A Moment of Peace
New Crown English Series 3 (2021) appendix pg. 7-10
| A Moment of Peace | |
|---|---|
| 一瞬の平和 | |
| Details | |
| Word count | 410 |
| Book | New Crown |
| Grade | 3 |
| Year | 2021 |
Dear Mother,
I hope you have received my letters, but you know what the post and censors are like. Did you get my Christmas greetings before the twenty-fifth?
Christmas here in the trenches was amazing. You may not believe what happened, but the following story is true, a true Christmas story.
On the morning of Christmas Day, George and I were on guard duty in the front-line trench. It is an unpleasant job made worse by the cries of the sick and wounded. That morning, however, there was silence. We wondered why. Was it the calm before an attack?
Then we heard singing from the German trenches. I could not understand the words, but I recognized the melody. It was a Christmas song that we often sang together. The voices grew louder as they got to the end. It was a very strange moment. We stayed on guard. In fact, the tensions rose. After a moment of silence, the singing began again.
When they started the third song, George sang along with them. He smiled, "Join in, old boy." I hesitated, but I finally found my voice. Though the words were different, I knew the tune. We heard the sweet melody and words across the damaged land between their trenches and ours.
During a pause, George and I started to sing the fourth song. At first, George and I were the only ones singing, but soon the rest of our unit joined in. The Germans softly clapped their hands in time to the music. We led two more songs.
Suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, a German soldier popped his head above the mounds of earth. We held our rifles ready for battle. He slowly rose and waved his empty hands above his head. "My friends," he shouted. Today is Christmas. No shooting. Friends." George put down his rifle, pulled away from me, and stood up. "Yes. Peace today. Peace for Christmas."
We gathered in the land between our trenches. Broken trees and shell craters surrounded us. The Germans brought some wine, bread, and cheese. We brought sausages and mince pies. We ate together. We talked about our families and friends. Some played cards. Others played football.
As the sun set, we sang one more song. Then slowly, regretfully, we returned to our opposing trenches. The next day, the war resumed. We were enemies again, but for a moment, there was "peace on earth, good will to men."
Your loving son,
Basil
New Crown Book 3 (Heisei 24) pg. 100-103
| A Moment of Peace | |
|---|---|
| 一瞬の平和 | |
| Details | |
| Word count | 382 |
| Book | New Crown |
| Grade | 3 |
| Year | 2012 |
We were face to face with the German army. We were close enough to hear each other. Sometimes we called to each other a morning greeting. Sometimes we listened to the cries of the sick and wounded. Each day the fighting started again. We were close enough to be friends, but the war made us enemies.
The afternoon of December 24, the Germans decorated a tree. It was Christmas Eve, even on a battlefield. I was close enough to see the shining candles on the tree.
The Germans started singing "Silent Night". When they finished, we sang "Home, Sweet Home". That night, the two armies exchanged songs until darkness came. Then silence fell.
The next day was Christmas. A German soldier called out, "Happy Christmas!" I shouted back, "Same to you!"
Later, a German soldier appeared. He was waving a white flag. Then another stood up. He was holding a bottle. "It's Christmas Day. We have wine and sausages. Please join us."
I turned to my friend Paul.
"Is it a trick?" I asked.
"Who knows? Who cares? It's Christmas," Paul shrugged and stood up.
With that, the two armies met on the battlefield, for peace, not war.
A German approached me. We shook hands. "My name's Abel. I'm a clerk at a hotel." "My name's Sam. I'm a teacher. Happy Christmas." He showed me his family's photo. We exchanged addresses.
One of the Germans was a barber. He gave some of us haircuts. We were very glad and thanked him. Paul knew some magic tricks. He delighted all of us, Germans and British.
We shared drinks and food. There was a lot of talking and laughing. I took some photos.
Then someone brought out a football. The game began and lasted for some time.
The wonderful time passed quickly. As the sun set and the stars came out, everyone knew it was over.
"Bye now. Take care," I said to Abel.
"Same to you," he said to me.
I waved to Abel one last time as a friend.
The next day we were enemies again. Friends from the day before shot at and killed each other. Many were wounded, many died.
But I will always remember that special moment of friendship. The impossible thing happened. Armies met in peace, not war.
Unofficial translation
Translation by Aiya Perrine.
お母さんへ
郵便や検閲の状況が分かっているかなと思うけど、前の手紙が届けば嬉しいです。クリスマスの挨拶が25日の前に届きましたか？
ここの塹壕ではクリスマスがすごかったです。信じていないかもしらないけど、下記の話しは本当、本当のクリスマスの話です。
クリスマスの日の朝、ジョージと僕は前線の塹壕で見張り役として就いていました。病人や負傷者の叫び声によって、さらにひどくなった苦しい仕事です。しかし、あの朝、沈黙がありました。なぜかなって思いました。攻撃の前の穏やかさでしたかな？
それで、ドイツの塹壕から歌っているのを聞きました。歌詞が理解できなかったけど、メロディーが気づいていました。一緒によく歌っていた曲でした。歌の終わりに近づくと、声がどんどん大きくなってきました。あれはすごく不思議な瞬間で、警戒し続いていました。実は、皆の緊張がいっそう高まりました。黙っている瞬間が経ったら、歌っているのが再び始まりました。
3番目の曲を始まったら、ジョージが共に歌って始めました。「おい、歌えよ」と笑いながら言われました。最初にはためらってけど、やっと声を見つけました。歌詞が違っても、曲が知っていました。敵の塹壕と味方の塹壕の間にある傷がついた土地の上に流れている美しい歌曲を聞こえました。
一時停止中に、ジョージと一緒に4番目の曲を歌い始めました。最初のところ、ジョージと僕しか歌っていなかったけど、もうすぐ部隊の皆も加わりました。ドイツ兵たちは音楽に合わせて手をそっと叩きました。あと２曲を導きました。
突然で非常に案外に、ドイツ兵が土の塚の上に頭を飛び出しました。戦闘を見込むように、僕たちは銃を抱えました。あの兵士はゆっくりで頭を上がって何も持っていない手を頭の上に振りました。「わが友よ」と彼が叫びました。「今日はクリスマスだから、撃つのをやめましょうよ、わが友よ。」それに対して、ジョージが銃を置いて、僕から離れて、立ちました。「そうだね。今日は何もしないことにしよう。クリスマスのためだよ。」
塹壕の間中の土地に集めて、折れた木と弾丸穴に囲まれました。ドイツ兵はワイン、パン、チーズを持ってくれて、僕たちはソーセージとミンスパイを持ってきました。一緒に食べたり、家族と友人のことを語ったりしました。トランプかフットボールをやった人もいました。
日が入りつつ、もう１曲を歌いました。それで、ぐずぐずと残念そうに塹壕に戻ってしまいました。次の日、戦争が再開されました。もう敵の役割として戻ったけど、一瞬間でも「地球に平和があり、人類に親善」がありました。
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