The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 22, 1950, Image 9
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950
THE NEWBERRY SUN
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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
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9
Frank Lominack Hardware
1403 Main Street Phone
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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.
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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-
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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
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May your Christmas be as
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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.
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W. E. TURNER
1103 CALDWELL STREET
PHONE 19-W
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