Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thurs., Dec. 24, 1970—SEC. C, PAGE 11 MUDS FUN During the Christmas Holiday, when children are out of school and a family is likely to have guests, a group outing can be a pleasant change from parties at home. Also, children need to move around and not be confined to the house. Special holiday events are planned in most communities and a variety of individually arranged affairs can be relied on. In planning an activity, a familu may find it so enjoyable that it wiu become an annual affair.. An afternoon or evening at the theatre or movies can be entertain ing. In some cities “The Nut cracker” is offered at Christmas time. For those who live near ski areas, a day on the slopes can be fun. Another group sport is ice or roller skating. Walks or trips to scenic points, museums or parks can provide an outing with an awareness of local history, educational stimulation or nature lore. Christmas Plants Don’t overlook a gift that almost everyone enjoys receiv ing — a beautiful foliage plant. Costs can range from the in expensive to a major gift. Some plants to consider: shefflera — dependable and glossy leaved; croton — showy and trouble free; philodendron — lush foliaged and easy to grow; Christmas pepper — crowned with bright fruits; and rubber plant — tall and waxy leaved. Make gay gift containers by painting cardboard paint buck ets or trim clay pots with gay colored felt and contracting bows. BY CLYDE THOMAS Darkness closed in on the park, shutting out everything but the circles of light around the street lamps in the distance. The snow was falling heavily now, soft and wet. Sam Smith sat on the bench, alone, looking at, but not really seeing the snow that whirled about the lights on dis tant avenue. It was Christmas Eve, a lonely time in the park. Everyone had something to be doing, some where to go. Everyone but Sam. This was the thing he had dreaded for months. The first Christmas. He had told himself that it wouldn’t be this way. He had made plans, had thought about how he would prevent it from happening. But, none of them had worked out. Everyone else had plans of their own. He knew it would be that way. When you have someone to look after, or when someone looks after you, there is something to do. When you’re all alone, it’s different. Almost eighty years old — who wants to go to a movie — alone? Who enjoys dressing up and going to some fancy restaurant, to make conversation with a waiter, perhaps? No, there’s nothing. Christmas is no good at all. Not without people. And Sam Smith had no one. A Wish Sam came to his feet with effort and slowly began to walk. It was always Christmas where Mary was, like it had always been Christmas when she was alive. (“I wish I were with you,” he said.) And, he said it over and over again. He was walking now along the avenue. People stepped aside to let him pass because his path was straight and his eyes turned neither to right or left. He walked on, unseeing, un aware. Then, suddenly, roughly, his arm was captured in a strong grasp and he was halted. “Hey, dad, you all right? You been drinking or something?” Sam shook his head. A blue uniform. The flash of a badge in the reflected lamplight. “Me . . . me? No, no, officer. I . . . I’m allright. Nothing wrong with me. Just taking a short walk.” The image came into focus now. A big, smiling man. Funny, thought Sam, if he had a beard he could pass for Santa Claus. The policeman laughed. Even laughs like Santa, Sam concluded. “Now look, dad. Maybe you ain’t been nipping. But, if I hadn’t grabbed your"~arm you would have stepped right in front of that delivery truck. Wouldn’t I have had a nice present to de liver to your family? Bringing you home in a box?” No One Sam straightened his shoulders. “I have no family. There’s no one. I’m alone in the world.” Sam saw a glint in the man’s eye. “Alone, are ye? No family? I have no family. Lost a wife and child to the sickness. But, I’m not alone. No one is ever alone.” “I am. I have no one.” “You have the whole world. Look at the people you see around you. Think of the people you see and know. They care about you. Some more than others. Some sincerely, some with indifference. But, it’s hard to be all alone in the world. Even if you try." The policemen waved his arms. “All these people you see around you. They’re my friends. I don’t know them ail by name, but they are my friends until I know differently.” Sam smiled. “You’re saying that I don’t have to be alone?” The policeman waved his arm again. “Somewhere, where you live, where you walk, in the church you attend, someone is just as lonely as you, just as eager to make a friend. Go make yourself a friend, friend.” “Yes, a friend.” Sam turned and walked awav. toward the bright lights and the sounds of Christmas music on every corner. He wondered if the folks at the rest home had missed him yet Maybe he would go back after he found his friend. IS THERE A WARMER WAY OF SAYING “MERRY CHRIST MAS” AND PLEASE COME IN!” THAN A FRONT DOOR THAT’S BEDECKED WITH GREENS AND TRIMMINGS? We sincerely wish you every blessing that the season holds. May you and those dear to you rejoice in contentment and love. The Hat Box at The Fashion 1312 Main St. Newberry, S. C. :; Again, at this season of the year we wish to voice our gratitude to our friends whom it is our pleasure to serve. We esteem the continued patronage of our custom ers—and the confidence manifested in us by so many of you Newberrians. May we say in all sincerity that it ever shall be our desire to foster the kindly relations which exist between us, and we believe no more fitting demonstration of our attitude can be made than to re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of quality, keep our standards high and strive to merchandise our store so that you may always be better served. Carpenter’s Newberry