The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 22, 1966, Image 25
The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 22, 1966 SEC. B — PAGE 5
By T»d Jon*i
Joshua Crane was almost
ninety years of age and the
richest man in Hillvale. He had
not, as the boys around the pot
bellied stove at Moore’s General
Store liked to phrase it, "hit
a lick at a snake in thirty years.
"Oldtimers still had stories to
tell of some of the ways Joshua
had accumulated his wealth.
Needless to say, Joshua
Crane had no friends. Elmer,
perhaps, but it was hard to tell.
Elmer carried out his duties as
cook, valet and chaffeur with a
deference that was unchanging
ly stoic. Long ago he had
learned to turn a deaf ear to the
digs and m o re-th a n casual
comments of townfolk as he
went daily to the market or
wheeled the big, black lim
ousine through the narrow
streets.
Joshua Crane was the
nearest thing to a relative or a
friend that Elmer could claim.
He had never known a family,
his first memories of any im
portance being those of life in
sternly managed orphanage, of
running away, cheating and
stealing his way across a con
tinent and eventually into pris
on. Elmer was grateful to
Joshua Crane. Joshua had
hired him on a warden’s recom
mendation thirty years ago and
neither man had any reason to
regret or to look back.
Elmer didn’t mind not
having a family. You don’t
miss something you never
really possessed. Only at
Christmas did Elmer feel stir
ring within himself the urge
to reach out and grasp a share
of the joy and the good will
that seemed to permeate the
snow-laden streets of Hillvale.
Christmas alone was a
lonely time for Elmer. It was
his time of greatest need. And,
it was the one time of the year
when Joshua Crane insisted on
sending him away. For thirty
years, Elmer’s vacation period
had extended from December
23rd to January 2nd, without
variation. Joshua insisted that
he not only leave the house,
but "get out of town. Go some
where. Do something. A person
gets stale if they never know
change.”
Awake and restless in the
unfamiliar bleakness of a
hotel room, Elmer felt stirring
within himself the thing he had
come to call the "Christmas
urge.” He dressed and im
pervious to the chill of wintry
winds, walked the lonely
streets. He knew this time the
urge would win and, without
returning to the hotel for his
sparse belongings, he stepped
aboard a bus that would take
him back to Hillvale.
In contrast to the other
homes he passed along the
way, the big Crane mansion
loomed dark and silent behind
the tree-lined driveway.
Elmer let himself in as
quietly as possible, hoping to
forestall until tomorrow the
tirade that was sure to come
his way.
Halfway up the stairs a
glimmer of light from the
partly opened basement door
stopped him short. Lights.
Colored lights. Blinking lights.
For a long time, Elmer
stood, his nose and one eye
against the opening at the base
ment landing. The Cellar was
alive with the sights, and the
smell of Christmas. An ancient,
carefully preserved metallic
Christmas tree held the center
of the stage, meticulously
adorned with baubles and
tinsel that had an equal look
of age and use. At the base of
the tree, splendidly arranged,
were an assortment of gaily
wrapped packages, with the
discoloring marks of time
obvious at each cornel and
edge.
"I knew you would come.
1 hoped you would.’’ Joshua
Crane spoke without turning
his eyes from the tree.
Hillvale folks had much to
say Christmas Eve when word
got around that the Crane
mansion was decorated for
Christmas, with a tree in the
window, and a welcome wreath
on the door.
Strangely, the thing folks
had to say were somewhat
kind. The kind of thing folks
usually say when the "Christ
mas urge” begins to stir deep
within the soul.
Christmas Clean Up
Cleaning up after opening
Christmas packages can be
quite a chore. Before it's time
for opening packages, have
handy a couple large shop
ping bags. Find a good size
cardboard box. You’ll have
a place for scraps of paper,
a place for ribbons and trim
you want to keep, and a
carton for throw 7 away
boxes.
TIME FOR SURPRISES
Every Christmas season is
greeted with joyful surprises.
The wonders of a greenhouse
never cease. It is a continuing
source for gifts. This year you
can choose a plant for that
someone hard to shop for. Gifts
from your greenhouse are
gratefully received.
may
PEACE
and
JOY
brighten your
holiday
We extend warm greetings to
our friends at this festive Season.
May the Star of the East
guide our hearts always!
SUMMER’S DRIVE-IN
CUT-OFF 176
Tom, Mary and Kay Summer Phone 276-9232
As Christmos comes to you this
year, we warmly wish that it may
bring an ever deeper, ever richer
meaning to you and your loved
ones.
Shealy Motor Co.