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to iriii.""?'GG; eyes, aiid made it ituosssiNs, for young Brad to speak. Dr, Wade 'had delivered hundreds of babies, but this one was different, It was different because it was Christmas and a storm raged outside, and his children were coming home and he wasn't going to be there to greet them. It was different; be- cause he had stopped in Andevspn's store and bought some things that brought tears It Was two hours later when Dr. Wade saw the blurred outline of the cabin. Ordine arily the trip would have taken him less than thirty minutes. He knocked and the door opened at once. He stepped inside and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. Slowly he became aware of the warmth. Life came back to his muscles. He looked up and smiled. J Young Brad Jones was watching him, wide-.eygd, dumb gratitude in, his; face. Be- hind him his young wife lay on the bed. near the stove) her face white and drawn, biting her lips, to keep from crying out. In the village Dr._Wade stopped and went into Cy Anderspn's store to make some purchases. An hour later he stopped the coupe at the foot of the logging Toad that led up to Bald Ridge. Even with chains it would be impossible to go farther with the coupe. So he produced snowshoes from the rear compartment of the coupe, strapped them on, tied a canvas pack on his back, tucked his kit under one arm and started up the road. Dr, Wade smiled and thought of the ex- pressions on the faces of young Brad Jones and his wife. "Yes", he said, "the best Christmas ever." And his chin fell forward on his chest and he slept. Sara looked at him. "Oh, you-opts--" she said loving and tiptoed out of the room. The storm had increased rather than les- sened in fury. Frequenely--r-mppe frequently than he liked to admit-Pr, Wade had to muse to pest, turning his back to the wind. "The children didn't get here. The storm held up the train. They just 'phoned from the station. They'll be here any minute, and we'll both be on hand to greet them. Oh, it's going to be the best Christmas ever'. Quartodecimans, a small sect of early Christians, observed Christmas on the 25th of March, just after the vernal tstmiupx, Their assumption of the date of Christ's birth was based on Pilate’s words and acts. Threatened with excommunication, they finally gave in at the Council of Nice. Dr, Wade backed his coupe out of the garage. He was glad that he had taken the precaution to put chains oanhe night be, éere. -Withrg Jstorm like this the greet department would be hours gettRfst the roads clear. Sara bit her- lip and looked away. When he looked hack again her eyes held nothing but affectionate reproach. "Ypu---you-" she said, and stood tiptoe and kissed him. anxious and desperate, but proud and, lov- ing. A smile rested lightly on his lips as hewaited. C Dr, Wade stood by the door and drew on his gleves and picked up his bag, He looked down at his small wife whose hair was streaked with gray, whose eyes were "Now, now," Dr. Wade said. He slipped off his house jacket and moved around the tree that sparkled with gay ornaments and bright tinsel and strings of popcorn. From girlie closet he brought his overcoat and over- shoes and his cap with the fur-lined earlaps. Sara watched him desperately. Once she glanced toward the window. Snow hissed against the glass. Wind howled about the eaves. , _ "Hugh, you can't go! You oan'tl It’s Christmas and the children are all coming home, and oh, it will simply ruin 3,11 our plans!" ,When Dr. Wade turned away from the. telephone his' face was grave. Sara, his wife, came into the living room quickly- She had been standing in the hall, listening. "ii%titrtit-arumu-ttartae-etitaae' - W. . -- - _------------" 8rrhWrdtairtirtpaamotertsaser: - Mi.a. ..,;.V.,.. F. Lh aiiiamu. um“:- w. ,.. Mea ,- TAN N ,. , ,. . , ,, ,, ( cwr A '. " . u . , F. T . ,. '. " . ' V " ,_ RE', - IEt 5i $uigldgarldg,llatil 'tggtirgtattggtigtiittiMiS%RiSt© et' (EtiSte, 245,? Wt a“. BE4 guiggi‘ 5 ', "tim EN 'a Ee ygel, ggtitgt 'tei me Wt Kit git' Lid? Egt lllN rd: at 5;) ' U?” "lt WEi (at MIN Gt [tgit Wei gab gait! BEt (ht If” 1,. Iggy» WtTiWM yew gEt art' we 'Be' tge )5? , 'di, "' HQ} pr 3:57th [”77 _riii'iiiif) 4 ",' _.