8. Cn Tliursday,
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Centuries
During the Middle Ages
in Europe, legends sur
rounding the birth of Christ
circulated from family to
family and from generation
to generation. Here are 4 of
these legends:
the Stork $ #
On Christ’s Birthday even
the birds and animals felt
the wonder of it, and knelt
down to pray. The ox, the
badger, all manner of wild
and domestic beast, includ
ing the long-legged stork,
flocked ’round where the
baby Jesus lay. The stork,
seeing how mean His bed,
plucked the soft down from
her breast, pulled plumes
forHimto cushion His head.
Ever since then, the no
ble stork has been patron of
babies of every land.
VISIT OF THE THREE KINSS, or Three Wise Men is traditionally celebrated in the Christian church as Epiphany, or Twelfth
Night. Literally translated, “Epiphany" means "appearance," and also commemorates the manifestation of Jesus as Christ the
Savioor. Epiphany is celebrated in various ways throughout the world. The visit of the Three Kings to Bethlehem, the baptism
of Jesus and His first miracle at Cana are all three believed to have happened on the same date, though in different years.
the Rosemary ‘k the Robin k k the Birthday k
When Mary and Joseph
fled with the infant Jesus
into Egypt, the flowers
showed their love by blos
soming wherever the little
caravan went.
Everywhere, the air was
filled with heavenly frag
rances . . . from the lilac,
from many flowers and
plants. Even the serene lily
spread wide her cup of
gratitude.
Only the green rosemary,
petal-less, could not con
tribute to the poetry of col
or and sweet or spicy scent.
The rosemary grieved.
As Mary paused, to rest,
she decided to wash His lit
tle garments and hang them
to dry, for the journey to
morrow. But where to hang
them? The fragile lily broke
. ... the proud lilac was out
of reach. So on the sturdy
branches of the rosemary
she hung the raiment to
the sun.
“I thank you, gentle Rose
mary,” said the Mother of
Jesus . . . “henceforth you
shall bear blue flowers for
remembrance of my blue
cloak. And, where His cloth
ing touched you, all shall be
fragrantly aromatic.” And
so she blessed leaf, stem and
flower of the modest rose
mary.
When Christ was born in
the manger, He had few
comforts in the rude stable,
assailed by cruel winds. His
Mother pleaded with the
oxen and the donkeys, and
even the cart-horse to
breathe on Jhe listless
embers and bring some
warmth from them.
But all dozed and dreamed,
not hearing the frail Mary.
Suddenly into the stable
flew a brown bird. Making a
bellows of his wings he
puffed up his feathers and
made forays into the slum
bering fires, stirring them
to a rousing flame, all the
while risking his little body
for his Lord’s comfort.
Even though the flames
seared him, the bird, now
red-breasted, sang loud and
cheerfully.
Soon all the stable was
comforting and warm . . .
and softly slept the Christ-
Child.
“Master Robin,” said
Mary, “wear now a breast
of red, a blessed stain on
your heart, that all may see
the symbol of your love.”
On Christmas Eve, some
say, certain fortunate little
children are gathered up by
angels to visit the Christ-
child in Paradise.
It is said they have such
a pandemonium of fun, Hea
ven is rent with their laugh
ter.
They toss gold balls, climb
the ever-beautiful trees,
reach forth to touch the
stars, join Him in a celestial
chorus of sweet; young
voices.
Then, drowsing upon their
angels’ stalwart shoulders,
-they are borne earthward
through the night, and by
angels tucked tenderly into
their little beds at home.
On Christmas Day and
later, when they try to tell
about the journey and the
Birthday party, they can
not form the words, and fall
silent in happy remem
brance. Parents look at each
other questioningly, and
smiling, go about their ways
thinking their child is lost
in a fanciful dream.
Yet, how blessed are these
little ones who with their
own eyes have seen the daz
zle of Heaven and carry
through all their lives the
very magic of Christmas.
Symtolism.
Of Oolors in
Stained GUass
The beauty of the stained-
glass windows in churches
can be attributed to the
vivid contrasts of clear col
or. All of the colors have a
spiritual aspect, according
to the practicers of this an
cient craft.
