Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Dec. 23, 1948, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I I MERRY CHRISTMA SO DO WE! IT HAS A MEANING ALL ITS OWN AND WHEN WE EXPRESS THESE SENTIMENTS TO YOU, PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE TRULY MINDFUL OF THE FINE FRIENDSHIPS WE HAVE ENJOYED IN THE PAST. MAY THIS CHRISTMAS BE YOUR HAPPIEST. CRAVEN FURNITURE COMPANY J. E. CRAVEN CLIFFORD CRAVEN May they be strengthened more securely by the associations of the Christmas time May the Yuletide bring you good times, and all that is the best of life. Our kindest thoughts are of you at this glod seoson of the year. BURGESS FURNITURE CO. ?m ?!i f 1 ? ' W ? * i jfr *T WILLIAM TBJnCON JTTOT day Car a ?Mk old OUrcr bMn p?uln| their house to fate wagon laadad with pin* an* "Christmas trees ehaapl" he shouted. "Christmas tr-*-?a ? two dollars. On-l-y-y two dollars. . . j He was paasfcg now, and Marge, washing the (aw dishes the and Danny had soiled at their noonday meal, wiahed she couldn't bear the sound of his shouting voice. Joe always bought old Oliver*; trees. "Old Oliver needs the money," he'd say. "And our old ear Just wouldn't take the bumps of a hunt tor a tree in the country around here." Old Oliver hesitated in front of the little house, repeating hia chant rl Marge thought she must go to door and tell him to stop. She and Joe had explained to hfan the ftrst time they'd bought a tree Just fee kind they liked. It had to be so tall and so big around. It had to be cedar with clusters of blue berries cd It Old Oliver slways had the kind of tree they wanted. Little Denny ran Into the kitchen from the front room. "Mommy, there's ol" Oliver," he said. "Mommy, he has our tree. . . Marge dried her hands and knelt to gather little Denny In her arms. "I know he has, desr," she said, making herself look at him. Since last January when the horrible car accident had taken Joe away frotn her, abe'd had difficulty In looking at Denny. Denny had Joe's rumpled dark hair, his dark eyes, the deep cleft In his chin. A sofa caught In ? Marge's throat. "Denny, dear," she ? said thickly, "we're not going to have a tree this Christmas. Daddy Isn't here to help decorate H, and besides ? Santa will coma without a Christmas tree." 'Til help decorate It," Denny said. "I did last year." Marge pressed Denny close. '1 know, dear?" she said. Poignant memories of last Christmas crowd ed her so that she couldn't talk for a moment. She could see Joe teeter ing on the ladder to put the star in the top of the tree. "I can help. Mommy. . . Denny insisted. "You could, dear, but we don't want a tree with paddy gone. Some day, dear ? oh. I hope It never comes to you ? you'll understand why Mommy didn't want a Christ mas tree!" She rose to her feet hurriedly feeling a rush of tears. "I'D get your wraps, Denny, and you can play outside In the snow for awhile." ? ? ? Shadows lengthened In the little house before it came to Marge with frightening realization that it had been all a t three hours since Den ny' d left the house. "Denny ? DENNYI" She ran out on the porch and down the steps, her slim unprotected feet and legs sinking Into the deep snow that had banked there. "DENNY?!" The echo of her voice came back to her In mocking horror across the white stillness of the little yard. A cold wind swept agaiifst her as she stood at the gate looking up and down the street and calling Denny's name. It was a horrible moment, one In which she knew she must have aged twenty years, and one in which she saw in heart wrenching clarity her unfairness to Denny in harboring a self-cen tered grief over her loss of Joe to the extent of his safety, his protec tion. his veritable happiness. A familiar wagon made the turn at the end of the street, and Marge recognized old Oliver and his load at Christmas tr?es. His chant rang out again, "Buy your Christmas tree now I On-l-y two dollars. . . Marga shrieked agatnat the wind. "Oh. don't ? please don'tl" Than she saw Denny? little brown garbed Denny sitting up in the seat by old Oliver! The wagon stopped by the fate, and old Oliver grinned aa Denny climbed down Into Marge's retdf Ing arms. "He Ukka th' ride. He. . . Marge didn't give him a chance to talk. "Do you have, our tree, Oliver?" she asked. Old Oliver, chuckled and Jumped down from the wagon "All's week rve had your tree," he said.' "Just put It in the yard," Marge told him. "Why, Denny and I couldn't do without our tree I " / REUfS-STURDIYANT FUNERAL HONE t's an ideal time to wish for you all the good things in life .We' re delighted to extend this holiday ^ greeting to all our friends. WATAUJiA HARDWARE, lie/
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 23, 1948, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75