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Christmas Cards
From Long Ago
About a hundred years, ago, Christmas card messages
were apt to be expressed in rather quaint verse Here are
several reprinted recently in the Illustrated London News.
From an elaborate card of the 1880’s:
Come welcome again
The King of Seasons all
For Christmas doth reign
With hearty good cheer.
Success to next year
Re-echoes from wall to wall.
This one is from a card of 1878:
Happy Christmas to thee, dearest
Dwelling in thy happy home
And we wish for thee, how fondly
Many long bright years to come ’
May such friends be thine as ever
Seek thy pleasure as their own ■
And if sorrow must come nigh thee
May'st thou never weep alone.
And here’s another:
'Tis now a bright and jovial time
For friends together meeting
But those whom fate doth separate
Must take a friendly greeting.
Then let me hope my missive may
Serve as a welcome token
Os all the loving words I’d say
Could’st thou but hear them spoken!
Christmas Carols
From Many Lands
A part of the Christmas cele
bration in America is the sing
ing of yuletide carols. We hear
them from groups of carolers
outside our doors, from choir
lofts in our churches as well
as radio and television. The
Christmas season is enriched
by favorite carols.
Early settlers from Europe
an lands brought us three of
our favorite carols. "Away in
a Manger" from Germany; God
Rest You Merry Gentlemen"
from England and "(.'antique
do Noel" from France. "Adeste
Fideles" belongs to no country.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hew Year!
Christmas is Love
The age-old Christmas story
is in effect a divine pageant
played to the music of carols
and based on the theme of
supernal love. The theme is
changeless because love is
eternal — the only eternal
quality possessed by mortal
man.
So — Christmas is the one
day in the year when love in
all its greatness and beauty
and power, and in all its sim
plicity rules the world.
however, it has been translated
into 119 different languages
and dialects.
"It Came I'pon A Midnight
Clear” was composed by Ed-
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By M.D. BENNETT
The bus station was crowded with lonely Christmas travelers.
They were easily separated from the small groups of people who
had come to the station to welcome someone home. The greeters
were animated, full of conversation. Most of the travelers were
tired and weary. Some read listlessly. Others rested their heads
on shoulders or against the high, curved back of a bench.
Billy Halliday wasn’t waiting for a bus, or for anybody. He
had arrived two hours earlier, before word came that snow in
the mountains had brought service almost to a standstill. Buses
were late, some of them had turned back to Junction City and
to other spots. It was the worst Christmas storm in history.
The big snow had put a kink in Billy's plans. Rather, perhaps,
it had made it difficult for him to make up his mind about where
he was going to spend this Christmas Eve.
He had stepped on the bus at Junction City with the idea
that he could be taking a bus ride because he had nothing else
to do. Once he got here, if he wanted to do so, he could step on
another bus and go back to his hotel at Junction City.
Now, the buses were running late or not at all. It had been
ten years but, if he hung around much longer, someone would
recognize him. He was fortunate that no one had before now.
He had seen Susie Johnson and had turned the other way. Bill
Brown had walked by and he had turned his back. Once spotted,
he couldn’t do anything but go through with it.
Announcement
And then the word came over the public address system. No
more buses until snow plows clear the roads. That could be hours.
Billy Halliday walked out the side door and turned his steps
toward Elm Street. Cars went by, but no one looked his way.
He was just another soldier home on Christmas leave.
Everything looked the same, he thought, even in the darkness.
Mrs. Cable still kept her entire house lit up. Old Man Dabney still
had lights on every tree in his spacious yard. And there was Ann's
house, set back away from the street, the lights of a Christmas
tree blinking through the huge picture window.
He was remembering ten years ago. Ten years ago tonight, He
had walked down this same street, toward the bus station, one
small suitcase in his hand.
That was the night he thought he had said goodbye to Hillvale
forever Nobody, not even his parents, seemed to care about him
or his ideas They didn’t like his beard, his clothes. They had
kicked him out of school. Most of his friends, even Ann, had
shunned him. She would have taken him back — on her terms,
but he hadn’t liked the terms.
Decision
He had walked out that Christmas Eve, telling only his
parents that he was leaving. He thought he owed them that much.
He remembered how his mother had pleaded, had tried to make
him see things her way.
He remembered how dad. having long given up trying to
change him, had only grasped his hand and wished him luck.
That had been all of it. except for the one letter. He had
written from New York to tell them he was all right. One letter
had arrived before he changed his address and decided to make
the break clean. He still carried it in his shirt pocket.