The sapphire blues of the
heavens reflect steadfast
ness, devotion and the ef
fects of calm meditation.
Ruby reds are the hues of
life, itself . . . enthusiasm,
courage and sacrifice, and of
love. Red is the color of
valor, action — the wings
of the seraphims and the
gift of the Church’s mar
tyrs.
The gold of the sun is also
the ^olor of silence and
strength. Poets and philoso
phers refer to the “golden
thread” joining this life
.with the next. And yellow is
associated with joy.
Green is the coloy sym
bolic of Spring, of youth and
renewing promise. It typi
fies rebirth and newness of
life.
All these, and other col
ors, are complemented by
the simplicity of white . . .
symbolizing* innocence and
perfect purity.
TREE FOR
ENTIRE U.S.
One winter day in 1924 a
visitor to King’s Canyon
National Park, California,
looked down and saw a little
girl who had appeared sud
denly as if “from nowhere.”
She looked up at the tall,
267 ft. Sequoia covered with
a cloak of snow and ex
claimed, “What a wonderful
Christmas tree it would
bel”
What, indeed, thought
the man, looking again at ‘
the tbwering giant which
he recognized as the famous
General Grant tree. So, be
fore Christmas 1925 the in
spiration the child had
given him stirred Charles
Lee to recruit over a hun
dred of his acquaintances to
attend a special Christmas
service conducted at the
foot of the sequoia.
The awesome ceremony
has been celebrated for al-
jnost 40 years by nearby
residents. As a result* the
United States Department
of the Interior, on April 28,
1926, officially dedicated
this Sequoia as the Nation’s
Christmas Tree.
On November 11, 1956,
Fleet Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz, in accordance with
an act of Congress, in a spe
cial ceremony declared the
Tree a national shrine in
memory of America’s arm
ed forces who died in ser
vice.
Last year almost 2500
persons attended the ser
vice, held on December
13; approximately a dozen
states were represented,
coming from as far away as
Florida.
As Bishop Kennedy of
the Methodist Church, puts
it: “The Nation’s Christmas
tree is the best symbol of
Christmas... very old, very
new, and forever alive.”
Yes, for this huge sequoia
reaches heavenward more
than 267 feet and was al
ready 1,500 years old when
Christ was bom.
May Peace enter your heart!
Sunshine Cleaners
A •
J. iC. THOMAS, Jeweler
Many AHir-Holidty
Uses for Family Trot
There are a number d use* te
which you can put your Christmas
tree after it has served Its purpost
In the home.
You can cut off the Jouger
branches and “plant” them ns
windbreaks to protect outdoor
plantings such Is low-growing boa-
wood, azalea, yew, rhododendron
and juniper. Little teepees can be
built around ezpoeed shrubs and
tender plants. This win protect
them from biting, drying winds
end prevent snow and lee from
accumulating and bending the
plants out of Shape. ' ^
Other branches curved end OP
ever flower bade when the ground
is exposed win prevent heaving of
sods during alternate freezing and
thawing. Heaving may three bubs
and roots of pir—dala from be
ground.^
The entire tree may be uped aa
a bird feeder In the beck yard. It
may be either saohored securely
or fastened to a fence. Pieces of
suet tied to its branches and a con
tainer of water nearby win provide
a eenstant supply of food for yout
feathered friends.
FUN FOR ALL ... Strat
egy gabies offer fan far eld
sad yeoag alike sad most on
tbs market are designed to
provide pleasure for players
from age < to adult.
The Good Witch
Visit* Italy’s Young
It is on Jsnusry 6, the Feast
of the Epiphany, and not on
Christmas Eve that Italian chil
dren piece their shoes fay the
fireplace. The shoes are placed in
anticipation of the arrival of
“Befani", the good witch, who
comes down the chimney on s
broom to fill the shoes left out
for her — sweets for the good
youngsters, coal in the shoes of
the naughty.
Sincere best wishes tot a very
merry Christmas!
• ' *
Clinton - Newberry
Natural Gas Authority
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TO AU OUR GOOD FRIENDS
WE'RE GLAD OF THE CHANCE
TO SAY HELLO AND WISH
you the Very besti
—4
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