PAGE TWO
If liC Uajjosted
Christ mas Letter
*?r.
^ Jocile UJebb Pearsosx
' I "*HK gray was settling Into
j a graver n:gbr. A while mist obscared
the pine covered liiUs and
spread itself over rhe valley like a
vast curtain shutting out faiuliiar objects.
The shilek of a locomotive
sounded ghostly and unreal, as Its
glaring headlight penciled the dark
ness for a moment and disappeared.
The doorway of the lit lie, railway station
was pmKro I in a bhir.e of light as
the attendant entered.
Despite the chining blanket of mist
a camp fire a few hundred yards down
the track crackled and glowed cheerily,
bringing into sharp relief the fig*
tires of a man and boy. The latter,
seated on a ioi*. gazed iuooCfiiy into
the lire as the pine boughs rapidly
consumed. His beardless face hud the
healthy tan of the open road, hits clothing
showed Us neglect The heavy
shoes, soggy with the nio!st earth,
steamed as the lieat waves beat upon
theni, hut lie was unmindful of any
discomfort.
The man was grizzled and weather
stained, a typical person of the outof-doors
iife. Tor the moment ho was
Intent on arranging slices of bacon on
a tiatteued piece of tin, later to be
slid over the red coals where a can
Pp i
g? i /\'Jk J j>
fk &
m
ptouml?;".,.
',' ;' ?v
A Gampfier Brought Into Sharp Relief
the Figures of a Man and Boy.
of bubbling coffee already sent out an
appetisdng ' " r. lie worked deftly* as
one long used to this niorlidd of preparing
meals. Occasionally he cast
anxious looks at the boy, as he turned
the sizzling bacon nud sa nd wletied it
between thick slices of bread. With
steady hand he poured the steaming
coffee Into .separate cans, then called
4!? lIlO in:) :
"Sit up. Jimmy! To must be starved
after the day's tramp. Walkin' the
rails is hard work, hut we're not ones
for stealing rides, we pay like gintiemen
or walk, eli, lad?"
The boy started frrm bis reverie
"Hitch hiking beats walking for rapid
transit if you're in a hurry, Tim,"
Jimmy grinned. "Gee, that bacon smells
great. Fin as hungry as a camp robber
"
They ate In silence, each busy with
bis own thoughts. When the meal was
finished, the man produced a shortstemmed
pipe from an Inner pocket of
his heavy woodsman coat, filled It,
crowding the tobacco iu with his
thumb; rhen stooping he scooped a
live coal from the fire and puffed a
ijil*mi 111 in ij.iii.~i ^uuaiiicuuu j WH'.CUlng
::i:? boy from under his shaggy
eyebrows as he added fresh fagots to
the dwindling blaze.
The boy, with hands thrust deep In
his pockets, continued to more restlessly
about. "Gee, Tim, this weather
is getting on my nerves. We've had
days of it. I'm beginning to want to
see the sun again."
Tiie old man laid aside hi3 pipe.
"New, lad, suppose ye tell Tlin all
about it. What's botherin' ye?I've
missed that whistle of yourn. What's
on yer mind':"
Jimmy resumed bis seat on the log.
"Oh, nothing much, Tim. I guess I'm
sort of cuckoo tonight, Just thinking?
oh, shacks! It's nothing, anyway."
"Go on, lad, I'm listenln'."
A slow color mounted to the boy's
face. "It's thinking of Christmas, Tim.
It's only three days off, and?and I've
never been nwny before. It doesn't
matter, forget It." He hastily threw
a pine bough Into the Sre.
"Three days, ye say, lad? An' me
forgettln' iL Now, where'd ye say ye
come frcm?"
"Iowa, Tim."
"Now, do tell. I been In Ioway meself.
lad, bat It's a long lime ago?a
long time. Ye're from a farm, mebbe?"
"No, Dad's no farmer. He's a carpenter,
and got along fine till hard
times struck?you know how things
went."
"Sure I do," Tim supplemented. "An'
there wasn't much work."
"That's right, Tim, and I wasn't keen
on schooL I wrote a note telling Mom
and Dad not to worry about me?they
liawA f K eno m/iru ?n IaaIt at, t f n? ~ >
iiu? v. uitvv "?vni iu iwn vui ivi UtlU
I hit the trail for the great Northwest."
Tim gave him a reassuring pat. "i
see, lad. An' ye're fed up an' sort of
disaplnted an' homesick?"
"I guess that's right, Tim. But, gosu,
it was thinking of Christmas that got
nnder my skin. They'll all he there
but me. Nobody to get the tree?that
WAT.'
was my job. We always hail one, eveu *
lu tiie hardest times. Mom's a corker
to manage. Hoesn't Christmas get you,
too, Tiui? H ; voi 't you folks somewhere
you'd like to see?"
"Mebbe, lad. an' rnebbe I'd be glad- ^
der to see tkeu?. than they me. Now oac*
1 this town, Todunk.' did you say it
wasr was
"Xo. It's Mobray, and the dandiest
town?not so hot Cor size, but it ha>
about every thin:; n fellow needs there, vrdw;
and the host grid team in the county.
