Newspapers / The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, … / Dec. 22, 1927, edition 1 / Page 1
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% The Alamance gleaner VOT Till f " **? " * ' ? * ? " ? -4 - -4 ' ' ~ "? '? ?*? i.'Ji'Fi'i .. w -- VU GRAHAM, N, C., THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 1927. < NO. 47. ?? 1 ? j ?????i i p^??>, a U? ??* HOSE/okshedn wnsbda JLakkl daw!" was the seiui-Sioux JEjMW greeting of the t>lump *$W%T little Scotch Canadian mother as the sunny* haired young laddie came running into the kitclieiv where already the porridge was cooled and the tea brew ing for breakfast on this, his sec ond Christmas. She caught him In her arms and tossed him high above her head. "Whose very good boy?" was what she had said, partly la the language she had learned from her husband. His nurse bad been one of those sqnaws of the picturesque type still to he seen In Manitoba. In summer they ; come, selling wild red raspberries or choke-cherries; In winter, trudging oh snowsiioes Into the village to visit their customers. Hugging the little lad to her breast, the rosy mother half sobbed as she tried to say it cheerfully, "Whose oksheda washda daw?" Even as she Wpeated the greeting, the door swung open and a sudden gust of wind swept the tine, dry snow, like biting dust, into her face. Before her stood one of these old In dian women, ap parently exhaust ed from a long Journey through j the storm. -Uksneaa ?r a s li d n daw?" she gasped, then continued In her native tongne. "Wichyenna. yon speak the lan guage of my peo ple. You speak the cry of my heart. Last night I read It In the rainbow - h u e d streamers of light from the north? W1K1Q sang 11?OKSIiren : "fix1 wrinkled old fare twisted Int" * Pained smile as she sank In a heap the kitchen Are. A bit of paper ?ottered Is the floor from her hand, "fi'a 'treat Spirit call*?It Is the end ijj ft* trail." she whispered as the "?t'e mother heat ever her. anxiously Janr.i her hands. She saw the faded 'Hi suddenly hrlcliten, then close *'li|i nly?it wu (he end ?>f the tnill. L ""ee, see." said the Itttle led. hold I op the scrap of paper which h?d fallen from tbe squaw's hand. Open ing It reverently, the Canadian wom an exclaimed. "My certe! It's an lit wind that blaws nobody guld, sure enough.' Heroksheda!" She rushed Into the living room, ?where her "oksheda weehasta" (mar ried boy) was lighting the candles on the scantily decorated Christmas tree. "Look, Robert, on Christmns L?a.v It has come. The mystery and all see I It Is the oksheda's Christmas!" she exclaimed, as she gave him tbe crumpled paper to read. Robert had been found when a baby by n band of Indians. Only the old squaw who had come to the end of the trail this Christmas morning knew the paper existed. All night long In the blinding snow storm she had trav eled on her snowshoes?traveled that she might find some one to whom she could tell the story. AH these years she had guarded the nunap. whioh she could not read, feel - Ins that In some way It w o o I d bring gcod for tnne to the ok sheda who had | seemed her very I own little white baity She had loved him so. She was afraid to show the paper to her people^ the paper site bed found hidden In his clothing. She was afraid she might lose him If they knew. Then one day he wan dered out of her oiflif nnd the M. P. had found blm hy the lake alone. No white man was found to claim lilm. The Indians were afraid to. Their white brothers would ask tliem to explain and often their white brothers did not believe. Ills foster mother loved him; but she. too. was afraid. So?she hugged the hit of paper to her heart and kept silent vigil. The M. P. took the lad home and hired an Indian nurse from the settle ment to rare for ftlm. Kvery summer the old squaw rame with her pail of red raspberries, only to grant her thanks and look furtively about her to assure herself that all was. well with the boy, then rhnokle to herself as she patted her breast where the precious paper lay. In winter she would sometimes look through the open spaces in the frost-covered win dows to see the candles on the Christ mas tree and see her oksheda dancing with Joy. Then came the wedding, and for three years she Imd not known where to find the "oksheda wechasta." The paper?ah, yes. It told who Robert was. His father had been a A (fffrrtfltmaa fragpt By AMY BARRON LEONARD hbnaFmr 1AI1 M. J art no bwrlbly gitu.' ^0al gibe J pi?, memories of bkninrss tEbat J.bsbc knsbm: < 9nb to ti)ii abb torgettnlness Ct sebereb ties tub barfceoeb paths, let me atone Jm any selfish grief, by ioyfalness 9nb smiling see. tbis