HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1947-12-25, Page 2• tD
111111111111.11111
111111l1�il'tilik •Iiiie 1111 11116-
u�►i, �!!I►I
By DANIEL F. LINDSAY
Tom Larkin opened the kitchen
door: His wife looked up with a
hopeful smile as he entered. He.
just shook I-'1 head.
"No mail at all?" she said as
she went on fixing dinner.
"Oh, there were a couple of
ado and a bill from the seed com-
pany." He hung his hat on a hook
and crossed to the -pump. His
white hair was damp around his
face when he straightened up
again.
"It's just not like Bill," she
sighed.
"Bill's got an unforgivin' streak,
always did have, even when he
was a little feller." Pa's old briar
gave off a pungent odor as he lit
it.
"But this is different, Tom,"
she said, putting a pan of biscuits
in the oven, "tomorrow is Christ-
mas. It's a long way to the coast.
Maybe he wrote but didn't mail
it in time."
"Ma," his tired old voice was
filled with bitterness, "there's no
need to stick pins in yourself by
hopin'. Christmas or no Christmas
that boy is still mad."
The old lady's eyes shone with
faith. "He might stay mad all
year long, but when Christmas
comes ... he'll write, I know. I'm
his Ma."
"Don't forget," Tom said as he
blew smoke at the ceiling. His
eyes crinkled at the corners, "Im
his father."
"Dinner's ready, Pa," she said,
filled with a deep longing and
fought to keep the tears out of
her voice.
"I c'n understand that boy still
bein' mad at me, but why does he
have to take it out on you?"
"You're wrong, Tom," Ma re-
plied as she lifted her head and
smiled. "The day after Christmas,
first delivery, we'll get a letter.
You'll see."
"Not from him," he shook his
head grimly.
The bringing in of the yule log
originated in England during medic-
val times, The log was dragged into
the great hall at the beginning of the
Christmas feast and was the occa-
sion of the rendering of the Christ-
mas toast, which is, in part: "This
iyule log burns. It destroys old-
/ hatreds and
ld•/hatredsand misunderstandings. Lett
your envies vanish, and let the spir-
it of good fellowship reign supreme
for this season and through all the
year."
The yule log represents "Peace
on earth, good will toward men."
Surrounded by myth by primitive
peoples, the mistletoe was taken
'over by Christians who also wove
:fanciful legends around it.
In .ancient mythology, the mis-
tletoe was the instrument of evil.
The Druids of Britain believed the
plant possessed healing powers. Oth-
er primitive people thought that mis-
tletoe found growing on oaks had
magical powers.
Taken over into Christian tradi-
tion, the mistletoe was dedicated to
the Christ Child. Adopted as aymJ
bolieal of the healing power o%
our Lord, it was used to adorn they
altars at Christmas, Monks of thea
monasteries called it the "wood of
tn c cross" and attributed supernat-
u - 1 powers to it. The white berries,
were, said to refect the radiance
c f*tit. from the guiding star when;
I Wise Men were led to the'.
,hanger.
"You're forgettin' Judy," she re-
minded him u they sat down.
"She's a good daughter-in-law.
"Oh, I'm not blamin' her," re-
plying as he covered his biscuits
with gravy, "Judy's a fine girl. It's
his bull-headed pride."
She got up and taking the cof-
fee pot off the cook stove filled
his cup. They ate in silence. Fin.
.ally he pushed his plate back.
"You aren't eatin' much," he
scolded.
"I'm just not hungry, Pa."
"I see," he stood up. "I'm goin'+
out and turn the heater on in the°
"She could see Pa striding into
the living room."
hen house. It'll be cold tonight."
His old shoulders slumped for-
ward as he went outside. She
shook her head and started pick-
ing up the dishes. Her mind sank
back into the past. To the days
when Christmas was alive with
the excitement and laughter of
young voices. She could see Pa
striding into the living room bear-
ing a large evergreen on his
shoulder. Behind him there was
always a highly excited little boy,
bearing an axe. She wondered if
the little boy ever thought of it.
Pa came back on the porch. She
smiled as he kicked his toe against
the threshold. It's a wonder, she
thought, that there's any thres-
hold left after all these years. He
came into the kitchen, dumping an
arm load of kindling in the box
behind the range.
"Snowin', Pa?"
He shook his head and took off
his wraps, replying, "Stopped."
She hung the dish towels up to
dry. He pulled a rocker in from
the living room and sat down.
"Everything all right in the
barn?" Ma asked as she threw a
lew lumps of coal in the fire.
"Sure," Pa said. A sad smile
crossed his lips, "what's the use
pretendin', Ma? We're both feelin'
blue."
