.
On that day, the German and English soldiers were celebrating Christmas together forgetting the rivalry between them and also that they were at war. They shared wine and food. Also, they played a football match and sang carols at night. The author took this letter to Mrs. Macpherson to the hospital and gave her the best Christmas present in the World.
The Best Christmas Present in the World Summary in English
The story begins with the author buying a cheap roll-top table from a junk shop. Though it was in a bad condition, the author thought that he would restore it. On Christmas Eve, he started to repair it. The table was of the 19th century and was made of oak. The drawers were badly damaged due to fire and water. When the author pulled out the last drawer, he found a secret space there. In that secret space was a small tin box. On top of that box it was written, ‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes’. Inside the tin box was an envelope with the address written on it, ‘Mrs. Jim Macpherson 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport.’ The date on the envelope was December 26, 1914.
The author began to read the letter. It was written by Jim Macpherson, a captain of the English army to his wife Connie. He had narrated a beautiful incident that took place on the battlefield on Christmas Day. It was Christmas day and the English and Germans were at war. Both the armies were in their respective trenches. All of a sudden, he saw someone waving a white flag from the German side. He heard German soldiers wishing them Merry Christmas. Some of the English soldiers also wished them the same. Surprisingly, they saw German soldiers moving towards them which alarmed captain Macpherson. He thought it could be a trick. But the German soldiers brought canned meat and wine.