Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1955 — Page 15

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1356

4 yv *'t j<-.£ : * s I 11 ®|J«M fe>wzL /',' ' Z | \ b ;#**• k " 1 ffl°y you onjoy th* \ w ff happiness and pleasures \W £f \w if of Christmas Day through\W&' •’ %'J \ f out a bright New Year. J ' v > f \. Jr BILL’S CORNER “CITY NEWS AGENCY” Corner Second and Monroe Streets ~— — — X /Ayy \\i/ r“ A ®jfc S S AGE WP//o\ FORZ ? u&v) J 7jߧF— ' yjC_A/ ? _ In the spirit of ■Il J —»' the rst Christmas that wT U </vT "came upon a midnight BRC/'/, nf/r/// f^' x clear” we extend » if ItnwrXlr our warmest greetings I|f y . ’j>U ’*' ~ to you and yours. H/ I I /¥a Jk * * *» w- ■ 4®®*' SMITH SCRAP IRON CO.

LOl * a peace and happiness he yours this Christmas Day. ADAMS COUNTY TRAILER SALES Inc. 803 N. 13th SI. Decatur. Ind.

. ORBIT©! By F. L. Rowley MR. OWENS is extremely popu lar it? Hillcrest. He owns a big bam where the stock shows play each summer. He even serves coffee and sandwiches to his "guests" when they drop in to watch one of the shows. The truth is that Mr. Owens is a Lonely old man who likes to surround himself with happy people. Several years ago today, when Christmas cheer abounded and glowing parlor windows warmed the hearts of passersby, Mr. Owens was lonelier than usual. He had not even set up a tree that year; what good was a tree without someone to admire it? Christmas Eve, and Mr. Owens strolled down Main Street alone, peering into the few shop windows that were still lighted. In front of the ten-cent store he saw young Jim Harder. Jim was watching the lights go out with an expression of dismay on his freckled face. i "It can’t be that bad, my boy,” I the old man said kindly. I Jim tried to smile when he saw Mr. Owens. “It’s bad enough. I’ll sure catch it from mom when I get home. She sent me out to buy some Christmas-tree ornaments.’’ ! , "Tree ornaments? At this hour?" "Yes sir. Last summer we had a Mr. Owens pulled out a drawer to reveal several dozen brightly colored balls. the woodshed,” Jim, "nothing serious, but our Christmas stuff was destroyed. We ; forgot all about it until we set the tree up this morning.” "And you waited until now to buy ornaments?” “That’s just it,” groaned Jim "I left home over an hour ago. It’s ■ just that—well, I’ve been looking I in store windows —and—’’ Problem Solved -—- "I understand," said Mr. Owens with a twinkle in his eye. “Used to do the same thing when I was a ■ lad. Never could figure out why clocks were invented. Say, I’ve got an idea! I have some old ornaments—” "You have?” cried Jim eagerly. "On second thought,” Mr. Owens went on. “I don’t think they’d do. i Too old, most of them, with | cracked sides and hairpins stuck in their tops. Had one box of good ones, but I stepped on it.” Jim didn't smile. He look miserable. “Wait!” cried Mr. Owens, laying a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I've go it! You’ll have your Christmastree ornaments yet." With Jim Harder striding hopefully beside him, Mr. Owens set off at a brisk trot that belied his years. A happy smile played upon the wrinkled face. He was doing someone a favor at Christmas; he was part of the scene. He joined Jim in a chorus of ‘White Christmas.' Hiding Place When they reached his place he Surprised Jim by taking the path j that led to the barn. The boy followed. Once inside, he groped around until he located an old lantern. After squeezing between dusty props they reached a huge chest. Mr. Owens pulled out a drawer to reveal several dozen brightly col- , ored balls. “Wow!” They’re perfect!” cried Jim, "What are they?” Mr. Ownes laughed. “Let’s see now; those plastic ones are plums. j and those pressed-paper ones are oranges. This other drawer is full of stars; it’s all part of the scenery. I do hope you’ll bring them back after the holidays.” “I sure will!” promised Jim with a big grin. It was outside church the next morning that Jim approached Him breathlessly: "We got turkey, and you’re going to get a drumstick, Mr. Owens!" "Me? Now Jim, you needn’t—" Mrs. Harder came up. "I asked Jim to invite you to dinner,” she explained. "Besides, you must see our beautiful orange covered j Christmas tree. Or would you rathI er spend Christmas Day in that 1 I big, lonely house of yburs?” Mr. Owens couldn’t think of a single reason for not going. “I—l i reckon I would like to see the tree,” he admitted.

