Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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l: .*1?%.. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1967 THE NEWBERRY SUN SECTION I—PAGE-7 BOYS ARE THAT WAY By J. M, ELEAZER “BETWEEN CHRISTMASES” “Between Christmases” is what we used to call this week between Chrietmas and New Year’s. It was the big week of the year for us kids in the Stone Hills of ihe Dutch Fork. The kinnery, that had drifted a- far, had arrived just before the magic week. They had been bed ded down, and some houses were bulging at the seams. But a pal let or three to a bed was all right then, for we used ’em so little sleep was sound and deep when we did get there. The days were full, very full. Nights too, until weariness final ly got us. By day i^Avas the hunt for the men and boys, birds for the former and rabbits for the lat ter. Both were plentiful and there were no bag limits. And with blazing torches, a time or two we went into the eerie night in quest of ’possums that walked there. On other nights, except one, all met at the ancestral home there,,where the stagecoadhes stopped on an -earlier day. The men played set back in the center of the great room, the # women lined the wall all around talking and doing hand work of varied sorts, while we kids played there on the floor. The other night was spent at the church. There we kids showed off with speech and song, before ad miring relatives, and got our re ward in the form of a small bag of fruits, nuts, and candy. As nights grew late, some of the little ones had fallen asleep and had to be aroused for the trek up the winding path, across the rail fences home. I can scarce re member hitting the bed, sleep was pressing so. And morning came early, with crisp frosts. The old folks were up, and we kids played as we dressed there by the roar ing fire. Had to keep turning or get toasted on one side. On New Year’s Day the turkey shoot down in the pasture marked the end of the glorious week. And after that wagons and buggies were seen plodding down the mud- “dy road to White Rock, taking the folks to the train for distant des tinations. And a great gloom fell over us, for the school bell would be ringing soon again away back there in the woods. PEACE ON EARTH . . . Pray erful hands against background of the Nativity scene reflect the true spirit of the Christmas sea son, when peace and goodness are foremost in the thoughts of mankind. CITY STAR ... A bright and shiny star lights the night in Chicago, where lights of build ings are cleverly lighted to form a Christmas star. FAMILIAR SIGHTS . . . Three ingredients common to. New York’s Christmas season are shown in this photo: Santa Claus, a Salvation Army cadet and the famous Rockefeller Center Christ mas tree. Ms m: $ GREETINGS TO ALL! We extend the Season’s Greetings and our Best Wishes ... CLARENCE B. DEHART BUILDING CONTRACTOR 711 McSwain Street PHONE 1038 ms: s - V § w © S By F. L. Rowley npHE first snow had begun to fall. Alice Miller watched dreamily through the big front- room window. Only the occasional click of her mother's knitting needles broke the cozy silence. Be hind them the freshly set table awaited the arrival of Mr. Miller. At length the older woman spoke: “A penny for your thoughts, dear.” “They’re worth more than that,” laughed Alice. “I might have known. You’re thinking of that nice Mr. Thomp son again. Why don’t you send him an invitation to spend the holidays with us?” “Mother! We’re mere acquaint ances. Besides, he didn’t impress me as being too bright last sum mer. Would you believe it? He didn’t even know what a poly- phemus was!” Is Surprised “Indeed? I am surprised! I Mrs. Miller nodded. “And you have other superior traits—like story telling.” should think that every red- blooded American would know what a polly-whosis is! What is it?” Alice ignored the question. “And he claims to be going to 'college. Why, I know more about science than a dozen Jim Thompsons!” Mrs. Miller nodded. “And you have other superior traits — like story telling.” “What?” “Fibbing,” said her mother softly. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten the hours that poor boy spent try ing to teach you how to drive the car? He should know that you’ve had a driver’s license for years!” Alice chuckled. “Did you see dad’s face the day we ran over his little fence?” Mrs. Miller shook her head. “Your father and I didn’t think it was very funny; and I’m sure that Mr. Thompson was embarrassed.” Alice’s smile faded. “You’re right, mother, Jim treated me like a lady—and I didn’t act the part. I only got him to teach me to drive so that I could see him more often. And now—” “Now he’s away at school.” Not Important “Maybe. Somehow I have the feeling that he’s nothing more than a clerk in a grocery store. But I don’t care if he is. He’s a gentle man, and that’s a rarity in these parts.” Although Alice didn’t say it, had Jim Thompson proposed