Newspapers / Brevard News (Brevard, N.C.) / Dec. 24, 1909, edition 1 / Page 1
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ONLY NEWSPAPER IN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY J. J. MINER, OWNER AND MANAGER A. HOME r»APER FOR HOME PEOP^^E—ALL HOME PRINT VOLUME*XIV BREVAED. NORTH r.AROTJNA. 9i iqoq. NUMBER*5l w ICopyright, 1909, by American Press Asso ciation.] wwiht^HERE is the tree?” whis pered Mrs. Philander anx ious],v as her husband shook the snow from his coat and carefully wiped his feet on the brand new doormat. “Couldn’t get one,” returned Philan der moodily. “Couldn’t get one! Why not, .lames rhilanderr* f«>rgpt it, Bella, until Just as 1 got oti I be train, and as that w^s the last train from town I couldn’t very well walk back and look up a tree. By that time the sliops would ail be closed and*"— “Walk back! Such nonsense! Of course if you haven’t thought enough of the children to buy them a tree”— “My dear,” interpolated Philander desperately, “don’t say another word. I’ll find a tree somewhere tonight if 1 have to rob the church of the Sun day school tree!’’ He thrust his arms Into his overcoat and grasped his hat, but Mrs. Philan der put out a detaining hand. “James,” she said seriously, “you cannot find a tree in Rose Heights to night. You know there Is not a shop In the Heights, and where else would you look for a tree?” “1 shall w'alk into the woods and dig one,” returned Philander, with dignity. “Well, you could do that, James, but It is 11 o’clock now and there Is no moon. You will lose your way.” “Nonsense!” returned Mr, Philander. •*! hope I know my way around Rose Heights. I saw a very handsome pine tree In that strip of woods back on the Turkey hill road. I could walk there blindfolded and lay my hand upon that jtree,” he asserted rashly. “Very well,” returned Mrs. Philander reluctantly. “I hate to have you go, James, but the children will be so dls- «ippointed. The presents are all ready, and I have been up in the attic and got the base for the tree and all the ornaments—in fact, everything Is ready «xcept the tree.” “The tree will soon be here,” $ald Mr. Philander grimly as he jerked on his arctics and turned up his coat col lar. “Just bring me the spade from the woodshed, please,” he added. “A spade, James! I thought they chopped trees down. The ground Is frozen.” “Of course, the ax by all means,*' re plied Philander irritably. He was vexed with himself for having forgot*- ten to order the tree, which was one of the necessary adjuncts to the Phil ander Christmas. He had never for gotten It before. He meant to order It that morning and have It sent to his suburban home later In the day, but an Important business matter had driv en the remembrance of the festival from his mind until his wife's greeting when he opened the door recalled it to Ills attention. He sallied forth, bearing the ax, and waded through the newly fallen snow to the corner of the street, where he turned toward Turkey hill road. The snow was only six Inches deep, and the walking was not so bad. Gray clouds hung low, and there was a thick flurry of flakes as Philander turned the comer. When he reached the strip of woods it was snowing heavily, and he could only guess at the location of the particular pine he had In mind.. BESSIE. He whistled cheerily as he walked along, for his spirits were rising. He felt a warm glow stealing over his tired frame as he anticipated the de light of the three small Philanders when they beheld the selfsame tree that they had so warmly admired a short while before set up in their own parlor, ablaze with candles and rich with gifts. Mr. Philander stopped and thrashed himself vigorously with his arms. There was a faint gray ness in the air that was reflected froi^ thp fnllen snow, and there was the tickling rusjb of flakes in his eyes. When he reach ed the very opening in the woods where they had admired the tree he turned around and looked carefully up and down the road. Of course be could see nothing, nor was there the faintest tinkle of bells. It was a very lonely spot. Mr. F^hilnnder knew thnt the strip of woods was privnte and he also knew that he fonld iiiMke it all right with Mke. the owjier of rlu* woods, on the following day. as I-ake lived four miles away and it was im possible to ask his permission now. Although Mr. Philander bad stated tl^t he could put Wa han-i pn the tree in the dark, he found it rather a diflB- cult thing to do after all. He lost himself several times In the dense thickets, and all the tree trunks seem ed unfamiliar to his touch. Then, all