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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950 THE NEWBERRY SUN NW'j CWv^vn^S X i I 1 s s s I * TN 1937. a Waukegan, 111., minister ^ and the residents of one city block decided to do something about the disposal of the family Christmas tree. Nothing is more forlorn than worn out Christmas trees. They de serve better fates than " being dumped in alleys and vacant lota; and they constitute fire hazards on back porches and in basement area- ways. So, Waukegan held its first an nual Twelfth Night observances. committing the trees to a commu nity bonfire amid the chorusing of carols. And the custom has waxed. Resi dents of several communities, choruses, soloists, etc., partici pating as the spirits of the Christ mas trees are dispatches to some fir Valhalla to return to bless a future Yuletide. ^Jraclitioni Set'll, re A niveria tL 9 Frank Lominack Hardware 1403 Main Street Phone I s 159 % I * i One thing about New Year tradi tions, they are universal, irrespec tive of calendar variations or the race and creed of the observants. Endeavoring to get the New Year off to a good start, the Chinese pay up their debts on New Year's Eve. And the English claim it's a good idea to start a savings ac count on January 1, since what you do on New Year’s Day is in dicative of what the ensuing year will be like. A round loaf of bread dipped in honey symbolizes Jewish hopes for a smooth (the roundness of the bread) and prosperous (the honey) New Year. The same spirit of hospitality and sociability that makes the Wassail Bowl such a success in Scotland prompts Armenian housewives of Persia to get up extra early on New Year’s Day and set about bak ing the traditional New Year cakes. The baking must be done early, for the New Year is the day for visiting and entertaining. MliCII • • • GhnUtnuiAtune - c •ix*****' R. M. LOMINACK HARDWARE A. M. Lominack J. Forrest Lominack W. H. Lominack Ida D. Underwood Edward K. Lominack Charlie Force J. W. Longshore Lillian Vanderford George )Vilson By Nancy Plyler T HE SMALL BOY pressed his face closer to the window. Outside the snow lay a white blanket over the community, and darkness had drawn its curtain upon the day’s activities. Johnny had been stand ing there since dinner. His mother and father sat near by. “He hardly touched his din ner!” his mother explained. “It’s too bad! He was very fond of that dog.” his father said serious ly. "I’m ao sorry this happened. It’s just two weeks until Christmas and there’s so much to do. Scouring the neighborhood for the dog at this time will interfere gyith our other plans.” the mother said. While they were talking, the door bell rang. The wife went to answer it and found two teen-age boys on the porch. “Yes?” the wife questioned. The boys seemed to be out of breath from running. “Mrs. Rice, we saw two men take your dog into By John Scott Douglas S TENOGRAPHERS hovered around as Marta Manning un wrapped the package that had just reached the law offices. There were startled gasps of admiration when the paper fell away, revealing a potted camelia. Large and pure white, except for crimson-touched petals, its heart was filled with deli cate golden stamens. “Oh, how beautiful!” Tessie gasped. “Who sent it, Martha?” “My boy friend.” Marta said, her tone warm with happiness. “I didn’t know caroelias bloomed In time for Christmas,” said Bess. “The Dal Kaugura does,*’ said Marta. “But it’s all crimson. This must be a new hybrid that Colby Blake stocked for the Christmas trade.” Could Colby have developed it himself? she wondered. She remem bered the day. when he had been showing her around his nursery, that she started to enter a small, new lath house at the back. “Don’t him all “Did Santa Claus send back to me. Mommy?*' be asked. ♦heir car. They drove away with him," one of the boys explained. “What? W^en?” the wife was beside herself. “About two hours ago. We were taking the groceries to Mrs. Jane; we couldn’t turn back to tell vou. Besides the car was gone before we knew what had haonened. I think we’d know them !f we saw them again." the boys finished. “Don. will you come here?” Mrs. Rice called to her husband. “Now, will you please tell my husband what vou have Just told me?" she turned to the boys. Thev reiterated the same facts to Mr Porter. His first statement was, “Don’t sav anything about this to Johnny." He questioned the boys further, thought for a time, then asked the boys if they would agree to go around the neighborhood with him to see if he could trace the men. Agreeing to this, the two boys left with Mr Porter. M RS PORTER was sitting in the living-room when Mr. Porter returned Her eyes questioned what her lips could not say. “No luck!” he sunk into a chair. “T didn’t really think there would be any use to go out and look for them There just* wasn't anything else to do Poor kid! With Christ mas coming on and everything," Mr Porter was very solemn. On Christmas morning Mrs. Porter was up very early. The Christmas tree was trimmed tft perfection The wreaths were hung. The living-room was very pictures que. Johnny's stocking was hung over the mantle; it was brimming to the top. All kinds of toys that would delight the heart of a five-year-old boy were under the tree. His mother took one last look before she called to her husband to awak en Johnny •" A sleepy, tousled-haired boy crept down the steps to behold the won ders of another Christmas day. Afb er viewing the scene, he gave one leap to the hobby-horse that waited for him. By now he was no longer sleepy, but had mustered energy to open all his gifts without any help from his parents. And for a time Johnny seemed so engrossed in the many toys that he never mentioned about his dog. But their hopes were short-lived! For while they were planning for the day, they noticed that Johnny was watching at the window. Mr. and Mrs. Porter looked at each other and knew that they had lost in their endeavor to make Christmas Day a happy time for their boy. When Mrs. Porter was nearly on the verge of tears, Johnny gave one scream from the window. They ran to it and looking out, saw a small white dog scurrying up the path. Mr. Porter never opened a door more gleefully and the dog dashed into the room, into the arms of his master. Johnny was laughing and crying at the same time. “Did Santa Claus send him back to me. Mom my?” was all he asked. “Yes. dear,” she whispered. “The dog either broke away; or, the spirit of Christmas must have worked in those men’s hearts," Mrs. Porter smiled to her husband. MJinmummi On the point ef refusal, she remembered the broken date. "I’d be glad te. Mr. Ladd." • . go in there, Marta!” And then he’d been embarrassed as only a big, redheaded outdoor man can be em barrassed by his own rudness. “For give me for speaking so sharply, darling. You’ll understand, some day." In the two years since then, he'd never explained his strange words. It was but one of the things that had marred a more perfect under standing. The many broken dates were another. Engagements he could not keep because s truckload of plants must suddenly be deliv ered, or a customer must be seen about the laying out of a new gar den. “For you. Marta," said the switchboard girl. The girls dis persed as she picked up the phone. She heard Colby’s voice. “1 feel terribly to beg off on an other date, darling. But Roberts sprained his back lifting a tubbed tree, and had to go home. About twenty customers are coming in to pick up Christmas plants this eve ning, and someone must be here. Let me explain about that cam elia—" S ICK WITH disappointment, she said, “Never mind," and hung up. Tears pricked her eyes. Wasn’t she ever as important as a custom er? “Garral Ladd wants you to take a letter." said the switchboard girl. Any of the other girls would have gone into a tizzy if he'd suggested a date. Only Marta had had the chance to refuse him, not once but many times. For to her, he wasn't quite reel Now. with a confident smile, he dictated: “To do the town on Christ mas Eve with a lovely young blonde like you would make this my most wonderful Christmas. Will you say, ‘Yes’? Devotedly. Garral Ladd." "To whom shall I address it?" asked Marta. “To Miss Marta Manning." Her cheeks grew warm. On the point of refusal, she remembered the broken date. “I’d be glad to. Mr Ladd." That evening, on her way home to dress, she stopped at a nursery to buy a small tree tor her apart ment The tree, she recalled with a pang of disappointment that Colby had promised to bring when he called. A woman loaded with bund les was leaving the nursery with a plant identical to the one Marta had. received that morning. "Isn’t it lovely?” the woman asked, noticing Marta’s glance. “It’s the new hybrid developed by the Blake nursery." And she told Marta its name. Marta stood stunned when the woman Ifeft. Then, abruptly, she turned back to her car, thinking. “I can call Garral Ladd later.” She found Colby wrapping red paper around a pot holding one of the new Christmas camelias. "Can you forgive me. Colby?" she asked humbly. “I’ll help wait on customers so we can be together Christmas Eve. You’ve made me so proud and happy." “It was the only name for • flower so beautiful, darling." She fett a touch of awe as she stared at the camelia he was wrap ping. How like Colby to express his love by naming it the Marta Man- aiail if \y "v v •ft ? yfT r v. J W...: JBHS; sgf m vt •YJi' B> —•' mm .La* /f> /v£"ir,-V ■ mWi m. vv ■ W&’Tj Ur . ***w^£i Ik •- i '<UV ’A A . *• Jh_ l *V , w%. >*>... aN’ •**.*'«**£ -V. . .V’ JOYOUS YULI As we opprooch another Christmas, we are moved to a deeper, more sincere appreciation of our friends. May this Christmas deepen our mutual respect for one another — may our strong friendships grow even stronger with each new season. LAYTON BROTHERS GROCERY O'NEAL STREET RHONE AT S MERRY ^ ' •jT. % JV 1! I lllllib May your Christmas be as * mt&m £ m i s I •-? | g $ m & i if |s I H m % merry as you would have it, with everything that you hope to receive, actually yours after old Santa has come and gone. Thank you for your patron age, your confidence, your cooperation, your evident good will which we hope we may continue to enjoy. jY te\ y i mm* A* i Wmm. I 1 sA. wmm s:'-.s&r&A 'l \> V m W. E. TURNER 1103 CALDWELL STREET PHONE 19-W MM