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Show Thursday. December 20. Somewhere in the good By Tom Grif fiths In the little country church, the Reverend Horace Greentree had completed his Christmas sermon and the most reverent gentleman felt within himself that he performed book ad- studied strangely excited. 0 nrn Mark R.Webb Real Estate Co. 756-514- 4 or was hearts was ticipation. There something about her home too that attracted Reverend cheery fireplace. Whenever he was there he had the feeling that he would like to kick off his shoes, stretch his long legs in the direction of the fire and forget the world outside. Tomorrow evening, he thought, I shall visit her. Then as an after thought, just as her spiritual guide of course. But the little beastie inside of the parson just chuckled. There was one sore spot in the life of Reverend Greentree and now as he approached it anger filled his bosom. It was the Horse and Jockey Pub where beer, ale and other more or less powerful spirits were sold to mankind for the relief of worldly cares. Downstairs, and a little to the back of the building, was a side door where many a wife could be seen entering, then a few minutes later, leaving with a bottle tucked under her shawl. Now as he came near to the premises, Sandy McTavish, the portly proprietor opened the door and the yeasty aroma of ale smote the reverend smack in the face. For a moment he was tempted to cross to the other side of the street, but before the could thought materialize he received a greeting from the genial The Reverend watched her walk away and somehow he thought of a sailing ship he once saw sailing on a sea of blue. Sandy. reverend, "Evening, I'd like to wish ye a Merry Christmas." Reverend Ah, Greentree, what an unruly parcel is the heart reverend The the acknowledged greeting with a "Thanks, Sandy, and the same to you," and would have hurried on, but Sandy spoke again, "If ye'll excuse me reverend, but I understand Mr. Mar-sto- n is a wee bit ill and I would like to give him something to help him over Christmas. Wait just a tick and I'll get it." Before the reverend could say anything Sandy turned and hurried into the tavern. Reverend Greentree looked up and down the street like someone caught in a sin and if anyone had approached he would have hurried away. But he knew that old Brother Marston who was a deacon in the church would not be here to of a man. He can study the scriptures, he can see the hand of his maker in heather ' covered .the. Greentree. Perhaps it was the big sofa where two could sit together and look into the song. -- 8u minute when he returned voice. "Deacon Marston, ' dunes,' and hear the music" of heaven in the breaking of waves on rocky shores, but when a woman touches the strings of a man's heart a little beastie with a scheming mind takes possession of him. Aye, and the song of the angels is sweeter for God made man that way. After the last of his congregation had left, the parson started for home, and home to him was a little cottage on the outskirts of the' village. As he walked along he thought of the Widow Shellabeer's invitation to drop in for a taste of her Christmas pudding. He had tasted her puddings before and no pudding in the village could compare with hers. She used real brandy for the base, and when she laid a large another celebrate Christmas and in his heart he felt a kindly appreciation toward the tavern keeper for his thoujhtfulness. Sandy was only a a wee bottle of port for the old gentleman, and reverend, if you will forgive a sinful old man, I put a wee bottle in for you too." Reverend Horace Greentree, pastor of a House of God, shepherd to a flock of God's children, was deeply touched. Through the Christmas air and into the heart came the words of he who was born in a stable, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This man was not a church goer yet at this moment he must be counted among those that the master spoke of when is who made man in his own his. Oh Mollie," he said, "how glad I am that I am a man and that I am here with you." Soon it came time for him to leave and for a moment he stood silently by the door. Then he said, "May I come again Mollie? Not as your minister but as a man courting a woman?" "I shall be most happy reverend to have you call," she replied. Then he was out on the street and homeward bound. His feet were light as bird wings, in his heart was love. At his door a group of carolers had image. gathered understanding The old man looked up with eyes that were moist, but they were happy eyes. "Reverend," he said, "could you pour me a drop of the port, it will warm this old body." Reverend Greentree continued on his way homeward." '. Somehow tonight his