The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1958-12-23, Page 11The :GiftOf
A Dream
sr
Judy Keller
Through the hoary pane of my it all; But the thoughts of these
Window I -could see the muffling kings leaving me, renewed my
blanket of white, topped by a fears.
star -flung expanse of midnight
sky. One particularly brilliant Prepare Far ,laurney
star caught my eye as it winked Caspar rang a bell, and Mime -
ceaselessly into my drowsy mind, diatelee two cotor.edd servants.
Perhaps for this reason or per- appeared, willing and eager ,to
haps because the star sprang proceed on their• delayed journey.
from the east, I do not knew, but Still invisible to them, 1 slipped
at any rate my mind was drawn mit the doorway in front of Mei-
by some force back to that night chior and behind Caspar, and
exactly one thousand nine hun- none too soon, for "quick as a
tired and fifty-eight years ago to Wink" the palatial tent was col -
the night of Christ's birth. ' lapsed and the equipment placed •
Oh how 1 wish I had been on: the end camel in the train
there! of five,
The star seemed to beam These great beasts of burden
brighter • and to sail •closer . were decked in their finest
closer, I remember feeling dizzy , bridles and blankets, which glit-
tered brightly in the bobbing
torch lights. • The three kings
rode on the first three camels
and the fourth beast bore the
gifts of gold, frankincense and
material .composed three walls myrrh. It was on this :one that
while the fourth was a filmy 1 decided to travel.
translucent covering, in one To the experienced camel rider
corner a small incense burner the long night ride would have
busily performed its small sere• been immensely enjoyable, hut T
ice of filling the cubicle with a Old not find it so, Though invis-
heavy bitter-sweet odor. The only ible, I Ives very uncomfortable,
light in the room radiated forth The great •.ar was indeed.
in a limited circle from a tiny leading the wise men, It was
candle sitting in a gold, jewel- larger than the other heavenly
encruster holder, It was by this bodies, and a brilliant steady
light that I distinguished three while. Its celestial glow tarried
on the faces of the kings so that
they shone in wondrous splendor.
Suddenly, the star seemed to
halt, and a great shaft of light
stretched toward the ground, The
silent midnight –sky seemed to
come to life as a swelling choir
of heavenly voices arose, an-
nouncing a joyous event. The
servants cowered in terror, even
the docile camels stumbled crazi-
ly on their long legs. But the
kings pushed on as though in a
trance,
Star Became Stationary
then the sensation of falling , ,
falling — then nothing.
When I came to, l found My-
self in a strange semi -dark room,
Heavy curtains of a rich velvet
couches each piled high with
satin cushions,
These discoveries were made
in a matter of a few seconds.
All this time I was conscious of
a droning sound infiltrating
through the fourth wall,
Trips Over Ornate Urn
Making my way towards the
swaying curtains I perceived the
droning to be voices — men's
voices? Suddenly my feet tripped
over an object which in turn
clattered against a huge ornate
urn. The „result .'was paralyzing!
I. froze in my tracks! The voices On a lofty hill overlooking the
halted! The curtains were ;jerked small village of Bethlehem, they
aside to reveal a sight which finally halted their relentless
caused me to gasp for breath. drive, The reason for halting at
There silhouetted in the open- this point was immediately
lag was a veritable black• giant, visible, for it was here the stag
clad in gleaming gold and jewels, had finally taken its stationary
A voice behind him said in a soft position.
foreign tongue, which I could The slope fell gently at our
by some strange means under- feet, and the tiny houses and
stand: "Who is. there, Melchior?" inns snuggled closely to its pro -
The' black king looked directly te.ctive sides. The narrow streets
at the spot where I stood, I were dark and quiet, in fact the
thought I'd better try to explain whole town was blanketed in
my presence before being cut . darkness except for one spot, To
down by the cruel machete held this spot the star pointed its long £'
in his be -jewelled left hand. blow- shaft and to this spot the wise
ever he rejoined his companion's men started to walk, each carry -
remark withthe words, "No, it ing his gift of love.
is nothing, but the wind." The village was drugged in
A third voice rumbled pleas- sleep, so no one witnessed the
aptly, "All, my friends, Herod strange procession wending its
has us all on edge. Come Mel- way toward the stable.'
chior, let us go on with our It was as I knew from the
work. We have much to do." Bible; a stable with one wall
Then I knew! My wish had open, and from it radiated a
somehow been granted and I had brilliant light and soft but joyful
indeed gone back in time. I. knew music filtered through the night
both where I was and why I air,
was not seen. I was in. the tent Shepherds and . some sheep
of the "Three Wise Men" and I were there, all kneeling and tee -
could not be -seen because time ing the stable entrance. Their
had made me invisible. faces, too, had' that beautiful
Blazing Confusion Of Color celestial glow, which I had seen
on the faces of the kings.
