Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 55, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1957 — Page 14

PAGE FOURTEEN

wKr’ 7 ci r sr sfc.ft ' tf-,..-. - ■ » S lZ*"' '*81330 BFx*t»♦ •*. i j »*•'* * V :,;.•> • «/;— Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year CIW 232 N. 2nd St. Phone 3-4409 ( _ i I | ini™ yF • hSul ;r ' -■ I lwP > * rs J . ■ I I££7.'*’ - % • May the radiance that 7 4shone *round the Christ child brighten the way for each and all of our friends at Christmas. rnPffilTUll CM 158 S. 2nd St. «<UJ PHONE 3-3030 *■ r <rL Wf / ■%. , m -. „ ft R - -~"— fc | uJt* .... r» ti - rfi'zf . it /I/q / ,■ ' CMM¥ fe »- ” I i | entering the f Holiday scene with B 4* \ sincere thanks and the * JV'j Season’s best wishes to j allour patrons ' f ' w '*s' ' whose good will Sty and confidence we value so highly. *'** 'J* * Evelynn Kingsley, Manager LORDS 127 N. 2nd St. Decatur, Ind. '«"■■■' 1 — I 11

'A PRESENT j for .: | By F. L. Rawley MARK LINGER blinked at the blue-eyed girl who held her I arms out to him. It was the third I time today that she had climbed i upon the high platform to approach Santa's throne. ; “And what brings Uttle Peggy back?" he asked. She looked dubiously at the matted whiskers. “Are you really Santa Claus?” Mark stifled a chuckle. “Look at that big sign over my head; it ’ says I'm Santa Claus, doesn't it?” Apparently satisfied. Peggy reached into her coat pocket and drew out a small package. "Here's your present,” she said Simply. “A present—for Santa?" “Sure. Mommy says everyone ■ asks Santa Claus for things, but IM: The look of pity was once more upon him. nobody gives him anything. It's | a purse,” she said impulsively. Mark peeled back the tissue paper to reveal a wallet His puzzled gaze took in the ring of faces around Santa’s enclosure. He soon i picked out Peggy’s mother; he’d seen her twice before in the span i of a few hours. This time there was a strange look in her eyes—j a look of compassion. She pitied him! I Peggy was tugging at his sleeve. 1 i "You didn't say 'thank you’," she chided. ‘Fx l >' *’* ■!*?*’> '-am Look of Pity • -4 Marls dutifully thanked her. Holding up the wallet he nodded 1 to Peggy’s mother. By this time • the line of children had grown i considerably. Dismissing Peggy, he went on with his work. But it , wasn’t the same. That look of pity ! had disturbed him. What did the woman take him for, a down-and-outer? At six o’clock Mark was hot and weary. He watched gratefully as ■ the last few customers were ushered through the big doors. Then he removed his head-gear and setI tied back for a smoke. As he _i reached for his pipe his fingers >1 folded over the new wallet. Sudden Gift Outside it was snowing. The air i I felt good. Little groups of people | stood before the windows of shops that were still open. As Mark neared the corner the sight of a j small figure startled him. It was Peggy! She and her ’mother were I absorbed in a toy shop display. I Mark slipped quietly into the shop j and bought the biggest plush panda j j in sight A moment later he thrust it into ; a surprised Peggy’s arms, saying! i “A man with a white beard told ' i me to give this to you, little girt” , “That was Santa Claus. But where’s the doll? And the buggy?” ; ’ “He’ll deliver those himself, dear,” said Peggy’s mother. She j turned to Mark: “You shouldn't {have deme that Surely your own family needs things?” Ne Place to Go Mark laughed. “What family? i At this moment I haven’t the ' slightest idea where I'll eat Christmas dinner. Not that it matters much." „ “Now don’t get me wrong,” he hastened to add. “I'm not broke by any means.” “So B that’s why you were working as—as —you know what” She glanced cautiously at Peggy, then back at Mark: “Why not have Christmas dinner with us? There’s only me and Peggy.” “I’d like that,” said Peggy, smiltng over the panda. Peggy’s mother scribbled down the address. As he took the paper from her he realized, how very pretty she was. Then they were gone. Mark was brought back to reality by a bump from behind. It was Fred Mason. “Sorry! Oh, it’s you Mr. Linger. How does it feel for the manager of a big store to play Santa Claus? The shortage of help is really something this year I” Mark smiled. “Somebody’s going to be surprised tomorrow to find out that there really IS a Santa Claus. Excuse me now; I've got to go back to the store for a doll and buggy and something special—tor a lovely lady."

