The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 24, 1959, Image 24
SECTION C—PAGE EIGHT
THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1959
Wishing
you —our friends —
the happiness of Christmas time!
SHEALY TRACTOR &
IMPLEMENT CO.
£
e\
£
MASSEY-FERGUSON SALES & SERVICE ^
Route 1 Phone 1424-J Newberry, S. C. J|
v *
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By WILLIAM L. ROPER
J AKE YANCY took no part in
the holiday merriment on the
train. His ears, long accustomed
to prison silence, resented the
gay chatter of the youngsters
going home for Christmas. Even
their gaiety annoyed him. For
his plans were of a different kind.
As the train chugged up the
long, curving grade toward Lo-
ganville, he stared unseeingly at
the snow-laden pine trees glisten
ing in the late afternoon sun. His
mind was on what he planned to
do that night—something that he
had been thinking about for a
long time. Almost unconsciously,
he touched the handle of the
small automatic in his overcoat
pocket. His lips tightened into a
hard line and he half-closed his
eyes. It would not be long now.
Often during his ten years in
prison, it had seemed a long way
off. But now here he was within
a few miles of Loganville and
Big Ben Patterson.
He could see Big Ben as he
looked that day there in the
courtroom, testifying for the
State.
“It was him—Jake Yancy,”
Big Ben had said. “I recognized
him by his brown overcoat and
hat when he ran out of the bank.”
It was that testimony by Big
Ben, Loganville’s town marshal,
that had convinced the jury.
Thinking it over night after night
in his prison cell, Jake had often
wondered if Big Ben had lied
deliberately, or if he had simply
been mistaken. The fact that Big
He came to Big Ben’s place and
his heart beat faster.
Ben had married Milly soon
afterwards might indicate that
it was deliberate.
It was getting dark when the
train ground to a stop at the old
weather-beaten Loganville sta
tion. Jake waited for the young
sters, home for the Christma.'
holidays, to get off first. Then as
he came down the steps, he
glanced quickly around, looking
for big Ben.
The marshal used to meet all
trains. Tonight his face was miss
ing.
After a drink of coffee at the
restaurant, next to the station,
Jake strode past the Christmas
tree on the courthouse lawn. A
group of children were singing
Christmas carols.
“Silent night, Holy night!” The
voices reminded him of other
Christmas Eves when he was a
little boy.
Memories
Somehow these memory flashes
of other Christmas Eves kept
haunting him as he walked out
the tree-lined street to Big
Ben’s home. He recalled the
sleigh bells and the parties. And
several times, he paused, trying
to shake off the Christmas spirit
that seemed to have come over
him.
Finally he came to Big Ben’s
place. His heart beat a trifle
faster.
Jake rapped softly on the door.
He heard quick footsteps inside.
Then the door opened. There in
the lamp-light stood Milly,* an ex
pression of pleased surprise on
her face.
“Why Jake!” she exclaimed.
“It was so good of you to come.
Please come in.”
With a puzzled frown, he fol
lowed her into the living room.
Milly, he noted, appeared worn
and tired. Yet she was still beau
tiful.
“Where’s Big Ben?” he said.
“Oh,” she said, putting a hand
to her forehead. “Then you don’t
know. Big Ben passed away last
Sunday . . . drank himself tc
death.”
“Drank himself to death?”
Jake said. “Why, I never knew
he touched liquor.”
“It was the news that you were
innocent, Jake.” She spoke soft
ly. “He started drinking the day
the news came that another man
confessed the bank robbery. He
felt terribly remorseful for his
mistake.”
“Mistake?” Jake said.
“Yes, Jake, you don't think he
deliberately framed you, do
you?”
Jake shook his head. “Of
course not, Milly. Besides what’s
lone is done. And this is Christ
mas.” He smiled and walked out
into the cook crisp evening.
(Christmas'candles
ORE SYMBOUC OF THE
STAR OF BETHLEHEM
AND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
MANY CENTURIES AGO.
THE ENGLISH AND THE
IRISH LIT YULETIDE
/
BSfew YEARS WAS A 15-
DAY AFFAIR IN OLD CHINA
WHEN FESTIVITIES BEGAN
ON THE FIRST DAY OF
TWE MOON AND CLIMAXED
CANDLES NIGHTLY IN THEIR
HOMES AND CHURCHES
FROM CHRISTMAS UNTIL
TWELFTH NIGHT.
ON "TENG CHI£H: THE
FEAST OF LANTERNS.
A " kISS OF PEACE? IN
ADDITION TO GRANTING
ROMANTIC PEROGATIVES
TO WHOEVER STANDS UNDER
IT, MISTLETOE PLEDGES
GUESTS TO ENTER A HOUSE
IN FRIENDSHIP AND PEACE
WHEN HUNG OUERTHE
DOORWAY.
lEGENP NOT ONLY HAS IDENTIFIED
THE WISE MEN AS SASPAR.MEICHOB
AND BALTHASAR. IT HAS CROWNED
THEM AND GIVEN THEM WN6D0HS
OF TARSUS ARABIA. AND ETHOWA.
IT HAS SWBOUZED WEIR SIRS
AS SYMBOLIC OF WHAT JESUS
WAS ID BECOME.. 6GU> FORA
KING. FRANKINCENSE fORAWSH
PRIEST AND MYRRH FORA GREAT
PHYSICIAN. _
‘She word noel is from
the LATIN WORD 'NATALIS,
MEANING BIRTH.GRADUAUV
IT HAS COME TO MEAN
CHRISTS BIRTH.OR CHRISTMAS
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FROM THIS MEANING IT ALSO
TOOK ON THE MEANING Of
''GOOD NEWS'OR GLAD
TIDINGS".
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May the oft-told tale of the Birth of our Saviour bring
inspiration and happiness once again to you and yours during this Holy
Christmas season. May we express our sincerest wish that it be
a truly Merry Christmas . . • bountifully blessed with His gifts of Faith and
Hope, Peace and Good Will for all Mankind . . •
The Bank of Commerce
Browne and Counts, Agents
PROSPERITY, SOUTH CAROLINA