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Show DECEMBER 21,2006 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER Page 12 We are going back to September, 1960 which was my first year as a teacher and faced with a split 5th & 6th grade class in our Elementary School. At our first teacher planning meeting I was told that as a new teacher I would be in charge of the Christmas program Automatic & Standard by Earl Roe for that year. I thought this must be the Transmission & Clutch Jobs wearlroe@yahoo.com * 676-2376 regular initiation procedure for new "Specializing In" teachers so I did not question it. I would Is it a touch of the Christmas Spirit have taken any task they gave me as I Electronic Problems 1 DAY SERVICE or is Panguitch becoming the pace set- was so happy to be teaching in a school Both Engine & Transmission In Most Cases: ter for lower gas prices in Southern that I had helped build a short time beMotor Mounts We Service Large Trucks & Motor Homes Utah? It sure is comforting to be one of fore. I decided I would use the poem CV Joints & Boots ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIALS the lowest instead of one of the highest Inspections - Tune ups (reading) "The Night Before Christmas" and would be more comforting to see it Quick Lube - Brakes drop to $2.00 by the 1st of the year. as the theme for my program. Panguitch Verlaine Matthews, one of my 6th Cedar City (Wishful thinking!) Our Senior Citizen Birthday Dinner Grade students, played the part of a for December was well attended this mother sitting in her rocker by the fireevening(16th). I always manage to get place and reading the poem "The Night to the December one because it is the Before Christmas" to three of her 'Where Trust Is A Tradition' ~ Over 35 Years Experience Roe Family birthday month. Three of my children.(I had built a small stage in front sisters, three of my children, myself and of and to the right of the regular stage.) two or three nieces amd nephews all At specific places she would stop readhave December birthdays. We have a ing and the spotlight would switch from big family party sometime between her to the stage, the curtains would open Christmas and New Y ears with home and each class took turns in presenting made ice cream, chocolate syrup and a number that had reference to that part On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old Chestsoda crackers(saltines)and end up the of the story.(e.g.)"The stockings were nut tree just inside the cemetery fence. day playing Hearts. This has become a hung by the chimney with care in hope One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down tradition which is enjoyed by everyone that St. Nicholas soon would be there." by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts. in the extended family. A 1st Grade class then sang "Jolly Old "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy. As soon as I finished my 'Birthday Din- St. Nicholas"-" AH the stockings you will Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence. ner', I drove to the Triple C to enjoy our find hanging in a row. Mine will be the Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, Elementary School Christmas Program. shortest one. Y ou'll be sure to know." he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down I missed the first number but the rest of The closing number was: "We Wish Y ou the program really filled the Arena with a Merry Christmas" as you might guess to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one the Christmas Spirit. Y ou can depend on after reading the poem. for me." young performers to give it their all when He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. I would like to hear from any of our in a group. If they were a little lacking in Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. tonal quality, they made up for it in quan- readers that remember this program and "Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and for those of you that would like to try a tity. the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls." The Elementary program always brings little Christmas mental exercise, find a The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." out one of the largest crouds of the year copy of "The Night Before Christmas" When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery. and it is nice to finally have a place that and try to find phrases where the reader Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me One for you, one is large enough to seat everyone. I could pause, then find a Christmas song for me..." couldn't see a vacant seat near the stage that contains a similar phrase. The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin1 me the truth. Let's see if we The Saturday night storm answered my so I went down and sat with the stucan see the Lord." dents at the right of the stage. Sitting question as to whether I would be able Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see and visiting with the youngsters and their to handle a big one. I found that I could anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence teachers and watching the different but it would have taken me so long that mannerisms of the students as they did the next storm erase what I had been tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord. At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get their part on the program took me back able to get done so Kevin came up with those nuts by the fence and we'll be done." to my teaching days in the Elementary his plow equiped four wheeler and did it They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the kid School.(The main reason I asked Ryan for me. if he would mind my changing the name It's time for another reminder that our on the bike. of my weekly article to the Knothole in- Lions Club is in the recycling business. stead of the Panguitch News was that Y ou have recently been told about out THREE WISE BIRTHDAY when nothing seemed to 6e happening Sub for Santa project which makes a on the other side of the fence, you could Merry Christmas out of what might have WOMEN LAWN MOWER climb over the fence and looking through been a sad Christmas for some child. Y ou do know what would have On my birthday I was cutting the the knothole the other way enabled you Everytime you bag your cans and toss happened if it had been Three Wise lawn when my teenage son came to see happenings as far back as your them in one of the collection bins, you WOMEN instead of Three Wise home from a baseball game. Seeing me memory would take you. Since I have become a contributor to this project along Men, don't you? behind the mower, he exclaimed, "Oh, not seen or heard of any happenings on with all of the other good things recyThey would have asked for di- Dad, you shouldn't have to mow the the other side of the fence, I climbed cling does. rections, arrived on time, helped de- lawn on your birthday." Touched, I over and looked back to a Christmas Past liver the baby, cleaned the stable, was^about to turn the mower over to "Doesn't kiss you-Like she useterto share with you and to give some of made a casserole, and brought dis- him when he added, "Y ou should wait Perhaps she's met you a chance to jog your memory and posable diapers as gifts! A smoother rooster." until tomorrow!" get a lttle more of the Christmas Spirit. -Burma Shave(1950)* lAuGhiNg pOiM!! THE CHESTNUT ROAST |