HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1943-12-23, Page 6Mrs. Santa Claus
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Last Christmas our local jew
airy store added two new de-
partments we never had carried
before. One was a top counter,
where a selection of movie da11e
was featured, The other—an op-
tical department—catered to the
trade who could not afford glass-
es unless they could arrange to
pay for them on credit.
Visiting the shop the night be-
fore Christmas, I watched a tiny
little girl . I'm sure she
couldn't have been more than six
standing before the already
sadly depleted doll counter. Her
eyes were big as she looked up
at the one doll still unsold, .and
there was a child's longing -1n
then as she tugged at the tat-
tered overall jacket of her father,
busy talking to the optometrist.
"Daddy," she called, her voice
shrill with excitement, "look!
Isn't it the darlingest thing? Do
you think Santa will bring it to
me?"
The man's tired face turned
toward her, and a hurt expression
flushed across it settling hope..
lessly in the gray eyes. "'Fraid
not, Mary," he answered. "I saw
Santa in a store down the street
a while ago, and he said that
'-e'd be about out of everything
by the time he reached our house.
Beckon he might have some
sweets, or maybe a rag doll
though. And he's promised for
sure to bring those glasses."
"Ob.!" 'Tears were in her eyes,
but she fought them back brave-
ly, and her worn coat sleeve
wiped the last trace of them
.away.
"Come on, Mary," the optome-
trist called, taking the little girl
by the hand.
The optometrist turned to the
father. "I'll make a special effort
to finish them tonight," he said.
He was back soon, a slip in
his hand. "I've fixed it with the
management. A dollar now, and
a dollar a month until the balance
of five dollars is paid."
Mary had returned for a final
look at the toy. "Don't you think,
Daddy, that the glasses could
Dome as a birthday present, and
. oh, I did want a doll so
badly? But ... but I won't cry."
Her father hadn't heard. He
was busy feeling in his pockets
for the dollar needed for the
down paymert. He found a lean
wallet, and from it pulled a quar-
ter and seven dimes. He counted
them over twice, a scared look
on his face, then began a renew-
ed search. Triumphantly, he
finally produced an eighth dime,
and handed the silver to the op-
tometrist.
As the man in overalls and his
elfin daughter started toward the
door, the girl behind the doll
counter looked at the optometrist,
then at me, a tear in her eye.
Then she ran after the pair.
"Wait a moment — isn't your
name Mary'?" she asked.
"Uh huh?" the little girl an-
swered, bewildered.
"Then I guess Santa meant
you. He was here just a few
minutes ago, and said he had a
doll for a little girl named Mary,
but he was afraid he wouldn't
have the time to deliver it. Then
he remembered that the little
girl's father said he was coming
here, so he asked me if I'd keep
the doll and give it to you. That's
it, up on the counter. Take it
and run away, because I'm so
busy I haven't time to talk."
+ * s
Shyly, Mary reached up for
the proffered treasure, and hug-
ged it close.
Mary was speechless while her
benefactor busied herself behind
the counter, Suddenly the girl
felt a tug at her skirt, and Mary
was at her side, looking up at her.
"I believe you're Mrs. Santa
Claus," the child whispered, awe
in her voice.
As the door closed behind the
pair, the girl took her purse from
her bag and looked inside.
"Mrs. Santa Claus, indeed!" I
heard her mutter. "Lucky for
me this is pay day, or Mrs, Santa
wouldn't eat tomorrow."
The Chinese Pay
Bills At Christmas
Although their usually elabor-
ate holiday feasts are somewhat
simpler these days, the Chinese
atilt exchange gifts. In fact, the
soldiers thereabouts found gift-
giving is a national weakness,
And every Oiliness tries to pay
e tv'Q
If You Are Born
Oen Christmas Day
There is a Scottish belief that
to be born on Christmas is to
have the power to see spirits' and
even to command them. Sir Wal-
ter Scott says that the Spaniards
attributed the haggard and down-
cast looks of Philip II to the ter-
rible visions he was able to see
because he -was gorn on Christ-
mas.
