Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 300, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1954 — Page 11

THURSDAY. pECEMBER

; ■ J"»'H I L-. — 'u ——m ? ; >■_. ? 'i< ~ . . < ■ II J) a v ' h j ft • >~>sa 1 X*®' - ♦ istos I Mta etingS tai ncere wishes V laggg? sackage...big enough ■ |o^'r ~ ~—~~ ' *■ Ku r of cheer and good will I /*--<. :nds and neighbors. I I Holiday to all! *' / „ J j /r»Lss* •■•I ■ ? ’ W r ° UHRICK Bros. *■"—"■■■ ' -.i ii ini. , h" ...'■.—- V- ■■ ■ '• • ■ •■ ■' V ■ ■ - /: -*■ ,;. v t. • V ■ ■ Ab Msa »? Wm B 8 IS IMS tyßtef'; ::>>:::::: : : : x : :v: : : : : : : : ; : : : s : \ :?: : z tL-lK ’ •— ■ \lx ;:v: : •. : ..<Ji - * « •&:’: : :<: ; ?:’"' ; x' , ** “***’'’** * <-x<s’? a Y e divine blessings of Christmas bestow on your heart the fullness of a j • . • ’ r ' tapp/ season. - ' ■' ■ ' • .. " . Si; ’ ’ ?: ?: r ; • "• . I ’ ' 2 Decatur Dry Cleaners ' '- . - ;- ' ' i ii

THE DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT. DECATUR, .INDIANA

f MITJ By Shirley Sargent n ALPH RANSOME, a forcefulI .** looking, dark-haired man of about fifty, left the office early Christmas Eve. There was no use staying, he reflected almost bitterly, the office staff had been having a Christmas party since noon on company time. His family accused him of ndV having any Christmas spirit. Well, the office staff had too much of it. _'/ . The gaily decorated streets were lighted as he walked along the downtown area. Hurrying crowds seemed to be in a gay mood. Ralph remembered the Christmas I of his own youth. He lived on a I ranch with four other brothers pnd I. sisters, an aunt, two fatherless ' cousins and his parents. With that I many mouths to feed, they were lucky to find a dime, an orange/ J; ■ Iff z J fwH . LJ i. - l n He felt excited. This was fun. And challenging, too. nuts and a hand-knit pair of socks in their stockings. Now it was vastly different, | Ralph thought. Christmas was I commercial and presents elabo- | rate, often useless. Molly, his j wife, bought the gifts for their three children. A less brilliantly . , lighted store window attracted . him. Sports equipment was exhibited. Ralph remembered his boys shout of pleasure last Christmas when he had opened something he wanted particularly “Gee, dad. how did you know’ Just exactly what .1 'wanted/' And Ralph had to say. in hon- | esty. “Thank your mother, son, I just work here." Julie, his nineteen-year-old. had - burst out.- "Oh, daddy, it just isn’t any fun when__you don’t take part. »■ You don’t even- know wbat you’re giving us." " After All, He Paid Well, who pdM for ft*- Ralph thought now. So long as they got what they wanted . . but did they? Maybe Julie and Jim had bee?) trying to show him that they wanted something from him. Something he picked out. Ralph I thought again of his boyhood presents that .had been made espei cially- for him. Why, he realized. : that was what made them special, j The children were, right then. All he did was pay for their This year he could pay double and take a chance that .he wouldchoose things they liked. It was supposed to -be the thought, not the -gift that counted anyway. Why, last. Christmas it was that Jim had given him that awful pipe rack. But Ralph had accept- - ed it with pleasure and still displayed it in a prorqinent place because Jim had worked hard to make something he could use. And the ill-fitting, hand-knitted socks from Those gifts -had meant more to him than any store-wrapped package could. He turned and hurried into-the store. ’ Getting The Spirit Ralph shopp’d carefully among I the jostling crowds He thought, carefully as to whether the gift would be practical or not. appreciated or not Molly was first and that was'easy for Ralph knew she had wanted a watch - for years. The children were harder. Juliej Was in college. She had everyI thing. No, wait . . . She loved ... 4’-:.mus.ic»~:-thia-.xypa Ralph - had- no ■ patience for. A Brahms symphony wasn’t entirely but he knew it would be appreciated. He felt 'excited. This was fun. I Challenging too. Other shoppers' ' faces reflected his own growing excitement?' Next, year, he vowed. ; he and Molly would shop together. He backtracked .to 4-he camera de- ‘ p.ntment Martha, their sevenyear «ld, was a photography- fan. „He bought, several rolls of fll/n ard'a "How To" book Then. Jim. The .hoy-lacked coordination, yet I liked sports A basketball and a punching bajf Thht ought to' do it. I Later, as he let himself tn the i house. Ralph could harcnjPwaft tq see their faces tomobedwt, But he didn’t need to wait. As tie placed "the packages, aroimd the tree, Julie's delighted squea.) brought ! the rest of the family in. When he > turned around, he met four pairs of shining, eyes that expressed their affection more clearly In words. \-'- “Gee, dad," Jim sputtered, “you finally got the Christmas spirit." Ralph smiled back at them warmly, "Guess It's catching, and incurable.’* f. Chicago — Diesel fuel powers 80 percent of all railroad transports- - ( Hon in the V, S.

SI * I - ■ /\ Christmas Was Once A Movable Feast Christmas was once like Easter tn that it was a movable feast, i celebrated on a different date each year. / ~~ j ' St. Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, is responsible for establishment of the universal date we celebrate today. In 337TA.D., with the permission of Pope Junius 1, St Cyril | appointed a commission to determine, if possible, the precise date of Christ’s nativity. The theologians of the Church finally agreed upon December 25, and since the year 354 this date has been celebrated. Legend Says Christmas Trees Came From Egypt Legend has it that the Christmas tree originated in Egypt, where [ the first trees used were palm ’ trees. » The Germans brought the tree to America, however, as they also introduced it to England. The German Prince Albert, consort at Queen Victoria, introduced the first : tree into England when he,had a tree for his ydung daughter. Martin Luther is said to have brought the first Christmas tree indoors for decoration, early in the 16th century. When you fasten ornaments to this year you will be commemorating a centuries-old Arabian legend that relates how ; plants blossomed and flowered and trees miraculously bore ripened fruit on the eve of the first Christmas- I

Jza -3 ■« v<'7 ' •Illi -f \ t ' ,17-. ’ z * i wr ' v a * ' X ■. \x z L ; / x </ • # reasons tstreetw 0 ’ ■ ■ As we approach the season that symbolizes ■ peace and good will, we recall with gratitude .JZL _,-- the friendships we have made in the years that have passed. May this greeting to carry the wish that your Christmas ( be joyous and the New Year hold all that you desire. BEAVERS OIL SERVICE _ t TYDOL VEEDOL GASOLINE MOTOR OIL .? ' ’ V S'- ■ , ‘

' ■• '•-■> . • V- - ■ : •. If' ./ . ; *- ' _ W Z/I Ci ♦‘w JF’-i ' ' ; Italic at XOlnZ SMk. W* 1 The spirit of I fl that first Christmas is the most precious v 'v 4 gift of all. May it abide with you and yours ||| now and always. .WWi ’■UY SHOES IN y /C . _.= SHOES DECATUR ♦ BLUFFTON • MIMMMMamSHMMMMMMaMMBMMaMBaMBMMataMaMMBMHHHIBMHHHBHaMHHHBHHaaHMaaBBMaMHHHBMHai

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