- EVER f RICHARD!!!” The young wife lay, her face white and drawn. Christmas in Spring H I Relations between the Fairfaxes were a bit strained during the ensuing weeks, Esther trotted out her two evening gowns, one of which she had bought at a bargain sale a decade ago and the other which had fitted her fine when she was twenty pounds lighter. She ripped them both apart and made a single garment. Esther began weeplng again, but it didn't do any more than provide an outlet for her bitterness. A new evening gown, she knew, was~now entirely out of the question. Even if they could afford it she could never per- suade Rod that she needed one to wear for only one night. Now, a nightgown, you could wear every night. More practical. "Swell!" Rod approved. It does something for you." 'fWell, as a matter of, fact, it was a little more than I intended to pay, but you needed it and, just this once I thought I’d splurge. After all, you deserve nice thipgs." thing like that when all I can do is wear it to bed! And I do need a new evening gown. Pm going to. make a speech at my-college class reunien in February and--aqd oh, I had planned on a new evening gown." She sat lip, and became defiant. "And I'm going to have one," she declared. It was black. Black silk crepe. It had doodads here and there to liven it up a bit. 1ilsthttstaved at it. "Oh, Red!” she said, her heart sinking. "Lm't it a pipl" Rod cried happily. Nt's a pip, all right. But-but it must have cast M awful lot," _ "Yes-but-but-_-all that money for a nightgown andw-now I can’t have a new evening gown.” Esther plopped down on the divan and began to weep. "Be practical! You telling me to be prac- tical and you go throw away money on , The trouble began at Christmas time. Rod Fairfaxe gave his wife, Esther, a night- gown. She knew he was going to give her a néghtgown because the; Fairfaxes were a. practical family with a limited income and they always talked over such things as Christmas presents before they bought them. "It looks great," Red said, of the dress Esther had made over. a I _ _ - .. tamammaWImmmmmmmmmmmwgagawoawwwwmmwwmawwwwnamwmwww’? "Among other; things," Esther replied awwwwmamwwwatmwwmwwwwmwwwwwmwwwwwwwmwwmwarnwm approved. "It looks great, Church is a place of prayer . I. . for all denominations . . . it doesn't matter. Church is a place where those who believe in God, in a creed, gather to pray and to seek strength and courage, from their faith. Church is a place where a lot of our fighting forces abroad would like to enter again . . . and more regularly than in the past. Church is the place to pray for their safe return. CDM _ tgt. t,t!i:';ff,i:ij'i;l,-:;'),sti.:,ti:,, 'é’f / .t.st2itiC: r. r'i.'s?a't:8frifjji:' #:312- :1::i: 1t1':y. A: ?.b1tif:r?2:i.? t iii/#34 .rt;,j.fiifi'i'fts ‘2’»; .1942? " W.fiif. 2:55.; Cu' iffi'ii'ii,r'iiff:":i. éfimy’fifififl i'itijijijsr3.' j:"t:'iiii'ii'itii When the members of the roup Me pot acquainted with each other, this game will work out very nicely. Give each person a small tag on which has been written the name of some toy or object or subject of Christmas. On the back of. each of these tags are written commands such as Nutr?- duce yourself to Teddy Bear." "See that the train meets the wagon." “Discuss the price of eggs with the top." These cards must be prepared beforehand and arranged so that everyone keeps moving about intro.. ducing and being introduced to each other. "Tip."-An English game used at Christ- mas time. Have nuts, candies, pop corn balls, etc., piled in centre of table. One From ordinary paper bags you can. make party hats and head bands for the" guests. Turn the top edge of the hag back in a roll until the "liat" is the right height. Paint or paste a Christmas design on these hats and they will he ready and waiting for the party. For the headbands, cut strips of paper bang 2% inches wide and deco.. rate with gold stars, paper Chri!stma,s trees, holly, poinsettias, or cotton snowmen. GAMES Christmas Toy Introductions. You, can add a festive note tp these fam- ily get-togpthtTis by turning them into Christmas parties. Pon't plan anything elaboratiy--juse thin}; up some simple invi- tations and a game pp twp, Your regular Christmas decorations will provide the. set- ting. _ For the invitations put, put page; snow balls, Santa Clauses or Christmas trees