The Best Christmas Present in the World

Chapter Summary

The story “The Best Christmas Present in the World” starts with the author buying a roll-top table from a junk shop in the window of Christmas Eve. Immediately after buying the table, the author starts repairing it and eventually finds a secret space in the last drawer of the table. From the secret space, the author retrieves a tin box and a letter within it written by Captain Jim Macpherson from the English Army. The letter was dedicated to his wife Connie where he narrated how the British Army and the German Army celebrated Christmas Day in 1914 together, forgetting all the rivalry between them at war. The author immediately reaches out to Mrs. Connie Macpherson in the hospital and gives her the best Christmas present in the world.

Letter in the secret drawer

The author found a small black tin box underneath the secret space in the drawer. In the box, he found a sello-taped piece of lined notepaper with something written on it. There was an instruction of burning the last letter from Jim received in 1915, when the time comes, written in shaky handwriting. Out of curiosity, the author opens the black tin box and founds an envelope filled with a letter in it. The piece of paper and the tin box with the letter must have been put there by Mrs. Connie Macpherson, the wife of Jim Macpherson.

Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?

The letter found in the black tin box was written by Captain Jim Macpherson of the English Army. The letter was dedicated to his wife Connie Macpherson when he was away fighting for his country in Germany. The letter was composed by Captain Macpherson on December 26, 1914, when he was on the battlefield.

Wolf and Jim Macpherson and their jobs

Before joining the army for their respective countries, Hans Wolf played Cello in the orchestra when he was living in Dusseldorf. Jim Macpherson, on the other hand, was a school teacher from Dorset, West England. Both shared their respective professions and had a happy life there.

Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset?

No, Hand Wolf has never set his foot on Dorset, not even in England. Jim Macpherson also added in the letter that, Wolf speaks nearly perfect English although he has never been to England and only learnt English from school through reading English books. He knew about England by reading English books in his school. He also added that one of his favourite novelists is Thomas Hardy and Far From the Madding Crowd is his favourite novel.

Connie Macpherson’s view about the visitor

After the author paid a visit to the hospital to return the letter to Mrs. Connie Macpherson, he found her in a wheelchair and in an unstable health condition. She thought of the author as her husband, Jim Macpherson. She asked the author to sit beside him and kissed his cheek in joy at the return of the person who she thinks is her husband. Mrs. Machpherson waited long years for her husband to return which made her think the author is no one but her husband returning to her after the war is over.

Why and when do you think the desk was sold?

The desk has been sold after the house caught fire and nearly everything was burnt in the tremendous fire. After asking about the neighbourhood of Mrs. Macpherson, the author found out that she was fond of using candles instead of electricity, as she thought electricity was way too expensive. So, that is how the house caught fire one day and she was rescued and admitted to the Burlington House Nursing Home for recovery.

Games or Sports Good Ways to Resolve Conflicts

Hans and Jim thought that all the conflicts related to war should be resolved with either a football or cricket match as there will be no casualties for soldiers and no collateral damage for the civilians. Hans added that no one dies at a football match so, no wives will be widows and no children have to be orphaned. Hence, resolving these conflicts over a football or a cricket match will be a better choice than fighting to the death with each other. In addition, he also outlined that no one has to get hurt in a game and all the soldiers can hope to see their families again when they go home after the match is over.

Connie’s Christmas Present

After discovering the letter in the black tin box the author decided to give the letter to its rightful owner, to the person it was written to. So, he investigated and found Mrs. Connie Macpherson and decided to pay a visit to her in the hospital for presenting her with the best Christmas gift possible for her. The author thinks the letter carries the love between two awaiting souls who look forward to seeing them after the war is over. According to the author, this is the best present he can give to Mrs. Macpherson as it means a lot to her.

In addition, after waiting for Captain Jim Macpherson’s return for years, this letter could be the best possible way for Connie to connect with her husband and live the moment of Christmas Eve with joy and love. As the letters from Jim meant more than anything else for Connie when he was at war, this is the best Christmas present in the world for her right now at this age.

FAQs

Q1. Why did Fritz and Tommy call each other?

Ans. The German and British soldiers called each other Fritz and Tommy while wishing each other on the auspicious occasion of ‘Christmas Eve. In German Fritz means soldier and in English Tommy means soldier, so they greeted each other as soldiers by calling each other Fritz and Tommy.

Q2. Why Connie was happy after seeing the visitor?

Ans. Connie thought that the visitor is her husband Jim who has returned after completing his duties on the battlefield. After assuming the visitor as his husband, Connie was happy to see the visitor.

Q3. What message does the story Best Christmas in the World convey?

Ans. The story beautifully depicts the moral lesson regarding the collateral of the war. It also conveys that fight and war only bring destruction and sadness and they should be stopped to bring peace to the world.