Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

0 SEC. B—PAGE 16 ic Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday. December 22, 1966 f By Louie Spivey It was Christmas Kve, and time for rejoicing — but not for Mildred Smith. Last night her home had been ransacked, and all the beautiful presents which she had so carefully picked out and wrapped for her friends had been stolen. Snow had fallen in the night, and she sat looking out of the window remorsely as Melvin Rawls, the little hunchbacked caretaker who came once per week to do odd jobs about the house, shoveled the white stuff to one side. Suddenly Mildred’s face lit up with alarm. As he stooped, she saw a package in one of the coat pockets which Rawls wore bulge out. The package was wrapped in Christmas pa per, and was about the size of the brooch she had bought for her sister Edith! Did Rawls steal the presents? He had a key to the house. She’d call Harry at the office and tell him what she saw. Har ry had to work a half day to day, even if it were Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS To you and yours during this most festive season. AND NiRS. TOM LEWIS Boundary Street Extension GREETINGS (y> May our friendship stay ever-green, now and always! AL RABIN'S SHOES 1304 MAIN ST. NEWBERRY HOLIDAY . *1 ^ — mm What better time than Christmas to thank yon for your patronage and wish you the best of everything! H ATCHETTE'S Office Supplies & Equipment Phone 276-0404 Newberry, S. C. "Mr. Smith has gone.” the office girl informed her. At that instant the phone went dead. She jangled the hook, then looked up to see the hunchback standing direct ly behind her. "Can 1 help you. Mrs. Smith?” he asked. "No, no,” she drew back. "Keep away from me.” "Why — Mrs. Smith." he seemed bewildered. -i .i t 4 n! n "Don’t you try pretending at me,” she admonished. "And I’ll have you know I just called Harry at the office. He’ll prob ably be here any minute now. The office girl said he had al ready gone, and don’t you try anything rash.” "Why, Mrs. Smith! I wouldn't for anything.” He moved, as if in a lunge, towards her. She grabbed at the library table drawer. Harry keptagun there. She opened it and yanked at the weapon. (The hunchback moved quickly. He grabbed at her hand, and the weapon fell to the floor. ) "You didn't mean that — did you, Mrs. Smith? You wouldn’t shoot poor old Melvin now. would you?” There seemed to be a note of triumph in his voice. "Yes,” she stammered. "Yes, I would.” "Why, Mrs. Smith — and after all these years I’ve known you!” "Yes, but I never knew what kind of a person you were ’till today.” "And what kind of a person am I today?” Before she had time to an swer, she heard Harry’s car pull up in the driveway, and she rushed towards the sound screaming. Harry came running, and Mildred began blurting out ac cusations of Rawls. The little hunchback looked more for lorn than ever. "Now, now”, Harry finally shook Mildred into sensibility. "Forget it, forget it!” "Harry — what are you say ing?” "You should be ashamed of yourself accusing Melvin,” he said. " I just talked w ith the police chief before 1 left the office, and he already has the man who broke into our house. Said the man had confessed, and he wants us to come down there and identify our things.” Mildred’s face was a puz zle. She tried to stammer some thing, but couldn’t. She looked at Rawls in numbed silence. " But the gun — “ she final ly said. "And the package in your pocket — wrapped just like the brooch I had wrapped for Edith,” she continued. " The package — oh, t h e package — ” Rawls seemed somewhat embarassed., "You see, Mrs. Smith, I had that wrapped up to give you — it being Christmas Eve and all. Here — ”, he pulled the pack age from his coat pocket. "Take it — it’s for you.” Later, as she and Harrv got into the car to go down town after the stolen presents, she thought, "It’s a time for rejoicing, after all.” Christmas Spirit All of the preparations for Christmas have become tradi tional. The decorations for the house, the tree, fixing good things to eat, choosing the right gifts and remembering every one that we should — all of this has become traditional. Christmas day usually is less feverish and more quiet. This is the time when the ma jority of us face up to the true meaning of Christmas and the spiritual blessings that attend the season. PLANT HOLLY Holly can be grown in any sunny spot. Although a slow growing tree, a Holly will pro duce ample Christmas trim in a few years. Holly likes well drained soils and should never be planted closer than 15 feet from a house. USE TREE Erect the tree in the backyard after Christmas and convert it into a bird feeder. Ideces of suet, popcorn, peanut butter, and all other morsels of food are tied to the outer branches. Do keep a pan of water nearby for birds must have water as well as food. Resolutions -- And Keeping Them Making New Year’ resolu tions has long been an Ameri can custom. Even though some scoff at this idea, and few suc ceed in keeping all of their resolutions, we are encouraged in the attempt by the poet, Al fred Tennyson, who wrote: I hold it truth with him who sings To one clear harp on divers tones That men may rise on step ping stones Of their dead selves to high er things. ©»cw. INC. WE JOIN SANTA’S ELVES IN WISHING EACH OF YOU THE HAPPIEST HOLIDAY SEASON! WILSON’S TEXACO STATION 1309 College St. Phone 276-1184 ©•CW.INC. an oH-faitiLonzcL ijZE£.tincj tfiat conizs. itiai^lit from ttzs fizait and cazrczi zezzy cjood wild.! THE GOLD SHOP 1206 Main Street Newberry, S. C.