Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Dec. 23, 1976, edition 1 / Page 4
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An original story of The Nativity - By Gene Alexander And there were shepherds abiding Alexander o< Kinga Monntain, he Is a gradoale of WeateraChraUna Vnlveralty. He la married to the former Kathy WUaoB. -oOo- Wa had Just flnlahad our evening meal and aa we aat about tlw flra a chilly braese swept through our camp. We pulled our aheq>akln coats tlghUr about our bodiss and moved closer to the flie. Indeed, the stars were brighUy twinkling across the Week expenBe and the naoon's brilliance lUumlnated the hUla where our aheep stood grastaig. Havlngr been chosen to keep the first watch, I reluctantly left the warmth of the fire and walked amid the aheep. The f mntlc bleating of one of the flock dlatuibed the night and I rushed to the top of the hill. Immediately I perceived a bear attacking a ymmg lamb. In a flurry I rushed down the rocl^ slope and In my haste I tripped and fell headlong. I came to an abrupt atop when my head crashed Into a boulder. After a few seconds I righted myself, leaning heavily against the boulder. A dull, throbbing pain shot through my head and I raised my hand to touch the wound. I had to withdraw the hand because the touch only made the pain more Intense. I edged around the boulder, clinging to It to aid my balance. My vision waa somewhat Idurred; however, I soon realised my heroic effort to save the lamb was a failure. The mangled remains of the lamb lay on the bloody grass. With a psdnfUl effort, I lumbered iq> the hill. As I reached the crest I saw a reqrlen- dent glow. I shook my head, wiilch rolled the deep painful throb back and forth against the walla of my head. I marmged to reach the crest of the hill and with wide eyes and mouth agape, I saw an Angel In our camp. The glow of his preseiKe was like that of the sun. My comrades were frightened and I could see one had rolled Into the fire. Fiery teeth ate at his cloak and he beat at the flames savagely until the last spark was out. In a deep, yet gentle voice, the Angel qwke, saying, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great ioy which shall be for all the people; for to^ In the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who Is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped In clothes, arid lying In a manger.” Suddenly, the whole sky waa as light as a noon day. And there appeared a whole army of Angels. With one voice they sang and shouted praises to Gkxl. The singing was so loud Itset my ears to ringing. Over and over fo{gr.>nBl9<Btoial7Tepeatad, “Gtory to Ood In tbshlgheBt, and on earth pesu:e among men with whom he la pleased.” Then In the blink of an eye the Angels were gone, leaving only the fading image of their glory. The ache was gone from my head. Run ning as fast as I could I headed for our camp. As I bolted Into camp, once again my foot found a stone and I f^, knocking two of my comrades sprawling. The eldest of the shepherds helped us to our feet. I dusted my cloak and engaged In conversation with my cottvades about the Angel’s appearance and what we should do. No one wished to stay with the sheep. All wished to go to the City of David, to Bethlehem. The conversation became a fuss and we almost came to blows. However, we agreed that If Ood felt us Important enough to hear the message and see the babe, then he would take care of our aheep. Bethlehem waa a small town we rarely frequented. Shepherds were not welcomed by most people. We were lotMrs, non conformists. People often avoided with dellberateneae our lot beciuise of our crude character and rustic, odious dress. Hence, we only entered towns to sell sheep and purxhase provisions and this we did quietly. However, tonight was different. There were six of us, so we divided Into pairs. I waa paired with the eldest of the group for he had a special liking for me. Bethlehem waa composed of several small shops, two Inns and petite houses In which the people resided. The small city waa packed with pe<9le because at the census ordered by Cbeasu: Augustus. The Angel had said we would find the babe lying In a manger, so we broke Into every bam In Bethlehem. The first bam I lunged Into I felt a crushing blow to my stomach and heard, as I asdled through the door and thudded to the hard dirt street, the proverbial "hee-haw” at an Irate donkey. FYom the house adjacent to the bam came a light and the figure of a man of huge proportion. With great elocution he berated me, then clutched the collar of my cloak and flung me some distance from his dwelling. Again, I felt the kindly hand of my alder friend on my shoulder. He laughed as hs helped me to my feet and suggested I search for the child in a leas boisterous mannor. NO sooner had those words of wisdom left the elder's mouth, I