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Show (SEE! 1SWA rni 3-' (Q)E!E'iivfl "Oiue.id-GENEVA TIMES fTht (Biristmas Seal A CHRISTMAS STORY BY ETHEL NIELSEN HAIR "It Isn't fair," Marta choked, as she tore open the envelope. "They have their husbands and children to bother about; they are so securely hidden behind good fortune" Her heart cried, "But you wouldn't trade places with them you couldn't stand their way of life." She flicked the snow from the delicate pink stationery with the rambling scrawl. Yes. it was from Thalma, and as Marta walked down the long snow-covered path leading from the mail box to the farmhouse, she read They are coming for Christmas gether at such momentous times, wrote Thai. In between lines it really read, "Mother is getting along in years who knows, we may not have her next year . . ." Marta's heart contracted. "I hate them all," she thought, "I wish they weren't coming - Christmas or any other time." Then her conscience pricked her, I guess Tm a bear for thinking such thoughts Mama will be so pleased." Henry would be home. It had been a long time -since Hen was home for a visit. He was the only son and, o course, her mother's favorite. Her father, Lars Nielsen, had wanted many sons as old-country people are wont to do. But having only one son had been a sad disappointment disap-pointment for Lars and the fact that Henry had never liked the farm made it worse. But then neither of the "older girls, Thai or Malinda, had taken to the, farm, either. When they all hadi made good marriages and movedi to the city, ft was Marta who was her father's Tight hand man. Marta, the f!hfld of Lars and Marian's old age- "It was like having two separate families," Lars used to 'say- Malinda, Thalma Thal-ma and Henry were born in succession suc-cession and years later when they were in high school, Mo ther announced that a baby was expected. "If If s a troy,- said Henry, "I will forgive you, Mother." j "Mother Is too old to be hav-'ing hav-'ing a babyr said Thalma, and -with adolescent acorn she tossed her blond head in a "know-it-all" way. Malinda stated emphatically. "Imagine a "baby to clutter up a house, smelly diapers hanging about lf ridiculous!". Lara had laughed, "Fine ting oos having a baby in our uld age, but voman," he said, chucking Ms wife under the chin, "if lfs a son, der Till be joy in dis house." Thirty-twe years ago and now she was an old maid,: thought Marta. She had been a sad, sad disappointment to her father at first He had said, "A dotter is of no account on da farm." But as the years went by and Marta took to the farm with xest and seal, Lars forgave her for being a girl. Since her father's death, the farm and her mother were her sole responsi bilities. Marta kicked the loose snow from her galoshes and entered the house. Her mother lay on an old-fashioned couch she look ed as if she weren't long for this world. The thin claw-like hands lay inert. The snow white hair gave her a look of quiet dignity. She did not open her eyes, but said, "Dat you Dotter?" Each day she did this and said the same thing. Mother is old and lonely, thought Marta, and has had so much of good living. Marta Mar-ta could not bring herself to speak at first, but stood silently thinking a mass of confused thoughts. At last she said, "Here is a letter from Thai. They are all coming for Christmas." Marta watched her mother come to life as she arose with more vigor than she was accustomed. accust-omed. "Give dat ledder to me, I see vot it says " Marta laid the letter on the table, while her mother fumbled in an apron Docket for her glasses. After the chores were done and supper over, Mother seemed sprier than at any time since Lars died. She was full of plans and as excited as a child at Christmas time. .. "Vee vill have a tree like W ..rxA lr tin.iA - .1 vi'i" iim u lu jiavi: v r i 1 1 m 1 1 1 1 t vac alive, and a suet-plum pudding like fodder liked " Marta nodded. She was far too silent. Her upper lip jutted down over the lower lip, her mind kept saying, "I don't want them, but for Mother ..." "Aint ya glad, Marta?" "I suppose so," she answered with more enthusiasm than she felt. "I don't know vat vee vill do vit dat Peter dat's so stuck on you." "What's Wrong with Peter, Mother?" "Nodding, nodding. Only he is sich a clod a goot man, but a with misgiving her sister s letter. "The family should