French peasants believe that
babies born on Christmas have
the gift of prophecy.
In Silesia a baby born on
Christmas will become either a
lawyer or a thief:
In middle Europe it is said
that if a baby is born at sermon
time Christmas Eve, someone in
the house will die within the
year.
English mothers used to take
sick babies to the ctoor Christmas
Eve midnight. Mary was expected
to pass with the Christ Child. If
the baby recovered, it was• a sign
that it had been touched by
Christ, with healing fingers, and
if it died, the Christ Child had
called the bah; to be His play-
mate, in heaven.
paSiZtty
CHRISTMAS
all his bills at Christmas time,
so he inay begin the New Year
do tless, if penniless.
Christmas celebrati, ns are par-
titularly widespread in Chung-
king, the capital, for General
Chiang Kai-shek is a Methodist
and 'a large percentage of the
Chinese are Christians.
Soldiers in India will have an
English Christmas bra semi -t ep-
its
ecce on (Earth
06MlCY to $"-CTI
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!"
Then peeled the .bells more loud and
deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth He sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good -will to
men."
A , A S
CHRIST E
EY C`genao"ne
Christmas greetings—one and a11—
Young and old, big and small.
Greetings to the busy mother
Loved by big and 111 brother:°
Greetings to the Daddy who
Finds these days so Much to do.
Greetings to the teacher tired,
And the children so inspired
With the noise of .Christmas cheer—
Grandest sound of all the year!
Yes --greetings to you everyone—
And lots to eat and lots of fun!
But...
Where there is a saddened heart,
Where the tears are quick to start;
Where a mother hides her grief
Knowing tears are scan E• relief.
Ntiere an ear is tuned to hear
Rumblings of unspoken fear;
Where a father, proud and tense,
Carries on, despite suspense.
ClarK
Where a chair must vacant be
Since 'Our Tom" put out to' sea;
Or else a boy in khaki clad—
Perchance again an airforce lad—
Where such things be—oh take niy hand,
And let me say—"I understand!"
A Day will come—we know not when
But come it must. And then—yes then—
The belts will ring with clarion call
Good Will on Earth and Peace to all .. .
'Til that time comes our way is clear—
At Christmas and throughout the year;
To work; to cheer; to give our aid—
Tireless; boundless unafraid!
Them let us celebrate this Day—
This Christmas—in the good old way.
And at the end -0 let us pray—
"Bring Peace, dear Lord, NEXT Christmas
Day." /
ical surroundings. Most of the
Christian population is English
and . there are Christmas trees,
church services, nativity page-
ants and huge Christmas dinners
-just like hone.
—o—
t eceinber is derived from
"decem," meaning ten. In the old
Boman calendar the year be;;an
in March and December was the
tenth month.
n
—Longfellow
"Christmas Bells"
Some Traditions
Of Christmas Day
The tradition of Santa Claus
riding 3n a sleigh drawn by rein-
deer is said to have originated in
Holland where St. Nicholas was
supposed to make his rounds on
Woden's (god of the elements
and harvest) horse. His chimney
sliding propensities may be traced
to the old English custom of
cleaning the chimneys at the be-
ginning of the year in prepare,
Eon for the entry of good luck
into the home.
As 'a receptacle 'for Santa
Claus' gifts, the stocking with its
obvious roomy advantages de-
veloped from the shoe -used by
the European child and. placed on
the hearth, signifying the owner
was in bed. In. Germany and
Scandinavia the children usually
search for their toy. which are
hidden away in unexpected places,
while in manl districts of Spain
and Italy gifts are distributed to
the children at elaborate street
:estivals.
Peace, Good -Will
."It isn't the giving, or getting
alone
Of gifts that has brought on
the Christmas -time tone,
'But rather the peace that your
heart holds -•-and then
The honest good -will that you
Show unto nten"
re 4e,
•