THE DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT. DECATUR, INDIANA

V1 n \JFwfejC' . wWMhMV I n/?. 1' ' GREETINGS W CA Best wishes of the season 1 and our sincere thanks to all our friends and patrons. Wall’s Bakery * • Its Christmas time, and r ’ i 7 j j° y and cheer ape cverywhere. To you we send » the warmest greetings of the season, with a sin- / cere “Thank You” for ■ your patronage and good . wHI'4T' i‘ c ■■ Slwsms «• wistes ir-F AXc’d like to fill your 'ui i(l / Blockings with our best / J 11 ) wishes for a Christmas / /wl 1 holiday as bright as the light in a child’s eyes z - ... as warm and cheery 1 — aFa glbw-lhg hearth \ w -I MYERS HOME & AUTO SUPPLY “Your Firestone Store” ACROSS THE STREET—EAST OF COURT HOUSE

f i The Christinas Tree -A 2 ' 'JrW By r. L. Bawtey IT WAS threa days before Christmas and I was getting panicky. Every evening my father came home with mysterious bundles under both arms, but he seemed to hsve forgotten the most important thing of all—the Christmas tree. To a twelve-year-old such as I this was serious. We were usually the first kids on the block to have e | tree on the back porch. I found my mother In the kitchen. “Do you think dad has forgotten the tree?” 1 asked anxiously. “No Bob. Your father has been too busy lately to think of everything. He'll get the tree one of these days.” “One of these days? Why, Christmas is almost here!** Mother went out of the kitchen, L b Wwi I - ■ mI WK • "Are there many trees left on the corner?” I asked George. too busy to, spare time listening to my complaints. The kitchen door flew open. My brother George dashed in. his eyes wide, his Jowls quivering. “Guess what. Bob? Butch Miller Just got a Christmas tree! I saw him going down the alley with it” Sadden Thought Then George got a great idea. “Mr. Sherwood's got millions of Christmas trees on his estate," be said with a sly look. “They Just .. pow there.” ... .» "So? Mr. Sherwood doesn't sell ‘ trees.” “Remember the camping axe dad bought tor your birthday?" At first I was shocked. Then I began to think of going through Christmas without a tree. George nodded seriously—as if this were the only solution to our problem. “You don't think he’d miss s teenie one?" I asked. “Never know it was gone,” George assured me. Well, I wasn't keen on the idea, but we were desperate. As we trudged towards Mr. Sherwood’s place 1 suggested: “Suppose we leave some money on the stump when we cut down the tree? Then it wouldn't seem like stealing. 1 gri eleven cents. How much you got. George?" “Three cents. I’ll bet nobody ever got a tree for fourteen cents before.” — "Well, we will” But I was wrong. A few minutes “ later we got a tree for nothing. We were nearing Mr. Sherwood s place when Butch Miller came running towards us, dragging a tree behind him- He dropped the tree at our feet and without saying a word scooted on down the road. George and I looked at each other—then at the tree. We walked around it two or three times. Just looking “It sure is a beauty!" I said at last “Maybe we had Butch figured wrong. He’s not such a bad guy. Look at the trouble he saved "Oh yeah!" George pointed to the pair of red-faced figures bearing down on us: Mr. Sherwood and Officer Calhoun. I Just stood there bolding the axe and shaking- Butch had really got us into a fix this time! "It looks like we'll hsve to take you two ini” panted Officer Calhoun. It was plain that he didn't relish the idea. “Why?" asked George calmly. He had nerve, George did. "Why?” sputtered Mr. Sherwood. pointing at my axe. “Why, you young whippersnappers, 1’11—" Showing Proof George turned to Officer Calhoun: "If we took this tree, why ain't we out of breath, same as you? And take a look at Bob's new axe; bet it isn't even scratched yeti” Calhoun reached tor my axe. "By gum. the boy’s right!" He banded the axe to Sherwood. “Guess all we can do now is tote this tree over to the orphanage. They can use IL Trees are high this year.” When George and I got homo the best darn tree you ever saw was on our back porch. Weeks later wo learned that dad had bought it from Butch Miller. I guess Butch did pretty good that j year. -

; ed like lo help brighten your holidays with our sincere thanks V a for the privilege of servJL ing you and our warmest wishes for every happiness. SINGLETON RADIO sad T.V. SERVICE Cor. of 11th & Adams Phone 3-3932 fJ To everyone, we wish ™ a v«ry joyous Holiday Season...one that / * will long be treasured for its many happy memories. T E E I 1 L E TRUCK LINES 122 East Oak Street ■ w A J k Ml Vk -r Wkih * ust a friendly message : t 0 dMudc you * or your P atrona ß e 1 "W**<< and you and your * oved ones a ; Z B wk ’ holiday season full of XOi friendship, good cheer, xjw 2ood h ealth and muctl ha PP inw ’l jfL" GEORGE C. THOMAS "Stocks - Bonds - Real Estate” Rooms 1 and 2 Reppert Bldg.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1957