THE DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, DECATUR, INDIANA

Special Home Movie Shows Brighten Holiday Gift Giving

*' 'ML

A sparkling program selection of brand new home movies for holiday gift giving is now available in local camera shops and department stores. Bmm and 16mm projector owners can add a fitting touch to the festive Yuletide season by treating their families to one of the most heart warming Christmas stories ever filmed, entitled. “The Little Lamb”. It's a dramatic and inspirational story of a stray lamb who becomes "a most important lamb" on the first Christmas Eve. Other top-notch holiday film selections include “Cinderella and the Silver Skates”, a fairytale fantasy featuring a glistening array of talent performing on ice. the story known the world over; “The Little Match Girl”; “Howdy Doody’s Christmas"; plus a variety of handpicked comedifes and cartoons tea-

, % p* o ** ■ * I*l , THE STOP BACK Marion Robison - Nancy Robison Judy Warthman / fl \ o YfZ ty Here they are! r X The season s best wishes to all our wonderful friends. y ou €n l°y to fullest every minute r or^ous holiday. .a/ : - 4 . r I EQUITY DAIRY STORE Frank I,yharger. Mgr. Decatur

turing Abbott and Costello and Woody Woodpecker with Hopalong Cassidy westerns and animal movies for kids and grown ups alike. Home movies are ideal tor Christmas parties and other special occasions because they're the kind of wholesome entertainment that gives a family the feeling of "togetherness" as they stir up laughter and thrills on your wall or screen. Kids especially will jump for joy when they discover that Santa Claus has brought them a movie gift especially made for their pleasure. | Your very favorite holiday films can be enjoyed again and again from your private home movie collection which can be built into a treasure house of exciting entertainment that you can own and show for every occasion. FNS

fe’C"'.!) 9VW9 99 •W»• W By J. Conrad Inselberger NANCY Miller, aged ten, had twelve Christmas carda left when she reached the last house on the street. She decided to try her luck with Old Martin. She mounted the steps of the aging, deteriorating, red brick house and rang the bell. For a long moment she felt the urge to run, but the thought of the minister’s surprise if she should sell the old man was too strong.. She waited there shaking and • suddenly the door was opened. “Well, What do you want?” The tall old man glared down at her. “I’m Nancy Miller. I-Ive got—’’ “Come in. Come in. You’D freeze out the house.” Nancy’s heart leaped. She was inside and that was something. “I’m selling Christmas cards to help the church. Would you—.” Old Martin snorted. “I thought I'd seen you before. Your father owns the garage: You pestered me last year and th? year before. And now you’re again. What makes you think I’ll buy your cards? I haven’t before.” “No. But I thought maybe you'd change your mind. The other kids-”

X ’-V'' llancsacn 1 I / If 0 / J J 1 OJ Old Martin snorted. "I thought I’d seen yon before.” “The other children! Humph! Why don’t they come here with ’ their ..cards? They’re afraid, eh? I’m Old Martin, the meanest man in town.” Nancy smiled up at him. "I don’t think so." “Well—. I’ll buy the box of cards just to get rid of you. But ■ mind you don’t ever come again.” Memories Nancy left and the old man stared at the door wondering if he had really bought the cards to get rid of her. Could it be that she, with shining eyes and long golden hair and warm smile, reminded him of another little girl much like her? She who had left her widower father bereaved for the second time within a year? Meanwhile, Nancy raced toward the minister's house with the great : news. Late that night in the red brick i house the old man spread the ! cards on a table and glanced over i the warm and happy greetings. | I In the right hand corner of each ; card he noticed a tiny red and | white Santa Claus. “Sentimental j j rubbish,” he snorted and replaced ; the cards in the envelopes. The next morning he discovered that the ancient wall paper in the ' back-hall had loosened and a large I strip was hanging. He could fix j that, he decided, and realize some i return for the had given I Nancy. He spread glue over the ; ' faces of the cards and used them ; to patch the tom wall paper. Christmas for Old Martin was to be no different than it had been for the past thirty years. He would receive no gifts and he would give none. It was not as easy as it had been the past many years. The memory j of the little girl who had visited | him the day before blended with the memory of the little girl of thirty years before. She too had looked forward to Christmas with all the excitement and wide-eyed wonder of childhood. A light burned late In the old house. Usual Holiday Most everyone in town, except Old Martin, received a share of Christmas greetings. He got only one; that from a little girt Eleven needy people received cards with no signature and each card was accompanied by a five dollar bill. The face of every card was rough as though something had been pasted to It and then removed. Nancy received the twelfth card in care of her father’s garage, and though she recognized it as of the style she had sold she couldn’t recall io whom she had sold it It contained a ten dollar bill. Christmas Eve, an old man knelt j and prayed for the first time in thirty years, but from the outside the old brick house looked the same as usual

$ Greetings and evenfir good lor the coming year ADRIAN WEMHOFF MEMORIALS Highway 27 North — “Wemhoff’s Since 1864”

t : • VW r I x \\ X/ i x »G° 0 I J "41 I mO oIV \4 u w l\ ar yA \ IF pWx x. 1/ SANITARY MARKET 747 Mercer Avenue « -Il lUMBBiTUI n_ —' Jr, Wrt.-itjr-R a-,,.-. Z W ozW II JT /ill * 5 ‘’Z ut W\ • fra ,<»*' <T\ CULLIGAN SOFT WATER SERVICE James Elberson Clarence Ziner

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