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Page Two THE CUNTON CHRONICLE SHEETING Christmas is the time for at) « of us to revive old friendships. It*is a time to wish our friends 'si a full measure of happiness, end a time to say with all sincerity "Thanks for everything!" Blue Nile Diamonds Hillcrest Watches To All Our Customers C-W-S Guano Company Henderson Pitts, Mgr. Odus Young, Cashier Frank Cauley, Production Mgr. Mrs. Marie M. Workman, Bookkeeper of Thursday, December 23, 1H4 By Don Wheoler W E WERE in a dust covered box that sat in the corner of Mr. Barker s attic. All through the year no one ever bothered about us, but now, at Christmas time, we knew that once again we would be the center of attraction. Grum bling and grunting, Mr Barker lifted our box into his arms and started down the attic stairs. Being a rather plump fellow with a stomach that protruded so far he couldn’t see his feet, he was, I regret to say, somewhat clumsy. About half way down the stairs he stumbled and our box went tumbling down the stairs. I was, uninjured, but I’m afraid some of my friends suffered from the fall. A few minutes later we were all unpacked and laid on the huge dining room table. "Well now. let’s see. John,” said Mrs. Barker. "We can use this string of lights, and this string and. oh! We don’t want to use this old string again, John! They’ve been around here for years. Throw them out in the trash vC'ith these other things that were broken when you fell.’* I was shocked! For years I had been used to decorate the Barker’s Christmas tree, and now, simply because I was getting a little old, they were throwing me out! It is true that my popularity with the Barkers had declined through the years. When I was new I was used at the top, but each year By Norman A Dlsher T HERE was little doubt about it; it was Laura. I hadn't seen her'for five years but I’d never forget that exquisite face. Laura and I had been engaged about five years ago but it hadn't worked out because she’d decided one day that she wanted to do things before settling down. Go ing to Spain was one of them and I had been in Europe during the war so going back didn’t appeal to me. I was ready to call one spot home so when I told her about the house I was building in Carmel she wasn’t pleased. After that she avoided setting a definite date and finally I saw what was going to happen so I let her go. About halfway down the stairs he stumbled and onr box went tumbling down the stairs. I seemed to find myself placed Laura ’ lower and lower on the tree. Th!s a!l came as a shock to mo and I didn't know what to say. It was a hard thing to do but it was the best way. She looked my way and saw me then motioned me to come over to her stool. "Hello Bob. it's been a long, long, time.” "Five years Christmas, remem- oer?” I looked at her eyes, they were softer now. kinder and older. "Yes, I remember. Still single?” “Oh yes, yes,” I looked out the window at the grey afternoon. “I figured I’d run into you one of these days. How come you’re still single. A nice person like you houldn’t have trouble getting married." "I've never found anyone 1 liked well enough. They all seem sort of anti-climatic after you Her Surprise Unwanted Home My friends, most of them broken in tiny pieces, and myself were cast upon the irash pile in the alley. I felt sorry for them. They had many years of use ahead of them had Mr. Barker been more careful, but now they could never be used again. But what of me? I wasn’t broken; only a little old. For two days I lay on the trash pile with my broken friends, and then, on the third day, a small child, who seemed to be searching the trash cans in the alley to see if he could find something of value, came upon me. With a cry of de light he gathered me into his tiny hands and scampered out of the attey and to the edge of the small town, where he lived in a broken down little old house. How glad were his brothers and sisters when they saw me! That evening they trimmed their tiny tree, it was scarcely three feet tall, and I was the principle item of decoration. One of my lights was placed at the top of the tree and the rest were wound in and about from top to bottom. Then the tree was placed In the front window and for the first time In my life I was given the task of lighting an entire tree. That evening it snowed and snowed and the wind whistled harshly about the corners of the house. I was glad that I was in a warm house instead of being on the trash pile in the alley. A Visitor Comes