found myself entering yet another bam, one which emitted the pungent odor of animal life. I winced at the smell, one distinctly that of a camel. I could Pof^e 44 Thursday, December 23,1976 meiH^y Ohoketmao A stormy session on Christmas Eve not see the camel In the daikness. Though domestlcatod, a camel should be handled adth care. I have never tnisted any camel slnee one bit my hand two years ago. On ward Into the darkness I moved, my hands searching outward until I felt a course Mde.I turned to leave, but too late. The camel clamped teeth Into my hand, the same bitten two years before, and I felt a terrible pain Jolt my enOrs body. I tried mlghtly to free myself. The camel clung to my hand and lashed out with a kick that struck a donkey In the next stall. The donkey brayed and kicked out, laming the contents of a water trough on The entire bam was In upheaval until the ehlar of my group somehow found me and freed me from the tenacity of the camel. By way of understatement everything and everyone In Bethlehem waa either upset or awake. My fellow shepherds, all as uncouth as myself, had created havoc In barns and householda all over the city. The six of us mat at the well. We were a dlsoouragad lot as we aat down on the edge of the well. It was than the elder pointed out the stable adjacent to the Inn directly across the street. The same Idea struck each of us In- I stantly and In a flurry to reach the stable I | fouixl myself being knocked Into the well. Soaked to die akin, I climbed out and followed my comrades to the stable. Water dripped from the top of my head to my feet as I entered the stable. I found, as did my comrades, our way was barred by a man who had been atormed by our unmannerly We told this man of the Angel's visit and he graciously stepped aside, permitting us to ^iproach the manger where the new-born babe lay. The mother, who had been shaken from her sleep upon the hay by our entrance, stood beside the manger. She smiled. The babe lay sleeping, wrapped In warm linen, on the soft hay. When we ^iproached the babe awoke and reached his small hand upward. I let my finger touch the hand and the any fingers grasped my own. A feeling of Joy welled uplnslde me. Forgotten was the painful eiqierlences of the night and the eoaked clothing I wore. For the first time In my life I felt Important. For some unexplainable resMon, this small child transmitted a sensation of security to me. The Angel considered the birth of this babe as good news. In fact, the Angel had called this child Messiah. Cfould this small child possibly be our future king? I wondered what the Angel meant by Savior? Would this babe redeem us from the Roman Empire? These quesOons continued to Unger In my mind from the night I saw the babe. Tet, somehow, I knew that my future aa a human being was In someway, cmu^^l} to him. •W4 The Poet’s Corner €D 9MITH BLIZASSTHtTSWABT MSMSSSOS NORTH CASOLIMA PRSM AitOCIATION Tlw Mlrror-Htrald l> publlNwd by Obntrsi ubllMilnt Cempany, P. 0. Oraioar in. Kinst Muntain,N.C..MMi. Sininaatand adilarltioHicaa ra lecatad at M4 Soutb Piadment Ava. Phona rw- m. Sacand Claat pettaea paid at Klnsa Mauntain. . C. SIntta capy IS canta. Svbacription ratal: m.SO tarty M itata, S4.1S tlx mantbi; tl.se yaarly aut-af. The month of December has figured promlnenUy In the affairs of this state’s General Assembly. The "stormiest session In the history of the legislature,” up imtll that ttme, was held on Christmas Eve of ISM. And as Is so often the case. It was over a matter which scarcely concerned the average cltlsen of that day. At Issue was no tight over taxes, budgets, apportionment or annual sessions. Instead, It was largely an Internal fight, concerning the leglalators themselves. IMtll ISIS (and the passage of an amend ment to the U. S. OonsOtutton) the General Assembly had the right to elect the stote’s U. S. Senators. And having elected them, the legialature felt It had the right to tell those Senators how to vote on Important matters. WhaT*s your opinion? The Mirror-Herald welcomes letters from readers expressing your opinions on any subject you choose, or rebutting any editorial opinion we express. All letters must be signed by writer with address Included. Unsigned letters will not be pubUshed. Address all correspondence for this page to Reader Dialogue, Mirror-Herald, P. O. Drawer 763, Kings Mountain, N. C, 38086. The burning Issue In IBM waa an effort by Democrats In Oongress to have a vote of censure agabiet President Andrew Jackson removed from the records of the U. 8. Senate. (Jackson had been censured by that body for his acUons In trying to destroy the Bank of the United States). One of this state’s two Senators, WlUle P. Mangum, a Whig, had voted In favor of the motton, and It was weU understood that he would resign his seat rather than reverse that vote. Con sequently