all get to clod." she repeated, much to her self and voicing Malinda's opinions to a "T." "We have gone over that before, be-fore, and the family will just have to get used to Peter." Mar ta thought, Malinda can anvays talk me down, and with the rest of the family to back her up it's just no use. "I wish father were here," ran Marta's thoughts. "He was always al-ways my ally." "Ve von't have Peter, he is not von of de family," Mother said with too much finality. Marta was silent "Marta, you von't be stubborn like ven fodder used to back you oop?" "You won't have me for din ner," Marta said with more de termination than she felt. "You know da sisters don't like Peter." She waited for Mar ta to speak, then, continued, "Ya could . do bedder, a purty girl like you." "Bash," said Marta, with grow- ing irritation. It was Motners way of getting around her. Tm just an old maid and because I never cut my hair and braids are back in style, all of a sudden people think me nice looking. Marta knew she had never cut her blond hair because her father liked it long and old-country old-country style. All those years she had worn braids and looked like an old-fashioned Danish peasant girl just to please her father. But now braids, pinned high, were back, and her sisters silently epvled her. They had cut their hair and openly laughed at their father's old-country ways. But NOW Marta was tall for a girl, nicely rounded with full breasts high on her chest. Her olive skin was always golden gold-en from long hours in the fields. She had her father's quick mind and her mother's quaint beauty. "It was as it should be." Lars had said. In his old age he had comfort and understanding. "Marta, dis time you could be reasonable. I so mooch Taunt a goot Christmas," coaxed Mother "This time they have got to know once and for all it's Peter Hansen for me, or no body." "He lsh a goot farmer, de best in de countree, and vas goot to his modder to her dying day j boot he jest don't fit in vith da city children." "Neither do I," said Marta, 'Tm just a country-born too." And to try to quiet her fears, she opened the old stove door, added a large piece of coal to .its big belly. It burned enough coal to run a furnace for twice the time, but Mother refused to part with it. Lars had given it to her some thirty years ago. Marta could remember the joy it had brought the family it ate great hunks of apple-wood then. All down through the years Marta had been feeding the ugly old tiling. But, thought Marta, Mother is set or we would have had the furnace that father saved so, hard for. Father was old coun try, but he wanted his family to have the best he could aiford. That was the year the strawber ries rrjade a mint as farms went and Lars was proud of the success he had with a new variety. Father was always on the lookout for a better producing produc-ing variety of fruit or better way of life. That was one thing that had attracted Marta to Peter he too was a progr.essive farmer. "Marta, yoo turn dat damper or it vill smoke oop da house each time you ferget." "Yes, Mother," said Marta obediently. In the little things she humored her mother. After her mother was in bed, and the evening belonged to her and Peter, she was rffore perplexed per-plexed and silent than every "It is snowing looks like we will have a white Christmas," she said, as she opened the door for Peter. Then her heart skipped skip-ped a beat, for she was always amazed anew at the height of him. Her father was a wiry little man, and because she unconsciously unconsci-ously measured every man by her father, Peter was extra tall And he had dark kindly eyes and a great capacity for quickj understanding. In this he "was like her father too. "Yes," he said, "by morning they will have snow plows out or the school busses won't get through." After they were seated by the fire with cups of steaming coffee cof-fee they both liked their coffee cof-fee black and real hot Marta could not find words to voice her troubles without wounding! Peter's feelings. . The wind howled and a limb from the giant elm scratched against the house they sipped their coffee in silence. Looking at Peter gave Marta joy, and she thought, I would like to bridge! the space and sit on his lap and; rumple his hair. This impulse' was new to her. I am thinking like a silly school girl in love, she pushed the thought out