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sv THE. DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE fg | [FRIDAY; DECEMBER 24, 1948 HOW DOES A MAN FACE CHRISTMAS BROKE A a Duta RN a aha i to all our friends . It seems odd that you should eéome along and ask me about Smitty Higgins, Mr. Keane. I was Just. thinking about him, before you came. 'I always do, at this time of year. I remember well the first night I really came to know ; Smitty. Soft white petals of ) |" Wers, la. sopping' esrthward 45 I walked along Meple street to- a 'home. It was almost Christ- (4% ; 'mas and you could feel the Yule- ! tide spirit in the air. Near the cor- & mer of Maple and Shuter a small as "group of children were filling the gir with their carols. I felt good a way down inside, when I thought of } 4%'. the 'tree in our own home; with its elaporate decorations of lights, green and silver tinsel. Susie would i .have a warm dinner waiting, and 'my own kid Jimmy would be sprawl- ed out on the living-room floor 4 the comics. ! Nearing the centre of the block, just a few yards from the church, "¥thought I saw a small form - # huddled on the big, stone steps. Coming closer I could see a small "4. boy of about twelve years. His .head was resting on his arms and he was sobbing aloud. ¥ patted him on the shoulder, and when he looked up, I discovered it was Smitty Higgins, son of the town drunkard. "Why Smitty, what is the mat- ter?" I asked, "are you sick?" "4 ¢ "Leave me alone," came the muf- . fled reply, as he bent his head in J, "Mis arms. .+*"Look son, this is no way to be," I "ventured. "Are your parents {7.3 i ¢ . . "fighting again?" : *No." ; . '% 4ngell maybe you have lost some- thing," I.suggested. first time they h:. ever had a Christmas tree. He opened the door to hear the loud sobs of his mother, coming from the bedroom. One glance told the story. His father was ly- ing prostrate on the kitche- couth, head bent. to one side and emitting loud wheesing gasps,-that rent the kitchen air with alcohol. The once beautiful tree, still stood by the kitchen wondow, still | bare; and now, seemingly the ugly thing it really was. Smitty ran into the bedroom to his mother. As she felt his small cold hand on her forehead, she opened her red and swollen eyes. "Oh Smitty, Smitty," she sobbed. "I did try so hard, but it's no use. We'll never have Christmas in this house." The boy looked into his mother's eyes and tried hard to stifle the lump, that persisted in trying to choke him. Tears were tugging at th- corners of his eyes, but he man- aged to hold on. "It's all right mom," he said consolingly, "it won't always be like this." He looked through the doorway to the kitchen, at his father lying in a drunken stupor and a feeling of hatred be- gan to swell in him. "Look mom," he mustered, trying to be manly, "I'll get a job deliv- ering with my bike, and we'll get some more money." x "It's no use Smitty. Hell only take your money and drink again." His mother looked out on the fresh fallen snow. In the. sky a star shone brightly. "Oh God, please help us this once, just this once." The tousled-hair boy pulled away from his mother, and stamped out into the Nien, slamming the door "Please Mr. Rawson, you're an | pening awful nice guy, but can't you leave me alone?" His crying. had ceased, and he was_ looking annoyed at me. "Come over to Joe's," 1 invited. "You need a friend, that's plain to see, 'We'll talk this thing over,"man 'J to man." wv. He: the offer without a word, and slowly followed me across to Joe's Donut Shop. Inside the steamed windows, it was warm, and the fragrance of warm coffee met .. you at the door. Joe lent a real , touch of St. Nick, standing behind the counter, his red cheeks glisten- ing and his fat, chubby hands crossed over his huge, protruding midsection. "Two cofféé and toast Joe, and give Snlitty some bacon and eggs." Well, Mr. Keane, you should have seen that kid eat. He never once looked up until he had devoured the last crust and scraped the plate |' with his knife. You may wonder why I even bothered with the kid. He was dirty and unkempt, but be- cause the look 'in his eyes touched me, in a way I have never forgot- ten. To get on with the story, Smitty soon spilled the whole thing. It seems his mother; had saved a little money to buy Christmas presents and candy. for Smitty and his kid sister. She had hidden the money under the edge of the