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a a EEE E Memorable by Susan Reed ' '""Hello there. Come on in and take a load off your hooves. Don't mind me if I don't get up. Fm not as nim- ble as I was when I.was your age. Then I was a real whipper-snapper, that's for sure." "What do you mean, that must have been a long time ago. Why it seems like it was only yesterday. And boy, did we see some good times then; staying out late, carousing with the fellows, whistling at the women. Granted I probably hung around the water hole too much and I did a bit too much spittin' when I was with the fellows, but that was before." "Before what you ask? Why, before I changed, I guess is the shortest way to say it." "What's the long way of saying it? Well, it's a wonderful story if you've got a few minutes. Pull up some of that straw and make yourself comfortable." "It happened quite a few years ago, when one night me and the fellows were hanging around our usual watering hole, the Oasis, when these three rich guys came in, You could tell right off, they were loaded. Why they were wearing so many jewels and gold robes, they made Mr. T look dull. Now they walked up to the manager of the place and started talking. Being the curious sort that I am, I wandered over a little closer to hear what they were saying. These rich guys were talking about going on some journey and being in need of some traveling companions. Now, if there's one thing I know about rich people it's that they travel in the fast lane. And if there's one thing I know about the fast lane it's that it's a good lane to be in. Well, being a little on the adventuresome side, I thought, hey, why not me? So I meandered over to one of the guys, puffed out my hump and was just about to let go with my best spit, when he puts his hand on my neck and says, 'This one will do just fine."" "Well, we headed outside and the other two came out shortly after with a couple of my buddies, and together we went over to this big tent. They outfited each of us with these elegant contraptions just dripping in .gold and jewels and fine fabrics. Why, I was beginning to feel like some sort of movie star and I can also tell you I was enjoying the fellin'. Just as soon as everything was strapped down, the rich guy climbed on my back. Now I figured we must be heading for some kinda par- ty 'cause we've got presents, and jewels, and incense and perfume. Fact of the matter is, I'm pretty sure we were going to a harem, cause if there's one thing I know it's that if there's this many presents there's got to be women." "Anyway, just as we're ready to set off, one of the rich guys yelled, 'Follow that star!' First off, I looked at him to see if he's nuts. Then I looked up in the sky and, sure enough, there was this star moving across the sky. Now, RR RSA RT FUR FO RR RR RT NTR JR RA JR YR YL ASR 28 ATR RASTER RR JR JR A RAKE JAR RU R78 RATR ZR RAE RATE sk RAZR RAZR 057% ATR SR RR 7 RAT RASTR RATE RATE Rk RATR RR RA UR RAR JAR Rk RASTR YTR Rk RUSTE As2R Sh RO Rvs ck MERRY CHRISTMAS | Have a safe and happy Holiday Season. NORTHERN CLOTHING a) ll Christ A ss who was I to argue with the likes of these guys. So I followed the star. But all the time I'm thinking whoever could afford to put a neon light that size in the sky was gonna give one big party." . "So we traveled all night. That's fine. It's cool. There's not much traffic. Now if there's one thing I know it's that stars shine at night. So I figured, fine, we travel all night following a star then we'll sleep all day. I can handle that. But the strange thing was, when daylight came, the star didn't go away. It just kept on moving, and we just kept right on following it. But hey, I think, the sooner we get there, the sooner we start the party." "Travelling goes fairly smoothly. Wherever we went, people rushed up to point and look at us. All that attention, it didn't hurt the ego. I really liked the way everybody looked up to us as if we were kings ourselves. 1 was feelin' pretty proud of myself. Then one night we pulled up to this decent sized palace. I knew right away it belonged to a king. So I figured that we'd reached the end of our journey. So you can imagine my surprise when the rich guys came back out, climbed aboard and said, 'Wrong address. Keep following that star.'"' Sure enough , that star just kept moving across the sky. A few nights later as we were going through some hills, you could tell that we'd found the party. Even though we couldn't see the palace yet, we could see the reflection in the sky of what had to be a million lights. And even though we were still a couple of hills away, well man, you could hear the music playin'. Now if there's one thing I know it's that if there's music that loud, there's got to be dancing. So I picked up my heels and set off at a quick pace. I could hardly wait to be stompin' on the barn floor." 'You can imagine my dismay and disappointment, when we rounded the last bend and come upon, not a Let us all give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. TOM, SHARRON & FAMILY TOM ARMSTRONG SEPTIC & HOLDING TANK SERVICE party palace but, a tiny town. I was ready to turn around right then and there. But then, I noticed that there was an excitement in the town. Why, it seemed that every rock and stone and house and well was filled with light and singing music. So, I figured, why not go on. We got to the main section of town and came upon this inn. Now the place was overflowin' with people. There's laughter and music and talkin' and, at the same time, a kind of hush. Anyway, the rich guys did.a little chattin' with the innkeeper and then we headed on into the courtyard headin' for the stable." "As we turned the corner into the courtyard, it was wall to wall people. We couldn't get close to the action. The place was swarming with men and women and kids and cows and sheep and a donkey. So the rich guys hop- ped down, unloaded the presents and took off into the crowd. My blood was startin' to boil at the excitement of it all. Just then some chicks waddled by. Now I didn't want to ruffle their feathers, but being the curious sort that I am, I asked them what was going on up there. They said that it was a baby. Now if there's one thing I know it's that a baby gives lousy parties. But my ego being what it was, I figured why not give the kid a thrill and show him just what an elegant animal I happen to be. So I nudged my way through the crowd towara the centre." '""The first thing I noticed in the centre was the three rich guys kneeling down. As I followed their gaze I was mies pe _struck by the beauty of the light coming from inside the stable. There, lying in a manger of hay, was a tiny baby that seemed to be wrapped in joy and peace and love. As soon as I gazed on Him I knelt and tears came to my eyes. I no longer felt proud but instead I felt asham- ed about who I was. Then looking up, I again saw the beauty and heard the singing and was filled with happiness." "It wasn't long after that, that we left to go home. It was a quiet journey. We didn't wear the gold and jewels on the way home. It just didn't seem right. In fact, whenever we came to any towns we gave away the jewels." "I haven't been the same since then. Oh, I still look the same; my hump is still one of the biggest, I still hang around the watering hole and I still spit, after all I am a camel, you know. But something inside me changed. I began to look at the world differently just because of the way I looked on the Baby." = Co "I still think about that time quite a bit and it always brings a joy inside of me. I'm glad you asked me about the story 'cause I love to tell it. And you know, out of all of this I learned a lesson. If there's one thing that I've come fo know it's that in life the richness doesn't come from'the king you carry on your back, but it comes from the King that you carry in your heart." We're sending x' your way. from SUTHERLAND BROS. LTD. i \/ holiday greetings Merry Christmas! mas - Camel's Story | 2 : | ; ; i g (LT! [ial i arf', ; 0 of han 4 Bh) & -§ a The Staff at "wr A HANK'S PASTRIES QUEEN STREET, PORT PERRY would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We would also like to take this opportunity to an- nounce that we will NOT be taking any telephone orders on Dec. 23rd. So, beat the rush and place your order today. WeWih mA Merry Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS May the love of home and family be a Thank you. | -- from -- special gift to treasure throughout the season. BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS OPEN 10 9:00 PM EVERY NIGHT the week before Christmas. We will be closed Dec. 24th, 25th & 26th. VANCAMP CONTRACTING LIMITED North Durham | of oe i 3 \ 3 We wish to thank our many customers for their patronage over the years. [| OQ | . | PEE EE EL EE EE Te i T3705 125K 0K 1 YT Yh 6 kK Ph 7 0 Kk J J