errr NEW HAZELTON, DECEMBER 18, B. C., WEDNESD .1%, 1935 RE VREPTSS ST HSS By A. C. Livingston Member Canadian Story Tellers’ Clnb Time was when old George Gillespie thought te ask bim for Christmis din- | : serntebed in the frost. And while there were others at tt erester distance to whom he could have gone, if would have meant his asking George to loolk after his stock nd old Bill MeGovern had ved neigh horly. Onee on summer evenings there lid been the friendly trailing of Bill’s veice from aeross the river: Bill eall- ing his dog; Bill talking to. his. tired levees at the day’s end: Bill singing | off key on his way to milk the cows,” liadamp weather from the tin chimney. of Cillesple’s shack, three-quarters of a mile distant and built below the erest i of a fair sized bill, the smoke lazily stgznalled: a greeting from Bul Me- Govern, ‘Winter nights .and the fuint, Tezhts in frost ladened windows of cither home communed distantly. Tn- analyzed, yet: definite reflections of aw atmosphere. of friend liness—until that Iaw suit over a horse that Bill hought from George and that. died tou soon afterward. : old George Gillespie’ dian’ f listen for, F : ° ra 1X AI IER The Old Men’ S ; Christmas This may be a true ‘story from our own section Tae in the day Chat wasn't for Bill. “‘He| eheam. ‘Ie finished his.noxgi and returned to. the shack. . " lie: prepared brenkfnst. necoplished on jthe | nearly red hot. stove lid. The kettle sang: pleasantly." the influence of the fast wood fire. | dida’t have anyone in town who ever and peered. through the space he had ner. foroseveral days, and Bill couldn't do that any more, some ‘good men: there is tn required crust that even the spirit of Christmas fan’t permitted to penetrate. , The Spirit tried of course, but It wasn’t allowed to: not in the ease of Bill and George. It most cases _ it hovers © and gnthers strength » that makes for brotherhood. It’s potency in- crensing as hours speed to the goal of that mystic midnight “of Christmns Eve. Whole heartedly the Christian World radiates good-will., But not old Ceorge Gillespie and old Bill McGov- ern. ‘ Chrvigtin * mornths dawned clear,’ For ‘in ‘the hearts of Funny thing about Bil. MeGovern:: no sign of hin hort. yer. “Ges Wye’ ivondered if ‘Bill had gone aff toa neighbor's for a day. But net the oll sleigh-box was still in! the yard near the pomp. Bill was at home | ‘ , Old George Gillespie finished his. brew kfast, nd washed the dishes. He shaved and) slicked himself up a bit, | ime settled duwn to vend the weekly. paper, All about. Christmas. Carol slngers illustrated on the front page. . Seralls, Chrishuas stories, Christmas problems, Adjusting his ala ‘fashion- | ed SPPCR George studled a peem labor- fously 2+ Peace ‘an Rarth, Good Will Toward Men.” ‘The alarm. clock on the shelf tleked disinterestedly, Geo. finished the poem and .turmed over as: | page, - He read further and then put the. paper aside und crossed to the *Porildge, ‘bac: ‘follow ede: =, ¥ keep moy ing briskly. lie slélyh t track ne had “been in Bill's, yard, sort of sheepish. “Bill's “flow. cume come, George stopped to pat the dog. He listened outside for a moment. and then went in. . The place was cold. Jt smelled of: lin- Jbneat. RW was in bed. -He Jooked RU nt George, ut did't speak. ‘Down, sure chongh, was ~ Bill. His glance from. red swollen eyes followed George ‘ns he turned to the doar, - George went outside and came back with au armful ot wood, and kindled a. fire.- He put ‘the keftle on the stove, took down a pail,aud went outside ngain te Bills stable: fed the stock... milked. Bill's enw and, errvied the milk Inick to the house, ‘The, Kettle was humming. The, wool fire was lows: George put. frexh fuel He made Bill a steaming coneoction af ginger, sugar aad boiling water, Drinking it made Bill's -eyces water, It was hot stuff.. Then George set about making brenk fust for TAY. Phere was a determin- wd set to. his jaw, O11. Bill's face was Tis voice from over the tiver. True: still tind coli, with, plenty af‘ sitow. ‘window ain, clenving the pane® twith | an expression of eutrenty that George Till was older. His voiec had less of, penetrating quality. ive heen heard. And Bill's eves, al- theugh not -so.kenan, well might have ciught the play of curling smoke from Coorze’s chimney in wet weather. But they didn’t. In winter evenings the windows winked dim lights in strange aloofness. Sometimes the paths of Bill and Geo crossed. Usually in town. Old neigh- hars growing -old