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The Wingham Advance Times, 1933-12-21, Page 3ry. ia�i!Ili Thursday, Dec. 21st, 1933 TEI14 WING1 .A PA ACK had not been home in seven years. They had. 6pne quickly e11. �,•„ ,nigh iii the w.y that years go, but now that he was back, it seemed as though they had been longer. He had missed so inneh. It was not, of course, that things had changed. Of course, there were changes in . the looks of the +town. There were few, sleighs lined "up along . the main street; instead there were automobiles, He had been thinking howthe sleigh -bells would jingle as the horses pulled the sleighs. over the crisp win- ter snow. But instead of sleigh -bells there were .the soundsof firm rubber tires creaking over the frozen, snow- covered streets; There had been au- totnobiles used in that winter of sev- en years past but they had not been predominant. The sleighs had a chance. Now the sleighs were quite miss- ing. The autmobiles had charge. He wondered ifhe stayed away for another seven years if he would see lights from airplanes and hear them buzzing over the buildings. Yet, even if he did, he did not feel as though the place would really change. There was something about the town that would never change. They might build more modern shops, air- plane landings might take the places of so many garages as the garages had : taken the : places of blacksmith shops, but the essential qualities of the town would never change, Always Christmas would be Christ- mas here with its holly -filled wind- ows, its wreaths over doors, its' trees for Christmas lining the main street. it `Surely Was Wonderful to be Back Agatn. Doubtless that ' was the way Christ- mas would'always be in many places. But here it would seem more inipor- taut. Christmas would be deep in the whole heart of the town which always expanded and becaine so generous and bag and open at this season of the year. Probably because it was, Christmas did seem different :here from that of any other place. .He remembered the Christmas be fore, There had been gayly decorates] shops, hurried, happy ,Shoppers, light *ed Christmas trees in the streets, .crisp snow and Christmas greetings. iBut it hadn't been the same. Christ- mas seemed to belong so much more :tolhis own home. In that' other place he'had felt a little lonely and a little out ,of it. But here he had no feel- ing ,of loneliness. Even though he was just back and as yet had stet few of ,the people he knew and had vag- uely ,recognized some who were grown sup now who had been children bei+crate he left, he did not feel out of it. They might not recognize him,but he 'wins at home and he was happy and l+onteliness . had been banished from his 'heart in a gloriously com- plete faas iitorn. I e had gone home as soon as he had arrived. And now he had come up to get the mail. It was not that he expected any mail. His Christmas cards and boxes of cigars and neck- ties would be sent to his busi ness address, for it was not until the last minute that he had been sure he could make the long trip and reach ]tome in time for Christmas Eve. His telegram had come before him, .but his presents had already been sent out, and his mail would be waiting for him at his office. To be sure, he knew the family would quickly and, marvel- ously find little gifts to put at his plate on the Christmas gift table, But the going for the mall was dimly a desire to do what he had always done do Mingle With the iseo0/e, to $00 '�,9 014 XMAS GREENS The custom of hanging ever- greens vergreens in the house during the Yuletide originally had a pur- pose beyond that of decoration. In olden days each kind of ev- • ergeen was believed to confer special blessings on those who passed beneath its boughs, To pass under er hofly insured rod good fortune throughout the year, bay meant victory, while laurel was supposed to impart a spirit of beauty and poetry.—Missouri Farmer. itis own townsfolk, It surely was wonderful to be back again. Wonderful beyond even what he had dreamedit would be. How lucky that the train had been on time and he had been able to have a long Christmas Eve. Christmas trains, he thought, a1 - ways should be on time. Moments at Christmas meant so much. He was leaving the post office. He had seen a number of people he knew. Just outside he met a group of men who had been graduated from high school in his class. They were pick- ing up some of the now falling snow and throwing snowballs at a group of laughing, red-,cheekedm,girls. "You remember them," bewas told. And then it was explained to him that these . grown-up; young people were the youngsters 'of seven years ago. He joined in the snowball battle. Evidently he was a good shot, for a loud shriek