Those kneeling were loathe to
remove their eyes from the
manger but made room for the
three kings (and myself) to pass.
The inside was warm. and smelled
of new -mown hay and the breath
of kine.
Second Section
mom- ,�.�,
Peg, 1vs
By David .Ducharrrre
"And it came to pass that t drdly beautiful, shining ,ahoy*
when. they were there her days our stable. The ox noticed it as
were accomplished, that she Well and was no less awed than
should be delivered. And she• I. Joseph returned and found
brought forth her first-born Son' that Mary had swept the stable
and wrapped Him in swaddling t and was arranging hay in ,a
clothes and laid him in a man -1 pile away from the draughty
ger. because there was .no room l door. This leek he gently .corn-
in the inn," !picked and having laid. Mary
And so the book, which Christ- ; thereon he began pulling ow*
fans call the Bible,
describes' hay, fresh and sweet-smelling,
the most wondrous event ever to ! and arranged.it in the smallest
take place on this earth. But I' manger near her.
too know of that momentous
;manger
loving labners finished.
event for I was at Bethlehem. , he knelt down in the cold door..
Yes. I, considered by man to he way to watch -..and prays with
be the lowliest of animals, was his eyes fervently fixed on hea-
Present in that tiny stable where . \'gn and his
ear intently listen.'
the Savior of mankind was, ing for any sounds from his bee
made :flan. I. the humble don- loved one.
key, along with my companion, ; The audible silence and the
the ox, was there io welcome tingling stillness of the sharp
the Christchild. I too can tell of winter night kept the ox and 1
the virgin birth. )from sleep.
H happened one starlit night , Cry Of The Newborn
nearly two thousand years ago, i Suddenly a cry—a feeble .cry
as men measure time, when the :the cry of the Newborn floated
ox and I lay huddled together; through the stable. My donkey
for warmth in a Jowly stable ; heart lept with unbounded joy
outsider Bethlehem. Half asleep, ; :for the faint cry which now rang
entering ourrtlthumble so bode. earas s? as�ethe lio chorus
ryuwl in
woullond
Vl'hen the man who had conte in save all men and open for them
held his lantern high, rve could `the gates of Heaven.
see that he was accompanied by j Joseph too, lept. but to the
a lady. She was young, beauti- side of the Mother. Together they
fully simple in her attire and !knelt; together they adored for
simply beautiful in her visage.. "the Word was made flesh" and
The man was also young, hand- ` God was now Man.
es some and strong, and clothed Above the stable the star, the
< as simpla* as she. Babe's star, shone with an ever,
increasing brilliance and around
it clustered multitudes of angels
kni
•y°
66e99 .44,64f66
44;6`6144'
*.4964.,
Boldly I entered the section of
the tent in which they conversed,
The second room was much like
the first only larger and well
lighted, Tapestries, drapes and
cushions blended together in a
blazing confusion of color and
richness, A table, on which were
piled papers and apparent astro-
nomical equipment, stood in the
centre. On one wall there was
an opening or window -like affect:
Around this, with their backs to
me, stood three men,
• The giant black, called Mel-
chior, whom I felt.I knew as a
friend, ' turned to the smallest
whose most prominent feature
was a long snow-white beard,
And said, "Caspar, do you really
feel that this star announces the
birth of a `promised one'?"
Caspar • turned slowly to face
the speaker, with a misty, almost
distant look in his kindly eyes,
and murmured in the delicious
tongue of the east, "Yes, and
not only that but this star is
leading us to his cradle."
The gruff voice I had heard
before turned out to. be that of
the third wise man, who was
short, but powerfully built. This
appearance, however, could fool
no one, because his blue eyes
twinkled good-naturedly, and a
slight smile played about his
generous mouth, even though the
matter at hand was gravely im-
portant.
