The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, December 24, 1968, Image 21
THE NIGHT BEFORE
CHRISTMAS
THE CHRONICLE, ( linton, S. C., December 26, 1968—21
m T\vas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not
ev>en a mouse; —
So begins one of the most beloved
of all Christmas writings. It would
be difficult to find anyone whose
memory of childhood does not as
sociate these words with the magic
of the holiday season, to whom these
words do not bring to mind the vis
ion of Santa and his reindeer, and
the exciting clatter of hoofs upon
the roof.
Author of the poem was Dr.
Clement Clarke Moore, an aloof pro
fessor of Greek and Oriental liter
ature in the Episcopal Seminary in
New York. Dr. Moore did not write
the poem for publication. He wrote
it on Christmas Eve, 1822, for the
enjoyment of his seven children.
It happened that on this particu
lar Christmas Eve a relative was
visiting the Moore family. She put
a copy of the poem in her diary.
The following holiday season, the
relative’s father sen* a copy, unsigned
as to author, to a newspaper.
Other newspapers picked up the
jingle and printed it in their columns.
The poem quickly became known,
loved, and repeated each Christmas
'throughout the country.
Dr. Moore was not pleased. In
fact, he was embarrassed. He felt
it beneath the dignity of a man of
his scholastic reputation to author
of children's verses.
As time went on, the poem became
increasing!\' more famous and Dr.
Moore, perhaps upon the urging of
his proud family, finally admitted
authorship. More than two decades
after he penned the poem at the
family fireside the jingles were pub
lished in book form, under his name.
Today, the world remembers Dr.
Clement Clarke Moore not as a
scholar, nor as a teacher, but as
author of one of the world's most
beloved Christmas poems.
ItERP'x
CHRlSTlfAS
Wishing you and
your family the happiest
of holidays.
Thanks for your support!
CITY SHOE SHOP
i 203 Musgrove St. 833-3272
ALWAYS A CHRISTMAS
The bright eyes of child
ren around a Christmas
tree will always be with us.
You can say it’s sentimental,
but the old world needs
more of that sentiment. You
can say it’s unnecessay, but
so are a mother’s kiss, a
friendly handshake and the
song of a robin. Christmas
is the one day of the year
when kindness and faith and
joy have a right of way;
a day when the hearts are
brighter, when smiles are
kindlier. Sure, there’ll al
ways be a Christmas.
Why Pick Chimney?
St. Nick Has Reasons
N
Why does Santa come down
the chimney?
Of all the traditions con
nected with Santa, his un
conventional mode of entry
might seem the most puz
zling Surely the magical gift
giver, who has the power to
drive reindeer through the
skies and w'ho can cover the
earth in a single night, could
find an easier way to enter
THE CHRONICLE
OFFICE SUPPLIES
TELEPHONE 835-0541
GREENERY. . This attractive doorway is decorated with
small white Christmas trees, white wreaths and an archway
of season’s greenery. It says "Merry Christmas" in its own
special way.
Greetings
there's wishing you the
fulfillment of all your dreams for
Christmas. Thank you lor your patronage.
Maxwell Bros. Furniture
204 N. Broad St. 833-2628
**# + **** + *# » ♦ » ******** * * *
©fiftmaf
To you, slneoro greotingt and
thanks . . . with ovory good wish that the
joy and delight of the Yuletlde will be yours.
Dillard Boland, Jeweler
103 E. PitU St.
888-1028
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a house.
Like most of the lore of
Christmas, Santa's choice of
the chimney has several ex
planations. For instance, leg
end has it that the original
Santa, St. Nicholas, present
ed three maidens with gifts
of gold for a dowry. Modest
ly concealing his generosity,
he tossed the gold down a
chimney, in secret
Another theory claims that
Santa copied a goddess, who
was the first to deliver gifts
via a chimney According to
this legend, when the Vikings
of Norway celebrated the
Yuletlde or winter solstice in
their great halls, a festive
feature of the occasion was
the appearance of the god
dess Hertha in the fireplace.
As her name indicates,
Hertha was goddess of hearth
and home, and most appro
priately arrived by way of
the chimney, to deliver her
Yuletide gifts of good luck
and good cheer.
Still another explanation
takes a practical point of
view. Housewives of North
ern Europe, cleaning house
for the New Year, used to
coax children to help with
the chores by saying, “Let's
clean the hearth. St. Nicho
las will soon be coming down
the chimney ''
The children willingly set
to work, and thus, says leg
end, a tradition was born
Even when he takes to heli
copter or jet plane, Santa de
livers his gifts by way of the
chimney!
HOLIDAY PUNCH
For a holiday punch, com- SEASONAL. . .Angels and C hristmas bells against a back
bine cranberry juice with club ground of colorful gift wrapping were used to arrange this
soda, carbonated beverages, attractive holiday doorway,
champagne or wine.
PTEACE
At Christmas, a special prayer:
May mankind be blessed with “Peace on
Earth.” And a special wish: May
your personal Christmas be a most happy one.
CATAWBA TIMBER CO.
Christmas is a Holy Day,
a day of Grace and gratitude.
Most of all it, means joy and
hope for the world. Beyond
the fun and festivities, there
is the spirit of faith in the good
ness and good will of people
everywhere.
★★★★★★★★★★
*
L At this crisp and exciting time of year, ice are hopeful
that your holiday will he filled with joyous warmth, richly
shared with those you hold dear. And to
you, our customers, we express our thanks and appreciation
for your continued patronage. Merry Christmas!
COMMUNITY CASH
#*****♦♦**♦*****♦♦****♦*****♦
May the light of joy and good will shine
brightly into the hearts of all mankind, as on the
Holy Night when the Prince of Peace was born. During
this Christmas season, we wish you and yours
an abundance of holiday blessings. And at this time
we say a special “Thank You” for the privilege of serving you.
T. E. Jones & Sons, Furniture
200 W. Main St.
★★★★★★★★
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