Quito a few years back, In the
first grade at New Bern’s Cen
tral school, a little boy told the
teacher he was sure that God and
Santa Claus are brothers.
Such a mistake in Identity Is
somewhat understandable, and
certainly not as ridiculous as
would appear at first glance.
All of us must agree that the
jolly old gentleman in the bright
red garb exemplifies a spirit of
giving and sharing, and compas
sion for humanity, that one
might expect to encounter In
heaven.
For our part, we’re convinc
ed St. Nicholas, Kris Krlngle,
or whatever you choose to call
him, has survived through the
centuries becaii.se God willed it.
Christmas is a sacred lime,
the season of Bethlehem’s Babe
but we’ll never subscribe to
the theory that Santa Claus des
ecrates this .sacrediiess.
Je.siis, grown to manhtHid’s
estate, made His love for lit
tle cliildren abundantly clear,
and reminded those around Him
that “of .such is the kingdom oi
heaven.*’ Surely, childhoixl’s
patron saint. making his rounds
on Christmas eve, is doing
nothing that would bring disap
proval from paradise on high.
Once each year, in the midst
of mLstletoe and holly and lights
on a tin.seled tree, mort:ils not
only get Christmas in tlieir
bones but Christmas in their
hearts. It brings about genero
sity far beyond our usual pat
tern of behavior, an awareness
of brotherhood, and a remark
able measiu-e of tolerance.
In varying degrees, at other
times of the year, we are self
ish and thoughtless and down
right rude to our fellow man.
Not so at Christmas. Hating
your enemies Is harder to do,
and In the secrecy of ymr own
soul you feel a.shamed of that
latred.
Stars .shinebrifdiler,remind
ing yiu of the brlghte.st star of
iUl on a Holy night :iimi>si
two thoiKsand years ago. The
laughter of children is as clear
as a bell on the frosty ;dr,
and the mii-sic of Christmas to
human ears sounds as sweet as
an imgel choir.
No longer Is home a place to
get away from. Family lies
suddenly become more mean
ingful. Lamplight glowing
throiifdi a familiar window is a
welcome .si(dit when you return
from labor, and your pace
quickens as you take the final
steps that will bring you to the
fireside where loved ones wait.
Faith is stronger atChri.sl-
mas. The small fry In your
household have more faith than
anybody else, for theirs is a dual
shlrne. With almost the same
breath they sing “Away In a
Manger’’ and “Santa Claus is
Coming To Town.’’ What they
sing of, they believe In.
As for us olcLsters, we are
blessed with renewed faith too.
We may not attend church any
oftener, or even kneel In pray
er at home, but we’re grate
ful fur the goodness of God.
Silently, in the hallways of our
heart, we sing our praises to
a kindly Creator who is respon
sible for all that Is near and
dear to us.
If we don’t frequent a place
of worship, as we should. It’s
Inevitable that we will ctmie
face to face with religious ser
vices on our television screens.
(Continued on Page 8}
The NEW BERN
PUBLItHBD WIIKLV
J\^ IN THI HBART OP
NORTH
VOLUME 11
NEW BERN, N. C„ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1968
NUMBER 37
PLAYING POSSUM—Wide awake Beth Gillikin, year
old daughter of Betty and Lester Gillikin of Bridge-
ton, fools no one when she pretends to be napping.
Could it be that Beth is practicing her act for a sleep
less Christinas Eve, when all good little boys and girls
are supposed to be deep in slumber? Legend has it
that Santa Claus never leaves toys for kids who don’t
cooperate with the Sand Man, but there’s less than
J ■ .
* .J
no chance that Beth will be disappointed just be
cause of temporary insomnia. All youngsters won’t be
as fortimate, but you can do something about that.
Lend Kns Kringle a helping hand, and brighten your
own Yuletide by keeping alive the faith of a child
who might not be remembered.—Photo by Eunice
Wray. '