Christmas Scy. She star tbat sbone, Co gnibc tbe Wise f?n an tbeir buy. second son from Devonshire, wiio hud sought his fortune in the great North west.. It told how the young wife could not stand the hardships; how the father, too, had surrendered to the storm-king's fury one Christmas Five; how he had cached his rich And under the rock that resembled the owl near the source of the river; how he had wrapped his fregfgoat about wee liobert and prayed the Great Spirit ti save Mm. "A great Christmas for us all. ft oh ert; but It is the oksheda I'm think Ing of most With the war come and the business gone, there wasn't to he much Christmas?hut now! See, lad die, the storm Is breaking; the sun Is beginning to shine. My certe! My certe!" "There, there, lassie, here comer the little shaver. Mind you don't let him In here till I go to the store again There are toys and things to be put on the tree. The way It's come to u? on Christmas, I know wc'U find the enlrf " Wlien the mows melted they mode the Journey together. This year, at usual, the oksheda with the golden curls and the oksheda wechasta with the black mustache are trimming the gorgeous tree thai stands In the hay window of the beautiful farmhouse near the riser's source. The sleigh bells Jingle merrily as the ratter stops outside with a load of little In dlan boys from the settlement, who are brought each year to share the festival of the "Oksheda's Christmas' And down by the brink of the river It the rock that resembles an owl. (g, 1517. Western Newspaper t'alqs.) Singing Christmas Carols Hie old custom of singing carols In the streets was revived In 11117. In 1018 thirty dtles cooperated. It Is expected that carols will be sung this Christmas eve on the streets. In the parks, as well as In the churrl.es, schools and public Institutions of communities. * JEf QHrwtftuw V^T# Dy Katkerine , ? Edclmarv ym&Hf' AURA WORTHLEY had 2?j! /*V passed her thirtieth blrth x?}iO day some years since, and althongh she was pos sessed of more than ordi nary good looks, coupled with a good disposition and an Inherent ability for home making, she had never bad a proposal of marriage. Once, some one had almost spoken the words Laura often thought of that wonder ful evening since?but Just as It seemed that the fateful moment bad arrived Aunt Mabel bad come seek ing her for something or another. Next day Robert Barrett bad left Lln denfield and Laura bad never heard from him since. The passing of time had eased the pain In her heart and she had man aged to go about and show a smiling face to the world, but often she felt very, very lonely. But she told her self that she had no right to think of Robert; be was probably married and settled down long before now In that far-off land where his company had sent him. But, always as Christmas ap proached she found herself thinking of him and picturing the home that might have been theirs together. Aunt Mabel had been dead two years now, . and since her death Laura bad felt very much alone In the world. In spite of many friends. But every year at Christmas time her cousin Vera, a widow of limited means, came to spend the holidays Vltb her, and always at this time she gave a party for the young people. And lest any of them might be thwarted of love and a proposal, as .she bad been, she saw to It that plenty of mistletoe was In evidence. She looked verj^ beautiful now as she welcomed her gtiests to her an ; nual party. She wan one whom years give new and added charm In recom pense for the rosy flush of youth that they steal, and as she walked to the door to answer a neyr peal of the bell, she would have attracted atten tion anywhere. Opening the heavy door she looked without A little cry sprang to her lips, for there she saw Robert Bar rett A rush of Joy, of wonder, of delight flooded her whole being. lie had come?he still loved her?else, why would he be here? Steadying herself by the doorway she bade him welcome, and as she recovered from the sudden rush of Joy at seeing blm again, her voice grew cool and composed as slie as sured herself that his coming meant nothing more than a friendly visit that even should he be still unwed, It would be some one younger, fairer than she that he would nop seek. He seemed rather III at ease, and he blundered and stammered so when he spoke, that his voice was almost drowned In the sounds of gay laugh ter and music that came from be yond. Then, suddenly, without warn ing. his arms reached out and he clasped Laura dose and she felt his kisses upon ber lips, lie was asking the question that she wanted most to bear, aod be was telling her that abe meant all the