The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 22, 1966, Image 22
SEC. B — PAGE 2
The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 22, 1966
GiFTfrf
By Mike BenneM
Christmas was a wonderful
time for a ten-year-old in the
little town of Smithdale. Folks
were filled with holiday enthu
siasm and they paid extremely
well for such small chores as
clearing the sidewalks of snow,
bringing in coal or chopping
cordwood. Brother John, two
years older but so nearly equal
size that we were often mistaken
for twins, was our "business
manager." He lined up the jobs
weeks in advance, keeping an
accurate record of jobs com
pleted and future appointments.
John wasn’t merely training for
his future role as an account
ant; he was making certain that
we got the jobs before other
kids in town beat us to them.
John always made certain
that we were assigned to any
tasks around the Smythe man
sion. We got these jobs so reg
ularly a big snowfall automati
cally sent us to the Smythe
grounds, shovels in hand.
Mr. Smythe was perhaps the
most respected man in Smith-
dale. His ancestors founded the
town. I have wondered since
why it wasn’t Smythedale. May
be it started out that way. But
I prefer to believe Mr. Smythe’s
ancestors were as reasonable as
he and gave the town a name
it could know and live with
Mr. Smythe had lived alone,
except for several servants,
since Mrs. Smythe passed
away, which was about the
time I was born. Two grown
sons lived in the Kast, and each
was president of a big business
and wealthy in his own right.
Each year, with their ever-in
creasing families, the sons re
turned to the Smythe mansion
before Christmas and remained
through the beginning of the
New Year.
Each year the tree was dec
orated, before the arrival of
the younger generation, in a
corner of the spacious living-
room. For two Christmases,
John and I had greatly admired
this tree as we brought in logs
for the open fireplace. We had
also gazed in great wonder at
a huge, green and gaily dec
orated package which was
placed beneath the tree even be
fore decoration was completed
under the careful direction of
Mr. Smythe.
The second year, in response
to my child-like question, the
butler had discreetly shushed
me and said, "It is a present
Mr. Smythe presents to himself
each year.”
You may well imagine what
the thought of a rich man giving
a present to himselfstirred in the'
imagination of a child! Bags of
money? A golden cloak?
On the Christmas Eve of the
great snowfall, we had spent
the afternoon in a useless bat
tle. (Snow buried the Smythe
walks and driveways faster
than two boys could remove it.)
Mr. Smythe called us into
the house and, as we stood be
fore the crackling fire, water
from melted snow dripping
from our boots and clothing on
to the plush carpeting, he gave
each of us a shiny twenty-dol-
lar gold piece.
"The weather is so bad,” he
said. "My family will not be
here until after Christmas. I
am going to open my present.
I want you to see what you
have been so curious about.”
The ribbons fell aside and
the wrappings were removed
. . . to reveal — a big card
board box, open at each end!
Mr. Smythe turned to two
astonished boys. "Have you
ever seen a more beautiful pack
age with something of so little
value inside? Not now, but
some day you boys will under
stand thi" gift ! give myself. 1
have much. My world is a
world of plenty. I remind myself
that all this is not so important
as what 1 am . . . what 1 do
with wealth, and what wealth
does to me. This is a good
gift I give myself, much greater
in value than the twenty-dollar
piece you hold in your hands."
This happened almost a life
time ago. Each Christmas since
1 have given myself a present.
The package is large, gaily
wrapped in green. It contains
nothing but a well-worn twenty-
dollar gold piece . . . and ihe
memory of a very wise old
man.
7 R E E ER E S / / .VESS EE S E .
To test the tree before you
buy, rub a finger across the
butt. Stickiness is a sign of
freshness. Bounce the iree on
the ground several times. If the
needles shed, the tree has begun
to dry out. Next tug at the nee
dles. I f they pull off easily,
freshness has gone. Batches of
browned needles mean dryness
has set in. A fragrant odor is
a good sign of freshness, and
healthy green needles are a
good sign too.
helped develop a musical
The Goy Nineties
Festive Times
During the Cay Nineties,
hostesses often announced in
the newspapers the hours they
would receive guests on New
Year’s. People arrived in their
best finery — men in silk hats,
with chamois skin gloves, and
ladies in "stiff bombazine with
sealskin tippets”.
Callers left their cards on
trays in the reception hall,
greeted the host and hostess,
then went to the dining room,
where tables held such substan
tial foods as roast beef, turkey,
ham, relishes, along with all
kinds of fancy pastries. Of
course, punch and the tradi
tional eggnog were dispensed in
large quantities. After their
guests had departed, the host
and hostess often made a round
of calls on their friends. As a
result, the affair became a call
ing marathon.
At times, undesirables man
aged to crash the parties; also
guests who had imbibed too
much at different homes some
times caused hostesses embar
rassment.
POETRY
QUOTATIONS
CHRISTMAS BELLS
LONGFELLOW
1 heard the bells on Christ
mas Day
Their old, familiar carols
play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-w ill
to men'
1S T H E R E A S A N TA C L A L S?
FRANCIS B. CHURCH
No Santa Claus! Thank
God, he lives, and lives
forever.
A thousand years from now .
Virginia,
nay, ten time ten thousand
years from.
he will continue to make glad
the heart
of childhood.
TRANSLATED EROM
JOSEBH MOHR. 1818
Holy night, peaceful night.
Wonderous star lend thy
light!
with the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King,
Jesus the Saviour is here.
CHRISTMAS
G. MacFARREN
(before 1580)
Le's dance and sing and
make good cheer.
For Christmas comes but
once a year.
TUSSER
At Christmas, play and
make good cheer.
For Christmas comes but
once a year.
GLAD ANGEL. ..A
charming, easy-,to-make
Christmas angel, made from a
triangle of brightly colored
cardboard covered with sand
wich wrap and secured on the
back with transparent tape.
Two smaller triangles, attached
at the neck, become the sleeves.
The head is a styrofoam ball
attached with a popsickle stick.
Sequins may be glued on for
additional decoration.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
TO OUR FRIENDS!
CLARK WRECKING COMPANY
Phone 276-0540 Glenn Street
Hem Christmas to All!
Lominick’s Drug Store
“One of Newberry’s Good Drug Stores”
MAIN STREET NEWBERRY, S. C.
S scv*. INC
... in lift tjigfjesit, ant) on eartf)
peace, goob toitl totuarb men.
&e tuislj men eberptotjere tfjat
peace tobicti passes unberstanbjng.
Shealy Tractor & Impl. Co.
Newberry, S. C.
Route 1
Phone 276-0336