Ceo. Tint >pa ought to them bus- whit
ulcs go after that ball and smash the <>f t
lire?and the crowd roaring like madj men
rooting for their teaiflA" The eager thos
* il?he rose abruptly. cula
"Guess I'll b\> turning lu. See you Tl
' tee.'* hea\
' Sure, lad." Tim Ignored the break as a
In the conversation. Better bunk flictii tube
pine boughs under that shed over whei
there. This drizzle will likely be snow The
by mornin*. I've an errand of me own bit a
to do, but I'll be- back in no time. Git
yer rest whilst ye kin." y&p
An hour later the boy was awakened "
, by a band on his shoulder, and Tim's
voice calling: "Wake up, Jimmy, I
wants to talk to ye."
Jimmy sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Olmy. Tim, what's on your mind ?
Shoot.'"
Tim fumbled in his pocket and produce*'
a bit of paper. "First I want to
; say Merry Christinas from Timothy
Uvari to Mr .Tames Madden of M.ihrav
low.jy Here It Is?a ticket to yo'rc o5rl |
home town. An' the fast train will !
>j- k y.} ur> In exactly forty inlnutcs. j
We got to pet goin*. lad.
"Hut Tim," Jimmv blinked tiie last |
bit of sleep from his eyes. He turned t
the paper ever and over until he waf
convinced It was genuine. "I?I don't
understand, Tim. did you get this
and whereV'
Tim laughed merniv. "One at a time,
lad. First: I got it over yon at the
little railway station where they sell
tickets. Second, I paid for It with
money, earned money I laid by when
work was good."
"That's Hue of you, Tim. but I can't
take your money. You need ?t for
yourself." ?.
"Sure ye kin. lad. an* there's enough
lei: iVr me?an' yer welcome to it. r?Ye
see. Jimmy I of ink to ye the b ?
day we walked inter the lOggln' camp J ^ .r
Jest as they were closin' down for the I
winter an* we ink the trail loglther. !
Ah* when ye talked of Christinas, an' j ^
sicli. ye set me lYdokiu'. The gift is : rk
not for y?.u alone, hut fer yer folks i hfi
who misses e more thai: ye know. Old 1
Tint's iim -h: nvxny a mistake, T say : ' )??
to myself. hut this ain't one. an' mebbe j
it wiii lioij) square some of the others." ; ?;v
lie laid a snarled hand on {He hoyV JsJf
shondor. "There's only one thing I'm
a kin', lad, an' that is: ye'il stay oft ^
(he roml. It's not for the likes of ye,
1 Go home an' finish yer schoollnV
"You're right, Tim," Jimmy replied
soberly. "I've come to rc-obse that.
You've helped me to see things die- ?*?
j f erectly, Tim. I've got a dandy Idea."
Ilis face glowed with eagerness. "Go $j5
home with me. Mom and Dad would j &&
i make you welcome; and you say you j
j have money." But the old man shook !
ids head. "No, no, lad, I bin on the i
; read too long. T know yer folks wud jj',?
he grand to me; much obiccgcd to ye
I fer tliinkin' of it?I'll be gcttin' along
where there's h on sin' quarters, an' Xtt}
mebbc a bit of work." g*
j The eastbonnu train came to a stop. ?&&?
i As the slender yOutli was climbing
| aboard, with a last handclasp, old Tim
pressed a crumpled bill Into his hand.
j "Ye must eat, lad. an' don't lose yer ?|}{y^
1 ticket. Don't forgit ye're ridia' like a jlJj
glntleman." The old man laughed, but *$?$
there was an undertone of wilfulness.
Jimmy took the money. "I hadn't {fj/^
i tnongnt or eating, Tim. It is just that I
I T'ui going home. Home, Tin), and I
! owe it to you. I'll pay 1* hark some
1
Tim Fumbled in His Pocket and Produced
a Bit of Paper.
| day?I'll tell Mom and Dad what a
| good pal you've been?and you prom- X&J1
1 ised to write. I'll be thinking of you SjlM
j Christinas." ^
"Thankee, lad, thankee. Toll ycr
i folks howdy, an' Merry Christmas fer ?fv
I me."
I The train roared away In the white hJj
. fr\rr mrt Tim u-nioliol *511 tl.? ?. ?Hy<
disappeared and the rumble grew faint
in the distance. He rubbed a moist
hand across his brow. "An' he called
rne pal. Tis a line lad he is, an' 1*11 fF}^
be missin' him; Three days to Christ- ?M
mas; he'll make it." By the dim light j2cj
| from the station window, he pulled a Sjj
worn purse from his pocket and emptied
the few remaining coins into his ?&
hand. He shook his head slowly. Reaching
into an inner pocket he drew forth
j a letter addressed to a 3mall town in 5Ff
; Iowa; slowly he read: ?j(y
"Dear Tom: I been haukerin' to see fElt
j >e an' the old home agin. I'll be com- SlTi
in' f?r Christmas. Tcr brother Tim."
lie tore the letter into bits. "He's
worth it," he said. "The lad will be fii/Jj
home fer Christmas." ^53"
Old Tim smiled happily as he trndged
back to camp.