sofa, and somehow the old man had found it. The rest is repeated history. I never met the old man, but the stories about him were thick. This was the first time the mother had ever had a cent to give her child- ren any kind of a Christmas at all. She and the two kids were look- ing forward to it, ahd eager with anticipation. Poor Smitty had nev- er had any pleasure at Christmas. His family were always poor and on relief, most of the time. That day I found Smitty, he had hurried home from school to help his 'mother decorate the scraggily little tree, she had picked up for a few cents at a downtown lot. Smit- ty was primed with excitement as he reached the door of their small unpainted cottage. This was the He had gone down the street and was sitting on the church steps, when I found him. There were ten days before Christmas; and I of- fered to help him get a job. I phoned Mooney's drug store down the street. After a lengthy argu- ment, I got him his job. He seemed to do all right there, bacause a few nights later, I drop- ped in to see how he was getting along. He was busy opening car- tons and putting packages on the shelves. I had never seen him so clean: his hair was combed and he was wearing, what must have been his best © "it. a goes the battle?" I inquir- The boy looked up and smiled. "Just fine." He came over and whis- pered, "gee, Mr. Mooney is a peach. - We're going to have Christmas af- | Satta' ter all, Thanks to you." ~ {to Smitty's house. Its' almost I felt embarrassed. "That boy is a willing worker, Rawson," said Mooney, as he watch- ed Smitty bent at his work. "If it hadn't been you wha called, I nv iy er would have considered him." Mooney was satisfied, Smitty was || satisfied and so was I. ' It was two nights before Christe mas, that the door bell rang abput midnight. Grabbing my dressing gown, I hurried downstairs, feeling it was trouble of some sort. ume snd get over "Where Smart Young I opened the deor, and there|-- stood Smitty, his left hand bleeds ing badly; a trickle of blood Tunsf: ning from under his left ear. He actually looked worse than he was.{ Susie got warm water, bandages) and soon had him fixed. Seems like his old man was after his money; The boy grappled and]. the' mother intervened. The qld} - man threw a plate at his wife's head. It missed, and caught the kid on the side of the neck. His dad grabbed him and heaved him' ap against the kitchen door. Smitfy went down in a heap with his dad clawing at the side of his face. And then the old man passed out. I drove him home. but he would not let me go in; because his fath- er would start another row. Well Mr. Keene, there isn't much left. Smitty got candy and fruit. They decorated the tree and had a good time. Believe it or not. the old men lef on Christmas morning and they have never heard of him since. We invited them over to dinner that night, and you should have seen the faces on those kids. They ate and ate. Mrs. Higgins had a good cry and then we 'were all happy. I think they were the hap- piest family in the world that night. "They didn't seem to be the least worried about going home to a fatherlesgs house. In the years that followed, Smitty worked hard. He bought a share in a store, and then took it over him- self. He sent his kid sister through for a nurse, and today is a happy and prosperous married man, The mother died about ten years ago; tuberculosis, I think. Well anyway, Mr. Keene, that Smitty and I have a lot of fun, I get a big kick out of working with a young fellow. Our fun comes at Christmas. Every year we pack boxe es for the needy. For kids in homes like Smitty was brought up in. On Christmas eve. Smitty and I'go out and deliver them. All of which re- minds me, I'll have to get into my 337 SIMCOE ST. S. The shining sor of Bethlehem i symbolic Ja of the joy in our hearts which we want Mond EE say "Merry Christmes™. H. & K. HARDWARE - ' . PHONE 826 vey to you our message of a § Christmas and Happy New Year. and best wishes for a happy holiday season. eilmon» Wonen Shop" TSMR ILI a Dre pV Collacutt Coach Lines Es SE * Ring out, oh bells, ring out our Yuletide wishes to one ond all. May the joy and peace of " Holiday be with our friends alwoys. ISOBELLS || COLVIN ELECTRIC BEAUTY SALON 43 Colborne E. - Phone 5485W 339 SIMCOE SOUTH PHONE 1092 ERE DVL REX Ls PASO EIA Be We wish you every Christmas joy . . . and may '49 be a glad New Year for you! _--_--_