A long short story

Dear Reader.

This is a story I heard quite a long while ago. It isn't mine and I can't remember who told it me but it goes like this;

It was a dark, cold and rather miserable night in the trenches and the soldiers were gathered round the fire huddled together for warmth telling stories and singing songs, until eventually it was the turn for their captain to tell a story. The captain had been a soldier almost all his life and his body and mind had been worn away by the years, and the things he'd seen, but they asked him with all his experience of war to tell them of a story heroism and comradeship, something that'll give them hope for the battle that was to come. The commander thought for a while then smiled and agreed and began tell his story. this is what he said;

"This is a story I heard quite a long while ago. It isn't mine and I can't remember who told it me but it goes like this;

It was a dark, cold and rather miserable night in the trenches and the soldiers were gathered round the fire huddled together for warmth telling stories and singing songs, until eventually it was the turn for their captain to tell a story. The captain had been a soldier almost all his life and his body and mind had been worn away by the years, and the things he'd seen, but they asked him with all his experience of war to tell them of a story heroism and comradeship, something that'll give them hope for the battle that was to come. The commander thought for a while then smiled and agreed and began tell his story. this is what he said;

'This is a story I heard quite a long while ago. It isn't mine and I can't remember who told it me but it goes like this...'"