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Show PAGE TWO - - - ww. THE TIMEr - '"""""r -- I"',IL' ': IWg. NEPHI. UTAH i 'r-"" - iu ' - IIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIII M -- Friday, December 24, 1926 r - TT : . .. V H- - Christmas Joys By William Banks mi tni-- n fto'tit iniiiitbe i olben -- t"i"i"i-t--i- bap. hF golben bap iPLfetjep all come batk to me, fla ftappt'Ip tbe cbilbren crotob Srounb tijje Cbrtetmaa tree, tfje comrabe true fiZaxtb ontoarb bp mp ibe, 3 bear rfje etbo of tijeit stanza Hki greet tfjc Cbtisftmastibe. 3 gee stue more . 3fn elben bap, in golben bap itlp thoughts toere bigb anb bolb, JBut ob the glorp of ttjitf bour JHben in mp arms 3 bolb fbe gifts that lobe b&s brought to me, tEbep fill mp heart toitb pribe, Li 3 join in t&eir bappp fionga o 1 : Rdio ddV JDanriiriG . ThomasLi r v JZS ROBABLT no one tn the world had more friends than Sally Snow. Friends of all kinds, from the boy who shouted his papers in front of her apartment to the policeman on the beat High friends and low friends had Sally but Christmas Eve found her alone. She left the office early.. There was no particular reason to, tiowever. All her gifts were tied up and mailed. No one was waiting for her at home. There wasn't the slightest pressure or hurry bout anything. And Christmas Eve, tliought Sally, without bustle and fnss and Jostling and merry confusion, wasn't Christmas Eve at all. She walked up Fifth avenue. She vaguely hoped that some of the holiday Mplrlt of the crowds of New York night enter her veins and thrill her heart.- She felt sorry for herself, and cros. and utterly out of sorts. Her Jl -- plejisniit plans had all gone awry. No one could spflre time from thoJr families to celebrate with her. And Sally lived too many thousand miles away from home to git there for Clirlnttnns. She Imd bwn loo proud to accept the gcnvrotis Invitations of some of th other Rirls In the office. Thpy asked . her to go home with them. I5ut she knew she would feel oat of thing, try as she be Jolly. nlht to she Oh, well might srrape some one up to go to a piny or concert. She walked until she was tired and then took a bus. Once In th cruh of people at a street corner she caught her breath. There was a sud den hint of brond shoulders she Used to know. A cer r tain high carriage of the head, a quick decisiveness of manner. Then the man was lost to fill view. Slie shook herself for a silly foot. i that nonsense out of her mind long ago. Besides, Reddy had gone on one of those idiotic expeditions to Mongolia, to hunt up ridiculous bones of prehistoric animals. Accounts of his expedition bad been in the papers off and on for three years. Sally found her apartment warm and cozy. She was more tired than she realized. A slow languor spread over her. She decided to stay at home, not even going out for dinner. She had a good book or two, and there was always the radio. After a nap Bhe chirked up amazShe decided she wouldn't ingly. grouch any longer. A little tingle of excitement wriggled up her neck. No reason at all but she felt It and laughed. She supped gnyly on a homemade salad, bread and butter and a cake. Holng up the piece of left-ove- r few dishes she felt positively merry. The childish excitement about everything concerning Christmas began singing in her heart She laughed aloud. I won't even loo up the concerts tonight over the radio," she announced. "I'll Just tune In at random and see what happens." With a little flutter of happiness she manipulated the dials on her small set A bnrsh rasping the clapping of maay hands continued applause I She listened, keyed up to a high pitch of suspense. Probably some ordinary singer walling out sentimental tunes. Then silence. Quite long silence then a voice. In her chair. Color Sally stiffened drained out of her face. She scarcely breathed. "Ton are kind." snld the voice, "to traveler such a welgive a wenry-wor- n come home. I have been In far places " There was an Interval when Snlly's clear brnln blurred. She loflt the next few sentences. Then she regn!ned her poise and sat Intent on every word. Back of what she heard with her enrs was the unfolding book of memory. Pace after page fluttered through her consciousness. That terrific row she and Ileddy had over nothing at all how he had left In a white fury how he had said he would go to the end of 'the world and never come bark. They were young and Impetnous. She had not seen him for seven years. In the meantime he had mnde a nemo for himself In