The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Page IS THE HERALD Saturday December Get Christinas gifts for 25 or less Face to face with the Christmas spirit If you have a long list of Christmas gifts to buy it may help to remember that theres a wide variety of gifts in the stores for or under For instance treat a personal com puter user to one of the six new IBM compatible software products by Shortcut Software DiskDirector lets users manage their files and directories and it re duces the time it takes to do timecon computer chores The other five products do everything from quickly locating lost files FileFind to protecting files LockFile Each product retails for 95 Here are other gift suggestions for or under Whats on the wish list for most people who cook An electronic cook ing timer keeps track of food in the oven and on the burners all at the same time Just program the cooking times for each food being prepared The alarm sounds when its time to turn onoff the oven and each burner Prices vary according to the model Singles couples and families who own a player will ate receiving one of the new Pioneer scheduled to be released in time for the holiday season Select from hit movies operas stage pro popular music in either or 12inch formats Prices start at 95 DID YOU KNOW Coffee Drinkers People drink an average of 1 cups of coffee a day Peo ple in their early 60s dnnk cups a day Long Life A refrigerator should last 15 years offers parents a variety of toys for boys and girls this holiday season Busy Beads colorful abacus style beads which slide on smooth sturdy wires that twist and curve stimulate a childs imagination and help devel op handeye coordination Dressing Pretty a new line of kid- outfits lets girls dress up as bal lerinas princesses or brides They come with special accessories to add the finishing touches to fantasy play The small size Busy Beads retail for about and each Dressing Pretty outfit for Whether its tending a window box or planting in the backyard peo ple are turning to gardening as a way to relax and enjoy life For these greenfingered friends and relatives theres a myriad of terra cotta plant ers and baskets no gardener ever has enough Prices vary according to size and decoration Books always make a special Christmas gift for any member of the family At 8 95 each are Barbara Ohrbachs Token of Friendship a collection of sentiments thoughts gift ideas and recipes for special friends and Memories of Child hood containing old fashioned rhymes poems recipes and songs Finally those who drive In cold weather will appreciate receiving one of this winters handiest accessories SnoOff by AutoShade Itsapolyo- sheet that fits across windshields and secures inside the car to protect against snow ice and frost No more scraping windshields on frosty morn ings or in snownstorms SnoOff fea tures a fashionable skigoggle design on the sheet Easy to install and re move it fits on the front of most cars and trucks This item sells for about 4 Seasons Greetings Continued from Page you dont believe in Santa Claus then you don t get any extra presents And to get gifts from San ta all you have to be is good or at least try to be good and not hurt anyone on purpose You also have to listen to your parents and do what they say at least in December Besides Mike added Santa Claus makes Christmas fun and different from birthdays and everyone has to have fun sometime Im too old to believe in Santa Claus said Jennifer But I agree with Mike Santa Claus is fun and happiness and people being nice to each other I believe in those things so I guess in a way I believe a bit in Santa Claus too I like the story of Jesus being born on Christmas day better though she added But maybe that because I m a girl and I supposed to like babies The young man had to chuckle at this but then he asked softly and in a serious tone What is it about the story that vou like Well Jennifer began a bit hesitantly We dont go to church that often but my mom and dad believe in God and have told us that Jesus was a good man who tried to help solve some of the worlds problems He was born in a stable and all kinds of people came to see him and brought him gifts and went happy just from seeing him Almost like he was the best gift they had ever received I like being happy and ac cording to my mom and dad Jesus made a lot of people happy just by being born and giving them hope for better things to come Maybe thats why I like the story she offered It sort of shows you that no matter how bad things get you should never give up hope And that also whenever you give something no matter how small you will get some sort of gift in return I suppose people are happy on Christmas day because in a way it means a new beginn ing After a long silence the young man addressed himself to the two children I think he said you have just explained what Christmas is all about Its about giving and receiving happiness and the pro of better things to come You still havent explained about the presents chipped in Michael In a way I have replied the man They re gifts from your mom and dad for the two of you Your dad earned them and you two children are deserving of them Your parents are concerned with your wellbeing and happiness and that in itself is a gift They view the two of you as the greatest gifts they have received and all those presents under the tree really only represent one thing Love And Christmas should be a time of love for everyone Jennifer and Michael weren too sure they understood all that the young man had just said but they understood love and all it meant so they readily accepted his ex planation With that the young man got up to leave As he reached the door he turned and said Wish your parents the best of the holiday season for me and don t you worry things will get better I really dont think we can properly explain what lust happened tonight As he paused to open the door the children rushed up to him kiss ed his cheeks and wished him a Merry Christmas Then another thought occurred to Michael and he blurted out But what about you Jonathan where are your Christmas presents Dont worry about me the young man replied got more than my share tonight and Ill cherish them for a long time With that he slipped out the front door and disappeared into the night Jennifer and Mike were so excited about the evenings events that they were still awake and chattering away when their parents arrived home They rush from their bedrooms to greet them and their flabbergasted parents could only sit silently and listen as the children told them all about the mysterious stranger And Best Wishes To All Our Customers Friends CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY OPEN BOXING DAY w named Jonathan and all that had gone on that night When the children were finally hustled off to bed in the wee hours Mr and Mrs Walker were left to ponder the bewildering story their children had told them Finally Mr Walker broke the long silence and exclaimed softly I don know anyone named Jonathan and I certainly didnt send anyone over here tonight to look on the kids or bring them presents I dont know anyone by that name either said Mrs Walker Perhaps it was just someone from one of the local service clubs delivering gifts to the neighborhood kids This explanation seemed enough but the Walkers knew when they looked into each others eyes that somehow it just didnt ring true After another long silence Mr Walker said I dont really think we can properly explain what hap pened tonight I suppose it just goes to show that we do have a lot to be thankfu for even things arent going too good for us right now Jonathan was the spirit of Christmas 1989 offered Mrs Walker with laughter in her voice Laughter that had been too long removed and had been sorely miss Who knows said Mr Walker rising from the couch But I know one thing The kids are happy you seem happy and I know I feel a lot better about things and thats all that matters With that he turned off the living room lights and wrapping his arm tenderly around his wifes shoulders prepared to bid good night to another day Somehow his tread seemed lighter than it had been for some time and his shoulders ever so slightly more squared As befits a man with reborn confidence in himself and in the world W Learn to Drive and Survive WITH Young Drivers Canada 16 Mountainview Rd S Georgetown Special 4 Day Program Christmas Break December 26 27 28 29 338 PM FOR BRAMPTON OR BRAMALEA CALL 8770751 NOW AVAILABLE Christmas Gift Certificates YOUNG DRIVERS OF CANADA