? Wsatsrn Newsi>?per Union. >rS
\UGA DEMOCRAT?EVERY TJ
JN COLLECTS SEA BC
MORE THAN MILE
ashuigfbn. A new guii brings gat
i from the ocean depths a record \
(io earth of millions of years ago t ?.i
exhibited yesterday by the Car- : at
e Institution of Washington. i set
sown as a '"core sampler,'* it pro- po\
s scientists with a tool for study- rifl
sediments on ocean bottoms. - the
h occupy nearly three quarters i:
he earth's surface. These sedi-1 of
ts arc known to be different from , wa
e found 0:1 dry land, being parti- ' be
rly high in radium content. j I
le gun consists essentially of a j fro
y steel weight which also serves j Ho
breech. From this a 10-foot long | 0~-\
is fired into the ocean bottom j sai
n the instruments reaches it. | oik
tl:hf* i?J U-ith n hnr,l ufnnl ! Two
mil contains a sampler tube which ; be
It's a cheery thought a>
and at the same
thank you for
tronage duri
past vea
MULLINS 6
Your Indcpcndci
If
I
I jawy
1i
f
? ^
f ?
t
1
The Season's
t
BEST
?
^ to You
?
?
j In this season
rwhen joy preva
out, may we a
^ wishes to the n
f for a
2 Mprrv (""Viv
? J ?,
t
? REINS-STUR1
? The Funeral
*
?
:J U RSDAY?BOONE, N. C.
>TTOM SEDIMENT
BELOW SURFACE
hers and retains the sediment.
Vhen tiie weight strikes the hot1
after being lowered from a shij
the end of a long cable the shock
s off a charge of high-explosive
vder in the same manner that ?
e is fired. The explosion drivei
bit direct.y downward, the deptl
reaches depending on the auiouti!
powder used and the depth of th?.
tor. When necessary t)ie hit cat
driven through solid stone.
Jsed experimentally last summei
:a the ship Atlantic of the Wood*
'.o Oceangraphic Institution, the
ice successfully brought, bacl<
:ip!cs from depths up to more tliar
and one-third miles. Carnegh
tituiion scientists believe it car
used even at depths of six miles.
111 , |
id a sincere wish,
time lei us
your pang
the
r
i CLAY
it Grocers
I
The Same The
World
Around
where in the world is
leant more sincerely
than it is here.
accept our wishes for
Merriest Christmas
that you have
ever spent.
:ITY MEAT
MARKET
HPswi*
of seasons, J&
tils through- ff/jS
dd our best
lany others ftK
istmas
DIVANT M
Home C?'
! One sample of the ocean bottom!
j 250 mites off the New Jersey coast!
( and 7200 feet below the surface show11
ed the area was once a section of the
eastern coast line beach. This beach
is now covered to a depth of several
v feet by typical ocean sediment, a
. t
l 1
5
: L
j
'j
JINGLE BELLS,
\ ,.r5?.K
vvv >viou i uu a 1 *.?
Christmas with all
may it be just
more tc
New River Ligl
' ??
!
WHILE WE'RI
SUBJEi
We just wanted to ex)
most sincere appi
your good will a:
age, and to
for yoi
an
old-tin
MERRY CHR
'
I
Boone Drug C
The REXAL.I
?W/AWAVWVWAVW.VW
| Annoui
We are mighty glad to annc
S association that, with the an
I' sury, the amount due from ?
I? members and the members
5 do not find it necessary to m
the beginning of the April
April 1st, 1936. If you ha\
! have this protection for the
5 their membership fee will p:
or almost four months' ore
5 fee alone.
j! Your Association has grown
;I and our goal is 15,000 memb
j! uary 1st, 1936. Can we coi
|! ber to make this our dream
;! protection to the families oi
; I you know need it?
? Yours for a bigger and be
j MADGE L. STUR1
|ji Reins-Si tircli
ij; Assoc
VVWWWVWVVW^UWW^VWV'
DECEMBER 26, 1935
probable accumulation of millions of
years.
The pioneer spirit is not yet dead
in New England. Sixty-five co-eds are
out for tho rifle team at the University
of Vermont.
,?<* i
M.
j
JINGLE BELLS
nl old-fashioned Merry
the trimmin's and
. one of many
> come.
it & Power Co.
?
p
I ON THE jjjj
Jress to you our
"cciation for
nci patron- . ??*'
ISTMAS j$||
Ml*
Company
, STORE
WWUWWVWWWWUWWWWW.'y
icement
mnco to the members of our jl
lount of money in your trea- j!
i small number of delinquent ;!
hip fees coming in, that we ;!
ake another call on you until
quarter, due and payable ;!
re a friend you think should "I
ir family we might say that jj
ly them up to April 1st, 1936, j|
itection for the membership jj
to mAro tVion 1/1 Ann *C
?uuu il,uuu SllUIlg,
ers in good standing by Jan- !|
int on each and every mem- !j
come true, and to help give ![
! those of your friends that !|
tter Association,
)1VANT, Secretary Ij
ivarit Burial
iation i;
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