Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 20, 1967—SEC. B—PAGE 13 NO ONE ASKED ME BY JOSEPH MICHEL When you are a confirmed optimist, you can believe in strange things. Take Ted Yates, for example. Ted be lieved that the spirit of Christ mas was so highly contagious that even the meanest man in town was not immune. Ted had argued the point for two Christmas seasons past. Why, he asked fellow members of the Dale City Saturday Night Club, exclude old man Barlowe when the club went about town asking citizens to make some kind of a donation to the Annual Kiddie Christ mas Party? Fellow club members shrugged off the suggestion. Ted could be excused. He had only been in Dale City for five years. He should not be ex pected to know everything. Try Again Yet, Ted was a persistent one." Now look, fellas, ” he pleaded, "just because Barlowe is a recluse that you never see. . . does this mean that he is really so different from the rest of us? Maybe he thinks nobody cares about him. Don’t you think he should at least get the opportunity to help his community?” two years.” Sam Bates said. "He’s had that opportunity for years,” spoke up Sam Bates. "The last time anyone saw him was nearly seven years ago. He came to town the day of the Founder’s Day Parade and his nutty chauffeur almost ran over the brass band.” "He didn’t even stay for the parade,” added Caleb Day. "Okay, okay,” said Ted. "What if he came in and of fered to help with the party — say, a cash donation, maybe some gifts for the kids?” "Which he could well af ford,” Caleb commented. "But, that will never happen.” "What if someone went to him and asked if he wanted to help in any way?” persisted Ted. "Someone like who?” came a chorus. "Like me, I guess,” said Ted. Small Chance And, so it was. With a few assorted bets for the price of tomorrow’s cup of coffee at The Dinner Bell, Ted Yates was off to Greenvale,'home of the mysterious Mr. Barlowe. Sam Bates offered 10-1 Ted would never get inside Jhe door, and found no takers. Ted was ushered into the drawing room by a tall, man nerly butler, who informed him Mr. Barlowe would be along shortly and then returned to the task of decorating the most beautiful Christmas tree Ted had ever seen. Mr. Barlowe came — in an electric wheel chair. "Mr Bates” — he paused to look at Ted’s card — "I mean, Mr. Yates, I will answer some questions you might have in your mind but do not dare ask. I became paralytic several years ago after a stroke. My world has since been confined to this house and its gardens. I have asked nothing of my neighbors because I neither asked nor gave when I was ft a healthy man. I ask nothing now, nor do I promise to give anything. Yet, since you are here, you obviously want to ask some thing Of me. What is it?” Ted cleared his throat. "I came, in the name of the com munity, to ask you to partici pate in our Christmas party for the kids.” Surprise Mr. Barlowe studied the floor, the ceiling, every object in the room before his firm eyes rested again on Ted. "Young man,” he began slowly, "let me tell you a thing or two ...” He paused, for a moment which seemed an eter nity ...” it would displease me very much if I came and were not allowed to play the role of Santa Claus. Let me have a list of the toys and gifts you now have. I will supplement the list as necessary.” An hour later, as he rose to leave, Ted could not resist. "Mr. Barlowe, why have you never participated in com munity affairs before?” The old man smiled. "I think, Ted, no one ever asked me before.” New Year Giving Royal Custom The Saxons learned from the Romans the idea of giving lamb Said It No One Is Charles Lamb put it very concisely when he said that "No one ever regarded the First of January with indiffer ence. ” Curiosity, hope and super stition have marked man’s ob servance of the New Year for centuries. Among superstitious beliefs was that "dipping” provided an insight into the future. Dip ping involved the opening of the family Bible while the head of the house, with eyes closed, indicated a passage with his finger; the text, supposedly properly interpreted, was sup- osed to fortell the good or ad luck in store in the months ahead. Man has always been as curious about what the future presents at New Year’s. Grad ually in England it became cus tomary for subjects to send costly gifts to their monarchs. Often the royal wardrobes were kept almost completely sup plied by these annual presents. Queen Elizabeth accumulated — so the story goes — hun dreds of pairs of jeweled gloves. This practice continued in Great Britain until the era of Crom well and the Commonwealth. German boys and girls carry presents to their teachers, apples being given in some cases. In this country, too, peo ple send New Year’s Day greet ings; but on this date presents are usually given only to ser- Indifferent holds as he has been eager to learn about all things un known. Have you ever noticed how many "forecasters” are present at New Year parties and gatherings? Almost every one can tell you what is going to happen in the world of busi ness and finance, in politics, in affairs of state, in our relations with other countries around the world. Be indifferent about the New Year? It’s hardly possible. Try as you may, you cannot help but dwell for a moment upon the personal events and hap penings of 1967. And, you can not deny that you have some hopes and plans for 1968. We hope that it is a very good year for you. vants, postmen, or janitors. Gifts and greeting cards are exchanged in France on the first day of the year. Children often make small tokens for their parents, and present them, with good wishes for the New Year. Shopowners usually send something to their patrons; and at this date servants and clerks sometimes get an extra month’s pay. Proper Care Saves Poinsettia If you wish your Christmas poinsettia to last, give it the proper care. After maturity, keep the poinsettia in a cool place — about 60 degrees F. and give it proper watering. If the plant is not properly watered, the leaves will drop soon after it comes into the house. Soil should be watered thoroughly until water drains from the bot tom of the pot, then allowed to become rather dry before wa tering is repeated. Roots of the poinsettia are sensitive to too much water. If the pot is set in a jardiniere and allowed to stand continually in water, roots may rot in a day. Some weeks after Christmas, the poinsettia goes into a nor mal dormant or rest period and drops its leaves. It is dif ficult to give it home care that will revive it successfully for next year’s bloom, so it is not practical for homemakers to attempt to save poinsettias from one year to the next. QUALITY SHOE SHOP 1105 Nance St.—Newberry As Christmas comes to you this year, we warmly wish that it may bring an ever deeper, ever richer meaning to you and your loved ones. i Shealy Motor Co.