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Home My WebLink AboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1951-12-20, Page 4Page 4 THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 20, 1951 ====== A New Christmas For Jen == Mi’s. Stewart, drove into town' it will not he the same. Sinte slowly, for although it was four Niklos does not eome on his days until Christmas and she was anxious to finish her shop ping, her mind was heavy with thoughts of the three from Hol land who now shared work and house with she and her husband on the farm. Of the man, proud ly tall and blond and smiling— the woman, quick, serious and so certain, and John, the small sad boy. She smiled slightly as she heard again the heavy accents and the apologetic “please?" when they could not find the right English word or when they could not quite understand what was being said. “And yet they always try to talk in Eglish," she mused half aloud. An she wondered about their Christmas, remembering the be wilderment in John’s eyes when his mother in answer to his questions said, “This year, Jen, If 8 a pleasure to extend the < Season’s Greetings to all of you! H. R. Sherwood Your Massey-Harris Dealer birthday, December five in Cana da as he did last year in Hol land. You must wait until Dec ember twenty-five before your stocking will be filled." "" Then, all talking at once, some in excited Dutch, some in English, the four adults tried to explain; and to break the con fused silence which followed, the boy said simply, “I will go now to see the cows, please?” And he pulled on the heavy grey sweater and was gone before the others could think of anything more to say. Mrs. Stewart’s thoughts were turned abruptly back to shop ping with the realization that she had almost reached town. Aloud she began to list the things she must buy. * * * * Back at the farm, a little boy wandered aimlessly around the yard between the house and the barn, his thoughts as serious as the expression on his face. Here in this Canada, where he was called John, it was snowing hard and the horse trough where he played canal was frozen solid —and the Birthday of Sintie- Klaus was really over-— and in Canada he did not come until December twenty-five—and did not come floating along the smooth canal in the night but he ' flew through the air with eight i little cows pulling a sleigh and : one of the cows had a red nose. I It was all wrong. There was (too much hurry and no one had time to talk to a small boy. In stead his father would say. “Go and play canal, little one, I have many things to do,” and his mother said, “Go to the barn of Mr. Stewart and see if you can help him with the cows, I must work Jen, the house must be shining when Mrs. Stewart comes back from her shopping in the town.” He would go to see his good friend the cow he called Emillee, like his cousin in Holland be cause they both had big brown dreamy eyes and they were both his friends. The wind blew the big door of the barn shut, each half bang ed with a different voice and he felt announced and a bit import ant as Mr, Stewart turned around to see who had come in. “What d’ye say, John? What brings you away from the house on a day like this?” “I would please see Emilee?” and Mr. Stewart laughed. “She’s not in a visiting mood today, youngster, although you may be able to cheer her up.” ! The boy walked through the ; barn to the stable. The cows were restless and stamping and one was lying on the clean straw. It was this animal that John approached and he spoke in soft Dutch. “What is wrong, old friend* it is I* Jen, who has eome to see you. Are you sick?” He stroked her head and she made no move bnt lay impas sive. Meanwhile from the hayloft came the voice of his father “The red cow does not look good to me.” “You know,” said Mr. Ste wart, “she’s been dry for quite a while and if I didn’t know better I would say—” The dooi’ from the stable creaked open and Jen walked through the barn and out again into the cold air. “Emilee did not even know me", he said to himself, she was too sick to even lift her head.” He ran to the house and with brief explanation of the dire need in the barn, returned with a pail of lukewarm water for the sick cow. The men working in the hay loft wondered as he hurried through with the burden weigh ing him down almost double on one side. Again he sat beside the cow. “They say yon are dry, yet no person offers you a drink. My mother has given me some warm water for you. Will you not drink? ’Well, I will wait until you would like some, old cow.” He was still there beside her long after Mrs. Stewart returned from town, and he came in late for supper, Even his mother’s scolding did not change his wor ried thoughts. In the next two days, John made frequent trips to the barn with fresh water, the reason a puzzling mystery to the rest of the household. They did not ques tion the boy. They knew that only an extra special Christmas could make things right again. So they planned secretly and said no more about 'Christmas to him. It was the day before Christ mas when John spent most of the day in the barn. Sometimes he talked to the cow and some times he just watched her but even Mr. Stewart’s planned ex pedition for a Christmas tree could not interupt the vigilance. At suppertime, when the din ner had been taken steaming from the stove and laid before him, John asked, “Will Emilee die?” and Mr. Stewart, im patient with the boy’s cheerless ness, spoke