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Private Frank Sumpter.

...we heard the Germans singing ‘Silent night, Holy night’, and they put up a notice saying ‘Merry Christmas’, so we put up one too. When they were singing our boys said ‘Let’s join in,’ so we joined in and when we started singing they stopped. And when we stopped, they started again. Then one German took a chance and jumped up on top of the trench and shouted ‘Happy Christmas, Tommy!’ So of course our boys said ‘If he can do it so can we,’ and we all jumped up. A sergeant-major shouted, ‘Get down!’ But we said, ‘Shut up Sergeant, it is Christmas time!’ And we all went forward to the barbed wire.

Last night I went with friends to the Wells Cathedral Concert. I is held in darkness with candles lit all around and above you. All the candles are bought and named for someone special. This is not a service where you get to join in with the singing but where you hear the choristers singing at their best and a reader reading some perfect pieces about Christmas. Today I am feeling really poorly again so I am thankful I have last night to remember with such affection. And lil sis has put me in my place and reminded me of the true sense of Christmas so I'll stop moaning. The piece above was read last night and it made me think of the events of war and how we are all human beings and need to remember that sometimes.

The music was beautiful as always and included some traditional and popular pieces as well. We didn't see Louis the cathedral cat he must have been sleeping elsewhere. 

“Camels of the Kings The Camels, the Kings’ Camels, Haie-aie! Saddles of polished leather, stained red and purple, Pommels inlaid with ivory and beaten gold, Bridles of silk embroidery, worked with flowers. The Camels, the Kings’ Camels! We are groomed with silver combs, We are washed with perfumes. The grain of richest Africa is fed to us, Our dishes are silver. Like cloth-of-gold glisten our sleek pelts. Of all camels, we alone carry the Kings! Do you wonder that we are proud? That our hooded eyes are contemptuous? As we sail past the tented villages They beat their copper gongs after us. The windswifts, the desert racers, see them! Faster than gazelles, faster than hounds, Haie-aie! Thet effort, breathing lightly, Smooth as a breeze over the desert floor, One white star our compass. We have come to no palace, no”

Read more about My Favorite Christmas Poem | Dawning of a Brighter Day on:
http://blog.mormonletters.org/?p=1005&utm_source=INK&utm_medium=copy&utm_campaign=share&

Hope your Christmas services are just as thought provoking and beautiful xx

 

“Camels of the Kings The Camels, the Kings’ Camels, Haie-aie! Saddles of polished leather, stained red and purple, Pommels inlaid with ivory and beaten gold, Bridles of silk embroidery, worked with flowers. The Camels, the Kings’ Camels! We are groomed with silver combs, We are washed with perfumes. The grain of richest Africa is fed to us, Our dishes are silver. Like cloth-of-gold glisten our sleek pelts. Of all camels, we alone carry the Kings! Do you wonder that we are proud? That our hooded eyes are contemptuous? As we sail past the tented villages They beat their copper gongs after us. The windswifts, the desert racers, see them! Faster than gazelles, faster than hounds, Haie-aie! The Camels, the Kings’ Camels! The sand drifts in puffs behind us, The glinting quarthing lightly, Smooth as a breeze over the desert

Read more about My Favorite Christmas Poem | Dawning of a Brighter Day on:
http://blog.mormonletters.org/?p=1005&utm_source=INK&utm_medium=copy&utm_campaign=share&