apart—they passed und didn’t speak: - Christmas :-had, been a bit tough on Rill for years. Not so tough for Geo. George had had a married daughter in |- (own, Usually he. had. spent. Christ- mais day with her-and her husband und the little family. returning at night to look after the stock. it was a break George was ap early. George’s But he could; had seut word that they were going euld-see Bill's house across the river. No sign of Bill yet. George read the]: away for this Christmas, ured the day wi “ould drag. From the chimney that Hfted from the roof of his shack the smoke shot thinly, straight aynvard inte the erisp ain, There was something - ideally Chrishnassy about the morning. Kind. of lonesane though. George went to the window and scratched some frost George ‘fig- off the pane. Aeross the frozen, snow-| piled river Rill’s place steed out clear ly in the morning sunlight. ‘Triit had not got up yet apparently, George put the kettle on the stove, dressed himself for the stable and went ant.. As he opened the stable door the contaet of eold with the warmer carsy return limit over privileges. wo . Safety - Comfort « ; .. V-65-35 are-in effect from December 4 Here is en opportunity to combine *business "with pleasure while travel is economical. Tickets Travel by Train! - _ Full Particulars from Your Nearest Canadian National Ticket Agent. to January 5. of three months, allow stop- Why not plan a holiday now to visit your friends and relatives over Christmas and New Year's? Economy! . =, "W AMATEUR: WRITERS | v1. Privileges of Menjérship i in the . “CANADIAN STORY TELLERS’ CLUB, incliding =~ a 7 - PRACTICAL, INSTRUCTION IN. - BS at CREATIVE WRITING = fat ey WS INDIVIDUAL COACHING FINITE } MARKET FOR, ACCRPTABLE WORK. oe : “Low! TWO-YEAR PEE-Terms if if Desived a alii . ‘6h ne" tile. ce 8 Ramner0 Without elation, send; “now. Bree efuaing est assignment, : air outsiile |. ‘from “within made |- wiyancing hour of the clock, consider- ed for a moment, and then put on his lenthere Wned jacket, woollen enp and mitts. Tle fixed the dampers on the steve and went outside, Grent morning, he thought, as ke strode off: bright and clears H nnde ri} folks the warm: heel of his hand so that he’ wonldn’t seen sort of invitation not. tO. bother. : It was on tasty breakfast ‘for Christ: mas mornin: that Geatge prepnred-— hnean, ergs, tonst and honey out of a tin, hard as ‘frozen butter, Bill deelaved: he wasn’t hungry, but he ate the breakfast, With his mouth full he asked, unexpectedly, “nat going to town. today? “Nope,” from Geo, “dey TEC a: ‘the; Mand basin And washed the dishes, on and eggs and—sinee it was Christ-|riv er, then turned in at Bis “pate: Then with ‘hig"jaw_ still set, he swept nas—a_ little burnt, tonst, the. latter! First time in years he He felt queer about it—| in 7 ‘on ratte ied. nell ° from the “kettle into N the floor... ce eager ctr, In the warmth of the room Bill doz ed a dozen times, frequently starting’ The shack was warming quickly. under: inunding ‘to great hime barking “n: wel-from- “his? sleepe* ~-George®: smoked :- - is. | ie aud read Donderously, pntil after Guorge went to the’ “window again ‘Then: he continned “on, te Bill's, door.’ RnOOLL Was well. ‘advanced, ‘Finally he put on his heavy wraps.and went lo jthe “stable cigain,. When ‘he. returned ten Ininntes dater, with .an armfull of wood, Bill started from a ‘short sleep. George put the wood into the box stood beside the, door.a moment and, said. “Pi he getting lack now.” * Rill lifted himself on his ‘Much obliged George,” he. stated. George's, jJuw remained firm. for an instant. thonght. Finally he. offered, “If yon like [ll bring the. checker board over tonight, seein’, it’s. Christmas,” .- Bill nodded engerly. -o0.1- Aml going home Ine that Christmas twilight to laok after his- own stock aud -tetch the checker, board, otd.Geo, Gillespie was strangely excited, In. -his slow thinking way he, dimly re- membered the friendly trailing of old Bill McGovern's voice from across the river in-summer and: how. he: had miss- ed it: : Phiree “move stnirs: or. planets have been discovered by scientists. If they ‘found # solution to the world’s trouble j they would: be doing ‘something worth while nud all men would eal Them - blessed, L, Ree “Blas yer sabseription been paid yet? t have to de. | ‘combination ‘price. and: you. will receive , ‘the whole 4 publica-. tions for one year from. the date. we receive ‘the * coupon. 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