roughly. “Look, lad, that cow’s quite all right, just a bit under the weather. Will you get your mind off her for a few minutes so that we can all eat our dinner?” John was quiet. He helped his mother with the dishes and was about to reach for the door when his mother said gently, “Jen, have your for gotten that this is the night when Sinte Nilclous comes? Where is the big stocking you have kept? If you will stay in doors for a while we will make some Canadian popped corn for the tree.” It was then that Dr. Stone, the veterinarian appeared at the door. “Mr, Stewart phoned about the cow. Have you some boiled water? I’ll take it out with me now. They’re in the barn are they? •Mrs. Stewart ushered him out and John, with this stocking in his hand noticed only the white smock over the man’s arm. He laid the stocking thoughtfully below the tree and went to his room. It was plain to see he was not wanted in the barn and there was the big man with the white smock. Then the awful thought came. Emilee is dead. That is the butcher come to take her away—She had dried up—she would not take any of the water he had brought. It was Christ mas in Canada—and it was snowing again, The misery in side the small boy welled up to a lump in his throat so that he could not answer his mother’s call. Ashamed of his tearstained face, John put his nightshirt on and crawled into bed, face down and sobbing into the pillow. And he slept. It was after midnight that the two men came in from the barn. Mr. Stewart grinned foolishly at his wife when he told her about the cow, and there was much excited conversation foi’ a few minutes as the last minute ar rangements were made for the next day. Then the house was silent as each went to bed, tir ed from the day. Perhaps it was the quiet in the old house, or the reflection of the moon on the snow that made the room bright, or the disturbed thought which forced John into wakefulness. He lay for a minute thinking about nothing and then he got up, found his boots and slipped down to the kitchen pausing in the parlor to touch the stocking which was no longer sagging sickly but bulging and overflow ing. He touched it and the cor ners of his mouth curled in a half smile. His pause was short. With boots on, the laces dangling, he grabbed his sweater and shuffled out the door making a double New Year for you, and yours! Robertson’s May the holiday season forecast a gay, track in the new snow to the barn. The sound of his loose shoes on the floor echoed through the barn and in the stable the breathing of the ani mals was loud in his ears as he reached for the light cord. It was hard for him to see in the brightness for a while but then maybe he was still in his bed dreaming fox* there was the red cow, Emilee and with hex’ another little red bit of4 life with the same brown liquid* eyes. The voice of the boy was small with wonder as he bent down to touch the calf. “Oh Emilee, you didn’t dry up and die. And see—-Sinteklaus has conje to you too! He stayed be side the pair for a minute and then turned off the light and went out into the clear air. The snow lay quiet on the ground and the trees stirred gently as he brushed by, smil ing back to the house. ft We value your friendship and good-will . . , . we wish you a Happy Holiday and ||ip® fulfillment of your hopes in ’52! Jones, MacNaughton Seeds Ltd Exeter and Crediton, Ontario E, R.WITMER & SON one of you, as as a Prosperous tjk SEASONS occasion you an old- Merry Christ- Happy New MERRY CHRISTMAS The sincere feeling of good cheer and health and happiness on Christ mas tide is our wish to every well 1952. Wishing all a Very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. We’re happy to wish you the best at Christ mas and through 1952. Thanks for your patron age. MURRAY NEIL R.R. 2, Centralia We wish fashioned jnas and Year. Many thanks ’for your patronage through out the past years. CUDMORE’S GRAVEL HARRIS WEST Centralia May there beMay there be a twinkle in your eye and laughter on your lips this Christ mas. STATTON’S BILLIARDS To every home . everybody from grandpa down to. the new baby—-a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. . . to great- ' HIGHLAND HILL DAIRY May your ‘Christmas be Merry and youx’ New Year Happy. To our patrons: M any thanks foi’ your kindness during the year. HAYTER’S GARAGE Dashwood “God so loved the world that He gave His only be gotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.”—John 3:16 We wish to take this op portunity to express our sincere thanks and appre ciation to our many cus tomers and to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. G. THOMSON Electrical Contractor Here’s hoping your Christmas will be as shiny and gay as the ornaments on y 0 u r Christmas tree. CLARENCE FAIRBAIRN On this joyous we bring our heartfelt wish to you all: A Merry Christmas - time. May it reach far into your life. Accept our sincerest wish for a Yuletide season filled with happiness. W. C. ALLISON WISHES SB? JOY TO r TOE - WORLD Intending otir true wishes for a Merry Xmas to all our friends and patrons. May the joyous symbol of the Christmas Wreath be with you throughout the year! Round your table this Christmas may there be faces wreathed in joy and contentment. V . . , and boundless joy and happiness to all our friends, T. PRYDE & SON May Santa’s gift io you, be joy and happiness the year through. WUERTH’S SHOE STORE GRAHAM ARTHUR BRODERICK BROS.W. H. HODGSON FINKS MEAT MARKET