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Show The Garland Times, Dec. 24, 1975, Page 3 little-know- Bret Harte Story Tells of Western Christmas poor mountain cabin housing a group of rugged characters forms an unlikely setting for an excellent Christmas story by Bret Harte, famed for his writings about the Gold Rush days. Set in 1S62, in the Sacramento Valley, "How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar" is considered one of Harte's best stories. A cm The story centers around a little boy, Johnny, who is ill in bed on Christmas Eve. His home is a poor cabin at Simpson's Bar, a cluster of similar cabins huddled around a little store, situated on Table Mountain. Little Johnny is wise beyond his years due to his rough-and-tumb- Whoever heard of a skinSanta? At one time, Santa was described as slim and tall, believe it or not. Today we are accustomed to thinking of Santa in terms of Clement Clarke Moore's "plump and jolly old elf", described in his poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," that we take it for granted that Santa has always looked that way. But until Moore wrote his poem, there were differing notions as to Santa's appearance. He was described as slim and tall in some accounts, short and fat in others. No doubt many thought of him as being dignified, for he was known as St. Nicholas at that time. But then Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which appeared in print for the first time in the Sentinel of Troy, New York, just before Christmas in 1823. At that time it was ny now-famo- I1 published anonymously. By 1837, after having been printed every year in the Sentinel, it had been attributed to Moore. The amusing and endearing description of Santa "a little old driver, so lively his eyes how and quick they twinkled! his dimples how merry! his cheeks were ... Turtleville, where he wakens some disgruntled shopkeepers to do his shopping. The return trip is even harder for poor Dick. When he gets to the creek, he finds it has become a river. Undaunted, Dick discards his coat and boots and saddle and rides the mare bareback through the rushing waters. It is dawn before he reaches the mountain cabin at last; when he arrives he is and exhausted. But he has carried his cargo of toys to their destination and he tells Johnny's father to place the gifts in Johnny's stocking. "Tell him Sandy Claws has come," he says, and so ends a marvelous story written in the best tradition of Bret Harte. by Charles The tree was brilliantly lighted by a multitude of little tapers, and everywhere sparkled and glittered with bright objects. There were rosy-cheek- dolls hiding behind the green leaves and there were real watches ( with moveable hands at least and an endless capacity of being wound up) dangling from innumerable twigs. half-nake- d med with surprises. In short, there was everyboard to tell fortunes. thing and more. This motley collection of There were teetotums, odd objects, clustering on humming tops, needlecases, like magic fruit, botthe tree smelling Dickens tles, conversation cards, and flashing back the bouquet holders. There bright looks directed toas if in preparation for was real wards it from every side, fruit, made artifisome fairy housekeeping. cially dazzling with gold made a lively realization There were jolly, broad-face- d leaf, imitation apples, of the fancies of childhood, little men, much more pears, and walnuts cram (Continued on Page 4) in agreeable appearance and than many real men no wonder for their heads took off and showed them to be full of sugar plums. There were fiddles and drums, tambourines, books, vest 0tY-jJtf- J last-minu- te with witches standing in enchanted rings of paste- narrative n his destination, the town of Th ere were work boxes, paint-boxe- - a good-night- NOEL s, sweetmeat boxes, peep-shoboxes and all kinds w There were trinkets for y er articles of domestic fur- niture (wonderfully made, in tin, at Wolverhampton) perched among the boughs, the elder girls far brighter than any grown-u- p gold and jewels. There were baskets and pincushions in all devices. There were guns, swords, and banners, environ- le ment but when he hears about Santa Claus, he is mystified. So when Johnny's father comes home with some drinking companions, Johnny asks his father a very natural question. Just who is "Sandy Claws?" His father brushes the question aside but one of the other men, Dick Bullen, is moved by the boy's ignorance. He borrows a mare, Jovita, and sets out to find some Christmas presents for the youngster. ecw.c- May the love and warmth of the Holiday Season be with you for a truly Blessed Christmas like roses, his nose like a " cherry captivated the imaginations of readers and later, an engraving of Santa accompanied the poem to further establish him in the public's mind as a fat and jolly type. With the passage of time, Moore's poem has become a traditional part of the Christmas scene. And every : youngster, as- the holiday season approaches, pictures Santa as "chubby and a right jolly old plump elf," calling out as he takes off in his sleigh, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all s, of boxes. French-polishe- d tables, chairs, bedspreads, wardrobes, eight-daclocks and various oth- . pen-wiper- twl Jj h y have enjoyed your patronage. We sew. inc. Let us not forget the First Christmas and the Lord's most precious gift, the Christ Child, on tins Holy Holiday. Unfortunately for Dick Bullen, it's not a propitious time to run errands. It's been raining .heavily, and the river has overflowed its banks, while the creek is He reaches impassable. Y Bear River Farm Supply ROGERS MORTUARY 212 E. FACTORY w GARLAND ' . w--y 257-311- Wn. MfWBf !" w v tK .v VSSS'SSK , '. V "V iK.iiiJ'SiS The season's warm glow is Gifts of warmth and happiness To All of Our Friends This Holiday Season ySsi v'... filling the air with happiness and cheer, laughter and joy. And as we celebrate this special time, we want to take a moment to thank you for your valued patronage and good friendship. R & ft HARDWARE Taylor Perm Service wish you an Christmas . . . one that glows with the good things in life: a happy family, good friends and lots of good fellowship. e old-fashion- Knowing and serving you is a great pleasure. Continental Telephone of Utah Continental A Member of TREMONTON 257-568- 2 W Main Tremonton 257-523- 5 ed E (AN KQUAL Telephone Syjtem OrroimiNlTYKMI'I.OYF.in 0 . |