and write " print the invitation in ink of a contrasting color. Or buy small candy canes and attach a red paper tag with the invitation in white ink. If you’re ambitious you might try writing a verse for these ine vitations. So Rod, feeling qualms of guilt, settled himself in his easy chair the next night, tuned in and lent an ear. He got a, big bang from hearing his wife's voice come over the air and at the conclusion of her speech he felt pretty proud. In fact, he felt so proud that he wished new that he had bought her the evening gown. He could imagine her standing up to the microphone with the eyes of several hundred fashionably dressed females watching her, feeling like a plugged nickel in her mpde-ovev thing. He began to think of something he could do to make up for the humiliation he had caused her. Rod blinked again. Esther laughed mer- rily. “Darling, I went up there Without my made~ove12 Imagine', So I did the only thing I could. I were the lovely black night- gown, and it really looked stunning. Oh, Rod, you were right. A blacknightgown is more praetieal," T Christmas is a homey time. Family din; net parties and reunions are , traditiqngl part 'of the holiday 59 son in America, and this yeay 11.10176 than, giver we will be cele- brating Christmas at Lupe, Esther departed the day. before the re- union and that night Rod read in the papers that, because Mrs. John Cannon, wife of the celebrated piano virtuoso, Jad agreed to attend, the affair had assumed the propor- tions of a major .social function and Won}? be broadcast over station ABC-XYZ. ,’ Family Reunions Are Yule Custom ieily, "it makes me feel like this dicliens/' Rod said nothing. He had been reading the papers during the past few days and had learned that this alumni dinner and re- union which his wife was attending was, really something. Many of the girls in her class had married men who had prospered and were famous, and it occurred to him that, stacked up against these females, Esther, in her made-over dress, might look a bit dowdy. And if she looked dowdy that would reflect on him, wouldn't it? Greeting Coptetit.-Write out the well- known pqem, "The Night Before Christ.. mas,” an slips of paper, one line to a slip. Sepayate the odd lines from the even lines, and give the add slips to the men and the even (mes to the women. Read the peem and lamwhce that each player is to find the Persgn holding the line that rhymes withhhiis, The, partners are then given pencil and paper and tam to, write as many formls qt. Christmas greetings as they can in tim, minutes The, winning couple re- ceive, a peppermint candy cane. b Sethe of these suggestions for Cluiit- mas fun have been taken from The Christ- mas [Book,, by Marguerite Ickis, a compilae tign f background materials,; and sugges- tigns for celebrating Christmas, The ma- terial includes interesting facts about Chris mas rpI1.ptppys in other lands, ideas for Even Santa Claus is smiling at the gen- eral hilarity occasioned by his visit to a naval training station. The recruits in front of the barracks may be many miles from home, but they're still celebrating Christmos with as much enthuw’zsm as ever. term} includes interesting facts about Chris was customs in other lands, ideas for paw s and social activities, music, drama, decor. tions, and vgpesil1ments. The heck is avail'blg fin: M) cents from the National Regrevtian Association, 315 Fourth Avenue, NiiicA)f trye City. A Pop Corn Relay.--This is lots of. fun. Divide contestants into two groups. At one end of the room are fastened the ends of two long strings of very strong linen thread with a needle on each of the other V :' _ s H 'i, in a stationary cork lying on a ii,iblbt'iii,t'"i1tii1,- two, bowls of popcorn with exaetly the same number of kernels in each, Each player: threads a kernel of corn on the string and runs with it to the other end " the room. The pontest continues until one bowl is emptied by a team. player leaves the room and the others se- lect an object as "Tip." The absent player is, called into the room and selects an oh.. ject. He must avoid "Tip" and may have anything he gets. If "Tip" is chosen he loses his turn and must forfeit anything he has already won. A new "Tip" is chosen each time a, player leaves. Andi then there’s the barber who talked rhi_tittse,tt hoarse trimming his Christmas tree. CONVERSATJONALIST The boy's face was radiant. “Happy New Year, sir! That's all I needed, sir, to change the whole world for me-another chance at the school ship!" "Punny old worid,” said George Martin, superintendent of the Nautical Training School, as he rejoined his friend in the lobby. "Another chance at the school ship Martin took out his watch. "If you can get out to the airport by one 'p'clocrk, you’ll catch a night plane to Bangor. That's where you live, isp't it? Got enough money?” “Yes, I have. But . . .” "Po as you’re told," said Martin. 