This third' one -was called
bazar, and and as he listenedto the
other two conversing, he said, "I
do not think words produce ac-
tion. Come, the star is moving
again, let us go."
. By this time the initial surprise
of the time change had worn
away and I was rather enjoying
"Lying In A Manger"
Then I saw them, bathed in the
heavenly light, and surrounded
with the humble gifts of the
shepherds — a woman called
Mary, a man. called Joseph, and
a- babe "wrapped in swaddling
clothes and lying in a manger."
The kings presented the babe
with their gifts which looked even
more humble than those gifts of
the shepherds.
The music 'began to swell as
the very heavens poured forth
their joy at the coming of God's
only son "Tite'Proinised One."
As. I looked on the love -filled
scene feeling quite forlorn at
having no 'gift to give the ikaby
Jesus, I fancied that a shadow
of a very young girl in skirt and
sweater fell across the manger
and the Christ child saw, and
smiled approval.
At this time, I felt dizzy again
and had the same sensation of
falling into a bottomless abyss.
Once more my eyes opened
and I found myself still beside
my own window with the gray
light of dawn .filtering through
the icy designs. I thought back
to the manger scene and knew
that I hadn't given the Christ
child a gift, but ire had, instead,
given me a priceless one. One
which very few receive and can
get only in a dream -- the true
value and understanding of
Christmas.
19
.i
Here's Christmas'
r�•
cheer to aIi our fricitdst
and patrons. We thank yott tort
your loyalty and good will, and
we hope yotir holidays wilt be a tittle
tit high happiness, deep contentment, gifts galore
Riverside P► t
Poultry
Y
CO LTD,
HU MOO
London:
j010101.6-=tr4iiLu"ii ti0t 01it 0iIt it0it0it i3Oitr'it i' rit
:y�"_.w, ;.iii: lYE�Ii+,:i,�iC,=,_.�awUmin,:�
9
p
p!<
6:
ilk .i
•
Presenting the three prize -winners
in The Times -Advocate's annual Christmas
essay contest for SHDHS students. David Du-
charme's "The Donkey's Privilege" was awarded first
prize; "The Christmas Miracle" by David Noakes placed
second, and third went to Judy Keller for "The Gift of a Dream."
1116
The Christmas Mirade:
It was a peaceful night. Snow-
flakes tumbled slowly earthward
and from some street corner the
voices of lusty carollers drifted
on the frosty air.
Hamish Mac.Uonald turned
from the window and returned
to pacing the floor, Why dict it
have to be this way? Why
coultlii't it be different if only
for the sake of the children?
Here it was Christmas eve
and Ilamish -MacDonald could
only look forward to a bleak,
empty Christmas for his family
of six.
It was different with the other
men; they could work in the
mines; they didn't have to wor-
ry about long infection.
flow could you have a merry
Cltt"istncas with the ineatne from
an insurance policy? You could
hot expeet help from the neigh-
bors, they had had a had year
too, Life Is never easy in t Nova
Scotia.. ruining town.
But this WAS Different
hiS ecus not the first time
Irani. st had
t l!net with Sorrow.
iris father had died to a Mine
ex losion and ltt~, himself, had
helped carry h'is brother's life-
less body front the Tangled ruin
Of adevastated Mixte. No,this
Wasn't the first. lime, but this
was different, How could you
By David Noakes
tell a five-year-old chitd why stumbling blindly down a dark
Santa Claus didn't come to your i road and then ,!
house? How could you afford a E Just then something happened
turkey dinner on twenty dollars to Cause I -tarnish to look up, The
a week? It was too much for one clouds in the sky had parted to
man t,o e o nt p r e te e n d. Over-' reveal the moon and a portion
wrought with grief, Itantish ;et the star-spangled sky. One
sank onto a hard, wooden chair i star, in particular, seemed ex -
and for the first time in his life ceedingly bright' to Hamish and
he cried. Bitter Sobs that wrack -fits light appeared to shine in a
ed his very soul. I most peculiar manner. It re -
Soon, however, he gained eon. minded ilamish of something in
trot of him) elf and, rising, he. !Itis boyhood. Then he remember -
slipped into his thin,worn over -ed. The Star of Bethlehem, the
coat. He stuffed his aked hands !very star that shone at the birth
deep into his pockets to keep ' of 'C"hrist, that's what it was.
them warm and then he stepped' As Ruttish stood •there in that
out into the night. Perhaps a Ruttish ;eelestiat radiance he remember-
rvaik would clear his head. ed that timeless story but now it
lie wandered about.aimlessly, seemed to have a fuller Meals -
not caring where he went. Pre-
scatty, be looked up' to see Hanish turned from that pit
where he was. Ile stopped ed short, ! of ,darkness and, slowly at first,
An idea struck ]tint, lIe quicken-; then more quickly and finally
Acct his pace and soon reached at a rut), he retraced his• steles
his iibjective, the old. quarry, to town, lie needed some place
really an old open pit mine. !to go cohere there Was peace
some 70 feet deep. Hamish stood' and solitude in which he could
on the lip 'of the crater far, a . th'ink out his problems—the vil-
long time, conteniptating, lage church, that was the piece!!
It Oleos remained open ori
Would Look Like` An Aticident Christmas eve and 'the 'kindly
Stire, why not? It would solve minister would be there to com-
a lot of. things. Margret and the fort him.
kids could -collect on his Instr. It Was well hast nridpigttt
ante and could live' halt -decent• when llamislt returned home
Ty 'once Morn. It would be look- from the church, but Tin Was a
eel upon as anti accident, A man changed Man. `Ito went to bed:
and immediately fell into a
sound, peaceful sleep.
A Christmas Noise
It was the strange noise that
awakened Hamish. He satup-
right in heti to see the first
feeble rays of morning sunlight
streaming in through the east
window. Again he heard the
noise at the front door. Quickly
he pulled on his trousers and
went to investigate. He flung
open the door and stood in open-
mouthed, utter amazement.
Piled high on the-doorsterr was
a great mound of gift -wrapped
boxes. There was also a Christ-,
Inas tree, baskets of baking and
a huge roasting pan which un-
doubtedly contained a turkey.
On top was a note addressed to
Flemish, It read simply, "Merry
Christmas", "tittering a joyous
whoop, Hamish sprang upon the
pile and dragged it- into the
hoose.,
Ilamish and his fanuly enjoy-
ed the best Christmas of their
lives that day, The people of
the town still wonder how that
pile of gifts arrived on Ham-
isit's doorstep. ii`antislf,, however,
has a simple explanation, He
claims it was placed there by
the Spirit of •Cltristtliaa and the
good Presbyterian minister"' Is
the first to back up this opintioni.
"No More Room In The Inn"
He was obviously disturbed adoring the Child and chanting •
for he kept muttering' the words, i "Glory to God in the highest and
"Caesar", "census" and adding,
"no more room in the inn", the
meanings
on earth to men of good
meanings of which neither will".,
nor the ox hew anything. F'er The humble shepherds, who had.
i And then the shepherds came.
haps you do. d
Worried as he was leis detro. !been . told of the virgin birth by
tion to his spouse was in no way t the angelic choir, had journeyed
lessened for it showed itself in + to Bethlehem that they too
the very manner in which he !might adore and! glorify God.
That is the story, the two
lovingly and tenderly addressed i thousand years old story which
his "". No less!I know and which man must
ardent
wife loveas wasNary present in her : know and believe to benefit from
regard to the gentle Joseph. J his Savior's coming, It all came
Immediately the blessed cote -,to pass in the little town of
pie prepared to spend the night. Bethlehem near Jerusalem when ,
Joseph ran out to gather wood; "she brought forth her first,
for a fire and my gaze, in fol -!born son and wrapped him in
lowing him, discovered a star, + swaddling clothes and laid him
marvelously�oubright andte► splen- in a ,manger ... y g
;l� :.trel'� tfii1 fir .C.C. � . C. �..C.Weri 71 i.�';:fi�'I C t •.'.�r; i
Good cheer to you
• R and a bountiful measure cif
happy memories to cherish Iong
after this Christmas day has passed,
Exeter Farm Equipment
R. D. Jermyn
PHONE 508
' EXETER
for you all the joys and
blessings of the
seasOn. May abiding pang
and liapPinets be yours.
EXETER
DISTRICT
PhOne /8/ Coiled
Prot Delivery