Suddenly there was a loud rap on the door. When Mr. Cullen opened it I heard a man’s voice ask, "Have you seen the Granger boy? He was out playing this afternoon and hasn’t come home yet. We think he’s become lost in the storm. The whole town is out looking for him. Would you like to help. Mr. Cullen?” Mr. Cullen quickly put on his coat and scarf and followed the man into the dark cold night. They had been gone only about twenty minutes when again there was a knocking at the door. When Mrs. Cullen opened it, in stepped a tail man, carrying a boy in his arms. The boy’s ears and nose were blue from the cold, and his teeth chat tered. "Mrs. Cullen,” said the man, “this is Tommy Granger. I’d like to leave him here while I go tell his parents we’ve found him and send word to the others to stop searching. It's no wonder he was lost in a storm like this. I was almost lost myself until I saw the light from your tree in the win dow.” How proud I was when 1 heard those words. My lights seemed to brighten and shine as they had never done before; especially the one at the very top of the tree. She looked at me and I thought I deteotcJ a momentary flash of fear in her glance "We did have something pretty wonderful didn’t we. I've regret ted spoiling it more than once. I guess I was just too young." ' She smiled in a funny way so I thought I had best change the sub ject. “I thougnt you were in Europe?” ”1 was Bob, but there’s nothing there any more, just nothing. Sanf Francisco has more of a flavor than Paris and the rest* of the places. Maybe it’s just me. I wan dered around for almost five years and I still didn’t find anything.” "You seem to be a more ma ture person now Laura.” “Five years have done that. What are you doing now?” “Still writing a column, same one.” I replied. "Bob, do you understand why I left?” Her Secret I winced inside. I had hoped she’d let it pass but she seemed to want to open the old wound. “No, I don’t." "Well, it was because I had to find out where home really was—I had to find what love really meant. I met a person over in England that I thought was what I wanted. I thought I fell in love with him until we went together for awhile and 1 began to notice small things about him that I didn’t like; oh things like the way he contradict ed me on small unimportant mat ters. One day it all blew up be cause I had remarked that you and I had never been so tense together. Then it dawned on me that you were really what I had" wanted after all but I was just too dumb to see it. That’s when I came back. I had to grow a little more to catch up with you. Do you see now?” This all came as a shock to me and I didn’t know what to say. "Why haven’t you tried to get in touch with me?” 1 asked her. “People change.” “Not me Laura; not where you’re concerned.” "I wasn’t sure Boh—there’s so much I want to say to you.” I looked at her soft, pink face and her wheat-colored hair and the way she felt for me with her eyes. Our eyes met and I took her hand. “Let’s get out of here.” I whis pered. As I pushed open the doors that led to the sidewalk I could hear a group singing Christmas carols. I turned to Laura and I kissed her while we stood in the grey eve ning light. . ."It’s going to be a wonderful Christmas,” she whispered. •it, HO ONE EVER FINDS THEM ALL Happiness is like a crystal. Fair and exquisite and clear, Broken in a million pieces. Scattered far and near. - Now And then along life’s path way Lo, some shining fragments fall. But there are so many pieces. No one ever finds them all. You may find a bit of beauty. Or an honest share of wealth. While another just beside you Gathers honor, love, or health. Vain to choose or grasp unduly Broken is the perfect ball. And there are so many pieces, No one ever finds them all Yet the wise, es on their journey, Treasure every frasment dear; Fit them as they may together, Imagining the shattered sphere, Learning ever to be thankful, Though their share of it he small, For it has so many pieces. No one ever finds them all. t —Author Unknown. May the meanings of Christmas be deeper, its friendship » stronger and its hopes brighter « for each of you this Season. This Is Our Wish For Those Whom We Are Privileged To Serve Yarborough Oil Co. And Goodyear Store ■*v«- * h, vav.%v v * Christmas, with its joyous magic and Holy meaning, Again brings us to the full appreciation of loyal friendships and so, mindful of these associations, we pause to extend Our heartiest Christmas greetings. Pepsi-Gola Bottling Co. Greenville, S. C.