'Tour case has been up for consideration since the holidays started, last week. I've beep think- ing it over careful], and will veto the action of the Cadet Council. You’re to report back to the school ship on January third, with the others. It'll be up to you to make good. These are orders.” Year At the next stand he purchased a news- paper. He .stood under a neon sign arid opened, it to the Want ads. "Look. Here are your shore Jobs. Wanted: an office boy. Must run elevator. Wanted: boy to distri- bute handbills. Wanted: soda clerk. Are these anything for a fellow who really wants a sea career--) merchant offieer's career, the whole world ahead of him, and . At a‘small hotel for Séiiers, he turned in and inquired: "Doyle stepping here? Thomas Dayle 'r", "f heard you hyin't gone home, Doyle,” said Martin. Doyle’s eyes were swollen and Ted, “I thought I'd rather stay here, sir . . . until after the holidays. Then I thought I'd get a ship-ar a shore job. I couldn’t face them at home, sir . . ' I just couHn't." Martin pulled a package of them from his pocket, offered it. The sailor took a cigar- ette eagerly, waited for a light. "Thanks, buddy," _ The 'ITIS thpghrd through the regigter. “Number 1215/' f _ - As George Martin entered the room, Dayle sprang to his feet. He had been stretched opt on the narrow bunk, his face buried in the pillow. "You're not a sailor," returned Martin. "You don't understand what the school ship gets to mean to a fellow. It gets in the blood . . . under a man's skin." He listened carefully as Martin continued: "You should have seen Doyle's face when the Cadet Council told him he was through. It went white. It's not only the way a fellow feels about it himself, it's a fellow's family . . .” "Shipping's bad," vohgntered one‘of the men. "No more ships, Can’t get a job for love nor money, Got a cigarette?” ",Sise what a fellow’s up against?" Map. tin said. "Even old-timers ean't get ships. A youngsters would have no chance at all." a eaptarh's berth at the end?" He threw down the newspaper. "I've made up my mind. Come with me,” he. said. "And moreover, this is New Year's eve," said Wallace, as if that ought to settle the matter. "Cheer up. let's go to the ot.. fieers' Club and join in thh fun." George Martin shook his head. Before he could welcome the approach of another year he had a troublesome decision to make. The crowded streets, the milling people, the babbling groups headed for Times Square--- none of these signs of the coming of 1944 had power to lift him from his depression. His voice was solemn. "Look at my problem from the personal angle,” he said. "Tell me, Wallace, how would you feel if you had been told you eouldn't return to the school ship after the holidays?" Wallace was saying: "The school ship's not the only place of its kind in the world. A fellow can still work, his way up from the fo'e'sle, you know, and become just as good an offieer." They were walking along a waterfront street, now, past seamen’s lodging houses. A row of men stood in line before the door- way of a Sailors' Mission. "I'd feel bad, naturally. But not as if the world had come to an end." That works out to just about a pie 3. day for 12 days, to cover the calendar year-rr-a stunt that would seem more likely to cause chronic dyspepsia than good fortune. But these aren't the pies We Americans are accustomed to-the English mince pie is about the size of a doughnut. To eat a dozen in as many days i.s no trick at all, when two or three of them can be gobbled with a cup of tea. You’re to repprt baék to the sahgol ship January 3. One of England’s gay Christmas tradi- tions centers around its delectablg mince