and-away. and-away. "You are quiet, Marta, and: that is not like you some-j thing bothering you tonight?" Then she blurted out, "The children are all coming home for Christmas." "I see," was all Peter said for the time. She could see Henry chucking! her -under the chin affectionate- J ly and saying, "How is my little sister and where is that big1 man in your life? Now don't tell me you are still hanging on to that farmer (Peter)," and on he would ramble. . j "Seems as though the men in; this neck of the woods don't ap-l preciate brains and beauty," j Thalma would take it up from there. "If you were going to sell; a good bar of soap, you would have to put an attractive wrapper wrap-per on it and advertise it " Then her husband, Dr. Toney, (the little bald-headed squirt) would add, "now if polygamy were in. style, I'd take on the' job of taming another of Lars' Nielsen's daughters." Like .iellj you would, thought Marta, I wouldn t have you if you nad two Urs. before your name, but aloud she would only deiend herself "I am breaking all previous Nielsen history. Tm the only old maid in three generations." genera-tions." Then she would add more good naturedly than she felt, "I am a rugged individualist. I can be -very happy and independent without a husband or a brood of children." "Sour grapes," Malinda would scoff, and then Malinda's hus band would take it up from there and say, "It's time to get married and have that cherished family, Marta, as you are not getting any younger . . The banter and teasing would go on on. '"Maybe you'll need me to help raise your children," Marta would come back, "they could stand some practical training.'' But she would laugh and hug tne children and they would stand up for Marta and be to stay with her on the farm. Most people like me except my brother and sisters, thought Marta with dismay as she sipped the coffee, and because I am not married. Peter was first to finish bis coffee and set the cup down. "Marta," he said, "for seven years I have been asking you . Marta held up her hand for silence, "You forget the two years you were in the services.' "Then I proposed to you in every other letter," laughed Peter. "Oh, Peter, darling you don't understand," begged Marta. Mar-ta. "I think I do," he said, and I am going to ask you just once more. If what your sisters and brother think of my way of life is more important to you than me I'm sorry, Marta, but gosh, we are not getting any younger and I have waited so long . . ." Marta broke down and kissed him goodnight an unforgettable kiss- She was all woman when she said, "Sweet-! heart, your way of life is my way of life." As Peter took the path that lead to his place, snow floated down in thin little sheets. It's' getting colder, he thought, butj his mind was not much on the? weather. That kiss there was nothing like it this side of heaven. heav-en. In all his long life, which I was sketchy he admitted to him-j self, no girl had kissed him like! that. There had been other girls, j but they had touched his heart lightly. They were of his youth before his mother became ill. I Then there were the long years! of caring for her and not timej or money to go girl chasing. In '37 he had bought thejj rundown farm next to the Niel-j sen's. Marta was first a good neighbor, running in to bathe his mother and do the nursing. She' had a way with sick people j that was the first thing he re- membered about her. Nev. he; noticed she was a woman, and I very beautiful in a quaint way. He grew to respect her intelli- (Continued on next page) '. SECTION TWO By HELEN PETBONB JANET opened tha door to hsr apartment, thinking as th did to that It hid been only a week sine Cralf and the had shared this apart mtnt they called their "ivory tow. r," named that because of Its odd shape. It had been a i to rage room until the housing shortage became prevalent. Then old Mrs. Root, feeling feel-ing sympathetic toward the plight of Janet and Craig Norrls, newly mar ried and homeless, had cleared it out, partitioned it off into two small rooms and rented It to them. That was Just 13 months ago, Janet remembered, dropping her gloves on the table and lighting the lamp with the same gesture. They had been married only three weeks, Just long enough to realize they were Imposing Impos-ing on Craig's family who were cramped tor quarters themselves. Just a week ago they bad