marriage . she would have accepted on the spot. Since last summer she had gone out on many dates, but for som^ reason thiy had all fallen flat. Odd that the unassuming Jim should stand head and shoulders . above the other men she knew! The New Year came and with it Jim Thompson. This time he was not so shy. After dinner he drew Alice aside to show her a diamond ring. At the sight of it she nodded happily. It was when they were entering the parlor to break the news to her parents that the full . significance of the ring struck her. She was ready to bolt. Too Late Now But it was too late. Jim was making a neat little speech. After an awkward silence Mr. Miller asked politely: “And what kind of work are you in, my boy?” Jim looked surprised. “Hasn’t Alice told you? I’m at Glenwood College.” “What are you studying?” asked Mrs. Miller hopefully. Jim smiled. “I’m teaching, Mrs. Miller. I’m professor of Science at Glenwood.” Mr. Miller coughed. Alice’s hands went to her face. She was thinking of the poly- phemus moth. “I really didn’t’ have the hear! to tell you,” said Jim turning w Alice. “Especially after your' splendid lecture on insects.” “Science is wonderful, isn’t it?’* asked Alice breathlessly. To which they all heartily agreed, starting the New Year wittt; a note of harmony. Change Plans “Going? Oh, you mean for New Year’s. I wouldn’t be caught dead celebrating away from home. Get ting too old for such things.” “Oh? And Mrs. Dennison? Is she too old?” Mark stared at A1 as if he’d been slapped in the face. “See? You’re getting stupid, Mark, as well as fat But tonight you’re lucky.” A1 reached for the telephone: “Hello—Ernie? Ernie, I got a buyer for those tickets you were stuck with. Good. You’ll have your wife bring them right over? Thanks Ernie.” “Tickets?” protested Mark. ‘‘I don’t want any—” “You can pay me later,” in sisted AL ‘“Ernie and his wife were going to the Club Elite to night, but the poor guy sprained his ankle. So you give Margaret a night out; you wouldn’t want to go home some evening to find her packing, would you?” Anticipation Mark laughed. “Margaret would n’t do that. But I’ll bet she would enjoy an evening out—especially New Years. You know, Margaret and I used to have some real good times on New Year's.” He could hardly wait to break the news to Margaret. Now he was glad that she’d spent most of the morning at the beauty parlor. Mark clutched the reservations in his pocket as if they were World Series tickets. Margaret was still on the phone. He closed the door quietly. “I’m having the new suitcase sent to your house, Polly,” she was saying, “because I don’t want Mark to know about it.” Time Bor Showdown Everything at the Club Elite was perfect. It was a feijr minutes be fore midnight, while they were dancing, that Margaret asked: “Is anything wrong, dear? You’ve been so quiet this evening.” “You ordered a new suitcase!” Mark blurted. “‘So you heard? It was meant to be a surprise for your birthday. You certainly can’t take that hor rid old grip of yours to the conven tion next summer.” ‘ “The convention? The suitcase is for me?” Whistles began to blow. Noise drowned out what Mark was trying to say. He had to gather Margaret in his arms to show her how he felt. “Happy New Year, darling!” she gasped when the noise diminished. “Happy New Year!” Mark re peated fervently. “Tell you what —order another suitcase. I want you to go to the convention with me; I want you to go everywhere with me.” “Thanks,” she said and her low voice had a sweetness and an en thusiasm to it. Joe said, “You were looking at me then?” She laughed and glanced up. “You were positively staring at me and I did need rescue. So, thanks. You can leave me now the music’s stopped.” “Oh, please, can’t we be prop erly introduced? He might come back and besides,” he went on rapidly, “when you rescue some one you have to give artificial respiration. You wouldn’t want me to lose my rescuer’s badge so soon?” “No, of course I wouldn’t.” When she laughed, there were dimples in her cheeks and her eyes sparkled. “But artificial respira tion here?” The dancers were re grouping around them. Important Things “Outside,” he said and started off, firmly clasping her hand. He could not bear to lose her and he knew just two things about, his partner; she was the kind of a girl he had always searched for and her left hand was ringless. She looked up searchingly as they got their coats from a maid. “If we go out, I warn you I’m not coming back.” “Wonderful.” Joe swung the door open and followed her out into the frosty air. “Why? Were you bored too?” “Stiff. All that meaningless chat ter, everyone trying so hard to find the gaiety associated with New Year’s Eve. Why?” They were walking slowly down a well-lighted residential street. “Why? The holiday spirit? Trying to be conventional, not wanting to stay home when everyone else is at a party. I don’t know, not reaHy. I was there for lack of anything better