from one of the girls pro- claimed that fact. "Oh, oh, that's not fair! Your snowball went right into my face. Lucky it was fresh snow or, I'd have finished you!" "I'ni,.so sorry," he said to her and recognized her then as that nice lit- tle Adams kid he used to teach to balance on her bicycle and whose school bag he sometimes carried home for, her. She had been younger that he but she had always been such' a good lit- tle sport, ready ,to enter into every- thing, eager to try. • "I'm Jack, you remember me, don't you, Connie?" Constance Adams gasped just a lit- tle. "Why, of course I do!" she, ex- claimed. "But I didn'texpect to find you hitting me with snowballs. That's a fine kind of greeting," How beautifully she had changed. All her same nice essential qualities seemed just the same, but her changes were merely additional attributes. She dressed with more taste than she had when a yovngs.ter;. she was grace- ful now instead of tom -boyish. She was like tin town. In its spirit its homeyness would always be the same, iso matter with -what succeeding fashions and customs it kept apace. "Look, here;" 'he said abruptly, "would you rind if left the mail home and then tcame around far .a nice chat with you?" "I won't be 'home until' ever so• late," ,slae ;said„ "fear .only for .a •moznertt at any rate. T' should be there mow°to get the baskets with the presents. T. haven't' delivered. ;any of my gilts }yet. ";Couldn't 1 'carie too?" "Indeed yee, yeeu'il'be a ,grea`t'help incarrying the baskets. 'I.always like school -'bags and baskets carried for mei" She looked rip at 'hint and laughed. The general snee balling had stop- ped. Groups were going off together, all. bent on their Christmas Eve ac- . "I'll be obliging;"' ,Constance said. "You take the snail down and I'll be ready as, soon as you come. I won't keep you waiting. They do that, don't they, in stories?" She stopped, a little embarrassed. "Besides I want to get through," she added firmly. "I've so many places where I must go:" It sounded in leis ears like a beau- tiful refrain, almost : like a tm'elody., "1 won't keep you waiting.:I won't keep you waiting." He said it over and over again to himself. Nor did he keep her waiting. He was there in scarcely any time at all, His family had understood. They had seers ed happy that he had found himself so quickly at home in the town. it was what, .they had slimly feared he would not be, What a gay thing that was—taking around Christmas presents in baskets, in w shing people Christmas cheer and holiday greetings, in having doors opened to one where a whiff of balsam and shadows of firelight sent a glow over one's whole heart and mind and stttl. It was late, very late, when they got back toher house, He supposed he should wait. He supposed he should keep quiet for a little 'longer. than this. 13tit he couldn't. Besides, it was Christmas and at Christmas, feelings weren't supposed to be hid- den. One wasn't ashamed of senti-- ]Relit, One didn't barricade ,one's of-, mOMMMMOWWW A+t,Y+ i+`tleeer irAelte letelr'i.....e. iyW letVx.. Seel ekel"ry,,e, _'V' ' _..e'eete.e'V' ' 'W'V.V. et . , . . . .. .,..... .. .. ...•,1,....u... w. a� ♦j,yyr 1'u+11 .sMil>t'yY}Li Ilr lr�.'ua�'�aYYiar'4MeWlt'vJi• eYY W W+'Igeeitevatie, • • r 't 1 d'� c , n ' w, t ,,r -s m uta , i„ / 1_ \/1,j I /J taitructeit'''''1""iiiiiiii.i 1 ,f,,.nnlcn 1;',:1,11triTrAli\„.,......�..�.-„a!i��{t,l{t ,._.111 prJt 1r 9 //t�t.1 .�j Hyt (t/ ,E.J ��{ � s4�1V It fl lNl llt�I Yyy�"� Y'1�WIY� �� Vv+ -av,>a ! l � iv �a a, a 4. ti `.Q 1 Issll�3e II 111,.�•w 40140 a�yti'f• { l d I t •C l LII .Ks i l I II U 'r `aN rte-- t{IU { ! 11lblf {f It 1 1811 � �t J,�I1l�, , 9 1 'Itnat !( ay/lit/dr) � I ✓ jam' lt! C (, 14 ” . -44- 1ln ittiri /':TA Y'li'i �1rafI AWAltAttletrinala**.* lA "tar &,*' r * *""J"k A • idArAJlr ,,�A a,A4A.A"TA�A AAAiA ArAiika•kriera` AITATTilVANo.attr� Glory to God in the highest,. ,Glory to God ! glory to God i Glory to God in the highest, .Shall be our song to -day. Another year's rich mercies prove His ceaseless care and boundless love, So let our loudest voices raise, Our glad and grateful songs of praise. fections. "Connie, :you may say I don't know .but ,I do," .he began. "I knew at once. :I think ,I've always --known. It has .been there, unrealized perhaps, but you know even as a kid you were un- usual. You weren't like any of the .others—all nice enough—but you! I wish I'd made a hit with something other than a snowball!" he ,ended. .rather•glad it was with a snow 'ball," Constance answered slowly. "It was like getting back at once to the days when I was a child and you were so'nice to nae and let me be included in so many of the older boys' and .girls' ,;games." "I'd like to include you, to