The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 26, 1968, Image 44
SEC. C.—PAGE 12—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C. Dec. 26th, 1968
By Mike Bennett
Henry Steele was doodling
on the calendar when the
nurse entered the room.
"Well, hello, sunshine,” she
said. "I see you’re at it again.
Tell me, how many days left
until Christmas?”
Henry set the calendar and
pencil aside. "What is it this
time? You’ve been in and
out of this place a hundred
times today. Don’t you have
any other patients you can
bother?”
Helen Garber had been a
nurse for 21 years. She had
learned how to get along with
all .types of people. She knew
when they were kidding, when
they could be kidded. She
knew that Henry Steele was
sour as rotten grapes—and
it Was unlikely that he would
change. She had made a
mistake by trying to joke with
him. She should have known
better.
"I’m sorry. - You have a
very fussy doctor, Mr. Steele.
1 have to follow his orders.
Right now, according to his
instructions, you have a small
pill to swallow.”
Henry snorted. "Him and
his pills. Are those pills go
ing to help me walk any
sooner?”
NO RESPONSE
Helen knew she should be
quiet. She carefully adjusted
the sheets at the foot of the
bed, then turned to go.
".Just a minute!” Steele al
most shouted. "How would
you like to spend 52 days
flat on your back, not able
to do anything for yourself,
not able to even get up and
walk to the bathroom?”
Helen turned in the door
way, her eyes sparkling. "If
I had been involved in a ser
ious automobile accident, and
had been saved only by the
wonders of modern medicine
and a bit of the grace of
God, I would consider my
self a very fortunate individ
ual.”
She slammed the door be
hind her and came face to
face with Dr. Cranford. "Nur
ses should never slam doors.
It annoys the patients.” She
was sure she saw faint traces
of a smile at the corners of
his lips.
"You’re right, doctor. I’m
sorry. It won’t happen a-
gain.”
The doctor really smiled.
"Let us have no grouches at
Christmastime.”
AND AGAIN
Henry Steele was writing
on the calendar again as she
pushed the wheelchair into the
room.
"What now?” he asked,
without looking up.
"Therapy, Mr. Steele. Doc
tor’s orders. You’re going to
a Christmas party.”
"Bah!” He sounded just like
Scrooge. "Where are you
taking me?”
"To the children’s ward.
Christmas is for children, you
know.”
Helen had much to do at
the party. Passing out gifts.
Helping the children who were
unable to walk. Opening pre
sents for those unable to do
so themselves. She looked
often at Mr. Steele. He was
not looking at her. He never
did. He watched the child
ren, all of them. He was
utterly fascinated. She
thought, for just a moment,
he had joined in the sing
ing of Christmas carols.
It was near the hour of
midnight on Christmas Eve
when the light for Room 32
flashed on. Helen did a
double-take. Henry Steele had
never rang for anything in
53 days.
She hurried down the cor
ridor.
"Yes, Mr. Steele?”
. . . I want to wish you a
Merry Christmas.”
Steele threw the calendar
in the waste basket, "and
it is not only for children—
no more than is life and
hope. Good night, sweet
nurse.”
GREAT
POETS
OF
Longfellow, from whose
poem, CHRISTMAS-1863,
came the refrain, "I Heard The
Bells On Christmas Day", The
old familiar carols play ", pen
ned a Christmas carol pre
served in many anthologies.
As far as research can de
termine, George Wither, a
young contemporary of
Shakespeare, first coupled the
words ^Merry Christmas".
Phillip Brooks, who wrote
the verses of the beloved hymn
"0 Little Town of Bethlehem",
also expressed his sentimenU
in "The Voice of the Christ
Child" and "Christmas Every
where ".
Robert Frost, Alfred Tenny
son and Sir Walter Scott, are
amony many besides Clement
Clark Moore (of "Tivas the
Night Before Christmas"fame)
who have enriched Christmas
tradition lyrically. A larger
number of poets have con
tributed carols to the world’s
musical treasure.
HELLER’S SERVICE STATION
GEO. W. HELLER, SR.
Doug MacFarlane
GEO. W. HELLER, JR.
(Main Street Ext.) Jim Sligh