Merry Christmas Eve. And as foretold in yesterday’s post there will be Ghosts of Reruns past attending the site this week. Consider this very early site post by our friend James McEwan, a herald, who will lead off with this Rerun today, the first of nine replays over the next eight days. Enjoy!
Here is the author himself, James McEwan, to introduce The Lady in the Bauble. This fine tale first appeared on the site on 17 December 2014.
From James:
I drafted this story in 2014 as the Centenary of the First World War was being commemorated.
They evacuated my grandfather from the trenches in France after suffering lung damage because of a gas attack. His injuries incapacitated him, and he never fully recovered. For the rest of the war, he tended Clydesdale horses that were sent to Europe. He later died of pneumonia in the 1930s long before I was born.
The Christmas truce along a section of the opposing trenches was an event which took place in the first year of the war. I considered how empathy between the British and German soldiers was foremost, as they both missed home and their family’s Christmas celebrations. I considered the contradiction of ‘Peace on Earth’ at the beginning of a brutal war as being hypocritical.
In my storyline, I tried to draw out the emotional trauma of separation experienced by soldiers and how the simplest of objects become paramount with thoughts of loved ones. This was my focus for the narrative, and how the cold, wet, and mud of trench conditions amplified those feelings.
Of course, it is perhaps not the best bedtime story for young boys, but the domestic setting emphasises the family bond. Their reaction, with chocolate, no ice cream, and mustard, showed the naivety and innocence of the boys.
Having experienced separation from my family at holiday times, I felt similar heightened emotional pain that many of the soldiers must have been going through in the trenches.
literally stories 
Hi James,
As good a start to a Christmas story week as we could ever have had.
This story is always enjoyed whenever or wherever it pops up.
Hope you get inspired to lift your pen very soon.
All my very best to you and yours over the festivities.
Have a blast my fine friend.
Hugh
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James
Thank you again for your introduction. It’s great to see one of the site’s oldest appearances return to the stage
Merry Christmas
Leila
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Thank you for kind words. Have a great holiday and festive period.
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A ģreat start to the rerun week. All the very best to everyone.
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A excellent story to kick off the Christmas postings. James’ introduction gives real-life context to a story that both warms and breaks the heart.
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As a late-comer to LS, I really appreciate the re-runs. Coincidentally, like James’ grandfather, my own grandfather was badly gassed in WWI. He survived into my childhood in the 1950s, but his death certificate recorded the gas damage to his lungs as the underlying cause of his death. The spontaneous Christmas peace in 1914 has always struck me as a wonderful episode in a terrible slaughter, beautifully commemorated here. Thanks.
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A lovely tale. Perfect for the day.
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A timely tale about the horrors of war. Poison gas was used as recently as Iraq’s war in Iran. When will they ever learn?
Historical note – According to Bill Bryson, someone, I think from England, supported poison gas warfare because it didn’t damage property. If anyone knows the particular book, I fear that I don’t.
I believe the original run was before I found LS, so happy to see it now.
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A heart-wrenching story.
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