The narrator of the story went to a junk shop and purchased a roll-top desk which was in bad condition. The narrator started its repairing on Christmas Eve and found a letter in its drawer. He read the letter. It was from Jim Macpherson to his wife Connie as written on top. After reading the letter, he found that Jim Macpherson was the leader of the England Army and he described that England and German were engaged in a war but on the Christmas morning a wonderful thing happened.First,Germans wish happy Christmas to English soldiers and same response was given by the English also. The leaders shared their ideas and feelings with each other and celebrated Christmas by eating, laughing, talking and drinking. After that they played football match in which Germans won. In the night both troops sang carols and had a peaceful Christmas.
The author decided to give this letter to Jim’s wife back. He went to the address which was written on the letter envelope where he found that the house caught an accidental fire and she was in nursing home. He rushed to nursing home where he found Jim’s wife. As she was grown too old in the waiting of his husband ,he mistook the author forJim, her husband when narrator met him. She declared him as best Christmas present in the world.
Question 1: What did the author find in a junk shop?
Answer: The author found a roll-top desk made of oak wood in the junk shop. It was badly out of shape and needed lots of repair. But as a new one would have cost him a fortune he thought of buying it.
Question 2: What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer: The author found a letter written by a person named Jim. It was Jim’s last letter to the recipient Mrs. Macpherson. So, there is every chance that Mr. Macpherson had put it there.
Question 3: Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
Answer: Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Mrs. Macpherson on during December 1914. It was written during the First World War.
Question 4: Why was the letter written — what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer: German and British army was fighting a battle. The soldiers were living in their trenches to fight enemy. For soldiers writing and receiving letter was the only way to be in touch with their family members. Nowadays telephone has taken over the role of letters. Think how painful and wonderful it would have been to wait for weeks for a letter to arrive. The wonderful thing was, in spite of enmity they celebrated Christmas together. This shows that festivals are above all personal enmity. In our country there is a saying that during Holi you should embrace your friends and foes alike.
Question 5: What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer: Hans Wolf was a musician playing cello in an orchestra and Jim Macpherson was a school teacher. During early 20th century it was common for people to get enrolled into army during wars. Even today certain countries, like Israel, make it mandatory for all adults to serve in military for a certain period.
Question 6: Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer: Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He was fond of reading books and had good command over English language. He read so much about Dorset in books that he was familiar with Dorset. That is why he said that he knew Dorset.
Question 7: Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
Answer: The written statement on the letter saying that that was the last letter from Jim and that should be buried with Mrs. Macpherson indicates that Jim didn’t return from war.
Question 8: Why did the author go to Bridport?
Answer: The author wanted to ensure that the letter should reach the real owner and her last wish should be fulfilled. Even a criminal going to the guillotine is asked his last wishes and efforts are taken to fulfill those wishes. The address written on the envelope gave a hint to the author to try finding Mrs. Macpherson in Bridport.
Question 9: How old was Mrs Macpherson now? Where was she?
Answer: Mrs. Macpherson was now over hundred years old. She was in a nursing home.
Question 10: Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer: Mrs. Macpherson thought the author to be Jim himself. Probably her old age, her poor health coupled with her sense of void after Jim’s death created such hallucination for her.
Question 11: Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity?
Answer: Author’s statement about how he found the desk and ultimately the letter shows that he did not try to hide his identity.
Question 12: For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Connie must have kept Jim’s letter till her last breath. This can be assumed on the basis of her reactions when she found the letter.
Question 13: Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when?
Answer: The desk must have been sold as junk. It may have been sold after the demise of Macpherson.
Question 14: Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?
Answer: Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways
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