“Dear Son:
I don't know where we went wrong or, perhaps, more
truthfully, why things went wrong for the three of us. I
know you had to go. You have our love, always. Your mother
says she will burn a candle each Christmas until you return.
She thinks one day you will come back to us. I hope that she
is right. „ , . ■
Your dad.”
He stopped now before the house. Lights were on here and
there — the livingroom, the kitchen and upstairs. His room. There
was a light in his room. Had they thrown all of his old stuff
away and used the room for something else? Maybe they no longer
lived here. Maybe. ... , ~ „ „
But, there it was, in the hall window, burning faintly. He
came slowly up the walk. He stopped on the porch and carefully
lit a cigarette. There wasn’t much of the candle left. It would
barely last through the night. He wondered if there had been
only one candle.
He could hear the soft strains of Christmas music coming
from upstairs, from his old room. Could it be the same, he
wondered. Mom had always told him that he would “wear it out”
if he played it every hour of the day.
He tried the door handle. It was open. He had thought, now
they were older, they would at least lock their door at night.
Impulsively, he picked up the candle. The saucer In which it
rested was warm to the touch, but he hardly noticed.
Halfway up the stairs, he realized he had failed to shut the
door. "Don, I do believe the wind has blown the door open. Please
go and shut it. It might blow out my candle.” The voice caused
him to pause, off-balance, one foot reaching upward.
“You and your candle. I think that candle has probably
burned itself out by now. But, 111 humor you.”
Meeting
There he was at the top of the stairs. He hadn’t changed much.
A little more gray in the hair, perhaps. He looked at Billy and a
smile turned at the corners of his mouth. But, he didnt say a
word. He just motioned for Billy to come up the stairway and
stepped away from the door. But not so soon Billy didn t see the
glimmer of a tear in his eye.
She was sitting before a Christmas tree in the comer, adjusting
lights here and there
"Mom, I have your candle here. 1...”
In that first moment of recognition, he thought he saw the
brightness of a thousand holiday lights in her eyes.
"Billy. . . .” It was all she could say, but nothing else needed
to be said. ...
He crossed the room, reaching down to tenderly take her by
the hand and raise her upward, feeling as he did her arms crushing
about him.
"Billy ... BiUy.”
And then dad was there, too, pounding him on the shoulders.
“Look at you, will you. Look at him, mom. Just take a good look
at that son of yours." Discovery
Finally, they set him free. His eyes took in the familiar
things about the room Nothing was changed. Except for the
Christmas tree, the room was as he had always known it. No,
there was one other thing. There, in his favorite chair in the corner
sat a very pretty girl.
"Ann?" _
“Yes. Billy. It's me. Just paying my annual Christmas visit
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§ Punch |
Cissie Brown wasn't bashful.
Everyone in the office knew what
she wanted for Christmas. "Just
get me a man." she said, "and
I’ll be thankful for the rest of
my life."
The trouble with Cissie, every
one knew, was that she had some
far-out ideas about the kind of
man she needed Cissie was look
ing for a knight in shining armor
or. his modern counterpart —
rich, handsome, intelligent, and
all of that Cissie had been look
ing for him for most of her 30
years, and. according to the girls
in the office, had overlooked
better-than-average-type men in
the process.
Ted Kagle was one. Everybody
knew that Ted had been in love
with Cissie for years. He was too
quiet, too reserved to say any
thing about it. but you could see
it in his eyes everytime he looked
at her. It wasn’t unusual that no
one ever kidded Ted about it.
Everyone liked him and every
one knew he was the sensitive
type
But One
Fred Watson had never said
anything where others could
hear, but he had gotten in a word
or two from lime to time. When
ever he caught Cissie alone, he
would say something nice about
Ted. He also had kind words for
Cissie whenever he was with
Ted and no one else was near.
He never suggested anything. He
was too smart for that. He just
passed a complimentary remark.
The office Christmas party was
scheduled this afternoon, how
ever, and Fred’S mind was else
where. He needed something to
“spike" the punchbowl. He had
done so for ten years and every
one knew about it, even the old
man. He’d never complained, be
cause there were two punch
bowls and everyone just waited
until Fred had his first glass of
punch before deciding where to
fill their glass.
Fred’s phone rang. It was the
wife, saying company was coming
by for a visit before dinner. 'l’ll
take care of it right away,” he
said, happy for an excuse to run
his errand. "Going to shipping
for a minute,” he said to no one
in particular,
After an hour or so, the party
was off as usual. It seemed a
little happier than in previous
years, for some reason. There
was more singing, laughter, joke
telling. Even the old man seemed
more in the spirit of things.
Playing Santa
Things were running more true
to your folks I do it every year."