science. And three years ago he went on this famous expedition. There had been a formal letter or two between tliem. nT1'"' was Now he was tinrk bnrk In New York on Christmas Eve, addressing a large audience ! She Sally took off the earphones. snt a minute longer. Then In a whirl of Impulse she threw on her coat and hat and went flying oot the door. Like old-tim- e, andles HE candle Is the true symbol of Christmas. Its flickering taper shining on the sill of the city house or the country cottage sends out the message of "peace on earth" quite as much as the chime of Christmas bells. No Christmas tree Is complete until the candles, whether of wax or of electric lights, have been fastened to Its boughs. A charming elderly lady of my acquaintance gives each child in the aelghborhood every year a "Twelfth Night" candle. This Is a very large cathedral candle, which is to be lighted on Christmas eve and placed on the wlndowslll set in a wreath of hol- . fc"ttlT and 80 placed that its flame burns the center of a Christmas, wreath fiV Tl noncln it In the window. It is then burning every evening umtil the a hammering pulse three words bat- kept eve of Twelfth Night, January fifth. tered against her brain I must see The Twelfth Night eve, the unburned I I I must see him him Somehow she squeezed into the big hall. Somehow she stayed still and listened until It was all over. Somehow afterward she moved to the front of the room near the platform. She walked as In a dream. She must! She must A power other than her own sent her feet steadily to the portion of the candle and all the place where Red- Christmas greens are placed in the -dy stood. open fireplace and consumed, thus Thinner he was, ending the Christmas season. lean and brown. The significance of this pretty rite Heavy lines In his is as follows : The candle is symbolic face. Mouth al- of the star which the wise men saw most grim. But in tbe East and it is kept shining hla eyes Just the through the twelve days during which same quizzical the wise men were following the star and laughing. on their Journey to the manger where Sally was next the young child lay. now in the waitChildren especially love this beauing group who tiful custom of having a lighted canwere congratulate dle represent the Christmas star, and ing the successful in some of the homes where th Her Twelfth Night candle is kept burning, explorer. throat quivered. each child cares for the candle for an She could scarcely lift her eyes. Then evening, all taking turns. The candle suddenly her voice came, clear, con- Is lighted, the wreath lowered to entrolled and natural. "Merry Christ- circle its flame, and when the child mas, Daddy!" goes to bed it is his duty to blow the candle out A Twelfth Night caninstructions as They went out to dinner som'ewhere. dle, with Reddy tucked Sally under his arm. to how to burn it, makes a simple but They talked and laughed and chatted significant Christmas gift, either for both at once. They made abject apol- children or their elders. (CoprrtntaO ogies for their stupid behavior to each other seven years ago. They tried to cram a thousand questions and anHurry, Santa swers Into every minute. Never had the head waiter seen a happier couple. They were unashamed of their Joy. They didn't car. Which Is the way the world over when you really care and your heart Is humming like a ce-lestlnl harp In heaven. "I knew your voice Instantly," said Sully at least a dozen times. "Io you think you could marry me by New Tenr'sT" ierslsted Keddy. "Pon't be ridiculous, you absurd boy !" "Then 111 scoot off for another seven years!" The threat brought her down. "Come to my apartment for a moment and say 'Merry Christmas!" to the radio, she begged. And Reddy did. Another thing was revolving pleas antly in her mind, and presently she j '. e thought she had crowded all . iristmas .xfrKSv .3 greet tbe Cbrfsitmastibe. A hand-printe- Wtrti !swpr "Willie! Onion ) Ma't frolnir to buy you a couple of l:erk-le- s tor ChriBt-nia- Pop: That' recklese nl hard times, too. he usually enty gives srung In at a get a Christmas box,' then had to wait for a train to stop and pass before the expressman could be a leis- ure. Going back toward his car, the owner noticed a white-haire- d woman gazing up the track anxiously. He wanted to make a record distance this day, and was Impatient at losing time. But he paused at her irresolution. "Anything I can do?" he asked. "No, sir, thank you. Only I'm afraid I've missed my train, nnd I'm not much on traveling. My car broke down, and the colored boy didn't know what to do. If a neighbor hadn't rescued me," with a. laugh, "I don't suppose Td ever have got here. It's twelve miles to my plantation." "Going farr "Tes, a long to Lakeway land, Florida." The man started, and glanced toward his chauffeur, who was standing by the car door. Too bad!" he said. "I suppose you are planning to get through to Lakeland for Christmas. Wh- yhave you your baggage anywhere handy T "Only a suitcase end a package of Christmas cooking I got ready last night In a hurry. You see, I'm Just making a flying visit to see my daughter before she leaves. She's Just married." "Well," with sudden briskness coming Into his voice, "hop Into my car. There's plenty of room, with only my wife and daughter. We're bound for Lakeland, too, and will be there the day before Christmas. My roan will get your baggage" the railroad?" "Yes, In my car, with the train's poor connection. I don't " "Hop In," he repeated, taking her arm and urging her to the car. "We're glad to have company to talk with. Here you are," as the chauffeur came with the suitcase nnd a smnll bo. "Now we're off!" It had all happened so swiftly that the old woman hnrd!y realized R before they rhot out of the town and speeding on their way toward To you expect Santa Clntis to be were Lakeland at better than fifty miles very good to you this Christmas?" "He wily hns one more pay day be- an hour. P.ut still she did not renllze It. Fiffore Christmas, so I can't say." teen miles over the rough country roiids In the decrepit plantation flivver had ull the sensations of more rapid Spirit Church Del!$ In o!den times It was believed that and dangerous travel than sixty In car. She setat Christinas the sound of church bells this big. vomen could be beard wherever s church had tled back IceAesBly. Tt were nice, too. stood, though no trace remain. M id). ' BIO touring car "R-be- 1 easy-runnin- ' had to mention It. "The plantation house servants and field hands all expect a little remembrance, my going so far and its be"Then ing Christmas," she mused. there's Josephine. I didn't see how I could do It all, but not having to pay train fare down will make It al! right"" happily. "Plantations don't yield much spare money these days." "Christmas is too much of a burden for light pocketbooks," objected the car owner. "I don't believe in them anyway. I gave up Christraas-glvin- g long ago. 'Foolish habit. I tell my daughter that, but she won't listen. The Christmas box I stopped for was for her. Wastes money, time and patience. Give money outright. If you have to." "That's what I'm going to do, partly," apologized the old woman. "'Half is presents for the help at home, but the other half to my daughter. She's just married, and her husband starts for Mexico Christmas Day. Got work there, she writes, and It stands to reason he can't have much money. Maybe this will help Josephine and Harry." "Eh? E-h- ? Harry Josephine-Mexic- o." Then he closed his Hps tightly and looked straight ahead. An honr or so later, while going through an unsettled plecr of country, the old w o m a n ' 8 hnnv' fell softly on hla shoulder. "Please stop Just a minute," she breathed. T never saw such a holly tree, so full of berries I I want some." . " C hristmas s t u ff Is nothing but- foolishness and bother, and oh, I beg your pardon. Of course James, you help cut the branches." Before they got In, with the chauffeur's help, she Insisted on fastening bunches of holly all about the car. At first the owner scowled. Then presently his gaze- began to wander from sprig to sprig, and the scowl be-gnn to change to something like a grin. At Jacksonville he drew up before a big Christmas store. "Got to get something to match that holly," he muttered. "Foolish to have nil that stuff outside and no Santa In. And maybe Josephine will expect something." "Josephine? eagerly. "You got one, too?" "Same one," the grin expanding "My son's Just married. Don't give presents, though In money. Tom don't need any, for he's going to manage a chain of banks. Still and all, I expect they'll appreciate the half you spoke of. And yes, better come In the store with me and pick out a basketful of clap-trasfor those darkles." (X 1921, Weatern Nasmpapar Union, t Mm 1 h Unlucky In some countries It Is regarded a tinlurky to rarry anything from the house C'hrlstnwis morning until soms thing has been brought In. Outgrow Toy After the children hnve nntgro' toys father, doesn't have much I'M Cferlatmaa. o m |