Tl Aclon Free Wcdncsdny be Remember the Christmas concerts of our youth By Terry THECHRISTMASCONCERTSOFOUB YOUTH Remember the Chriatmaiea of long ago when you and I were We really did know what Christmas joy We had horses and sleds and pure white snow we knew what jingle bells really Remember how we d lor weeks for that one day when even the meek went on stage the Christmas concerts of youth when we all knew truth Little Joan with ink tipped tails was transformed overnight to Mary and the school bully Jerry became the calm and quiet Joseph and the three wise men were girls because there t enough We all sang carols even those who carry a tune they kept trying and that night so important to is all with the moon as God arrived and for one day we became In our minds the current pop stars and our moms and dads pretended as our voices at last blended I remember that last year In grade eight Marilyn and I spent weeks practicing a duct Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and too late her father objected You are too young to be singing such a romantic tune the applause that filled that little school room changed his mind and you know his kind arc still around today The parents came from miles around the sounds of cars horses sleds and bells converging in the night completed the scene recreating the dreams of the Christmas concerts of our youth And every year we wondered why Mrs Smith always came alone was Mt- Smith sick at home and then as we grew older we knew Mr Smith had been there every year doing his best as Santa to bring us Christmas cheer Remember The Christmas concerts of our youth when you and I knew truth When It was all over we d open the presents we bought one another happy for a new Snakes and Ladders the Fathers and Mothers mentally compared prices so theyd know how much to spend next year I guess that how I learned to hope for the luck of having the rich kid pull my name out of the hat and when he did a thing happy was happy value didn t make the heart sing Remember the tears of the little blonde haired blue eyed girl in grade one her gift became lost in the tree and remember how Santa found it and like magic changed those tears of sadness to tears of joyful Christmas glee I home of Mr and Mrs Russell Armstrong R Acton has a resident poet with a talent for bringing back memories of Christmas past He Terry a native of the Peterborough area with five books of poetry completed and one of them to be published In the spring Fed up with life In the city Terry copied a standing Invitation from Armstrong to stay at his farm and do some serious writing Fluent in three languages English French and German Terry wrote the following remembrances of the Christmas of his youth and has permitted the Free Press to publish it in our Issue You know we don t have those one roomed schools any more and it seems with each passing year there is le a and less snow and horses with bells art only in picture books Where did it all go those Christmas concerts of our youth I guess there are still some traces around Hie Solvation Army bells on the street corner in town Santa Claus parade Department stores trying to out advertise each other and the bound of carols blaring from fronts and elevators as Muzak brings glad tiding of joy once bare shelves in storage rooms are brought and now packed with toys Santa elves still rotate in the windows and they still look the same but I can t remember their names And guess the children can still recite NlRht Before Christmas But thats about all that remains why it even difficult to find trains that you have to wind Something else is still around too the wish for Peace on Earth and you and 1 still haven discovered how to make this one wish come true So this Christmas those of you whom I ve remember your Chris past remember your hopes and dreams think of the love you had in your hearts remember the pure lovinf scenes Remember the prayers you used to send Gods way borne of you will discover as 1 did one day that modern science and confusion and greed helped me forget the need 1 forgot just how to pray I still wish for pence and I hope you do too but remember we II never achieve It just wishing because without purpose no wish ever came true So together today let think bock and pray with happiness recall the I vl we hud in our hearts the joy we knew and let clasp our hands as one reach out clasp your neighbours hands the Christmas concerts of our youth me tuber days past and truth let us bow our heads today everyday and pray for a Peace on Earth that will forever last and then ask yourself if you still pray today Icy roads power failure cut attendance at schools S fevfh Vii vis i On ihot Ch Sta Mo e and Ch d CI mas f pence oy and hai si no you and you fo and all the yea FIRST LINE TELEVISION SALES SERVICE Acton Beckers Plaza 853 Kissing ball will draw oohs and aahs A combination of icy roads and a power failure gave same students in Acton Nassagaweya and Esquiring a holiday on Wednesday Dec 15 Many buses get through the country roads Making a kissing ball with a velvet touch coordinating the color with your own decor This one Is simple to make and should draw a few and Start with a ball and spray it with glitter glue While the Hall is still wet sprinkle gold or silver glitter generously over the surface Its wise to spread a paper when you re using glitter so that you can catch the overflow and use It The swirls are made individually by wrapping a chenille pipe cleaner around a pencil sliding t from the pencil and then spreading it gently hitching together the two ends A corsage threaded through a bead sequin all three for truly opulent look is then run through hole in the swirl and into the foam ball Wi May Christmastime j and laughtor bo yours on th happy holiday and may gratefully thank you for your patronage From Everyone AT ACTON DELICATESSEN JENNINGS EXCAVATING ANNE and ALLAN TIME OF THb ON MO OTHER OCCAblON WE 1LEGED TO GIVE EXPRESSION TO OUR THOUGHTS CONCERNING WHOM J GOOD WILL WE THIS SPIRIT WE YOU HEARTED GREETINGS WITH BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR officials decided to and Spcysldc schools by 11 am The schools wcrt without heat and toilet facilities and it is illegal to maintain schools under these conditions a spokesman said The schools affected were Students of Acton District High Public School in Z Bennett and Robert Little Public Schools and Acton High School in Acton and Public School Halton County Board of Ad receives 30 answers An advertisement in the section of the Free Press has tremendous pull in an area extending from north of to south of east from Georgetown and westward to readers as far as Moffat and beyond The extent of this readership is often revealed by calls answering like the one In the December issue which advised there was an apartment for rent The advertiser had about 30 calls He soon had the apartment rented Why not try one also permitted to eo two public schools in Ac ton Robert Utile and M 7 Bennett managed to operate the entire day as hydro were resumed at noon By all the schools In North were open Milton was not affected by the hydro blackout eppy boot of you for a warm happy holiday with frlondo you hold and doar DR A EMBRACK AND STAFF 3M STATIONERY The message from the sacred monger bring hope happiness anew Merry Christmas THE MUTUAL LIFE Assurance Company of Canada ROBERT HART Agent 341 Acton Bus Res MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY SCM PORTABLE TYPEWRITER Manual and Elect Modelt YOUR ENQUIRIES INVITED ATTACHE CASES Several Styles Colors SHEAFFERS BAa PENS PEN SETS and DESK SETS ST 98 to 1972 CALENDARS CANADIAN SCENESWILDLIFE 79 to 1972 IDEAL JUMBO JUBILEE CALENDAR PADS POCKET DIARIES DAILY JOURNALS PHOTO ALBUMS Popular Styles to Be Sure To See Thew BAa PENS and SETS from 79MoH CHRISTMAS CARDS BOXED SOLID PACK ASSORTED THERE IS STILL TIME TO ORDER YOUR PERSONALIZED CHRISTMAS CARDS STILL A LARGE SELECTION TO CHOOSE FROM BOXED STATIONERY Anil HASTI NOTES GOOD SELECTION 79 to HISTORICAL ATLAS HALT0NC0UNTY Illustrated Reproduction of STATIONERY