"Every year on Christmas Eve," mom said. We play a little
game as if you were here, as it used to be."
"I’m here," Billy said, not knowing what else to say.
Dad reached down and picked up a Christmas gift from
beneath the tree. "You’re here, so you get to open the first
present This one is for you from Ann ”
Billy hesitated The gift was preferred again. ’ Open it, son,
we have a Christmas to celebrate. Later, we’ll talk. Now, well
have our Christmas." . ~ . .
Billy tore the wrappings away "0.K.," he said with a jaunty
air. "Now, let us have our Christmas "
As he sent the ribbons and paper flying here and there.
Billy Halliday felt ten years younger He wondered if he had
ever been awav at all He was aware suddenly of the banking lights
on the Christmas tree — on and off, on and off It made him
think, for some reason, that’life is stop-and-go, with warning
lights at points where decisions were to be made He wondered
about Ann about what life had brought to her in the last ten
years. He wondered if the buses were running on schedule again.
He thought that, at least for this moment, he was completely
happy He was no longer a Lonely Christmas Traveler.
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The Summerville News, Thurs., Dec. 21, 1972
Score Y ourself On
This Christmas Quiz
See how well you can score on the answers to questions
about Christinas and its customs! Then check the answers:
1. Research says that Christ’s birthday occurred on:
a> December 25
b) an uncertain date
c) January 6
2. Sending Christmas cards is a custom that started in:
a) Germany
b) England
c) the U.S.
3. Hanging mistletoe is a custom that began:
a) in the 18th Century
b> in Scandinavia
c) among the ancient Druids
4. Decorating a Christmas tree has its origin in:
a) Germany
b)' Czechoslovakia
c) Norway
5. The first people to set up a decorated Christmas tree
in a public place were:
a) Portuguese
b) Flemish
c) Americans
6. The custom of burning the Yule Log originated with:
a) the Vikings
b) the French
c) the Slavs
7. The meaning of the word “carol,” as used in England
in the Middle Ages, was:
a) dancing
b) singing
c) dancing in a circle while singing
8. The use of the creche, or crib, as a Christmas symbol
was introduced by:
a) the French
b) the Italians
c) the Swedes
9. Exchanging gifts for Christmas was not practiced
until:
a) 800 A.D.
b) the latter part of 19th Century
c) about 200 years ago
10. The character of Santa Claus was first known as:
a) Father Christmas
b) St. Nicholas
c) Pere Noel
ANSWERS
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SCORING
8 or better gives you an A; 5 to 7 is average.
Less than that— return one Christmas present!
to course when the time tor
opening gifts arrived. The old
man played Santa, as usual, com
menting on each gift, “Say, that’s
nice, isn’t it? Who had your
name this year, Sam?"
When he came to Cissie’s gift,
he said, as he always did, “Let’s
see. now young lady. I’ll bet
there’s something nice in here
for you."
Everyone knew what Cissie
was going to say, as she had
each ytar, "That’s a small box.
Mavbe it is a gift certificate for
a good man."
No one expected Fred to say
anything. But he did. “You
guessed it, young lady. It’s a
gift certificate for dinner and
dancing at the Purple Ballroom.
All paid for. Made out to Mr. Ted
Kagle and Miss Cissie Brown.”
You could have heard a pin
drop. The old man cleared his
throat. "Fred, you haven’t. . . ."
"I haven’t, sir, nary a drop.
On my honor, sir . . .”
Cissie was waving the “certifi
cate" before the audience.
"Did you ever see such a novel
gift? Thank you, Fred. As for
you Ted, I warn you. I like to
dance for hours.”
Ted had found his voice, too.
"I’m not very good. Cissie, but
you’ll find I’m willing, and long
lasting."
Everyone applauded. Fred said.
“Let’s have another round of
punch."
They did, hardly anyone taking
notice that Fred was not taking
his punch from the same bowl
he had favored earlier in the day.
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Have You Ever
Seen a Galanty?
This was the old name
for the shows put on at
Christmas time by travel
ing entertainers, who pro
jected shadow shows in
pantomime, using silhou
etted figures, by means of a
magic lantern. The galanty
shows were projected on a
white sheet, or on the ceil
ing. But before long, magic
lanterns became cheap and
plentiful, so people had
them in their homes, with
an array of colored slides —
and this became a popular
home entertainment.
Now, many years later,
and in spite of the attrac
tions of television, the lin
eal descendants of those
early magic lanterns con
tinue to fascinate us.
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The inspiration of that
Holy Night lives anew.
May all its spiritual
blessings be yours, at
this Christmastide
WESTERH
AUTO