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.

SEC. C—PAGE 16—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C. Dec. 26th, 1968 By Mary Hannah Jack Ward peered through the open doorway at the yard lights, coming up more slow ly now as the lead cars be gan to hump and jerk and slow. He heard voices and knew that he had waited almost too long to make his departure. He should have known that railroad cops would be on the job, even if it was Christmas Eve. He hit the ground running, jumping tracks with the agil ity of an Olympic hurdler. He heard the shouts of dis covery moments before he reached the last track, hur dled it and half stumbled, half fell down the shallow embank ment into a dry creek bed. Resting momentarily, he turned away from the lights and melted into the darkness of the night. The Truck Stop Cafe was virtually deserted. In one booth, a burley truck driver was eating ham and eggs like a man in a hurry to catch a train. At the counter, a young couple laughed and giggled in to thur soft drink bottles. The bearded waiter hardly looked up from his game of solitaire. "What’ll you nave, kid?” "How much is a cup of cof fee and a donut?” "Got no donuts. Give you a sweet roll. With coffee, twenty one cents with tax.” "Just make it coffee.” "O.K., big spender. One cup of coffee.” "Aw, give the kid a couple of hamburgers, Sam. After all, it’s Christmas.” "Christmas is just another day, Rufe. You gonna’ pay?” The truck driver stood up, dropped his napkin into his plate. "Cook 'em Sam. And get off that stupid card game/ Bringing his cup, the truck driver walked behind the coun ter and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Why aren’t you home where you belopg, kid? It’s Christmas Eve.” "I’m going there now. Just stopped in for a minute.” "Thought I knew everyone around Taylorsville. Where do you live?” "I live the other side of town. Several miles out. You wouldn’t know my family.” "Maybe. What did you say your name was?” "Smith, Jack Smith.” "That’s a good one. No body quite sure just how many Smiths live in the county. You Jeb Smith’s boy?” "No, no sir. My dad’s Fred Smith.” The big man looked down at his coffee thoughtfully. "Fred, yeah, Fred. 0. K. Jack, eat your hamburgers. I’m going your way soon as I have another cup of java. I’ll give you a lift as far as I go. And, no arguments. Looks like a storm might be brewing up outside.” They were seated in tht cab, the motor running, when it began to snow. Rufe open ed his door. "Sit tight, kid, I wanna buy a pack of cig arettes. 1 have a long haul to make.” A CHANCE Jack watched as Rufe went back into the cafe. Now was his chance. He started to open the door, then paused as he saw Rufe looking at him through the cafe window. Jack froze. He wasn’t afraid, but he sensed futility in any at tempted escape. Rufe opened the cigarettes, took a box of matches from the cash register container and started for the door. "By the way, ’am, if you can give up that c d game for a minute, you can dn me a favor. Call the police at Taylorsville and tell them I’m coming in on the south road with that 15-year- old kid who ran away from home last week in Jackson. I heard on the radio before I came in that his parents were mighty worried and I know they will be glad to have him back by Christmas Day.” Whistling softly, he slam med the cafe door. ANIMALS AT CHRISTMAS Legends about animals at Christmas are especially touching. It was told that the night of Jesus’ birth was the darkest ever known, but when the child was born a great light spread across the skies. Dead black branches put out green leaves; blossoms and ber ries appeared on withered vines; flowers never seen be fore sprang out of dry earth. At that moment the cattle kneel ed kown in stalls of the little manger. They spoke to each other. A cock crowed, "Christ is born”! and -the animals whispered, "Let us all worship togetner.” There would not be the cos mopolitan variety of cards that we have today. Hints at what was around long ago are shown in collections of that era. The designs have a charming quality. Flowers and birds, children and pets. Some times a star or a bell, but sel dom a Santa Claus. Then, as now, however, the cards’ intent is the same; to convey good will, good wishes, the hope of happy times to come. IN SICILY In Sicily, many families use Christmas trees, out they dec orate them with apples and oranges instead of tinsel! This carries out an old tradition that all the trees bore fruit when Christ was born. THE WISE MEN. . .This montage depicts the wise men journeying through the desert, following the star that shone above the manger in which Jesus lay, and bearing their gifts to the new born Messiah. It also shows the shepherds who saw the star while tending their flocks. The Goodrich Christ mas special, "Christ is Born,” recounts this most famous.of the Christmas stories. Whitaker Floor Coverings 1101 BOYCE STREET NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA