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Show Christmas Edition - Helper THE HELPER JOURNAL Journal By Shirley Sargent OHRISTMAS isn't everyday." Happily, Eudora Best placed divinity and ludge on gift plates in the roomy, kitchen. "Thank heaven!" At nineteen, Robert had his mother's big, brown eyes and dark hair, but none of her relaxed good humor. "Mother, you've always been so understanding. Why can't you let me go on the Culligan houseparty with Mary? They'll be skiing. Mom, and ice skating." x don t care if they have a winter carnival in the living room of their lodge." Eudora tied SDries of mistletoe to her bows for the candy. "You're not going." "Aw, Mom." Robert's rough. naked voice betrayed his youth even though he looked every muscular inch of a man. "I'll stay home tonight, Christmas Eve, and drive up afterwards. Don't forget Mary's father is dead so she and her mother need someone around &uv sfmcere totstf) tfjat all of Cfirtetmag abtbe ttittf) pou. :hursday, December 23, 1965 1965 Christmas Cfoer I1 itumnlOui mu mX"'uSw"l''tJ ' ihiim,, iMi iiiiiiiiwiiii hii gimi imiti fain V " TXiiiiS.iii I jWil V 'i.iiu.ii ihih.ii hiiim(i iinnmuMfc If i i i .hi r ii be "1 nappmess ana goodwill may brought to your doorstep during this holiest of seasons. HI Robert made a last effort. "Bat, mom, I'm almost twenty." The Officers and Employees Carl !J. Leavitt Robert Phillips Olive Richeda Albert Breznick Frances Snyder Mary Scavo on Christmas day and you have the three kids, Dad, Grandma Virginia Sholes Jona Costello Elizabeth Bonza James Banasky Mary Vetere Beverly Banasky Mary Busio Celia Fossat Anne Perri Jack Reese Helper State (Sank and relatives." ninety-eleve- n turkey-eatin- g Nolan and La'&ne Davis and Employees The Meaning "And you!" Eudora began jars of marmalade. "Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ and, to me, a renewal of family ties and traditions." Robert made one last effort g Ellen Mateon - Esther Hunten - Pearl Stagg Alfred Montez - Reg 5c.ccoma.nno - Mike Milovich RtoDan's "But, Mom, I'm almost twenty. I'll be off on my own soon and you mean I'm to drop everything and come tearing home for Christmas until I have a family of my own?" "I certainly do. Meanwhile, I expect you to observe and enjoy such curious family customs as finding your brothers and sister so you can distribute this candy around the neighborhood." "I have to call Mary first and tell her the bad news." Uneasy Gracelessly, Robert aided his brothers, John and Ted, seventeen and eleven, to shoD for sifts. John, whose current girl lived in town, told him to stop acting like a sorehead, but that was the only obvious notice taken of Robert's listless participation in the family rituals. He helped John bring in armfuls of wood for a roaring fire, his father rig up a loud- speaker system so that carol Helper ! Rlarkett A- -:- - Utah A HLIBAY CHEER rec- ords could be heard inside and outside the house, and redid the grimy packages his sister, Fran-cihad tried to wrap. He did all of this quietly and, he thought, patiently. A Question His mother didn't think so. She stopped him as he stalked through the kitchen that evening. "I know you think I'm unfair, I know you wanted to go with the Culligans, but do you have to spoil things for the rest of us?" Robert tramped gloomily up the stairs and found his sister huddled on top of them. Francie was a gawky twelve with braces on her teeth, but had a promising prettiness. Not right then, though, as she was crying softly. Robert had a horror of tears, so he asked impatiently, "What's wrong?" "Everything. I hate Christmas." Robert's voice showed his shock. "Don't be silly! Of course you e, ft. " V W W7.'-.-' ' v . n, vrr P 3 " - don't" B par .W , I ' r' ' Aq 1 ZJo all oC and a ver9 ww ' -- rate mifr?h Wa Dune YOUR FRIENDLY FREIGHTER - 1 May the true spirit of giving enter each home this season. "I do too. Mother won't let me go caroling in the truck with everybody else because I'm too young and there's nobody to be responsible for me." "Is that all?" Her problem seemed insignificant beside his own, but solvable. "Come on." He argued his mother into letting Francie go with him and she didn't capitulate easily. The truck was jammed with ene thusiastic, carolers, the air was crisp and Robert soon Joined in wholeheartedly and throatily. When they arrived home, he raced Into the kitchen, grabbed a handful of mincemeat cookies, grinned at his mother's agonized yell ' and realized exultantly that, Mary or no Mary, Christmas was made up of such off-tun- heart-warmin- g shining caroling. rituals as eyes, cookUs Fran-cie- 's and PRICE UTAH I I I" |