W aL ra a a CHASEM was jovial, hail-fellow-well-met, and did not like to work, ex- cept at repairing an old automobile which he owned. He and his big family were now on their way to Florida, planning lv camp out. They were going slowly, owing to various aspects of the car, chief among which was old age. Suddenly came a familiar squashing sound. * ‘Nother puncture, Arathusa, aged sisteen. pa!” shrilled ‘Get me a plaster, Thuse,” out. “Fix it in a Jiffy.” Thuse snatched a plaster from the top of the junk box. It was the one thing that was always handy and in She bopped out. In twenty minutes I: was fixed, they were going again lane ing siyly fi pa called place, and . slowly, with pa the si ide. Two whegt again came the over niles, perhaps, imiliar sound, ar tire puncture!” once more shrilled Thuse. “That makes seven | this afternoon.” “Only five or six.” expostulated pa. “Seven, ‘cause 1 counted,” positive ly. She hopped out with another plaster. Cars of all sorts were continually passing, going the same way. Another two miles or so, and 8 very handsome car appeared, coming to an abrupt stop opposhie. The driver uttered a smothered exclamation, I'a was out again, with Thuse stand- ing by him with a plaster, “Comes o' pickin’ up one Inner tube thrown away on the road, an’ buyin’ another ir a junk shop for twenty-five cents,” sniffed Thuse. “Why don't you buy a new one for a change?” “There was some good in ‘em, Thuse,” explained pa. “I hate to see things wasted. Can 1 help you, sir?” to the other car owner. “Don't know,” replied a perplexed voice. “Something seems to be wrong. I don't know what” Pa left his own work unfinished and went to the other car, crawling under with his makeshift tools, Five minutes later he crawled out. “Just a nut loose,” he sald. “All rlebr now. Yon ean go on” bias tins KIND WORDS First Shoe—"He was a pretty good “Let's stop here and trim a tree for the children,” suggested a woman in the car. “I saw a nice place a few rods back, with something that looked very much like holly, We won't reach Jacksonville till after Christmas.” “AN right. Just as you say. I'll drop the bunch of you, and then skip over to the town and buy a few things for the kids. Say.” to pa, “you've got a mighty nice bunch of holly In your car—and some mistletoe, I'll be bound.” “Not for me,” laughed pa. “I no- ticed 'em back yonder and cut ‘em, thinkin’ I might meet somebody on the road who'd like some. You're wel. come.” The transfer was made, with a “We are certainly grateful,” from the woman. “Now we'll go back to the place 1 saw.” Pa's wife had been busy, and was out beside the road preparing dinner during the walt, “All ready,” she now called. Dan, the ten-year-old, openly scoffed, “Salt pork an’ measley ‘taters,” he sald. “No, thanks, I'm not hungry.” The rest ate, excepting Thuse, after which pa returned to his puncture. The Dinner Was Spread Lavishly Over a Big, White Cloth, He was just ready to start again when Thuse called: “Here comes that man” “All invited to dinner and Christ. mas tree,” genially, “The wife In- sists, No back talk” Pa would have refused, but a look at the faces of Thuse and Dan de- terred him, “All right,” he sald, “be right over.” At first sight of the dinner, spread lavishly over a big, white cloth, Thuse whispered, audibly, “Turkey, and gobs of it.” Dan merely chuckled. After they were all so well filled that they gasped, they went to the Christmas tree, where everybody re- celved as many presents as they could carry back, and pa himself bad a full set of new tires. It was the first time pa had ever looked embarrassed. (1799. Wentern Newnoaner (Tnlas ¥ chap.” Becond Shoe—"Yes, he was a ‘whole-soled’ fellow!” Experienced The main dish of the dinner, a ham- loaf, was accompanied by horseradish sauce, “Will you have some horse. radish, Mary Ann?" the host asked his young guest. “No thanks, I've had experience!” was her sage reply. Willing to Help Tenant of New “Ideal Home"—Do you know that there's grass coming — N THE Christmas city ev- erybody called him Uncle Kriss. None of the young people knew that he bad any other name. But ev. erybody knew that Christ. mas would not be Christ. mas not direct the festivities, Uncle Kriss was neither rich He had no family of his own. Nature fashioned him on the pattern of Santa Claus. He was never happier mas for the town-—the town whieh came to be called