Onbei a farm -And o uftZftf 1 Joyce B It was a silent night Overhead, a thousand pinpoints of silver sparkled in the blackness of the heavens. Nebulous drifts of clouds, almost unmoving in the still, clear evening, veiled small sections of the glittering sky. No voice broke the reverie. All was hushed, save for the soft sound of footsteps upon the dry grass of winter. Breaths came more rapidly, as the slope of the hill grew steeper, and until the crest was breached. Spread below, across the mea dows, the immediate world seemed to lie at complete peace this night Then, an unexpected light It startled me for a split second, the flickering flames stretching orange fingers into the night. The fire’s flow shed shadowy, waver ing light on the machine shed, and into the cattle bunk feeding area between old and newer bams. But, then I relaxed almost immediately, remembering that our youngest was busy “house cleaning” the machine shop, and burning a bit of the discarded trash. This bonfire centered where «Bafat»at»atBat«at««a«t«atgaga(BaiaatßKgacißat»(M«»acgagggatiaatßg»K«i«BawK»atgat«wc«jj| ? ? “Christinas Shopping Doesn Get Any Easier Than This! ’ Give A Gift That Lasts All Year... ■A SUBSCRIPTION TO ONLY $lO.OO PER YEAR $lB.OO FOR TWO YEARS In PA, NJ, OH, MD, DE, NY, VA & WV (Other Areas $25.00 Per Year or $48.00 For Two Years) LANCASTER FARMING WILL SEND A GIFT CARP Announcing The Start Of The Gift Subscription PLEASE SEND LANCASTER FARMING TO: (Please complete all blanks in full) ADORES! 8 8 | ZIP COUNTY | g GIFT CARD TO READ FROM 1 WSsxxa(xa(MCM(MCiaCM(MiaKMtSfiKfKIKIKM(MCIBISKa«WCaa(aw«WtB(M(M(M»a(MCMCM people were finishing long hours of work, completing mundane, daily chores, on an “everyday” evening. A string of white-lit, rectangular windows not far from the flickering flames told of dairy barn chores being wrapped up. Soon, the bonfire would cool and die, the bam lights go dark, and rest come quickly to those whose bodies were weary with honest toil. Business as usual, on an ordin- ary evening. Well, maybe not completely as usual. For, mi the glossy-ice surface of the pond, a multi-hued pyramid shape reflected into the dark of this very ordinary night. The mir ror image of shimmering color was of a neighbor’s seasonally decorated outdoor evergreen, bright with bulbs of brilliant blue, cheery yellow, glowing orange, seasonal red and green. The pyramid of colors, and its minor image on the frozen sur face, seemed a vivid reminder of another similar - and yet very spe cial - silent night so long ago. There, too, perhaps bonfires or LANCASTER FARMING P.O. BOX 609 EPHRATA, PA 17522 Subscriptions Will Begin With Christmas Issue iTATE. flicked in the darkness, as men prepared to end the most hectic of their toils for the day. Dry, crackly grass of hillside pastures whis pered under footsteps. Flocks of sheep and goats, which had nibbled the grasses in daylight, were counted, checked, and settled under watch for the night. Ordinary, everyday, people, on a “business as usual” evening. People who rose early and worked late, who wrestled their livelihoods from livestock and the land. People with ordinary fami lies, who worried about their children, squabbled occasionally with their spouses, tried to make “ends meet” in their family Adolescent Pregnancy: Adolescent pregnancy is a national crisis that robs our child ren of their childhood and often condemns them and their babies to lives of poverty. Regardless of how you feel about childbearing in adolescence, the facts are present that adoles cents, for a variety of reasons, are becoming parents. Young girls in this country are bearing children at a time when their own bodies are growing. They are bearing children at a time when they are not equipped to deal with the many social aspects of pregnancy and parenthood. In addition, there is seldom a firm economic situa tion present Out of these less than desirable circumstances arise numerous medical and social problems. Many of these girls do not receive adequate prenatal care. In one study it was shown that adolescent girls who received prenatal care 6 ill This Com ion To finances. People who coaxed newborn animals to eat, grumbled about the weather, and loved a good laugh with close friends. And, people who no doubt cursed the govern ment of Caesar Augustus for the levy of yet another burdensome and unpopular tax they must pay. People surprised in the night time darkness by sudden, brilliant light. Who in awe abandoned “business as usual” to chase the light of a mysterious star that silent night. People. Ordinary, everyday people. A National Crisis during the first three months experienced an infant death rate of 6.6 per thousand, while those who received no prenatal care until the time of the birth experienced an infant death rate of 16.1 per thousand. Adolescents, again for a variety of reasons, often have very poor nutrition habits. Their diets con tain many of the junk foods. Pre gnancy puts added demands on the system and if poor nutrition habits are present during those crucial months, the newborn experiences many risks. Another aspect of adolescent pregnancy involves the education of the girl. Some schools discour age or will not permit adolescent mothers to continue in the regular program. And if the girl does return to school, what are the con sequences of child care? And what effort is made to help the adoles cent learn how to be a caring parent? For parents, indeed for many dulls •'dolf "ll'iy i - i *> - HOT WATER IDEAL FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, existing homes, GREEN HOUSES, SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS. FURNACE SITS OUTSIDE -10'-100’ from hotrfe/business/barn. Removes fire danger. CLEAN - No ashes, dust smoke, trash inside. CONVENIENT - Load every 10-12 hours. Burns logs up to 16” in diameter & 30” long. Stops most log splitting. THERMOSTAT CONTROLLED - Even heat. EASILY CONNECTS to forced Air/Hot Water System. Needs no chimney or water heater. Heats domestic hot water year round. Warm months of the year firing every 6 to 10 days. DAIRY, VEAL & PIG FARMERS - BIG savings for you on heating & hot water, costs at. barn. \ ALL STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION ANY SIZE TO MEET YOUR NEED 90 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE Lancaster Faming, Saturday, December 24,198845 A People who went to visit other ordinary people, in an everyday - even humble - setting. People to whom a most extraordinary thing had occurred, an event that still shapes our world today. That’s what Christmas is about, isn’t it? Ordinary people, aban doning everyday, “business as usual,” to again celebrate the extraordinary gift of the Christ Child. May the extraordinary gift of the Christ Child bring to you and yours at this season great blessing and peace. Merry Christmas! raises dozens of social and medi cal questions. Questions that many communities are either ignoring or very slowly beginning to answer. The reality of the situation is that adolescents are becoming parents. What are the long-range social costs of not providing adequate medical care? Or, if not allowing the young parent to return to school? If a 16 year old does not finish high school, what are the chances of getting a job? What does this mean to the adoles cent or to the infant ten years from now? Serious questions indeed, and questions that we all must attempt to find answers to. HARDY OUTSIDE WOOD FURNACE HEATS YOUR HOME AND YOUR
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