pies. It seems "that each mince pie eaten between Christmas Eve and Twelfth Night will ensure a whole month of good luck irt_th.ts coming- year. Mince Pies For Luck That's British Tradition that's all Doyle needed to face Nesir Earl’s forehead wrinkled. He saw the glow on Mrs. Kimball’s face, the sparkle in her eyes. She was poor. She was doing all she could, and the woman in the bed knew this. She was giving back gratitude and warmth of feeling and love. They left Mrs. Kimball and drove back to the city. They stopped near-the park to listen. to the carol singers. Pam looked at him. "Did it mean anything to you, Darl? Do you see what I mean?" Dar] thought of the woman in the bed and Mrs. Kimball. "It's a selfish motive," he thought. And aloud he said: "I never thought about it this Way before, but isn't it nice we have such-selfish people as Mrs. Kimball and Pamela Tripp?" Pamela nestled against his shoulder. "And Darl Holloway," she added. At last they stopped before a. dilapidated tenement, house. They entered a, dark, cold hell, {Haunted stairs and rapped on a door. A weak voice bade them enter. The room was warmer than the hall out.. side, lighted with a kerosene lamp. A woman lay in bed, a child cradled in her arms. Mrs. Kimball matter-of-fee" stir- red up the fire, produced candles and light- ed them. [Pamela straightened things in the room with surprising efficiency. The woman in the bed watched from hollow eyes while Mrs. Kimball unpacked her basket, set out a pitifully small supply of foodstuffs, same strings of popcorn, the green boqgh of a pine tree, an orange, two apples, 3 bottle of milk. The sick woman's eyes were eager, grate- ful as the things appeared. In no time at all the pine bdugh was arranged on the table, the strings of popcorn draped over it, oranges placed at its base, two candles on either side. F The proper celebration of Christmas has been improved, but there still is the problem of getting a six-foot Christmas tree home in an overcoat pocket. stopped before a house and sounded her horn. A moment later a small, middle- aged lady came bustling out. She carried a basket. Pam opened the door for her, and introduced Darl. Her name was Kim- ball. "O.K., honey." He smiled. "We look at it differently. The way I figure it, a man never does something for nothing. If he isn't rewarded with material gain, then he's rewarded by having his vanity solved. There's always a selfish motive behind a so-called act of kindness, no matter which way you figure it. But it isn't important. What is important is that it's Christmas and you and I are in love and We ought to think of celebrating." "It is important, Darl." Her.voiee was suddenly vibrant. "It's important to me to Show you that you’re wrong. I couldn't be happy with a man who had those ideas." And then, seeing the expression on his face, her tone softened. "Oh, I know it seems silly to you-quarrel/mg about some- thing so trite. But to me it isn/t trite. Oh, Darl, let me show you how Wrong you arel" A moment later, a small middleaged lady came bustling out. "Well!" said the little lady. "This is nice, I suppose you’re the young man to Whom Miss Tripp is engaged.” "Yes, we're engaged," Dapl said. He Wondered what she had in the basket. She was 59 peerly dressed, so frail and appear- ed so undernourished. But there was a sparkle in her eyes. The streets were festive. Colored lights and greenery showed in every window. Lighted trees were on every street corner. Pam stopped the car while a group of carol singers trooped by. A girl with a tambourine thrust a smiling face against the coupe window. She dropped coins into it and smiled and said, "Merry Christmas.” But instead of driving back to the city, Pam drove across the railroad tracks and into the desolate, ill-lighted thoroughfares of Jaytown. . "This 'peace on earth, good will toward men' stuff gives me a pain," Darl said. He laughed cynically, looking down into the girl's troubled eyes. "It gets me how you got hooked into it, Pam. Why don't you look the thing squarely in the face and realize it's the bunk!" V "You must be blindl" Pamela cried. "There are thousands and thousands of people who give things." They left the gaily lighted streets be- hind. 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