at once, he emerged from the under brush. and spicy boughs of pine brush ed his face. “Hit It, by Jove!” he exclaimed. He dug the snow away from the trunk and with a few lusty blows laid the tree low and dragged it trailing through the snow. He lost his bearings once or twice, and finally, at a moment when he almost despaired of reaching home JACK. gleefully; ‘^e Unest we' ev^r had. How delighted the childrwi will be. 1 am sorry, though, you are so tired, dear.” “Oh. I’m all right now, Bella,” said Philander cheerfully. “I was worried after I found that 1 had forgotten the tree, but I closed out that deal with Weils today, and 1 was busy every mo ment.” “How lovely that you got the con tract, James!” cried his wife excitedly. “That Is a fine Christmas present for you!” “You bet your life It is,” returned Philander jocosely. “Now let us get the tree ready for the kiddles. Every thing handy?” “There isn’t a^ thing for you to do, dear, save to hang them on the tree,” said his wife. leadAig the way to the lighted parlor, where the tree stood, its symmetrical branches glistening in the light and exuding a fresh balsamic odor. **By Jove, it Is the handsomest tree we ever had!” exclaimed Mr. Philan der, surveying the shapely conifer ad miringly. They were soon at work, and pres ently the beautiful tree blossomed forth in glistening festmM^ 4>f gol^ and silver tinsel. A radilant ^ star tipped the highest point, while daintily dec orated gifts burdenc»d the branches and were heaped at the base. It was with unusual satisfaction that the Philanders retired that night. They were loth to leave the resplendent tree, but utter weariness drove them to bed. It was daylight when the first de- /Ighted shriek from a small Philander awoke his tired parents. Mr. Philan der groaned dismally. He ached from head to foot, and he was sick from lack of sleep. Mrs. Philander was ^ually tired; but. with the self ab^ US: DRAGGED IT TEAIUNQ THEOUQH THE SNOW. that night, he found himself standing before his own gate. He carted the tree around to the back door, and with Mrs. Philander'a help it was taken Into the house and set up In the parlor. Mr. Philander thawed himself out In front of the kitchen stove and quaffed fragrant cofitee that his grateful wife had prepared. “It Is a ;^auty, James,” she said negation of mothers in general and mothers In particular oo Christmas morning, she got up and went down stairs to enter into the joys of the hap py children. When Mar. Philander came down stairs to breakfast the lihildren gath ered about him eagerly. “Father.” asked Jack, the eldest. “Is this the very tree we saw last Sunday when we walked along Turkey hill road? Is this the very tree?” “Who told you that. Jack?” asked Mr. Philander sliarply. “Oh, mother did. I told her I had seen it somewhere before, and she said it was that very tree.” “I fought Santy Claws bringed it!'* wailed Bessie, dragging her new doll remorselessly by its fla.^eu hair. “An’ I linkoft it came that way, too!” protested Robin indignantly. “It’s a Santa Claus tree, babies, so don’t feel bad about it. Run away and play,” said Mr. Philander reassur ingly. Then he turned to Jack. “Yes, it’s the very same tree, my boy,” he said proudly. “It doesn’t look like it, father,” said Jack bluntly. “Doesn’t, eh? What’s the matter with it?” “Oh, nothing. It’s fine, but It isn’t the tree we saw,” insisted the boy ob stinately. “Never mind, never mind,” returned Mr. Philander good uaturedly. He sought his wife, who was helping ^Jorah with the breakfast. “Our tree was a great success, my dear,” he said genially. “It is beautiful,” replied Mrs. Philan der happily. “The children are so de lighted.” “Well, I’m glad of that. I was tell ing Taylor yesterday morning going down on the train that Christmas was not Christmas without a tree, and he said that it wouldn’t be Christmas at their house, then, for they were not going to have one.” “How strange!” uttered Mrs. Philan der. “Why not, pray?” “Oh, I don’t know. He said some thing about hard times. He said the good, old fashioned Christmas suited them well enough; that they would hang their stockings before the fire and all that, you know.” “Dear, dear! I think the children prefer a tree just the same.” said Mrs. Philander regretfully. “Poor little Tom my Taylor! We must Invite him over to see the children*® tree thla.after noon.” . * . ' “Yes. indeed, that will be an excel lent plan. Suppose we Invite a few people to spend the evening and enjoy the tree with us. We can put on some small remembrances and have a jolly time,” said Philander, warming up to the subject as he proceeded. “That will be delightful,” agreed Mrs. Philander. “Let us ask the Tay lors.” “Sure, we’ll ask them!” chuckled Philander. “I’ll show Taylor the way to keep Christmas.” That afternoon Mrs. Philander busied herself in preparing for the evening’s entertainment. The Taylors had ac cepted gladly, and so had the other In vited guests, and Mr. Philander, who was the soul of hospitality, walked about and rubbed his hands with pleas ant anticipation. 