little house with hard wooden furniture held no attraction for him. He waxed lonely too, and Christmas Eve is not the time for man to be alone. The light in widow Mollie's window was like a lighthouse to a lonely ship and the reverend, after hesitating for a moment, knocked on the door. When Mollie opened the door her greeting was warm and genuine, "Come in Reverend Greentree, it's so glad I am to see you." He stepped into the warm, comfortable room and experienced a feeling that must be akin to entering the pearly gates. The widow was wearing a around He watched her as she poured the tea and sliced the Christmas pudding. The frilly curtains on the windows looked like fluffy clouds in the background. The firelight seemed to be telling a story of life, of the need of man for woman and woman for man, of an Christmas.'' creator Mollie interrupted his thought. "Here is the tea, reverend, and some pudding." He watched her pour the tea, then she served the pudding garnished with a steaming sauce. She sat down by his side and except for the crackling of the logs in the fireplace there was silence. The Reverend Greentree had never known like moments these and he wondered if it was wrong to be so content in the presence of a woman. As if reading his thoughts, the widow Mollie spoke to him. "Christmas is such a lovely time reverend, but it can be a lonely time too." "Aye, Mollie," he answered, "Christmas is a time of rejoicing and also a time of forgiving. Rejoicing because a child was born in a manger, giving to the world the light of Christianity and forgiving those who trespass against us." For a moment he stared into the fire, then he spoke to her again, "I too know the meaning of loneliness and man is not a complete man when he is alone." He now felt the old excitement returning and for a moment forgot that he was a minister. He seized her hands in and the tavern May you share the wondrous dings of this keeper s shoulder and echoing around the little village were the strains of "Peace on earth and good will to all men." n A- - Merry Christmas and sincerest thanks. C r. r ff Alpine Carpets were 564 West State Rd. to ffounir TaMk off Ibostt tifln omisaiursiinico aagemifts art one Your State Farm agent is trained to be your car. home, life. AND health insurance agent. See or call: J. Ralph Binnall 120 North 100 East STAT! American Fork FARM 756-351- 8 INSURANCI Like a good neighbor. M.lti' fl'!T! InVJ'.H.ri- f TV- - available, This week's rate is ( jvnj.in es State Farm is there. Hume O" CPS Lti''U"in-jM- IUiPOis ' ,f" t 4-y- Government Security Certificate rate for December is 9.( Best Wishes We thank you for our association this past year and extend our very best wishes to you on this Christmas and during the coming New Year Reverend Greentree reached under the paper in the basket and drew out the other bottle and set it upon the table. When he spoke there was deep sincerity in his Santa Monica, California TAYLOR 111 5 7tp DRUG 888! 8 fast Main American Fork T Phone 756-402 Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday VISA KODAK FILMS Color BIO Prices Good 12 C-1- Until Xmas $1.54 $1.54 $1.25 $1.25 Kodak Instant Print Kodak 135 mm ....... ...r- TYLENOL .- mi . 100 $2.99 PROTEIN Timberline Hunter's Supply SHAMPOO U J wn,, 36 West Main Lehi N42 mm consmontftt VTTAMII tlTRt ITRFNfiTM 1.69 A VITAMIN C 500 mg. SAVE FAMOUS AUINONE AlO MTAB Wll 11 DAT w l.r $1.77 KELP LECITHIN B6 wn com mtBM I ate 1M IMlCIt if 2.88 30 A I or ($1.39 r NUTRAE' 16 m r'.y c; . IN tAklTI U $5.75 $1.69 - w rv 0 x'ir) M ! VASELINE JELLY SINUTAD Sinutab! Film-2- 4 1 50 urn )'l 1.57 1 or.,. n 7 39 i NATURAL LECITHIN Q 19 MAM CAPSUUS SAVE 1 11 '2.79 . 'J' 8 ri 1"V1 T H oly Season. singing the praises of God. In the center of the group was Sandy McTavish singing to his Money Market Certificates 11.999. The The Horace joined the group. He put his arm pantry." He walked over to the deacon and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Brother Marston." he said, "Tonight, for the first time in my ministry, I found the true meaning of the parable of the lost sheep. All of my time I have spent ministering to my flock, giving no thought to those who have left the pasture and wandered away. I have forgotten that the master told me to leave the ninety and nine and go out and search for the one that is lost." He said, "Blessed are the meek." Then strange words fell from the mouth of Reverend Greentree. "God bless you Sandy McTavish and may the blessing of heaven be upon your house through Christmas and the New Year." Then with the basket under his arm he continued down the street. "This is Christmas Eve," he said to himself, "and my heart is as warm as a summer breeze because a man, a