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THE NEWBERRY SUN FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1948 r -and many of 'em! We’d like to tell each of you personally that we wish you a Season of Good Cheer—but we can t see all of. you. So here goes for a Merry Christmas to Everybody. Bowers Ins., Realty & Investment Co. "I WAS A GOOD GIRL ALL TEAR" ... It looks as though Santa believes her, too. Right now Santa Is basy with millions of Inter views like this, but he's expected to stay on schedule and arrive here December 25. Reading Yuletide Stories Adds to Family Christmas T HE reading of literature’s most loved Christmas stories, includ ing the Gospels, is one of the best ways for a family to prepare for the day itself. A family reading session, planned for the last few days before Christ mas, will make it easier for the children to stand the tension of waiting and will add meaning and happy family memories to the oc casion. Christmas is, first of all, religious, and the New Testament accounts of the birth of Jesus ought always to be read first. Both the Christmas tales of Matthew and Luke are beautiful poetry and literature. Perhaps the most famous Christ mas book in the world, after the Gospels, is Dickens “A Christmas Carol,” written in 1843. It Is a tale which will be told and retold as long as there is Christmas. It is profound enough for the most adult taste and it is sUll a children’s classic. Henry Van Dyke’s “The Other Wise Man,” is another story which has become a Christmas classic. It tells of a fourth wise man who saw the star rising and set out to follow it. The great desire of this pilgrim was denied, yet ful filled in the denial. For a good, unoffensive funny story about Christmas try “How Come Christmas?” by Roark Brad ford. It concerns the efforts of a group of Negroes to decide which came first, Santa Claus or the little Lord Jesus. Probably the most famous Ameri can Christmas tale is Kate Douglas Wiggin’s “The Birds’ Christmas Carol." There are other American Christmas stories well worth read ing, though, such as Louisa May Alcott’s “Christmas at Orchard House” and Vincent Starrett’s “Snow for Christmas.” Christopher Morley’s “The Worst Christmas Story” happens to be almost one of the best. These are just a few of the pos sibilities for a literary Christmas menu. When it is selected and served to the family circle, have the fireplace going and the tree lights on. Gift Suggestions Christmas always brihgs the prob lem of what to give him or her. The best way to solve this problem is to first think of the things he or she likes to do. Then, buy a gift that will be suitable for the per son’s activities. Here are some suggestions. Even if the person has one of these items he’ll not mind having another one. FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE GAMES—cards, chess or checkers, ash trays, score pads and pencils, a card table cover, a book about a favorite game. IF SHE LIKES TO SEW—em broidery package of stamped ma terial complete with threads and directions, pinking shears, a sweat er stretcher, press cloth and tailor’s cushions, workbag, dress or blouse material, wool and needles. FOR TRAVELERS — luggage, compact mending or cleaning kit, • camera, film, portable radio, travel iron, flashlight-tipped nencil or key holder, compact shaving kit THE OUTDOOR TYPE—hand- tied flies, tennis balls in tins, golf balls, nylon fish lines, ski wax, wool socks, new set of mittens for the golf clubs, bright caps and jackets. THE GARDENER—garden gloves, shears, picking basket, a set of stakes, a new book about garden ing, hand sprayer, a peaked cap. THE YOUNGER SET—her first permanent watches, £razy sports shirts, his first shaving kit, dancing lessons, their first piece of luggage with their names on it, start her on a set of silver, books about his hobby or some equipment for it 1117 BOYCE ST. PHONE 4 Once upon a time—according to Harz mountain legend—a poor miner’s wife was gathering pine cones in the forest. It was just be fore Christmas, her husband was ill, and there was no money in the house for food. So, she gathered the cones and sold them to the villagers for kindling—obtaining enough for the day’s necessities. One morning while she was look ing for such cones, a little imp jumped out of a huge fir tree. “Here, here are the biggest, driest cones of all! Take these,” he shrieked, jumping up and down excitedly. Suddenly, there was such a show er of cones that the poor woman was frightened. She tried to run away, but could not move until the little imp had filled her basket. And, hav ing started home, the basket grew heavier and heavier—she wished the elf hadn’t disappeared, he might have helped her. When she finally reached her hut, she called the children to help 'car ry the basket inside. Emptying the basket, they found that every cone was made of solid silver. Commemorating these legendary silver cones, gilded pine cones are sold in modem stores, to decorate our homes—to burn and crackle gaily in our Christmas fires. Some Safety Rules For Holiday Season It only takes a small amount of carelessness to turn the joyful Christmas holiday into a tragic event. The Christmas tree is the danger spot. There are a few simple precautions that will assure a safe and merry Christmas. Never bum real candles on your tree. Don’t risk using frayed cords and broken plugs. Avoid placing powerful lamp bulbs near fancy ornaments, syn thetic materials, paper or cotton. Don’t go away and leave your tree lighted. Be very careful when smoking around Christmas package wrap ping materiaL Secure the tree by wires to the wall so that tiny tots will not be able to bump or pull it over. Place your tree so that, standing or fallen, it cannot block a doorway which might be needed to escape from the room. If you go in for elaborate decora tions, better make sure they’re all made of incombustible materiaL FlameprOofed materials can be pur chased at many stores. Insist on them. rr\ Tl T "Q m JJ .8 ±1 May the Holiday Season bring to you all the pleasant moments so necessary for a Joyful Christmas Silent Night The famous Christmas hymn, “Si lent night, holy night,” was writ ten in Obendorf, one of Austria’s loveliest villages, on Christmas Eve, 1818, by the local clergyman, who took the words to the home of the village organist the same night, where they were immediately set to the well-known tune. Gilder & Weeks JOANNA NEWBERRY WHITMIRE “THE RIGHT DRUG STORE”