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» Mrs. Santa Claus -- elry store -added two new de- partments we never had carried before, One was a top counter, where a selection of movie dolls was featured, The other--an op tical department--catered to the trade 'who could not afford glass. es unless they could arrange to pay for them on credit. ~ Visiting the shop the night be fore Christmas, I watched a tiny little girl , ,,. I'm sure she couldn't have been more than six « «+ » standing before the already sadly depleted doll counter. Her eyes were big as she looked up at the one doll still unsold, and there was a child's longing in them as she tugged at the tate. tered overall jacket of her father, busy talking to the optometrist. "Daddy," she called, her voice shrill with excitement, "look! Isn't it the darlingest thing? Do you think Santa will bring it to me?" . LJ LJ] The man's tired face turned toward her, and a hurt expression flushed across it settling hope- lessly in the gray eyes. * 'Fraid not, Mary," he answered. "I saw Santa in a store down the street a while ago, and he said that "e'd be about out of everything by the time he reached our house. i . . Reckon he might have some { sweets, or maybe a rag doll N : though, And he's promised for il. -sure to bring those glasses." "Oh!" Tears were in her eyes,® af : but she fought them back bravae ~ ro : ly, and her worn coat sleeve away, "Come on, Mary," the optome- trist called, taking the little girl by the hand. : * * . '] \ The optometrist turned to the father, "I'll make a special effort to finish them tonight," he said. He was back soon, a slip in his hand. © "I've fixed it with the management, A dollar now, and a dollar a month until the balance of five dollars is paid." ar BESTT og PY returned for a final rd 'Nook at the toy. "Don't you think, Daddy, that the glasses could come as a birthday present, and « «+ oh, I did want a doll so badly! But... but I won't cry." * * * -- Zinc 6 Her father hadn't heard. He was busy feeling in his pockets for the dollar needed for the down paymert. He found a lean wallet, and from it pulled a quar- ter and seven dimes. He counted them over twice, a scared look on his face, then began a renew- ed sedith. Triumphantly, he finally produced, an eighth dime," and handed the silver to the op- tometrist. 3 As the man in overalls and his elfin daughter started toward the door, the girl behind the doll counter looked at the optometrist, then at me, a tear in her eyes Then she ran after the pair. "Wait a moment -- isn't your name Mary?" she asked. "Uh-huh?" the little' girl an. swered, bewildered. ' . "Then 1 guess Santa meant you, He was here just a few minutes ago, and said he had a doll for a little girl named Mary, but he was afraid he wouldn't have the time to deliver it. Then he remembered that the little girl's father said he was coming here, so he asked me if I'd keep tre doll and give it to you. That's it, up on the counter. Take it and run away, because I'm so . LI] Shyly, Mary reached up for the proffered. treasure, and hug- ged it close. 4 * Mary was speechless while her benefactor busied herself behind the counter. Suddenly the girl "felt'a tug at her skirt, and Mary was at her side, looking up at her. "I believe . you're. Mrs, Santa Claus," the child whispered, awe in her voice, As the door closed behind. the air, the girl took her purse from er bag and looked inside, 'Mrs. Santa Claus, indeed!" I heard her mutter, "Lucky for Wa _ me this is pay day, or Mrs, Santa wouldn't eat tomorrow." A Wt * 3 L Last. Christmas our local jews - wiped the last trace of them . __busy I haven't time to talk," -- --. If You Are Born On Christmas Day There is a Scottish belief that to be born on Christmas is to have the power to see spirits and even to command them. Sir Wal. ter Scott says that the Spaniards attributed the haggard and down. cast looks of Philip II to the ter- rible visions he was able to see because he was gorn on Christ. mas. +, French peasants believe that bables born on Christmas have the gift of prophecy. : In Silesia a baby born on Christmas will become either a lawyer or a thief. Ei In middle Europe it is said that if a baby is born at sermon time Christmas "Eve, someone in the house will die 'within the year, English mothers used to take sick babies to the door Christmas Eve midnight. Mary was expected the baby recovered, it was a sign that it had been touched by Christ, with healing fingers, and it it died, the Christ Child had called the bab; to be His play mate in heaven. ' CHRISTMAS ~to-pass-with the Christ Child, If ~~ Nf Christmas greetings--one and all-- Young and old, big and small. Greetings to the busy mother Loved by big and Vil brother. Greetings' to the Daddy who Finds these days so much to do. Greetings to the teacher tired, And the' children so inspired With the noise of Christmas cheer-- Grandest sound-of-all-the-yearl -- cco. And lots to eat and lots of funl But... ; Where there is a saddened heart, Yes--greetings to you everyone-- Where the tears are quick to start; Where a mother hides her grief Knowing tears: are scant relief. Where an ear is tuned to hear Rumblings of unspoken fear; Where a father, proud and tense, Carries on, despite suspense, Where a chair must vacant be Since 'Our Tom" put out to sea; Or else a boy in khaki clad-- Perchance again an airforce lad-- Where such things be--oh take my hand, And let me say--*1 understand!" A Day will come--we know not when But come it must. And then--yes then-- _The bells will ring with clarion call | Good Will on Earth and Peace to all, . , "Til that time comes our way is clear-- At Christmas and throughout the year; To work; to cheer; to give our aid-- Tireless; boundless; unafraid! Then let us celebrate this Day-- This Christmas--in the good old way. And at the end--O let us pray-- ' "Bring Peace, dear Lord, NEXT Christmas 'ys Day." Peace on Earth Good-TUill to flew I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet ' The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There.is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, ! And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then peeled the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead; nor doth He sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." Longfellow "Christmas Bells" Some Traditions "Of Christmas Day \ 3 - a i iY fr hy IN tion for the entry of good luck iA! into the home. fh As a receptacle for a Claus' gifts, the stocking with [ts fin obvious roomy advantages de- in veloped from the shoe used by ks the Kuropean child and placed on ye the hearth, signifying the owner hy was in bed. In Germany and i} Scandinavia--the--children--usually i search for their toy. which are | T . * hidden away in unexpected places, i> while in many districts of Spain ih and Italy gifts are distributed to jx the children at elaborate atreet Ee festivals. A. "> The tradition of Santa Claus riding in a sleigh drawn by rein- (2 deer is said to have originated In N Holland where St. Nicholas was supposed to make his rounds on Wooden's (god of the elements and harvest) horse. His chimfey- sliding propensities may be traced to the old English custom of cleaning "the chimneys at the be- ginning of the year_in prepara- At The Opera" ---- Betty Price dabbed a spot of rouge 'on each cheek, touched the places lightly for a natural effect, then dipped in the perfume bottle and rubbed the back of her small ears. Tilting back the blurred mirror, she surveyed herself critically, The effect seemed entirely satis factory. Betty sighed ecstatically, "I look like a million dollars," she breathed. "I--I can almost con- vince myself that IT am a great lady tonight." . . . \ Carefully her silver-slippered feet descended the narrow stairs. She must get away as quickly as possible. What would the unroms antic Mr. and Mra. James Barstow say if they saw the' Cinderella of their kitchen arrayed in garments like these? Betty chuckled at the' thought. They would think she had gono crazy if they found out that she had spent a whole month's salary. to rent the things she was wearing, and to buy a ticket for the opera, "But they never will find out," she told herself, as she carefully closed the back door be- hind her. At the corner, she waited for a cab. On the way down, she heard the volce of Christmas everywhere. She saw its symbols in shop win. dows; In arches of green and red strung across the streets. She told herself It must be the Christmas feeling in the alr that made her do this daring thing. It was utterly ridiculous to dress up llke a great lady, but one had to be different at Christmas. And life had been pretty dull-for Betty since she had to accept the work she was doing. * * . The story of the opera took her back to a medieval world. In a few moments she was completely lost in {ts atmosphere, so much so that she fafled to notice that the man seated at her right was sending admiring glances In her direction. When the curtain went up, he lean: ed over and spoke: "I love this," he sald simply. "I do, too," Betty answered, with a little cateh In her volce. It seem- ed incredible that he was speaking to her. He was really acting as 1 she belonged. By the time the cur- tain went up again they were call ing cach other Prince and Prin. cess: taking the names of the two leading characters on the stage. * » *- As the great drama moved to [ts close Betty tried to hurry away. She didn't want her Prince to find out what an impostor she was. But he had taken hold of her arm. "Couldn't we go and have some coffee?" he suggested. "I know I'm a stranger to you, but--but, it's Christmas--and--" "] should say 'no',"" Betty told herself. "I should even tell him the truth about myself." Instead, she accompanied-hiin to the coffee shop across the street, Sho couldn't deny herself this one hour of hap- piness. After it was over, well-- Betty would not let her thoughts go further. She almost forgot that she was playing a part as they sat together. They seemed to have so much in common, He had read widely--the type of hooks she liked; he took an interest fn so many things she liked; seemed to be as romantle and visionary as herself. But he spoke no word to indicate that he wanted to see her again. * * . Gloom enveloped the world for Betty next morning. As if to add to her humiliation and misery, a clogged-up drain was sending oosy brown water back Info the: sink. Her feet dragged across the floor as she answered the plumber's: knock. Then the world spun dizaily around her for a moment. A rush of joy, of wonder, lifted her heart. Her Prince was standing in the - doorway, his evening clothes res placed by clean blue overalls, his good-looking face wtinkled in be- wilderment, "I--I thought you were--" he stammered. "And I--I thought you were--* Belty gasped in answer. - When explanations were over, a make-believe Prince and Princess were wondering if Christmas wasn't the very micest time for a . wedding ceremony. The Chinese Pay Bills At Christmas Although their usually elabor. ate holiday feasts are somewhat simpler these days, the Chinese still exchange gifts. In fact, the soldiers thereabouts found gifé- ving is a national weakness. . And every Chinese tries to pay all his bills at Christmas time, 80 he may bégin the New Year debtless, if penniless. Christmas celebratl, ns ATO DATs tleularly widespread in Chung king, the capital, for General Chiang Kai-shek is a Methodist and a large percentage of the Chinese are Christians. Soldiers In India will have an English Christmas in semi-trop- ical surroundings. Most of the Christian population is English and there are Christmas trees, church services, nativity page- ants afid huge Christmas dinners ~--just like home. : December {is ----O derived from "'decem," meaning ten. In the old Roman calendar the year began in March and December was the tenth month, . Y Charms Are Lost vian myth, . Ing under the mistletoe. When Berries Gone In the language of flowers, Mistletoe means "give me a kiss." This has its basis in a Scandina. And from this old ' tale we derive our custom of kiss. As it hangs upon the chande. lier or in the doorway, each lad may claim a kiss from the mald who chances beneath it with this provision: that the lad remove a berry to give the maid, until, at last, when no berries are left, the bough loses its spell and mo more kisses are then available, The story continues "that the maiden who receives no kisses under the mistletoe will not marry that year,"