the quarrel that had sent Craig from the apartment It had been a blow! "She sat down at the windew and loekes ent at the dark, star leas sky." I to las pride from the day of their j wedding that Janet should continue ! working. She enjoyed bar position ta nw advertising arm where she had rises from a dark to copy ; writer la just two years. Since aba lest the house after Craig ia the 'snernlng sod returned before him at night, aba never feat her working in- tsrfered in any way with bar house hold auUes. But friend had spoiled I "everything with their said remarks :sit "poor Janet still werklna." and it was more tfeaa Craig ceuU ifcear. "They think I eaat supper yaul" he'd storm at her, but the snore he pleaded the mora edemas I he had aeeeroe. And saw he gone. The whole thug seamed as i important now. She (lanced at the -telephone, half-lnciload to esil him feome, but bar ewa reealdtraal na ture tenia to alfew such a aseve. .She turned a the radto instead and pretended the tears that weOsel la fcer erto at the streiaa ef 'Vital night" ware merely tears et waa ness after the prtparatlea f the Oca party that morning. Deliberately Delib-erately aba opened the drawer draw r to put away last night's treolng. Eer souvenir baa loomed Uaxpuac'y before her. Lifting the eater, she stared at the Items she had collect ed Craig's class ring, exchanged j for a diamond after their cradua- itioo from college; a Dressed erchid. eaa of those she had carried at her wedding; various cards, Christmas. 'anniversary, birthday, valentine. She picked up a small gift card aad read again, "To my dear wife, Janet, on our first Christmas." It was the card with the watch he had given aer last year. TREMBLING, she closed the bos and turned quickly from the dresser. She had been a tool, she decided. Without Craig, Christmas eould never hold the same meaning for her as it once had. She didn't stop to lock the door for there was nothing of value anyone could steal from her. Even her $100 Christmas bonus lying on the table went unnoticed. un-noticed. The one thing she must not lose was happiness, and that was no longer in her home with Craig gone. She hurried into her coat as she started breathlessly down the 3tt flights of stairs. Tears coursed down her cheeks and she prayed with fanatic fan-atic zest that she was not too late. As she reached the last flight of stairs, she crashed into a figure who was hurrying up, as oblivious of his surroundings as she. She gasped at the Impact, but the man quickly quick-ly regained his balance and caught her before she could fall. "Janet!" he cried. She looked at him almost in disbelief. dis-belief. Then, throwing her arms about him she gave full vent to her tears. "Oh, Craig! Darling, I was Just coming for you." He kissed her and held her tightly. tight-ly. "Janet, I've been such a fool. I didn't realize until tonight what an awful thing pride can be. Will you ever forgive me?" She sighed. "There's nothing to forgive, Craig. I was the one who was wrong. I'm going to quit my Job right away." "No, you mustn't. I don't want to deprive you of any happiness and if you want to work, I'm not going to stop you." She laughed shakily. "We'll argue ar-gue that out later, shall we?" Arm in arm they climbed up the stairs. Hens Must Have Weight to Produce in Winter Many producers are finding their pullets going off production produc-tion now that cold weather is setting in, Dr. Lawrence Morris, Utah State Extension poultry-man, poultry-man, said today. Good body weight is almost a must for good winter egg production, produc-tion, he advised. Getting good weight means feeding plenty of grain- Pullets should be fed all the grain they will eat at night before going to roost and a small amount in the morning. The amount of grain fed in the morning should be determined by the body weight and condi tion of the hens and the weath er. The grain may be fed in troughs or in the litter. An average hen uses about 70 per cent of her feed for body heat and functions; the remainder remain-der is used for egg production. Cold weather puts a greater demand on her body for heat su grain must De provided ac cordingly, Dr. Morris explain ed. One hundred pullets laying 50 to 60 per cent production will eat around 25 pounds of feed per day. During the winter months about 60 per cent of this should be grain. If appetites lag and egg production shirinks, a feeding of pellets at noon will stimulate the appetite and tend to increase egg production. Feed only enough pellets to last 45 to 60 minutes and keep the regular regu-lar mash before the hens at all times. William C. Herron has been! visiting with his son in Calif or-1 nia for the past two weeks. : V ik'.