She sat down at the old kitchen
table and started peeling apples,
uttered, "I know it."
"Gonna bake me a pie?" he
asked.
She nodded. "Apple was always
Billy's favorite, too."
"Now, Ma, what's the use of
," he stopped as they heard
a car drive up in the yard. "Must
be Jim Rogers. Said today that
new calf of his was etch." He
opened the kitchen door and peer-
ed out into the night. She could
hear him catch his breath as he
watched a man and a woman get
out. "Ma, who do you think?" his
voice was low.
"I knew," Ma laughed as she
laid the paring knife down with
a happy smile, "I knew it all the
time."'
Whichl
"Of course, I must ask you for a
deposit," said the landlady,
"Certainly," replied the new ten-
ant, handing over the required sum.
"Thanks. Now, shall we trust
each other or do you want a re-
eel/A?"
• CHRIST.
addcilio
.Vor Chriiiinad
'THERE'S more to buying toys
than merely getting something
• for a youngster to play with.
Home management specialiafs
emphasize five points worth remem-
bering in puiehasing playthings for
children:
1. Safety. Keeping the age of the
child In mind, youngsters shodld not
be given a sharp knife, chemistry
set, air rifle or a tool kit until they
are old enough to handle them with
care. Electric train equipment
should be kept in good repair to
prevent shock or burn. Infants
should be guarded against whist
with removable mouthpiece:
stuffed animals with pin or button
eyes, wheels and strings not secure•
be fastened, and small nailing.
2. Cleanliness. Toys should lend
themselves to being cleaned with-
out damage.
8. Construction. Well made toys
are capable• of much wear and tear,
with fragile playthings encouraging
destructiveness in a child.
4. Versatility, A toy that offers
many imaginative uses will intrigue
a child longer. Blocks of various
shapes and sizes have more con-
struction possibilities than the usual
sets.
5. Variety. Toys of different sizes,
shapes, textures and colors develop
different muscles and different
kinds of interests.
Too many toys, like no toys at all,
are a mistake. The child is dis-
tracted by the variety and not given
the opportunity to develop the po-
tentialities of the toys he has. It
must also be appreciated that the
price of a toy does not determine
its real value since a cheap play-
thing may provide a youngster with
as much enjoyment as a more ex-
pensive one.
A department store Santa Claus
listened to a long recital of requests
by a tot, assuring her he would do
his beat to meet her requirements.
Before she left, Santa handed her
a bright red apple. "What do you
want Santa to do now?" her moth•
yr asked.
The moppet promptly snapped:
"Peel It"
I ref t .12ffCIOf7171PZiTC
THE BRBADMAN
The Breadman is an example of ,the.
cheerful efficiency which we have come.
to depend on and which means so much
to us. Foul weather or fair, each day brings
him to our door to serve our needs.
Men like this, some of Canada's finest,
are in the public's - service -at your
service.
DAWES BLACK HORSE BREWERY
One of a series of advertisements in tribute to those Canadians in the service of the public
The Quaker Ful -O -Pep Feed booth was a very busy spot
during the Royal Winter Fair. Everyone expressed keen inter-
est in the two valuable heifer caitres on display, before being
awarded to tate two otttstancling boys or girls in junior dairy
and beef cattle work. Many feeders stopped by to talk about
the much discussed feed situation. The general opinion seethed
to be that, although things look bad at the Moment, most farm-
ers are optimistic and expect a favourable adjustment in prices.
Many farmers made enquiries about the availability of Ful -O -
Pep Feeds in their particular districts. Now that supplies are
easier we can make more Ftil-0-Pep Feeds but as yet we are
not at peak production. However, the high quality standard of
vitamin -rich Ful -O -Pep Feeds is being maintained is 'ucllcss of
shortages and new developments in the commercial feed pic-
ture. Ful -O -Pep feeders are protected because, with Ful -O -Pep,
quality avvays comes 'first.
REG'LAR FELLERS—Hold It
1.001 A TWAT
CALCNDAR-
'rHA'S ALL!
- 014 THAT?
THA'S JUST
BECAUSE. t
TORE() SOME.
Exrr.A LEAVES OFF
BY MI STAKE'
-AH'•ME MOWN'
t.IIGs A HOI$sr
THINKIN' CR15'MUS
WAS JEST AROUND
t TH'
CORNER.!
HAW
By GENE BYRNES
WELL I AIN'T
D0114' ALLTI1AT
W021:. FOR, 1,1011-1114'l
I'M T7,4.11',,l' ALLTHl5
WOOD AN' COAL BACK
WHERE IT P,ELONG5!
tri, o rt; l:,i r cNo �s,•
Deere