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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1935-12-19, Page 319, 1935 THE CL NTON NEWS -RECORD' PAGE It The News -Record Wishes All It's Readers A Very MerryChristmas Here Are Some Nice Christmas Stories, Which Will Help Foster The Christmas Spirit 1 �` AIG CADDY lighted the fire in the l fireplace. • She ewttched on the Christmas lights for the tree.• She pulled down the shades, and. pushed an easy chair towards the fire. Haley would be home any time now, cold and weary from his round of calls, on sick people. This was their first{ Christmas eve together elnce they had! been married Haley had started out on his rounds. at noon. ..t three he had telephoned: to say he was obliged to abandon his car. The snow• was too deep. He had borrowed a pair of snowshoes and a fur cap, id with bag In hand, was about to walk a read leading through the woods to a small shack where a sick woman lay waiting his ministra- tions. At Caddy's worried inquiries, he said it would take him a couple of hours. Then be had a three-mile walk further on the main turnpike, to a child suffering with a quinzy sore throat. After that, he would retrace his steps, get his car, and drive home. Caddy gazed into the flames, This country practice covered miles and miles. Raley was conscientious.He never tailed to reach his patients somehow, but he was tired and worn. out. And Caddy herself was often lonely,- $er plans tar fun, for little parties at home, usually ended in try- ing to get someone to fill Ralsy's place. She knew It would be like this. Betsy. had warned her, She was sensible and patient. Yet tonight . Christ- mas eve, and Halsy's birthday. She sighed , she simply couldn't bear to have anything go wrong. s, The telephone rang, "That you, Cad dy? I'm stuck again. The drifts are so deep t can't walk through. I'm out of the wood road all safe, and within two miles of that sick child. But none of the farmers near here has a team of horses. I really need oxen to pull me through. it's tough going:" "Oh," breathed Caddy, trying not to sound dismal. "Caddy, I wonder," he hesitated. She could tell he was, tired by the drag in. his voice. "If you could possibly get Lem Salter's team of oxen and drive here for .me! I simply can't ask hum. to do it himself. Ele has his daughter home for the holidays and her family. It's Christmas." Caddy could not speak. She knew what this meant, Hours of being out in the storm. Heaven alone knew when they would get home. She glanced about the friendly, inviting room. 'Won't you, darling . to help me oat?" Then she remembered something her father had said to her on her wedding day: "You will never be allowed to for- get you are the wife of a country doc- tor. ' 13ut I think 'he's worth It . , if yeu are!" Sopow over the telephone she said, "All right. Stay where you are. Bet warm and rested, and I'Pl be there by Shanghai Lrxpressl" The tedious drive behind the oxen seemed endless. The snow sifted down inside her collar, It blinded her. She was not 'actually suffering, but she was pretty uncomfortable. On , and on . . . and on. The whirling curtains swept before her The snow drifted across the broad backs of the patent beasts. They took their own. way in their own plodding time. Cad-, dy sat on a box wrapped round with' a. bear rug. - - - ' On and on and, on. Creak Break' the swaying of the beasts was like some grotesque, nightmarish rhythm She almost fell • asleep. Then out of the whiteness ahead she heard a Mout. "Hey . bless your heart, darling I" And Hatay. jumped aboard. The child was very suck. The throat had to be lanced.- Caddy forgot her injured feelings. She helped, capably. The mother; , worn and harassed, thanked them both with tears In her eyes., ,And together they drank coffee ' beside a bumble kitchen stove, and ate huge ,.slices of thick, buttered breed. Not what Caddy had planned- for Christmas eve, yet, curiously enough, It seethed better than the other. It had •she tried, to 'think it out—more strength and sinew to it. M She gmtied et Haley. This IS post - Heels the best Christmas eve I ever. spent in my life!" she whispered, Behind a large buttered slice of bread he kissed her. "You are the perfect pattern for a country doctor's wife i" he whispered > back, D•UNCAN' ODE woke, grunted and relaxed once more into a morn- ing nap. Somewhere In his. mind were two ideas. One was of coin - pieta satisfaction after an enjoyable two days in New York, Thesecond pricked at him uncomfortably. Some- thing be should remember, but couldn't. Oh . . well! He sank gently tack into full slumber. At eleven o'clock, atter breakfast in the house of his friends where he was staying, he became electrified. He had forgotten something. Something very • important. A Christmas night dinner. dance that evening. He had been In- vited by Rosamond Tone, a girl he was quite mad about. How could he have forgotten? It seemed „Impossibie. But Rosamond had telephoned him two evenings ago, exactly one minute be- fore a hasty departure for New York. He had been delighted, charmed to take her. Then . that Mug freezing ride . , finding a place to stay which did not cost too crura, dressing, getting to a late party which was blg and brisk, and went on and on until a urning gad breakfast. 