world to him. When tbey both came back to eartb he showed her the spray of mistletoe aboTe them: "It gave me the cour age I lacked long ago," be whispered. Later be told her why he had never written. Aunt Mabel bad spoken to him the evening before be left, and had told him that It would not be fair to tie Laura wltb a promise; also she had hinted of another man wbo was more favored. Tbe company bad Just brought blm back to Llndenfield. and as soon as he got In, learning that Laura waa still free, be bed come. And because It was Christmas time, anj also because tbe years that were coming held a wonderful promise for tbem. and they could afford to be gen erous, there waa no resentment In their hearts for the thing Aunt lJabel I bad tried to da gt lttt. Wsatsra MsssaisM Osmwi (piratmari B""TOr "^^5 UK EE words meaning more #jjT?U to more people than almost MfJI any other greeting or salu tntlon or phrase. Three words fraught with sig nificance. There are the happy people. rami Ilea where affection, cheer, Joy In one another, unselfishness toward one an other, lore and sympathetic under standing flourish. They know the full meaning of A MERRY CHRISTMAS. There are the almost-happy people. People Who sometimes bicker and quarrel, make speeches only half meant which sound twice as harsh. Christmas comes and tliey rouse them selves. After all. there Is happiness for them. The wires with loving sly ness make little sacrifices and buy the husbands gifts they know will be ac ceptable. The husbands rush at the last minute Into gaily decorated shops, purchasing thoae gifts they know will be accepta ble. They hare paid more atten tion of late They hare noticed what waa miss ing. what was wanted. Arriving - home a little Inte the very sound of their steps has a new crlspuexs. their voices Jorl allty and affec tion. They Jog thetn Bve A Merry Christ There are the poor families. buying whit toys they ran for their children who have the name eyes as nil chll ren. Ryes whirh see dolls' carriages, trains of cars, dolls, merhnnlral toys, books. Kyes which look deeply Into the windows of shops. Perhaps those more financially fortunate will lend them Into shops and let them realize some of their dreams. There are the charity children, chll dren who receive dinners given by charitable organisations, being photo gtophed so that those who srd 'Inde pendent may feel undisturbed by all that they possess. Children whose pictures reveal at times a little shame, a little shyness thst they must he photographed when eating a regular meal. And yet they know the meaning of Christmas, too. This, for them. Is good lack. Perhaps It can be made better. A Merry Christmas. Three words?bat synonymous with those three wot?fi are fnany others? children, children^ gny. excited, happy voices, parents with home - coming sons and daughters, gifts and generos ity. Christinas trees, appeallngly empty stockings left by the trusting on Christian Eve, eordlallty. true hu manity. A Merry Christmas. Ig l?n. VtSsa Ststwve Oal?s.y ^HOMEMADE ?^-^CHRISTMAS ^^^GAmES SNOTHEit at the ceremoni als that make home Much u likeable place at Chr1stmo> time la the making ot tie pretty, colorful candles to decorate Che table, or Oil small boxes and baskets for neighbors and friends to visum one wishes to give a little something more than a card. A cold wintry evening is Just tlx time to Indulge In this festivity, am If a neighbor or two shobld be Invltet In to help, so much the Jollier. Th bright checkered aprons on the met and make tl.em do the preparatory work, such aa cracking the note am getting the meats out whole, clioppiiu citron, squeezing lemons, cutting an gellca Into strips, and halving re< candied cherries. Meanwhile at one side-table aim the lady with the fondant?that haseofal the cream candles?stirring the confer tinner's sugar, moistening It to tin right consistency so that It will maki round soft halls, and then either dip ping It in boiling chocolate or stuff Ing It with nuts, cherries, citron. 