the Christmas city. Long before Christmas Uncle Kriss would go day after day with the boys and girls into the hills to gather ever greens and red berries for wreaths, A truck was sent to haul them town. Then for a full week body worked mak- Christmas wreaths A big bow of red crepe paper was fastened to the bottom of each wreath, On the day be fore Christmas there was a Christ. mas wreath in the front window of every home, rich or poor. The Christmas city locked to be, as it really was, the home of Santa Claus. There was always a big tree erected in the town where there was a child, the people plenty of Christmas,” Uncle Kriss used to say, and they will need no police nor jall, The town had a had there been anybody in it on Christmas day, and then there was a Christmas wreath in the little window behind the iron bars, On Christmas morning Uncle Kriss formed the men Into a company of good fellows and sent them from home to home among the poor to see that no child was missed and no one was cold or hungry on Christmas day, in the Christmas city, 1088. Wentern Newspaner Union.) up between the boards of my dining room? Landiord—Grass? Oh, I'll soon pu that right. I'll send round a mar with a lawnmower this morning !- Humorist, He Might Join the Army An Atchison man Is very unreason able, He doesin't like to eat In res taurants and hotels, yet he knocks or his wife's cooking. We don't know what should be done with that kind o a man,~Atchison Globe, N THE east of a cloudless sky shone a bright star as a beacon, over the town Groups of town folk hur. rying in ls direction ap- peared as the wise men who followed the star of old. Every one would be attending the ‘hristmas entertainment given at the thurch, 80 no need to keep his fruit thop open, decided Matt Hughes, as ie joined the happy Joyous throng wound in that direction, From where he sat he could plainly ee the star, and he fell to dreaming of another Christmas when that same star shone a7 brightly as now, but nstead of the snow-clad hills of New sngland there was the wide expanse if the California desert. Across that fesert toward the star rode a lone jorseman, a song on his lips and a smile on his face. From his saddl sung several packages in the Rh woliday wrappings. As he drew near #» cabin the song sthanged to a shout of greeting which fled to a low exclamation of surprise i2 he saw there was no welcoming fzht. After searching In the dark he had struck a light, and then had rome the discovery of the written message. It was the same old story —unaccustomed to the desert the problems confronting one trying to sonquer it bad proved (oo big. How. ird James, the playmate of Lis chlid- nood, college friend and later neigh- sor out here in the West, proved now 0 be the real love of Dolly Hughes nstead of Matt, One day the name James Howard xas spoken in his presence; the sim- {larity In the name of his former friend caused him to locate the man. Then he learned that Dolly had not survived long after reaching there Matt Silently Extended His Gift. left, and although the two had lived they had never spoken to each other; Matt had never revealed the Words of the program mingled with his dream, such as “The Glory of the Lord shone ‘round™ and “They brought Him gifts” and the words of the min- ister at parting—*“Little children love An idea which formed quickly in his and Matt himself hurrying first to his of his town. Entering the once while friend, part presence of “Matt!” the word was half a ques. tion and half an exclamation, The “1 have brought As he saw what the basket contained Howard clasped the gift more tightly. “A basket of California grapes!” he cried over and over. “Just what 1 have longed for. “Why it's only a batket of grapes,” stammered Matt. “No,” Howard after a moment re plied in a choked volce, “it's much it's an answer to “Howard,” he said, prayer.” “Well,” Matt said as he turned to go, “I'm glad that you like them.” At the door he turned and extended his hand. “Merry Christmas, sald. The other grasped the outstretched band—*“Merry Christmas Matt, and God bless you.” And the next mo- ment the bearer of gift was out under the stars. (@. 