HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1967-12-25, Page 9ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS — CHRISTMAS EDITION
One Hundred Free Christmases
For Canadians; First For George
George Velky sat •cross legged
in the snow, the village lights
spread out two miles below in
the valley. He was in a small
clearing on a high knoll, sur-
rounded on three sides by tow-
ering pine trees. The streak of
northern moonlight that cut a
shimmering path across the
hard crust of snow fell directly
on him.
It was the night before Christ-
mas and George Velky sat there
with a smile lighting his rugged
face --talking to a bird,
He knew he made an amus-
ing picture, but that wasn't why
he smiled. The smile was born
from joy that overflowed his
heart and spread to the tips of
his fingers. Far George Velky
was a free man, about to cele-
brate his first Christmas in a
country that had known a hun-
dred years of free Christmases.
The huge Slovak miner
turned his eyes toward the vil-
lage below. The Christmas
lights on every house winked
back through the crisp, peace-
ful night.
George Velky looked at the
bird. "You're wrong if you
think I don't know you," he
said. for George knew him well.
He had seen many of them and
had marvelled that the birds
never flew away as he ap-
proached.
George had checked the vil-
lage library as he did about
many strange things in his new-
ly -adopted land. It was a Spruce
Grouse. One of the few birds
that •had never learned to fear
man. I•t could be killed easily
with a stick or stone. People
called it a Fool Hen because of
its unwary manner.
Suddenly to the right, a loud
crack like the report of a shot-
gun shattered the •silence as one
of the huge evergreens gave
way to the frost. George Velky
jumped up hurriedly and
turned toward the sound. When
he looked back, the bird had
not moved.
George leaned forward until
his face was no more than three
feet from the bird's. "Don't
look so puzzled," he said. "You
have nomemories to make you
jump like that."
The new Canadian pulled the
collar of his thick brown jacket
around his ears, adjusted his
Christmas
Wishes
Our very best
wishes for a truly
wonderful Christmas.
Gerry Smith
Gerry Rader
BARBERS
364 Main St. Exeter
red cap and shuddered at the
memory that had made him
jump,
He :looked down at the lights
of the village for reassurance.
They winked back the same
warm message they had earlier
in the evening.
George Velky had never been
asked and had never told why
it was that he left his homeland
and came to Canada almost a
year go. In fact he had not
thought about it much. His
thoughts and energies had been
concentrated on his future in
this new land.
A second tree split to its roots
as the frost reached its heart.
The sound shook the still night
air and the Spruce Grouse
blinked as the man jumped to
his feet. The bird remained
calm.
George Velky smiled as he
sat down. "I know," said the
man, "you wonder why I jump.
You may not understand it, but
I'll tell you anyway."
Sitting high above the village
he had come to love, the snow
beginning to fall gently around
him, he began to talk.
"I had to get out, you see
Fool Hen?" he began. "A man
can't live without freedom. He
can't Live with suspicion and
violence. You must know what.
I mean. That's why you're here
where there are few people to
harm you. It's the same thing."
George Velky was now caught
up in the story. He told of his
escape from Czechoslovakia,
how they had dressed in track
suits to make the border guards
think they were eager oatrsrnen
out for a training session on
the river; and how a bullet had
dug into the 's•mall boat he and
his friend had rowed madly
across the Danube.
They had reached Austria
after a rough ride, arriving in
Vienna clad only in their wet
tract suits. They sought help
from a refugee organization
and were given clothes and a
few Schillings to buy a hot
meal. They had earned their
freedom.
He told how he had read of
Canada and her celebration of
one hundred years of freedom
and how, after a difficult start,
he had found work the kind
of work he knew—in this small
village in Northern Ontario.
How he fought the language
barrier and saved every penny
for the day his family would
arrive.
He told how his wife and son
had finally been freed and how
a train was carrying them this
very minute to the village that
winked at them from below.
He told how he was looking
forward •to the expression his
wife's face when she saw the
lovely small house he had
rented.
George Velky spoke rapidly
We greet you and
wish you an abundance
of the season's joy.
Tieman's Hardware & Fur
Dashwood
iture
•
Cihe hells
ring out
with joy-
ful notes
and voices
merrily echo
their song: Merry
Christmas to all!
CLIFF RUSSELL
Imperial Oil Agent
RR 2, Dashwood Phone 238-2481
now, "Thing of it, Fool Hen,"
he said. "Tomorrow will be my
first really free Christmas and
I" celebrate it with my family.
And it will be one hundred free
Christmases for all Canadians,"
Halfway down the slope, a
giant pine tree snapped in the
cold. The deafening roar rolled
over the man and the bird.
The bird ju raped, but the man
sat still and smiled,
"Think •of it, Fool Hen, just
think of it," he said.
MUSIC ON THE MENU
Before you sit down to
Christmas dinner this year, put
a stack of Christmas records an
to play or tune your radio to
your favorite music station.
Even though family chatter
will undoubtedly be heard above
everything else, it is surprising
how much enjoyment can be
had by soft background music
while you dine. Try it this
year.
�,/s children Kutch and children wait, we wish
all of you the true jobs of Christmas time.
is
When a Star shone
brightly over Bethlehem, the Christ Child
was born, We relive, at Christmas, the
wonder and glory again as we share with all
men the joys and blessings of the season.
BRAID'S GENERAL STORE
Shirley and Ron Braid
Dashwood