The Best Christmas Present in the world1776

The Best Christmas Present in the world1776

Before you read

There are some dates or periods of time in the history of the world that are so significant that everyone mentions one such date and event : a war between the British and the Germans in 1914.can you guess which war it was?

The Best Christmas Present in the world1776

I spotted it in a junk shop in Bridport ,a roll -top desk .The man said it was early nineteenth century, and oak. I had wanted one , but they were far too expensive . This one was in a bad condition , the roll-top in several pieces, one leg clumsily mended , scorch marks all down one side . It was going for very little money . I thought I could restore it . It would be a risk , a challenge , but I could restore it .It would be a risk , a challenge , but I had to have it. I paid the man and brought it back to my workroom at the back of the garage . I began. Work on it on charismas Eve.

I removed the roll-top completely and pulled out the drawers . The veneer had lifted almost everywhere —- it looked like water damage to me . Both fire and water had clearly taken their toll on this desk taken their toll on this desk . The last drawer was stuck fast . I tried all I could to ease it out gently . In the end I used brute force . I struck it sharply with the side of my fist and the drawer flew open to reveal a shallow space underneath , a secret drawer . there was something in there .I reached in and took out a small black tin box . silo – toper to the top of it was a piece of lines of lined notepaper ,and written on it in shaky handwriting : “|Jim ‘s last letter , received January 25 , 1915 . To be buried with me when the time comes . ” I knew as I did it that it was wrong of me to open the box , but curiosity got the better of my scruples. It usually does.

Inside the box there was an envelope . the address read : “Mrs Jim MacPherson , 12 copper beeches ,bridport, Dorset .”I look out the letter and unfolded it .It was written in pencil and dated at the top ___ “December 26,1914”.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. What did the author find in a junk shop?
2. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?

Dearest Connie,

I write to you in a much happier frame of mind because something wonderful has just happened that I must tell you about at once We were all standing to in our trenches yesterday morning .charismas morning . It was crisp and quiet all about as beautiful a morning live ever seen ,as cold and frosty as a Christmas morning should be.

Dearest Connie,

I found Burlington house nursing home easily enough. There were paper chains up in the hallway and a lighted Christmas tree stood in the corner with a lopsided angel on top . i said I was a friend come to visit Mrs Macpherson to bring her a charismas present . I could see through into the dining room where everyone was Wearing a paper hat and singing . the matron had a hat on too and seemed happy enough to see me . she even offered me a :Mrs MacPherson is not in with the others ,” she told if she had a good rest . she has no family you know , no you .”she took me into a conservatory with wicker chairs and potted plants all around and left me.

Working with language

The old lady was sitting in a wheelchair , her hands folder in her lap. she had silver white hair pinned into a wisp

y bun. she was gazing out at the garden. “hello,” I said. she turned and looked up at me vacantly. “Happy Christmas, Connie ,” Went on. “I found this it’s yours. ” As I was speaking her eyes never left my face . I opened the tin box and gave it to her . That was the moment her eyes lip up with recognition and her face become suffused with a sudden glow of happiness. I explained about the desk, about how I had found it , but I don’t think she was listening. For a while she said nothing, but stroked the letter tenderly with her finger .