01 bits of fig paste. It can he used t< stuff dates, tnklng the place of tin stone, the dates then being rolled It granulated sugar. Oh, there is no em to the decorative, luscious goodie that can he made from this crean foundation. To make theme candles look Ilk* Christmas, the I literal use of greet and red la ^d\laed. either In the fond ant Itself or in the trimming. A boj of coloring matter can be obtained al any grocery, the colors lielng green pink, violet and orange. Yon can put a hunch of bolly on a whin cream by cutting wee leaves of greer angelica and liny hits of candied clter rles, pressing them Into the cream be fore It harden*. A tiny green pine tree ran be cut and pressed Into the top of a cream. When thr*e pretty Christmas can diet are packed Into little cay basket* or painted tin boxes, they make the mint attractive sort of gift to send around the neighborhood to nearbt friends, or to give the Christmas caller. In addition, the fun of making them In the company of a kitchen full of family or neighbor* make* a preliminary Christmas party that I* nearly as delightful as the day Itself. (Corn* at) For Wrapping Gifts Fascinating hand-blocked papers from various lands are used as wrap pings for Christmas gifts snd In place of the usual ribbons there are thin paper ribbons In gay and festive eaten. A Christmas Stoni by Robert Steadj aNDKE SANDERSEN stroked the lean barrel of bis rifle as he sat In the window of the little shanty on bis prairie homestead. The full moon of a Christmas *Eve poured Its white light on Illimitable wastes of snow. A shaft of that same light fell through the window, gleamed along the rifle on Andre's knees, played about the great hands that fondled Its barrel. But Andre was not conscious of the moonlight, except as It served to ac centuate his lonellpesa. Across the prairie, half a mile to the southward, lay the shanty of his brother. Axel, and Ills brother's wife, Olga. A point of yellow light shone from Axel's win dow like a star on the horizon. Half a mile! Andre's rifle would carry tiro thousand yards, but It would need a rare marksman . to hit that point of light half a mile away. For exactly three years the Sander sen brothers had lived as strangers, although their homesteads adjoined each other. It was three years ago this very Christmas Eve that 'Axel ? bad brought Olga, his bride, to share ills shanty and bis life?Olga. wbo. la far-off Scandinavia, bad pledged her self to Andre! Axel bad met her at the railway station, thirty miles array, while Andre lay at borne, burn In with fever. Then, when she came, it was as Axel's wife! Andre never had asked, ami never learned, what had happened ur the little prairie town when the fr..'r balred. lonely, tired girl rushed to the arms of Axel, his brother. The three had heen playmates together, bat An dre never bad gneased that bis broth er loved ber. too. If, In that moment. Axel hud taken advantage of ber lone liness and ber delight at meeting an old friend to force his salt to Instant decision, Andre saw In their action nothing bat treachery and deceit. Never since bad he stepped on his brother's farm, and he had given Axel to understand that If either he or Olga crossed the dividing line the rifle would bark and bite to kill. Daring the short bat busy summers Andre managed to drown bis anger In work, bat In winter the pongs'of lone liness were upon him. They always were worse on moonlit nights. Then lie would sit In his window, fondling big. rifle. Especially on Christmas Eve, the anniversary of the blighting of his life, bis loneliness and rags were unbearable. Andre sighted bis rifle again, hot It was against all reason that he eo?M And a target so small, so far. Very well?he conld go to the target It was a plan that long had simmered In the back of his mind; tonight ha would put It into effect He drew am his heavy coat his cap; be drove a bright brass cartridge Into the barret and taw that there were other* in the magazine, and aet oat acrot* the snow, allent save for the crunching of his bear/ boots and the strange clamor of hit heart. <? At Bret he walked hurrledlj. M as be neared the window be reduced his pare. Silently he crept op. la Urn shadow, along the walk Three yean ago tbla rery night Presently be was at the window. Stealthily he raised his bead on HI be ronld see within. In a corner of the little room was a small spruce tree, wblcb Axel, a* doubt, had cut somewhere by the rtrer. And Axel and Olga; very h.-ip^y, It seemed, were knotting It with bit* eg colored paper. On a table, fall la An dre's sight a yellow hatred behy f clapped her hands with glee. Andre watched the scene, spell bound, for a moment; then slumped to the ground. For a long while ha lay there, oblivions.to the cold; light ing. wrestling. Then, leaving his rile on the snow, be made bis way bo tfca door, and knocked. "Why. Andre r they exctalssed, so he stood on their threshold. "Peace!" said Andre. "It h Dm Night of Peace. I bring you pasee? ? and forgiveness." The Christmas sun was sMatapt 3 when Andre retraced Ma steps acxagg the snow, to feed Ma stock. ^ itk tstr. wsstsvs we mi s ii Oassn.1 j ^
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 22, 1927, edition 1
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