'linen a few scant hours of sleep, another after- noon party outside the city . , , a sleet storm, and the sensible decision that he would not drive back in town for bus evening clothes , . . • but keep on going to the second informal engagement for the evening . . hundred and thirty miles In another direction, where he would stay all night. So, here he was at eleven the next morning, a hundred and thirty miles from his evening clothes . and due is a few hours at a party forty miles in quite an opposite direction. This was the manner in which Duncan was wont to spread out his week -ends. Bedlam raged in his 'brain. It wasn't the party so ;much.; It was the girl. Rosamond Tone was'more than lovely—she was loveable. She was also the :daughter ,of old Taurus Tone, the head of the company In which Duneen held a responsible but not impressive position. And' there Was that guy named Frank Nester. He, tno, held a responsible but not impressive position in the seine place. He, too, loved Rosemead, or at least pald her conspicuous attention. sir. Tone glared at both of them. It Wa$ old Taurus' way; and you could like it or leave 1t. No one wished to leave it, certainly not Duncan Dee nor that Frank Nester fellow. At noon noncan called up Rosa- mond long -distance, -do assure her he had not forgotten and would be there, Immediately then he began scouring the 'town for dress elothes. All the peo- ple;he knew were golug to dances that night. They needed their own, He be- gan to feel silly and a little sick. But he contrived '10 the course of three hours to •confect one pair 0f dress -sus- penders, a white tie, and proper waist - melt. Another hour yielded a dress,, shirt and pan' of 'trousers. This was sheer u•iutnl)h of ,personality, Some- body let hint have -studs and a collar. Heil have to wear his ordinary black shoes and socks. ale •still required •a coat, He could not get a :coat t. Duncan went to the ,dinner dance. Be looked exceptionally happy and well groomed. Prank Nester a vas there. He also looked well groomed but far from happy. Itosatnond, 11! -net unkind, had been frugal in giving dances to: him, Old Taurus was there, snorting and. suspicious. Ouce he grabbed Duncan's elbow. "See here, young, man," he growled, "that, coat of ; yours looks darned' familiar, and a little large. Could It, by any chance, be .one of mine?,, ,• "Yes, sir l" said Duncan, looking Rosa - mantes father straight to the eye. That was the best way with old Taurus.. "M,y own is in New York. I collected all the other things from friends, It catue anyway. And Rosamond . .a "I thought so!" Taurus glared at Mtn. "Well, it appears you have tour- age, ourage,and that you keep 'your, wile about you.It should help you get along: Report to me tomorrow morn- ing. We'll talk over that . , er opening I mentioned:a "Oh, sir , . I'll tell ,Rosamond right away." "You'll do no suoll thing 1" 'retiree roared. But Duncan told her. Rosamond said she had already selected a sweet apartment and an eggbeater, "In ease you asked me, you know." Duncan kissed her and - stated his must be very careful not to spill apr thing on her father's coat . . and! thee 440 YOU ever win anything In Uthose contests you are al- ways entering?" Muriel W11 - son queried of her sister Agnes, who was home for the holidays, as they sat on the bed doing up last minute tamlly gifts Christmas eve. "Not yet,"'Agnes laughed. "But by the taw of averages 1 should win sometimes." ' "Soon, I'd say," Muriel said grimly. "You've been entering contests of one kind and another ever since we were infants and mother entered you in u prettiest baby contest." "That's where 1 began my losing. If I'd won then I'd probably have kept on winning like these people we read about who live on what they make from contests." "Phooey!" Muriel scouted. "What makes you do it, anyway?" "Just my love of adventure. I'm really a born gambler—in a discreet way, of course. That's why I write for my llvtng, just to see If my brain children will find a place or come back home to me." ' "Was It your love of adventure, or gambling spirit, or whatever you tali it, that made. you turn down Harold Ryan three years ago when he came home from college with his cousin Fred to spend the holidays? Now, why did you do that, Agnes? He was every- thing anyone would want in a hnshnnd —looks, faintly, money, and aren't we always told that marriage' is the great adventure?" "Maybe it is an adventure but whet sort of a gamble is it to marry a r,an Harold Decided to Deliver the Prize 111 Person, who already has everything, No. 1 preferred to gamble with my own 'career." "And now •that you've made a see• cess where Is the gamble in it?" Muriel carefully stack a sprig of holly in the knot of her red tissue ribbon. When Agnes retitled it was in a more serious manner: " "Since you ash, tine to pointedly, Muriel dear, I think, perhaps, of Ham .ofd lost his money during the depres- sion, as so many did, and if he were to present himself now as a man win- ning his way through his own efforts, I might trust myself to adventure along with him. But, I fancy, It Is too late. He's probably found some less :adventurous soul ere this." "Mott likely," Muriel answered, as elle rose to answer the door bell which bad been persistently ringing, "Guess we're home alone." She hurried down the stair's, Five manatee later she was back, 'tryliig vainly to refrain from any show .of ()Tenement: "Some 005 on business for you, Agnes. Pie's the persistent kind, in- Sisted he had to see you right now." "Oh, well, all right. P1 go down :and get it over with." Agnes took off cher smoe1t and departed, Muriel heard Agnes' Surprised ejac- nhd'ation, but it was some tine before :she was summoned to join the two In the dieing room below, "Muriel is just dying to congratu- late ;nae;" Agnes gayly greeted her younger sister. "Behold, sister mine, i've actually ,won In a contest. You see, Harold Is managing editor now of the paper that was running this par- tieulat• contest: When the Judges were sort of stuck as to which of three Oen- Pie had Wolf second pride they referred the relater to him and, recognizing your honorable sister's name among the three, he immediattely deckled in her favor and Caine, in person, to deliver "But 1 thought it was for another'. reason I Was •t0 congratulate you," Muriel did not try to conceal her die. appointment. "'There Is," Harold' answered prompt- ly. "1 let Agnes speak first. Bol' the reason. I had for bringing Agnes the prize in person was to see if I could Win this prize person." .hist then ,the door of the room ad - Joining was thrown open and another. overcoated young man appeared, This time It was Agues' turn to show aston- ishment: "Of all things, Fred Ryan! Have yon been there all the thee?" - "Sure thing. 1 came. with Garold, a sort of moral support. Ymi see; Merle/ gad 1 have Dar wedding all planned. Let's make 1t s dnuhle one!" To which bright idea they al) joy fully agreed, hugging one another and shouting "Merry Christmas 1" , �'� Vlltllf attler* �� - —ll .oteturt9) a t ritri%hnaa Story tie alien 13, Z'atrrwi- TWAS just two weeks before Cilristmae and there did . not appear to be any material means of attaining the necessary funds for the great celebration. "Ob dear, if John would only sell that old heirloom;" thought Marty Armstrong, Just then Betty and 3007 came charging In from high school. "Oh, Mother, I just can't wait until Christmas..I know you are going to get that tuxedo for me, I can see 1t now, oh boy!" exclaimed Jerry, "And I can see that party gown, Mother, with slippers to match." said Betty, sweetly. "It's no use expecting anything this year, children," said mother, "Your fa- ther has made some unwise Invest- ments!' "Here comes father, now 1" "Hello, everybody, what's up? Why the frigid atmosphere?" queried fa- ther. "Mother says there's to be no Santa Claus this year," ventured Jerry, The next few days John Armstrong was trying to figure It all one. Perhaps he had been a little negligent In the past few years -concern- ing his family. Now he realized that he must make limeade. Christmas bells were chiming, reminding the Armstrong fam- ily that 'twits truly Christmas eve. Moth- er'and the children were thinking of the things they were not going to get for Christmas. But Fa- ther was chuckling awardly. In fact he could sctli'cely keep from bursting out toughing; but that, of course; would never do. The silence was broken by the jin- gling of sleigh -bells. They hurried en masse to see what it was ail about. Were they all dreaming? There stood an old-fashioned bobsled. Out stepped Santa Claus. "Why, Uncle. Joe, what, are you do- ing here on Christmas eve?" exclaimed Mother, all excited. "I've come to tette you and the fain- tly for a ride. So bundle up and bop In, without delay." Alt stared at one another and tried to speak, but not n word was uttered. They simply obeyed their Santa Claus and within a few moments Father and all were seated cozily within the fairy- land contraption and were driven off. The sleigh stopped with n jerk, right in front of a stucco bungalow all brit. liantly lighted up with Christmas dee. orations. • "Why, I never knew the Thompson home was for rent. R has stood vacant so long," sold Mother, With great con cern, "A friend of mine from the ofiree "Just purchased it" said Father, with a eonvtncing Smile, "We were invited over to see It In its new regalia. But you were all so out of sorts that I enlled up Uncle .toe and ordered the•Senta Clans ruse" They all laughed most heartily. They couldn't help lt--Ciirlstmes or no Christians! They hind to give father cretin for his clever Ingenuity. Out they hopped, beaming with the Christnms spirit, Father took the lead and rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Then lie actually turned e they all stepped bait In prothtestatioitnobonas.. "Merry Christmas!" shoutedFather. Too surprised to :spank, they looked at one another and back again at fa- ther"and then- "Don't you understand? Oh, hang it all. 'anywily1 This' is your Christmas present." said fattier, sinking into the closest easy choir and gasping for breath. • "What?" they ,all exclaimed, Then father explained It all to them —how be had soldthe old 'heirloom, purchased the home;. and, furnished R. They marveled 1 • "Plow, could you? When did ,you? Plow did you know just what we liked?" All Vim guestlons wore' fired at fanner at once. Fatherhaddone a perfect Job. But that wasn't -.all, Be led them proudly in- to the living room where stood the real host of the evening ' -the gorgeous .Christmas tree. Need less to say Jerry recelved his "tux,' 'Betty 'her gown and eltppers and moth et 'a set of silverware, a long -desires luxury. Then descended such a shower of Christmas hugs and kisses, gratitude and joy that dear old father was pt'ac- dearly snowed under. But he enjoyed his Christmas presents' better than all the materiel gifts he had bestowed upon his Mealy; and he felt that his haarl w>,ns tilled with' enough Christ, oafs cheer to last forever. • 0 Cf, Gift Tor 'Alta, a7ranc¢1" Grinstecv 44,-5LIC1A, 1 forgot to bring any- thing for your .Uncle Hurry' 1" Father, mother, and laugh, ter -halfway -through -high-school were in a huddle in the pantry, with the :kid brother Ripley ("Rip" for short) 1108' ering curiously beyond the door. "He won't care, Dad." The pretty brunette girl relieved her father of his bundles. "With his radio act going over In a big way be can buy anything he likes. I hope he'remembers a wrist watch with a little diamond is nicer than a wrist watch with none." "Whatever he gives you, Pellets, eel as 1f It's what you want most," her mother warned. "Borrigan would '1- er be appreciated than anything else In the world. He knows I like pretty negligees. I let him know how I me joy his presents." "I was trying to land that contract with Davidson," the father explained, "and I spent most of the evening, with him at the ldcAlpin, When I left there was barely an hour to shop. l didn't . dare take a tate train, knowing we still had to decorate." "Did you get the new ornaments?" Mother was pulling at a knobby pack. age.. "Here, don't bother that. It's this one." Fanner tried to take oft' his muf- fler while watching the parcels, with eight-year-old ftp calling, "Aren't you even going to say 'Hello,' Dnd3" "Sure. son! I was helping Smits with his pack, that's all." "Santa, hmph 1 Did you get my bi- cyle?" "We'll seen We'll see!" As he went upstairs, trailed by boylsh impatience, the words boated back, "I simply for HIa Arms Were Full of Holly -Paperer Parcels, got Burry. There'd have been rime if "Felicia can go to tile haberdasher's here," his wife Solved the runt - ter. "The important thing is in gel the tree finished and 1110 gifts spread under It before Hurry comes. Ile al. ways admires my tree. Felicia, buy him one gift from your fetter andmo,' and one from you and your brother'," "What would Uncle Burry lute, mother?" "M -mm. He has everything he needs, and he never mentions anything he wants. Ask the clerk to suggest some- thing," The silver star was aglow, the Inst fat Santa Claus clinging to a Ruth,ti eileta's purchases had been hastily wrapped In golden and green tissue. when thedoor burst open adnnttine ,Horrlgan Carter of "Hurry anri Haste" radio comedy team, His arms were inti of red, green, and holly -papered per eels, and behind him came tbe chepry chattffettr; his arms full, too, "Drop'emimIttd, w t,Ir ry to that grlJaof yoursesmy and mNo;tke hit while the snow falls. Come fm' me lit eleven. Here, don't you treed a little extra? It's Christmas." Uncle Mare put a Mil in the man's hand and clapped the door shut, "Felicia, what a lonely Meet Yin always have something origins] So- phia. Henry, how's business? And," (looking around) "where's Rip?" "R1-1-ipleyl" called 11'eficla. flinging open the dining room door. , In the midst of discarded linter wrappings, a.red-faced small tiny was struggling with tissue and ribbons. "Aw, gee, F'lice, I wanted to tie It myself. AW, gee! Why'd you have to go open the door? I spent all the Money 1 earned cuttln' linens 181 summer and,shovelin' snow this week. an'— Aw, gee, it's a line gift„ If I could get it fixed, it would look swell.' Uncle Hurry jumpedto close the door. "Go ahead, old fellow. We wine; look." ri Tt's no use. 1Everybody's saw!" Rip came toward them with the gift pro truding from its wrappings. It was t1 salad bowl with a wooden mixing spoon. "Who's it for, Ripley?" mother asked, Felicia began to laugh, "What a gift, for Uncle Hurry! Why, Rip, you give salad bowie to ladies net m e n. RI looked d disconsol to 'Be aid. he wanted It. We were passing that shop where they sell old things and he said—you did, Uncle Hurry, you said, 'Jove what a quaint salad bowl! Pd' oho that' " + r "Of course 1 did. Next day when 1. went to buy it for my ltitchenette they said It bad been put .aside for some one, it's great to get it this way 1" "I guess even Santa Chins would rather what he wanted was given to him than to buy it for Oneself," said Rip wisely. s 9 4t; • L;LL, if there Isn't lean . Eatery I" .lean had been a t • v Old sweetheart of Salinas• and she• had not seen: hlin 'for metre:, but she would know him in a million.. for she had always loved hint. He w118 busy cutting fancy figures On .the tee. Shestood watching him, her heart skipping beats as she did so. The Ice had been especially prepared for the Chr'istmas'holidays.and Salina, in her pretty white wool sports outfit .was gilding along, swanlike, still watching Jean Hilary out of the cor- ner of her eye. He must have felt the strong contact of her thought for suddenly he looked' in her direction, but she meekly turned the other way. Then he skated more , fiercely than ever, ,'utttng a huge let- ter "S." She skated about pretending not to notice, but when he started off toward thefar end of the lagoon she glided over to -where be had cut the figures, There was the old-fashioned letter "5" and another and still an- other. There were "S's" all over. now She wondered if they represented the regular ice -cutter's "S" or it she really dared hope that they might by any chance stand for "Salina." The snow was be- coming heavier and mote cumber s o lit e and she noticed that most of the skaters had already left fur home and celebre- tions. All the way home ward she was think - Ing about Jean 1331. 7 Tory and stopping at 6. Intervals to trace his name in the snow, She must have written it a dozen times or more The gifts elle had been expecting for Christmas sud- denly appeared insignificant and use- less In comparison to the one vital gift —the love of Jean. Only with a mighty struggle was Salina endeavoring to join In the, Christmas celebrations, for her heart was nearly breaking. "Whitt le the matter, Salina?" Mies.' Boned mother, ns Sallnn almost choked• With the lump In her throat. "Nothing, {Mother dear, only the. Christmas spirit" answered Salina, bra Atvoly, this very moment Jean was hur- rying hone whistling merrily, his: skates swinging aver his shoulders. Suddenly he stopped short at seeing his OWn name displayed all over the • snow, here, there and everywhere. "What on earth could that mean?" It was beautifully lettered athd in a girl's= handwriting 1 Jen, stooping, carefully noted the.- letters he.letters an their every detail. He was. determiners to learn who the girl could; be, who had so thought of him on! Christmas eve that she hind scrolled' his name all over the snow. Jean, quickening his pace, reached home, luckily before the celebrations had begun and skipped up the stair- case two steps at a time to his own room. Most exaltedly he dug through Itis belongings in search of a box of old valentines from school days. It was missing t Where conid it be? "Mother, have you seen my valen- tines?" shouted. Jean, "What on earth do yon want with; valentines on Christmas, Jena?" "They are decorating the walls of'. my room and have been, for some time,. my dear brother I" taunted Clara -Bell, The next moment Jean was tearing down the valentines regardless of his. sister's protestations and began fran- tically examining their contents, still leaving another and sister stupefied. "here It is 1 I knew It! This is the one l" Gruslied in the hind of Jean was a small red, ince-trimmed heart with the words, "To Jean, from Salina." 'lavas an exact duplicate of the letters to the snow. Now he, knew! Dear old Salina!' Ris'childhood sweet- hea,'t 1 The doorbell at Selina's rang with it Mond pen! right la the midst of the Christmas celebra- tion, "Who conid be Calling on Christ - nuts eve?" they all nvondered. "You had better- go, ettergo, Saline," said Mother, sweetly, Salina went, brushing aside a tear, as she did so. she opened the door. tis If in a. dream scene. She had apparently lost ell sense of reality far the moment, "Salina!" said Jean. "Jean, dear," replied Salina. The "dear" just slipping out from her heart before she knew 11. "My linins in the snow,"; said Jean, "The letter 'S,'‘," whispered Salina. "Merry Christmas!" shouted the whole family,