to do. What do you think should be done on New Year’s Eve?” Point In Time “Well, it’s a point in time,” she spoke thoughtfuUy, their £eps slowed. “A time to put the past year in perspective.” “You mean assessing what’s been done or left undone?” “Yes, and looking forward too. Oh, I know how we laugh at New Year’s resolutions, but what better time for inner resolutions? Do I sound very foolish to you?” “No, very dear.” It was out be fore he could stop it. Hurriedly he tried to bypass it. “I’ve often thought that wild parties were the wrong way to greet a New Year. Just think of the aching heads!” Suddenly, she halted and taking his hand, pointed. Hand in hand, they entered the lighted church where they knelt silently, so sud denly two young hearts filled with joy. I SEASONAL SIGHT ... A bright-eyed youngster talking it over with Santa is a sure sign that the holiday is not far away. This young lad listens attentive ly as Santa explains why it pays to be a good boy. Hot Punches Gain New Holiday Popularity Hot punches, gaining new popu larity in America, have never gone out of favor in England where punch bowls are a frequent sight, usually of polished silver to hold hot brews. *These zesty punches may be mild or glowing. For mild drinks there is spiced tea with cloves, cirmamon and nut meg added before brewing, then combined with heated fruit juices. For glowing drinks there is Mulled Cider, simmered with spices and served with floating orange sliv ers; or the traditional Tom and Jerry, served untraditionally ear ly, its brandy frothy with egg, and spiced. Egg Nog Custom Dates Back to Early Custom The custom of inviting friends and relatives in for cocktails or egg nog during the holiday season, so popular in America today, dates back to the old English practice of “wassailing.” In Elizabethan times, no celebration was complete without the wassail bowl filled to the • brim with pungent ale—a cheery invitation to all to come in and help celebrate the Yule. Then, as the guests raised their steaming mugs in a toast to Christmas, the merry cry of “What Hail!” “Was sail!” would ring joyously through the hall. FOR US ALL Christmas Belongs To All Ages, to All People Everywhere Is it true, as they say, that Christmas belongs to the children? Christmas is indeed a time when hearts must be young but it is not only the child who can know and share the love and faith and hope that brightens the heart at Christ mas time. Christmas is a great spiritual occasion and the atmosphere of ex citement and anticipation that' per meates the world of the young has a deeper, more significant counter part in the world of the older gen eration. The hard-boiled, the cyn ical and tiie disbelievers cannot enter into the spirit of Christmas. Their hearts are too heavy, too filled with guilt and inner fears, and they close their eyes to all but the material aspects of the holiday observance. But there are those at all ages whose heart becomes filled with the wondrous glory of the oc casion, who see beyond the glitter and foil and tinsel and who enter with the faith of a little child into the realm of the spirit known as Christmas. For all these, there is joy and peace and happiness. Belongs to All Christmas belongs only to the children? Christmas belongs to us all. It is ours to share, to the full est measure. And, if the truth be known, we elders have a much greater share in the holiday than our children. To them, Christmas is bright lights and Santa Claus and snow and tinsel on the tree, and toys and fruits and good things to eat, and the mere acts of giving and receiving. Have you ever con sidered the fact that we share in all these aspects of the holiday— in addition to the deeper, truer meaning of Christmas, and the most important part, which the very young heart is yet unable to understand or comprehend? Christmas belongs to the chil dren? No, Christmas is ours. A part of the holiday, a bright and shiny part, belongs to the children. But they must grow in years and faith and wisdom before they can really share in the whole and com plete spirit of Christmas. May God who gave His love In the Christ Child make this Christmas Joyous, and may His Spirit Keep you through the comipg year. i May the tender memories Of happy times With ydur loved ones Give joy to your heart. * / yraa r\ m ejwtwu&\ Through twenty centuries, the^ ihope of Peace, bom in a manger | sin Bethlehem, has been the stari \ * J [that guides mankind. Teaching Peace and Love, this] spirit, has passed down to each! J family . drawing them dosej {together at this season, althoughj >arated by many miles. In this Holiest of Seasons, may; [you and yours enjoy this promise; Peace and Good Will on earth J I 7? n m •ii NEWBERRY COUNTY BANK Joe M. Roberts, Executive Vice President and Cashier Newberry Branch L. D. Long George Rodelsperger Martha Ann Kinard Mollie Dowd Joan Bobb Joanna Branch Clyde Tindall, Manager Mrs. Dick Vaughan Frances Evans