Whigs In the General Assembly fought bitterly to prevent his being “In structed” to do so. Fbr almost two months the legislature wrangled over the matter, accomplishing little less. On Ouistmas Eve (long past the ixsmial time of adjournment) the battle contirwed, with repeated efforts to adjourn by the Whigs being voted down. Tempers foayed, and the language. It was said, became more rancorous than ever before or since In the legtalattve chambers. Finally, the motion to Instruct the state's two Senators to vote against censure passed, by a narrow margin, and North Carolina's leading figure In Washtagton, WUlle P. Mangum was faced wltha long ride honM for his Christmas present. Also In December U, 17M, the legialature met for the first time In ttw state’s new cspitol dty of Raleigh, badly overflowing the few available Inns, taverns and private THEEMPTFBOX As CSiriatmas time comes, and Is drawing near. As wreaths are bung, to bring good cheer As we go about, our gifts to be bought. For each special person, our selection la sought. A truck for the boys, a doll for the girls. With big blue eyes, and long shiny curls A apron for Mom, a tie for my Dad, One empty box I wrap with such dread. For Ood has seen fit our drcls to be broken He came and He saw and His word has He spoken For Dad’s service on earth hare was complete His body was frail and hla mind was weak. So Ood has taken him to his heavenly home. Where now this Christmas with angels he roams. Ho win qiendChristmas this year, not with us. And our hearts are heavy, but In Ood we do trust Cn December n, 1860, a etUaens group In Wilmington wired Ooveraor John W. Bills, asking for pemUsalon to seise the mlUtary Irwtallattona, Fbrts Osawell and Johnston, which guarded the approaches to the Capo Fear River, and which were manned by the U. S. Army. These torts were “vital to their city’s Interests," the group said, and If the state refused to act, they would take matters onto their own hands. On January 6, made Impatlant by this slate’s cautious approach to hostlttty with the U. S. government, the pro-eeccesatonlst forces acted, selalng the Ughtly-maimad forts on their owTL It waa the first step taken In North Carolina down the road toward To give us the strength to hold our heads up high Because tonight Dadify wUl spend Christmas with the Christ Child, Why, my box mi really empty anymore It’s filled with love for one we adored. Merry Christmas, Daddy. (Wrtttoa bv Betty WlUtams Philips tor the family of kfe- OecU F. Wimarns) *FO<» FOB THOUOHr I climbed the highest mountain. To the utmost peak. For peace of mind and heart my soul did seek. Looking down Into the valley, upon the people. Suddenly' I saw a lonely little church yard. And above It’s stoaple. Rising higher and higher. Above the world above the peopio. I could see a Cboaa, Much higher than the steeple. Rising higher and higher, igwn It’s flight. CHvlng to the world, which slowly hadbegun to close The curtains of night. SOU glvlngout It’s wonderful light. And It waa than. I felt the true meaning from within. That God had Sent HU Only Begotten Son, Too, mve man from his sin. And this was Hla wonderful way of inviting man In. ThU time of year U so beautiful If we stop to think of loved ones We celebrate the birth of Jesus Its a ttme to be together tor fun. We have friends far away And we have friends near Lets not forget the little Babe That we hold so dear. We can share our things with Others who are not fortunate as we But don’t forget the Christ Child As we putupourtree. Our Saviour came as a tiny child To save us from our sin Soon He was preaching saylng- Tou must be bom again. Today U the ttme of Salvation Its a time of sin and war If we live as we should We’U always be ready to go. MYRTLE GOFORTH Christmas Is the ttme for believing In the extant of God’s love tor man. Even before Ho sent His gift Or before tbs world began. Christmas la the ttme for glorifying In the things we do not understand. As faithful Joseph did of yore Whan he took fohr Mary’s hand. Ctoiatmas Is the ttBM for dwelling cn Baby Jesus In a crib of hay, AltowIng tender thoughts to rest thsrs the true wonder of Christmas day. Christmas Is the time for giving light a candlo that mmaone may see The endlaaa love of Our Father who gave Hla gut to hang on a tree. the World Wrapped In Splendor the skies held their space, A glowlagetar shone on a baby’e face in Bethlehem’s stable on glorttled hay God's Holy gttt to owaddUng elolhes lay. Glory toiane’roiBid the stable aglow Placed aa angel at Ms hiad, osM at the toe The ehlas cried out, behold the view An angel wUh a heavenly Hieet Wrapped the world to a aong, A baby bom to dto to right a wrong ire about that ttoM again, but when 1
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Dec. 23, 1976, edition 1
4
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