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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-22, Page 8• • • ° .0' .ice0,0: `0' 'W 0.W WO- . ' ,0 A little Cowboy's Christmas BY MARCIA MARTIN Lawrenee was just a little boy, but he was very clever when it came to playing cowboy. He could tell you exactly how real cowboys dressed, because he had a com- plete cowboy outfit himself. He needed only a little help each morning to put on his plaid shirt and his complete cowboy outfit. Lawrence loved being a cowboy, so you will not be surprised to hear what he asked for when Daddy took him to visit Santa Claus. While they were waiting in line, Daddy asked Lawrence if he knew what he wanted, and Lawrence nodded his head. "Now you can't ask Santa for more than three things," warned Daddy. "Three? Why, I only what one," answered Lawrence. "And I can't tell you what it is, because it's a secret between Santa and me." When Lawrence's turn came, he stood on his very tiptoes so he could reach Santa's ear. Then he said very loudly, "I want a white horse, please, Santa- like cowboys ride out west." "Oh my goodness, "thought Daddy. "Whatever would we do with a white horse? We have no place to keep it. Qh dear, oh dear, we must stop this." Lawrence was so interested in watching three at home. Nothing more was said that day about the horse. In fact, it was mention- ed again until Christmas Eve. That little boy could really keep a secret. It was just after Lawrence had hung up his stocking that he turned to his mother and daddy and said, "I can't tell you what I am going to get from Santa Claus tomorrow, but if I were you, I would have some oats in the house." He grinned, winked, climbed into bed, and rolled under the covers. "Now look -a -here, ,podner," his daddy said anxiously, "don't be too disappointed when that white horse doesn't arrive." Daddy knew he shouldn't have said it, for Lawrence's eyes opened very wide and he looked very unhappy. Then he hid his face in his pillow and said, "Santa told you! He didn't keep my secret. I don't like Santa Claus or Christmas!" Lawrence's mommy and daddy looked at each other, and sat down beside his bed. "There, there," said his daddy. "We don't want you to be unhappy on Christmas Eve. I'll see if I can find Santa and tell him it's all right to bring you a horse." Lawrence sat straight in his bed. "Will you, Daddy? Right now, Daddy?" "Yes, right now," said his daddy, as he went to get his coat and hat. "Of course it's bP"",nin' ,r,r1 T rnAv harm a hard tirnp fin- ding him, lout I will try." the twirling lassos that he didn't even miss his daddy when lie diappeared for a minute. Lawrence heaved a sigh and snuggled Daddy dashed up to Santa Claus' chair. "Oh under the blanket. "You'll find him, Daddy. please, Santa," begged Daddy. "The only I know you will," he called from his darken - thing I want for Christmas is for you not to ed room. bring Lawrence a horse." "Now what do I do?" thought Daddy to "All right," Santa agreed. "If you put it himself as he started off in his car. By this that way. But remember you are time the snow was coming down very hard, responsible." but Daddy kept driving, up one street and "Thank you so much," smiled Daddy, and down the next. Finally Daddy found himself he rushed back to the lasso counter. Dads driving on a narrow country road that he whistled gaily and even bought Lawrence had never seen before. another lasso, although there were already "I'd better find my way home," he th• Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus BY FRANCIS P. CHURCH We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communi- cation below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friend of The Sun: Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West 95th Street Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere in- sect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world around him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist; and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no en- joyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe, in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real thingsin the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside; but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. This editorial first appeared in THE SUN, September 21, 1897. BEST WISHES for the HOLIDAY SEASON! Water Culligan Conditioning 376 Hayfield Rd., Goderich 524-9571 r Season's Greetings g and have a 14 14 M Merry Christmas 1 iifrom Geraldine Johnston g BLUFFS MOTEL 1 g524-7396 ti GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1987—PAUL ifs thought sadly, "and stop looking tor Santa Claus." Just then he noticed a light shining in a funny hitle house near the road. "Maybe those people can tell me where I am," he thought as he got out of the car and started to) walk. As he came closer to the house, Daddy noticed that it looked something like a store. "What a strange place to find a store," thought Daddy. And then he saw it, shining in the window, a beautiful white rocking horse, big enough for Lawrence to ride! "That's it!" Daddy thought. "A white rocking horse! Even if I can't find San- ta, Lawrence will have his horse." tie knocked on the door, and the door was opened by a jolly man with a fine bushy white beard. "I want to buy the white rock- ing horse in your window," said Daddy. The jolly man answered, "I promised it to a little boy for a Christmas present, but his daddy said he couldn't have a horse. So I will be happy to give it to your little boy as a special present from me." "Thank you!" Daddy said, so excited at finding the white horse that he almost flew to the window. He took the horse under his arm and hurried to the door. Before he knew what had happened, Dad- dy was outside on the steps, asking the man the way home. The man leaned out of the doorway and said, "Go two blocks that way and turn right." Just before he shut the door, he called out in a ringing voice, "And a Merry, Merry Christmas to you and your lit- tle boy!" "I'm sure I've seen that man before," puzzled Daddy as he walked to the car. "Those cheery cheeks, that white beard, my gracious! Now I know it was Santa Claus himself ! " And with that, Daddy ran to the car, put the white horse in the back, and drove home as fast as he could. The next morning, everyone was awaken- ed by a shout. For when Lawrence got out of his bed and raced for the living room, the first thing he saw was the white rocking horse under the tree. He whooped, "Yip- pee! Daddy, look what Santa brought me!" Daddy came running, and there was Lawrence, with his holsters on over his pa- jamas, his ten-gallon hat sitting on his ears, riding the wonderful white rocking horse that Santa had given him. Lawrence looked at his father and smiled. "I knew when you found Santa Claus he would give me my white horse." "You were right," said Daddy, as Lawrence galloped on and on, shouting, "Yippee! Hi -Ho!" DEAR FRIENDS & CUSTOMERS Seasons Greetings! For the past year it was a pleasure and a privilege to serve you. Because of you, it was a year of growth & goodwill. NORNIA'S SEWING 56 The Square, Goderich 524-8431 MERRY CHRISTMAS BEST WISHES this,holiday season. GAVIN COMPUTER SERVICES Janice Gavin 524®2440 RADIO SHACK 70 THE SQUARE, GODERICH 524-7171 We're wishing you a generous serving of good health, good cheer and happy times to last the year through! Thanks, friends. FROM ALL THE STAFF JOE'S LANDING Hwy. 21 N. 524-4565 Catch the Spirit FROM ALL OF US AT... thruwav muffiercentre 191 WALNUT ST., GODERICH 524-4200 • MERRY,MERRY CHRISTMAS! Throughout the year it has been our pleasure to assist in helping to improve your homes. Our many thanks for your very valued patronage. 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