The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 21, 1967, Image 47
The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 20, 1967—SEC. C—PAGE 11
SAFARI STYLE . . . Here
it is, the gift for the golfer who
has everything — almost. It’s
a luxurious golf bag in black.
and white unborn calf. Manu
facturer says it is also avail
able in leopard, tiger (includ
ing the tail), ocelot, chinchilla,
or sheared beaver.
DECORA TIONS
You may find the ingre
dients for Christmas decora
tions in your own backyard.
Collect sprays of holly, pine
cones, and evergreen
branches. Spray paint them
in sparkling silvers and
golds or bright holiday reds
and greens. Arrange them
with Christmas tree orna
ments into an attractive
centerpiece, or add some rib
bon and use them to top off
Christmas gifts.
PAINT TOY BOXES
Children love to play with
boxes, so why not decorate
them for Christmas gifts? A
wooden box painted in
bright colors turns into a
pretty — and practical— toy
chest. Turn it upside down,
top with a colorful cushion,
and you have a child’s has
sock. Design several like cir
cus cages — or, a kiddie
train. Stretch your imagina
tion and create more Christ
mas fun for your children.
AH, MUSIC . . . Agiftsure
to delight the heart of any
young lass is her own record
player and a collection of chil
dren’s records.
C C n I N fl k 1/
..........
&
. BY MARY HANNAH
It was shortly after the turn
of the century. My trade was
that of a drummer. Today you
would call me a salesman. My
territory was determined by
fancy and, sometimes, by a
weatherbeaten horse named
Napoleon. Whichever fork of
the road suited Napoleon,
suited me. Napoleon huffed
and puffed along, pulling a
wagon load of pots and pans
and assorted.dry goods. I let
him go his way until we came
to a lane that led toward a
promising farm house.
I had learned, through the
years, to make it my business
to let darkness catch me only
in the vicinity of some sort of
habitat which offered the prom
ise of warmth and comfort for
the passing of night.
Trouble
On this particular occasion,
which just happened to be
Christmas Eve, I was in un
familiar territory, somewhere
in southern Mississippi. A
broken wagon axle had
brought Napoleon to a sudden,
groaning halt. I set the animal
free while I set about seeing
what I could do to make re
pairs.
I was in unfamiliar territory
on Christmas Eve.
As you may imagine, it took
me a long time, even though
I hurried as fast as I could,
spurred on by dark and
ominous skies that threatened-
even promised a siege of bad
weather.
When I had finished with the
job—you guessed it—Napoleon
was gone. He was nowhere in
sight.
I ran up the road, shouting,
whistling, until I was forced to
sit and rest. I returned to the
wagon and looked in the forest
on each side of the road. But,
Napoleon was gone—and the
rain which began slowly at
first, came now in torrential
fashion.
Shelter
I hastily pulled a tarpaulin
over my wares, and myself.
For a time, I was dry and
warm. Then water seeped
around the edges of the
tarpaulin ... a trickle or two
at first, then a steady stream,
down the side boards and
across the wagon bed until I
was thoroughly wet
It was an hour or two before
dark when I decided to look
up the road for help or as
sistance, knowing full well it
might be 10 or 15 miles to the
nearest sign of civilization.
I had not gone far when I
met him. He was an old fellow,
white-bearded and dressed in
tattered clothing, ambling
toward me as if it were the
brightest day in May. At his
heels, following nonchalantly,
a very nondescript mule.
"My name is Karl,” he said.
"And my friend , here, is
Dancer.”
"Hello,” I said. "Have you
seen a horse up ahead?”
"Not horse, nor human, for
miles. Dancer and me, we’re
just headed home.”
"I need help,” I pleaded.
"Shelter for the night, or I’ll
buy your mule. I have a
wagon load of supplies and
"Dancer will gladly help.
But, he’s not for sale. He is
much too valuable to me.”
"Then, you’ll go with me
to the next house or town?”
"Not I. I have things to do.
Dancer will take you. Just set
him free when you are there.
He will come back to me.”
One learns, as they say, to
never look a gift mule in the
mouth. I hitched up Dancer,
bid farewell to old Karl and,
after he refused any compensa
tion, started again up the road.
When I reached the next
community, Napoleon was
waiting patiently. The moment
I set Dancer free, off he was,
back along the road we had
just traveled.
Maybe there’s nothing un
usual about my story. Except
for the fact that no one in the
community had ever heard or
seen an old man fitting Karl’s
description. And, in the many
later years I traveled the same
location, I could never discover
or learn anything about him.
I wonder if he had some
thing to do with the Spirit of
Christmas.
jfrom all of u$
to all of pou
May the gladness and cheer
of the HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON
bring much happiness to you!
H & H MACHINE & WELDING SHOP
Willie and Jack Hawkins, Owners
1502 Martin Street Newberry, S. C.
Clinton-Newberry Natural Gas Authority