Show hh U LUl Ii UMI U I THE FORGIVING HOURI HOUR m I g J BY HERBERT KAUFMAN fl I TIME is a trickster on this pre precious o s day and works a gentle m magic gic in our hearts I f X I How low fast the s squandered sands come me up J JI I I ning back through his reversed glass J See them come trickling year upon ye year v. v Dim yesterdays take color in the mists and M Mem Memory 1 ory oTY becomes a stage for far mirages a X y There are no whitened hairs on Christmas Eve Just for a a. little while weve we've all turned young and journey down do long winding vinding lanes where pasts run out and guide us back to distant homes and childhood j Enter Let Recollection turn th the i key y y r U It 1 The ghostly doors swing sving in we in-we we tread tr 1 d once more the halls in which we romped WJ J There is the ban banister ster you slid upon u q 1 and here the parlor with its hidden tree tree Peek through the keyhole and conf confess sS that no sight since brought half the thrill and wonder wonder- ment mente A 1 i The tins ed angels angel's at at atthe the vel very very pop top popcorn rn and shiny paper r si chains 1 br ch a ar and andI p r r fT 6 V 1 j I ll I III I III II III VIII underneath behold the drum just like you wanted want want- ed sitting on your firSt fiat real sled And that's the rocking chair the cherished red one that dead sister wished and right beside a soldier suit big ig brother begged begged- makes brave di display play with sword and epaulettes and forage cap The stockings dangle from the mantelpiece a stick on i in every everyone one oN No t io need to tell you that the big bulge at the 3 toe reveals an app apple apple apple-a e-a. e a snappy russet russet not not one of these fancy tasteless s sort all looks and cost one buys in fruit stores nowadays jf What modern candy can compare with the r French mixture Meigs the grocer sold old in those k big wooden pails t. t Scoot up to bed you bed you had no right to look and spoil the fun Cr Creep softly or th the noise noise will ill 1 waken father 1 1 As if you could on such occasion sl sleep ep But pretend pretend let let out a snore snore its its it's its it's midnight 7 and they're h comin coming up to to stand stand be beside i e i. i your cot qt s f fand sand t. t and smile upon their F L t J a Mot Mother r will I Q bend iff Dd and 11 T kiss kisst S' S you eif 1 I II IIII i IIII will vill hold her tight and smile as as- only parents can canon canon c on Christmas morning Ii I i The bells are jingling jingling jingling-don't don't dont move I IsOo soon sOo 1 be gone and then you'll all ste steal 1 down and I s seize ze your treasures h v What h. h a dandy drum Let her rattle e and too toot the he horn horn until the noise wakes up the house house or or better still play on until the tenderness youve you've put aside these many bitter years returns returns and c makes you yearn for your own o flesh and blood a whom hate and pride have exiled from your youx life For their sakes sakes sakes-in in the name of the sleepers 1 in neglected graves who vho scrimped and saved and feared and nd dr dreamed amed for you you forgive forgive forget Youre You're growing old The world had haa torn tom so soL sot t L i. i many cherished things from put out your soul I Ij j r Save Sav what hat you can while yet you may of love loye Sister f. f or pr r brother dau daughter or o son bid them tl E come This is the giving and forgiving hour too too too- the one day set aside for reconciliation reconciliation for for foron w e dp Peace aGe on Earth Good Will to Man y yC yC c J t E C g C l |