exclu- sively include you; in niy whole life," he .said,gently, "Couldn't you, tell me ;that iyau `.wouldn't keep me waiting?" "Well, maybe I could," she said, very seriously, "and maybe I'd mean it, too'! Merry Christmas, old dear!" "Only six years older, young smar- ty, but 'Merry Christmas just the same!" And the ,ilii town just seemed to sparkle' and twinkle that Christmas Eve as it never had before. Selecting 'C'hristmas Cards We unconsciously betray our trite selves when we select Christmas cards. People wlio live in city apart- ments are apt to send drawings of farmhouses that nestle cozily among tall trees; a lawyer's holiday card is likely to be sugary with sentiment,— Collier's Weekly. A. BIG STd)CKING. Bobby—Say, rna. ]]fouler --What is it, :my dear? Bobby ---It's a good thing the foot of a nouittaiti don't have a stocking to bang up at Christmnis time., Glory toGod in the highest, Glory- to God ! glory to God Glory to God in the highest, Shall be our song to -day. The song that woke the glorious morn, When David's greater Son was born, Sung by an heavenly host, and we, Would join the angelic company. ssf w '� w�y;�'x`r tib` "THE TINSEL. STAR" (Continued from page two) was saying; "You must blame your husband for this, Mrs. Chisholm; for bringing a stranger to the feast." Then he was meeting Mademoiselle and gravely meeting the ,children. George was very talkative during the meal. Neither Smith nor Henri- etta • said Much; and Mademoiselle knew her place, which was to keep the children quiet. Twice, however, they caused her great uneasiness. On - en was when Junior, after studying their visitor for some tinie from ac- ross the table, sntddenlyy. said: "Seems to me I've seen you some- where." "Probably, son. '0n a bench in the park, maybe." The other was later in the meal, when George discovered that his guest was eating little or nothing, "It's the rule to overeat today, you know." "Well, stomachs shrink!" said Smith, with a return' of his , card onic humor. And the children had chosen to consider that remark uproariously funny, and to laugh until 1lfademei- selle's cheeks were pink. George look- ed uncomfortable. "Yost ]rids better quit before you make .this your last Christmas," he said. "Get them out, will: you, Mad- en oiselle? It was not until they had gone that Hobbs brought lin a •decanter and poured them each a glass of wine. "Well, here's to Christmas, td" --- George hesitated - "to peace • on earth, good -will to Men," he finished self-consciously. "And here's to the Job, Smith, I think I've landed' one." It was not until the meal was over. that Smith and Henrietta had a chance to speak together alone, Chis holm had gone back to the phone, and the children were reluctantly going upstairs to get ready for their walk. Junior hated leaving Smith. "Maybe I'll see you again, in the park." "Surely you will. Look for inc." Tliey shook hands gravely. But when Patricia came up, he took her in his arms. "13e a good little girl, Pats," he said. It was his old name for her and suddenly Henrietta felt a wave of pity and gratitude toward hint. His face, however, was grin, enough when he turned to her. "If. you're thinking of thanking me, don't, I've played this masquerade for ]lint, not for you," "Then you're not going to tell him?" "Not after the story I told him yes- terdayl I didn't know until I saw your picture `upstairs," She was safe, then! Out of her en- ormous relief she spoke again. "_"T'll deserve it," she said. "It will not be lost." "You'll better. I.'tn betting my chance to live on that" "Why?" "Because I can't take that job, and you' know'it. I'll have to use my re- ferences,' and my own name. And af- ter this dirty trick today — well, it can't be clone." 'She recoiled. So, that was the price. She saw it now. All her life she wotrlcl be . paying that price. When he left, he_would. goi, out into the Street, and she would Bever know. about him, He ,night starve, while she ate and spent. • "1 don't know that I can bear it." "You'll -bear it, all right, Rate the children as real people, anti • mtiake George. Chisholm happy." When George came in, Smith rose rather abruptly and shook hands with her: Then lie turned to George. "You've been 'darned good to me, Chisholm." "I'm glad to have had the chance." There was a slig,lit awkwardness, and George broke it by going to the front door to look for the car. Down the stairwell floated the children's voices, The., man Smith stood listening with a curious, intent look on his face. Suddenly Henri- etta felt she could not bear it. "I can't let you go like this. I'ni going to tell him," But he shook his head. "You're learning. You'll do. But he's not to know " "Bet I—" "Car's here," George called. The two men shook hands and Smith looked out into the street. "Well," he said "1'11 run along," 'George closed the door behind Kinn and stood still, like a ratan wailing for 'something to happen Nothing hap- pened, however, and so he wandered into the library and stood, his hands in his pockets, and . looked at the Christmas tree, He felt tired and at a loss, as a man might ,feel Who 'had staked all lie had on something or other, and had lost it. He heard the , children going out. Then, at last he heard something else. "George, 1 lig e something to, tell You." "Perhaps I know what you have to. say, my dear." "You '.know!" He looked down at tier gravely. "There was a letter to ]lint fort his table. Henrietta, do you still care far him?'" "Never! George, I've been a self-, ish and a silly woman, but I never thought 1 could care for any Man its I care for you." "And yet yo'u came to tell me who he was, Wlry?" "l3eeaus.e," site' said ; steadily, "1 cant,, lie Or cheat any more, I'm thrtt with all that. I wanted to tett you before be left, but be wouldn't let Hie, CI -IRI STi I.AS HOLLY There are fot4r kinds c,f. Christmas holly, two of which are not in reality a true holly. First, native American ])tally, grown along the eastern and 1 southern Atlantic coast front, Cape Cod to exas for about 50 to 100 similes inland. Second, European holly, (more glossy ' and larger Leafed), grown in Or- rJ egon for Christmas decoration, Third, California holly; this is not true holly. California hol- ly is know as toyon or Christ- mas berry. The leaves are near- er like the mountain laurel, and the plant is grown along the coast of California and in the foothills, Fourth, Oregon holly, or Oregon grape; the leaf is similar to the true holly, but it is not a holly. • It is the native barberry. WA —fes'MW- - ;•W.c c s e'„r c And I'in no good, George, I ie`. him "He ltase't gone, Henrietta. He's all right. I gave Blake a note for him, and he knows I know. :He'll get his job,,, and anything more I can do. And after all, he ought to see his own children aow and then." "George, why are you doing all this?" . He was faintly embarrassed, "',Dell, you see, I rather liked the fellow. Then, too, it's Christmas." She saw his eyes go up to the star and for the first time she had an ink- ling of what it meant to him; that it was mixed up in his mind with a number of vague aspirations which She would no longer consider senti- mental and silly. (Copyright, 1932, by International Magazine Company, Inc.; (Copyright, 1933, by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.) Celebrated Christmas on Way to North Pole Captain Scott and his men on their way to the Pole once celebrated Christmas day by having a wash in a cupful of water each, and by wash- ing their shirts. On another occasion after being on short rations they kept Christmas day by consuming such luxuries as raisins and chocolates for breakfast, and for sapper they indulg ed in four courses. First of all, there was a full whack of pemmican with slices of horse meat flavored with on- ion and curry powder and thickened with biscuit then arrowroot cocoa and biscuit hoosh sweetened, then pluin pudding, then cocoa with raisins nad finally a dessert of caramels and gin- ger. "After all this," says Scott, "it was difficult to move. Wilson and I couldn't finish our share of the plum. pudding. We felt thoroughly warm and slept splendidly," Butthe advan- ce was slow the following day, prof'" ably owing to the tightening of the night before. CHRISTI S RITES 13y Molly Bevan The ritual of Christmas is and gay, The kindling of candles to light thi Christ -child's way, The wrapping -up of presents, the car- ol -singing time, The stirring of the pudding to some old nonsense rhyme; The hanging of the stockings and piling Yule -logs high, The story of the star -guide that lit an Eastern sky; And then with tinsel trifles, to shouts. of youthful glee, That crowning ceremonial — the trimming of the tree, The blessed rites of Christmas, so old, so ever -new] They she'd a rainbow radiance on drear December's hue; They waken happy memories, they re, unite old friends, They dull that sense of sadness that comes as each year ends. 0 Ghosts of Christ, Present, Gone by and Yet -to -be, On this, your day of greeting, w+ make one eager plea, Grant us the gold of firelight, tht frankincense of fir, iiut spare our hearts their 'comrade —the bittersweet of myrrh, beautiful Three Celebratio 8 Three Christmases are edge bratcd every year hi the Church of Nativity at Bethlehem. The first occurs in the Reiman Cath- olic: section on December 25; 18 days later the Greek Ortho- dox church hold their celebra- tions,;. to be followed by those of the Armenian elittrch in an other I.$ days.