confessed sinner gave a gift in humbleness." There would be other gifts from members of his flock, but this 'wee bottle of port' told the whole story of Christmas. Had he looked behind he would have seen the tavern keeper looking up to the sign of the Horse and Jockey, a serene look upon his face, for this was the first Christmas, aye, the first time in his life that a blessing had been invoked upon his house. Reverend Greentree's first stop was at Deacon Marston's. The old man was sitting in front of the fire, a robe over his lap. One could tell that the angel of death had knocked upon his 'door,', ' After an exchange of greetings he took the bottle of port from the basket and placed it on the table by the old man's side. "It's a Christmas gift from Sandy McTavish," he said. The old deacon looked up at him in surprise. In eyes that spoke of death there was firelight reflection. His voice was weak. "Reverend, I cannot take a gift from a tavern keeper. I am a deacon in your church and soon to cross over to the other side. Take it back, reverend, take it back." Greentree frilly dress that spoke of womanhood and in the case of widow Mollie, lovely womanhood. "Sit down reverend please. I have fresh tea made and the pudding is in the not hurt a body, neither do I consort with tavern keepers. But tonight I learned a lesson. A man confessed that he was a sinner and desired to give a gift. No one told him to, he gave it because his heart is kind, because it content. Reverend 7 E5eeov Yfomtn mouth became a with a basket that was you know thai I am not a stream covered over the top with drinking man; even mountain a bit of newspaper. "It's though a drop of port will overflowing with an- proceeded to decorate her own shop. Now the widow Mollie was not a wicked or a conniving but mother woman, nature when she designed her just overdid it a bit. There was just enough of most things and a bit more of others and coupled with all her physical attraction was a warm, friendly, personal charm. When she placed her hand in the Reverend's and said, "Reverend Greentree, your sermon thrilled me through and through," he felt like Samson of old, strong and manly. Then she looked up at him with eyes that were the color of heather of his native Scotland and said, "A Merry Christmas it is that I am wishing you and should you be passing my home you are invited to stop in. My puddings this year are the best I have ever made, and with a drop of tea," then her voice trailed away like the ending of a beautiful J. II slice upon your plate your a Mollie shoppers, and his sermon rehearsed until he knew it by heart. he told of Tenderly Bethlehem. He became very dramatic as he described the life and mission of the carpenter, and when he told of the merchants and money changers being driven from the temple he threw his arms with great gusto as if he himself were using a whip. Then he climaxed his sermon with a promise of exaltation for the righteous and for the wicked there would be eternal damnation. After the usual handshaking with his flock, and this was both a pleasant and an unpleasant task, he would walk home. But tonight he waited patiently for his congregation to leave. To each one he gave a cheery "Merry Christmas" and was very surprised when Banker Matthews replied with a "Happy New Year." But when Mollie widow Shellabeer approached, the Reverend, being a bachelor of some forty odd years, became there scripture that described his feelings, but at the moment he could not think what it was. The widow, in her early thirties, was a delight to behold, even to the reverend. Just two years previous she had laid her husband to rest with the final words, "Ashes to ashes and dust to dust." Mollie only wore the mourning black for about a month then she decided to display her wares. So, like a shop window that is all dressed up to catch the attention of possible mirably. Indeed, if the collection box was any guide, he had done very well. For the total, and a large button and a foreign coin of no possible value had been removed, amounted to fifteen pounds, twelve shillings and tuppence. A tidy sum, indeed, and so pleased was the good reverend that he did not even try to decide who had given the paltry sum of tuppence. Out of the corner of his eye he had seen Banker Matthews open his purse but he could not be sure whether it was paper or a coin that he placed in the collection box. But that's the way it is with bankers, they put so much value on money. One of these days, mused Reverend Horace, I shall preach a sermon about the camel and the needle's eye, perhaps that will help to open wider the copious purse of Banker Matthews. The Reverend Horace had Fret Press-Pa- ge thi HJeteir Tils had U7-L- I |