'He made sundry trips to the cellar for apples and cider and cracked great bowls of nuts. He Carried In huge arm loads of wood for the fireplace and surveyed the roaring blaze.with com placent satisfaction. It was at that moment that Jack Philander burst noisily in. “Oh, fa ther, what do you think”— he began breathlessly. “Well, my boy* what Is It now?” ask ed Mr. Philander Indulgently as he warmed his coattails comfortably. “I heard Mr. Taylor telling some men that somebody chopped down the tree from his front lawn last night!” “What tree?” asked* Mr. Philander absently. “Why, that tree—you know, the Nor way pine that stood on their front lawn!” “What a pity!** exclaimed Mrs. Phi lander. “Mrs. Taylor told me It was the pride of her husband's heart” “How did It happen, JackV' asked Philander, with interest “Mr. Taylor said his wife heard some one chopping about half past 11 last night but she didn’t think anything of it and this morning they found the tree was gone—only the stump left” “That's very strange,” observed Mr. Philander.^ “Hard luck for Taylor.” “And, father,” continued Jack ear nestly, “I was In the woods on Turkey hill road today and that little tree we saw last Sunday is there yet. You didn't cut it down. I knew that one wasn’t it!” Mr. Philander paled slightly. “Why, father.” pursued the terrible Jack with a directness bom of sudden revelation, “this is Mr. Taylor's tree! I knew I'd seen it before T' Mr. Philander shrank from their hor rified gaze. **The Triors wilj_be here in a few minutes, James,” said Mrs. Philander coMly. • “My dear, I must have got turned around in the storm, but the Lord only knows how I got in Taylor’s yard.” “It's on the other side of the woods, father.” said Jack sympathetically, “and I guess you walked right through and into Mr. Taylor’s yard.” “I must have done that,” groaned Mr. Philander. Then with sudden In spiration he stripped the tree of Its ornaments and candles and carried it through the house into the back yard. He scratched a match, and in five min utes the Philander Christmas tree was a charred min. “Too bad, old chap,” said Taylor commiserativeiy as Philander agi tatedly explained the absence of the tree. “That's one reason why I don’t believe in Christmas trees. They are apt to take fire, and there you are. I am glad it happened before we ar rived!” “So am I,” ejaculated Mr. Philander. But all the little Philanders agree that it was the most beautiful Christ mas tree they ever had. Connty Government*. Representative—G. W. Wilson.' Clerk Superior Court—^T. T. Loftis. Sheriff and Tax Collector—C. C. Kilpa^ rick. Treasurer—Z. W. Nicholls. Register of Deeds—B. A. Gillespie. Coroner—Dr. W. J. Wallis. Surveyor—A. L. Hardin. Commissioners—^W. M. Henry, Ch’n; G T, Lyday; W. E. Galloway. Superintendent of Schools—T. C. Hen derson. Physician—Dr. Goode Cheatham. Attorney—Gash & Galloway. Tom^ Govanunent*. ________ Mayor-^W. E. Breese, jr. " Board of Aldermen—T. H. Shipman. J, M. Kilpatrick, T. M. Mitchell, A. H. King, E. W. Carter. Marshal—J. A. Galloway. Clerk and Tax Collector—T. H. Gallo way. Treasurer—T. H. Shipman. Health Officer—Dr. C. W. Hunt. Attorney—W. W. Zachary. Regular meetings—First Monday night in each month. Profes^onal Cards. H. G. BAILEY Civil and Consulting Engineer and Surveyor McMInn Block BREVARD, N. C. Patronize those who Advertise W. B. DUCKWORTH, ’ ATTO RN EY-AT-L A W. Rooms'l and 2, Pickelsimer Building’, GASH (S^ GALLOWAY LAWYERS. Will practice in all the courts. Rooms 9 and 10, McMinn Block. Patronize those who Advertise £. F. GILLESPIE CONTRACTING PAINTER Estimates furnished and contracts solicited for Painting in ail Branciies. Kalsomining, Floor Stain, Vamish, etc. Shop in rear Post Office, BREVARD, N. C Notice. All parties owing Town Taxes are hereby notified to come and pay same at once. The town owes by interest on bonds and bills payable more than $2,000^ whi^h must be settled at once. T. H. GALLOWAY, T. C.
Brevard News (Brevard, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 24, 1909, edition 1
1
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