1929, Western Newspaper Union.) Howard,” he Sign of Respectability He-1 suppose you've heard about Old Man Diogenes, who went around with a lantern looking for a decent and respectable man? ghe—How foolish of him. One doesn't find respectable men on the streets at night. They're home with thelr families, Box of Sardines Polygamy would mever work In this country. Think of six wives In a kitch- enette |=-Rvervhody's Wapkiv. MERRY 1% CHRISTMAS: 2, Larkarins 1 Edelstan \ ERY CHRISTMAS) ry Christmas] No lwo other words could ever held so much of warmth and Gladness wilkin them. (There iy’a naméless something in their Aound thi fills the heart with happi- ness. As we hear them, the Christmas spirdl, that mos) delightful and hap- pigs! of Jeeligs, lobes possession of us. And il is no selfish happiness “that the words awake, for we are no! content! lo beep i! lo ourselves; we wan! fo go oul and make cthers happy. Ibo. lo share our joy with all the world We wan! lo bring a smile to other faces lo help lesash and lighten the burdens (gthers may be carrying. iv TRY CHRISTMAS) 7 Jus Roo short words, / and yet how jk they mean what hours of hap- | piness they; LL bring! What A glad and joy- ous things we 7 wish for those / we love as we call them ou What hopes surge within our hearts that the best in lif may come to them! Adu repeat the words yn sincere, and home lies and lies of kindred sweeler and stronger (There is a magicawithin them that mabes us prize and value all the gifts that are ours tha! mabés us appre- ciate and cling close lo our precious possessions. And what men bries they Spake} Memoryes of other Christmas doys i ama friends 2, as comrades tha! dre how beyond the clasp of our hands: of the happy and never-for- gollen da days of Sx Te do 6” iw Be ocd A smile and a song follow the words. They al == gam bring glad- ness inlo every heart and bright sunshine info the day And as long as the world goes on they will always re- main as now, the happiest, the heartiest and the mos! joyous words thal man can speak or wrile © 1509. WELTERN NEVIPARLE UNION — EN — Christmas Is for Children Christmas is first of all for the children. Don't forget the tree, and that they will enjoy making the pop- corn balls and candy and stringing bits of cotton to hang from the branches. MOST OF IT KILLED HERE are presents, are duty presents. are not quite Some presents are pres ents exchanged between friends for years and years and years. These are very nice, keeping up the old friendship, the old traditions, the old links. Sometimes these are between people who have not seen each other for years, who keep up their friendship, who keep it secure through all the years by the Christmas link. Then there are presents one gives to children. These sre always fun. And there are presents one can give to children who otherwise would have no Christmas, These are even more And there are presents one can little lonely, wide-eyed chil gaze wistfully into lighted shop windows. “here is hardly angthing that brings a glow to the heart more than giving presents that are complete and over whelming surprises to the recipients Then give to sorts of presents These nice, all Some 80 one <©an who there are presents faithful px so unerringly bring the greatest boon vo world to one’s door—the mail those stmen in tl And there are presents one can give e's milkman and iceman and « «ho deliver package around Christmas 1 to on of these presents are such a They are the pres And all pleasure to give. ents that give such happiness to the giver, and the re- feels the giver's good wishes, appreciation, trib- ute. But perhaps the nicest of all pres ents to receive and to give are those that are absolutely not necessary from any viewpoint at all—not presents of gratitude, not pres. en's of apprecia- tion, not presents of joyous impulse, but the presents given because in the heart of the giver is a desire to do something for that person—a wave of warmth anc friendship and just the sort of feeling that says: #1 think I'll give that good friend something this Christmas. 1 Just feel as though I'd like to do it—no reason for it whatever—but 1 feel as thought I'd like to do this” Those are the very nicest presents The Nicest Xmas Present, 129, Western Newspaper Unies. of Alt" : killing time.” He-—"T've been wonder ing why I can find so little time for anything.” Just Se A girl shouldn't look back at » young man.” “Uh.” “And a young man shouldn't look back at a girl" “Well?” *HBut both frequently do just to see LIE the Alar Ja walason Un mia®
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers