The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-12-19, Page 1• . .
Editor's Note:
Lynne Nicolson of R. R. 1, Holyrood is
the winner of a Christmas fiction writing
contest held by the Village Squire publica-
tion. Two prizes were awarded because of,
the closeness of the competition. One goes
to Lynn for her story of an old man's wish
for a white Christmas called simply A
White Christmas. The other prize was
awarded to Esther Ross of Goderich for her
story, One Gift Was Gold.
We have reprinted Lynne's story as a
special contribution to our Christmas
edition. Congratulations, Lynne!
A White Christmas
The last, the last leaf of autumn was
picked up by the bitter wind and sent into
flight. It flew past the houses whose
- chimneys showed the signs of a blazing fire
inside; past ' the sign on the door of
Stofield's Variety which read; Gone for
week, Merry Christmas, Mr. F. Stofield;
and past the post 'office whose blinds had
The
• - • -4-4'..64.!: 1
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• •
wrtttng contest
A White Christmas
been drawn since lunchtime. The leaf
rested but a minute on .the cold bare
sidewalk and was once again lifted by the
tireless wind, this time sending the leaf
whirling around the town cenotaph. It
kissed the lifeless soldier on the head and
then was away again.
the window a few minutes, but they had
taken ton on his weary body,
Slowly, Mr. Wester made his way across
the bare wooden floor to his bed. The
springs creaked like his bones. A sign of
old age,
"We'll hav to be replacin' it soon," Mr. ,
it was the old man's dream' to gee
a white Christmas one more time
A short story by Lynne Nicolson'
'Mr. Wester had watched the journey of
the leaf and wondered why the wind
carelessly threw it against the telephone
building, fire hydrants and hydro _ poles
without giving it a few Minutes to rest.
Rest, yes he must rest. He had only been at
Wester's housekeeper would say.
"We'll keep it a- few more years yet,"
Wester would says d'I'd never be able to
sleep in anything 'else, Etty."
Mrs. Ester would turn on her heels in
mock disgust and chuckle good naturedly
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1979
SECOND SECTION
to herself as she descended the stairs to
Start tea, Mrs. Ester had becn,with Mr.
Wester since he had lost his wife; "that
was twenty .years ago," she calculated to
herself, "yes, twenty years today."
"I need someone to cook the a Christmas
dinner," he had said 'when she replied to
Mr. Wester's advertisement, "That's all."
But she had stayed, despite the old man's
pride. These past few months 'had been
hard though, in all of her twenty years with
him. Etty began to hear the ;teapot.
"Old age," the doetor has said, "all I
can suggest is .bedrest."
"You mean...y6b. mean it won't be long,.
until... until..." Mrs. Ester had been
unable to go on, but the doctor had known
what she meant and had slowly nodded his
head. In all his profession, it was these
moments he feared the most and it was
these moments he remembered.
When the doctor had gone, Mrs. Ester
had wept silently into her apron.
Mrs. Ester shook her head and sighed
• heavily. She had known, she had known.
Age, she•thought and, went into the pantry
to get some cookies. •
Wester listened, to the clock which stook
at the bottom of the. stairs. Four o'clock, it
• chimed, "tea time", he. thought. "Where
was Etty?" The teacups rattled on the tray
as Mrs. Ester came through the bedroom
door.
"Eight more hours," she sang cheerily',
`eight more hours until Christmas morn."
"Hmph, Christmas coming and not a bit
of snow on the grend," he grumbled. Now
you tell me Etty, what's Christmas without
Turn to page 20
Letters toSanta
from Kinloss students
Dear Santa, •
Think you for last year's
Will you leave the presents
Will you please bring me a
grader, and 'will you `leave under the tree, Santa?
the presents underthe tree.
P.S. Will you bring me a
race set too? • 1,•
• Your friend, .
Ronnie Kunkel.
Race set
• Dear Santa,
Thank you for last year's
toys. Can yon guess what 1
want? I *apt a 'race set.
• • Your friend,
Jo-anne Murray.
I've been good
41.t1
Santa's picture.
Dear Santa, •
• I would like a doll and a
yo-ynand a picture of you for
Christmas. That's. what I
want for Christmas. Thank
you Santa for the, toys you
gave me last year.
Your friend,
Debbie Morrison.
Tow truck
Dear Santa Claus,
I would like a toy tow truck
and grader and a big truck.
Your friend,
Steven.
Dear Santa,
I'm happy with your toys
from last year. I've been
good all year. I'd like a
tractor and two taee cars.
They are fun to play with,
and you can play with them
too.
Apieriogro
r
Your friend,
Roger Knorr.
I like you Santa
Dear Santa,
Thank you for the resents
Santa. 1 like my yo- a that
you gave me. I lik you
Santa. Please,bring e a
kissing doll this year.
, Your friend,
Sherry Murray.
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