-i-ir ; 'Jii"iiiiiiiMiiiMmiiiimmuuiiiwiiumwu!Hwwiiiywiiwiu-. II w -""m I i in (f i i M ii ... iy ; r KU:tX:2" ' I L ........ If 7Jir' i f Evea ZXx Chua ia ttj CvA tha t;:rt J-;,""'"!1;- II 'ftf t an Pre88'nK service available at the XIA .-4 fkyS-1' i AT TTATTTC2 CLEANERS." 1 I ,KS7 t I III xa.A.iJ - I I wy I , I I I it err rr rrmfvn If w.e Jk 1 - 1 . I I 1 WASATCH I (l f I Furnace - Applhsccj 'j 34 Wmi iCesuer. Pror I f - 1 11': 1 x . i 19 flU - .1 6 1 i .1 ' '-.-iVA tl. at" ,ol"- 3 Aaii..u. AM 8 fc f I I NiU V:: afcS. i tfcr Y. ,.4T 1-3 y kill t -m YULmYbE ! K) , 1 ..; I LOUIS KELSCH , f I I And SONS j: ' i 154 West Center r Provo " - SHOE REPAIRING V 1 ,,w , . ' . . AND MAY THE f PW -V" :SPm,x-0F this .' s MiV' V Pf:'yA j DAYLINGEKON, ) . . ' ij BRINGING CHEER .-(ru. :jf. J -j.V-- AND COMFORT I k jjj LONG AFTER jj ; . ' ij CHRISTMAS DAY jjf V I ITSELF IS GONE. J ITiC? f if PI I U. S. ROCK WOOL L' Q y SALES CO. t mountain uel supply company i ' j Grant Ekins. District Mgr. f ' Serving Tueniy u Uth a,,j w)um;ug Cu,,,mH,ius 4 160 South 3rd East, Provo j : j y Phone 213 I " ' . . ' . . . : 4 iflfljL- 1 ,jsM - - - ... ,l ,,K ,, v; ,.,.;..: , v:. ..w ,...,. . . . iif COMMUNIST CHAPTER At the University of North Carolina last week readers of The Daily Tar Heel, undergraduate under-graduate paper rubbed their eyes in disbelief. But there was the story on page one. A chapter of the Communist Party of the U. S. had been formed at the university. And it had been none openly, with a press release. Headlined, likewise wta the statement of its founder, war veteran graduate student Junius Scales. Scales announced: "I have been associated with Lex Huts at Vslliy For;. Rtcreattd Llki Grl;Iitxl VALLEY FORGE. PA Visitors to the Continental army's campgrounds camp-grounds this year will get a picture of how the patriot soldiers lived during dur-ing their historic winter encampment encamp-ment of 1777 and 1778. Log huts, built just as Gen. George Washington specified them in 1777, will ibe erected on the same sites occupied by the troops 170 years go. Sufficient logs for the first 80 huts already have been timbered from the park. Seventy-six other winter homes will be built on sites where troops from the IS colonies represented in Washington's army set up their in- dividual camps Restoration work has been com pleted on Fort Washington, Fort Huntington, Fort Mordecal, Star Redoubt Re-doubt and Fort Stirling. ill ZM the Communist party for a number of years. I am speaking in the name of my party in the hope that I may in a small way dispel some of the dangerous il lusions and falsehoods about the Communists which are being us ed to distract us from the real problems which we must solve. "I am proud," Scales said, "to be a member of a party which is democratic both in Its structure and in Its outlook." Recently, the University's famed fam-ed president Frank Graham said, "I stand on the American Bill of Rights and therefore am opposed op-posed to communism which in Russia does not provide the guarantees of the Bill of Rights and would not provide those guarantees if it should triumph in America." Greenhouse apace Florists of the United States have mora than 200 million square leet Of actual growing space under glass in their greenhouses. ACT cost;;': :7f lAMif- THURSDAY, LCL. ..i 13, 1.. notice to C"z:t; in the matttr c7 ESTAT3 OF KATX I'ZX". ,. sometimes known as KAT-L V. MILLETT, sometimes known ti THOMAS K. Z.HLLHTT, Dec:1 Creditors will present cl j with vouchers to the under." t ed at the office of Elmer L. Terry, Ter-ry, Room 312 City and County Building, Provo, Utah, on or before be-fore February 5, 1943. MARGARET MILLETT . Administratrix Arnold C. Roylance and Elmer L. Terry Attorneys for Administratrix Publication Dates: December 19, 26, January 2, 9. MALE HELP WAMIIO Reliable man with car wanted to call on farmers in Utah County. Wo-derful opportunity. opportuni-ty. $15 to $20 in a day. No experience ex-perience or capital required. Permanent. Write today. McNESS COMPANY, Dept. B V California. t ! |
