Southern Oregon News Review, Thursday, December i
30. 1948
FICTION
WALTER BUTTON GOES HUNTING
Corner
By J O H N S B A R B A
W e lte r wasn't the hunting type but, encouraged by his wife, he
decided to try his luck. He thought he cut quite a fetching figure in
the togs he rigged up, but unfortunately, he learned that a man
needs more than appearance to bag some game.
only he would see one rabbit.
J?*1 ° " e C',ose enough to get a
shot. But none appeared.
He was -.earing the car now. His
spirits had fallen to a new low. H.s
footsteps had slowed considerably
in’. ! h n ,uiC‘ Pat’?<1
ton«l,e «•«»>’•
*h ic h awaited him at home
Emma was not always an under­
standing wife. The most disconcert,
hm
lha* “ *is expedition
h” idea Emnia
responsible but Walter knew that it
was he who would suffer. At least
J® d gel l° reSt “ HttIe
hC drove
New Year’s Eve
Is ‘Watch N igh t’
********
In addition to secular celebra
tlona. many religious denominations
hold special services on New Year’s
from 9 or 10 until 12 midnight.
The Methodist Episcopal church
was the earliest to adopt this cua-
tom and they are called "watch
night services."
Geor“ ’’ » Methodist
hiu-ch in Philadelphia held its 178th
watch night service. The church
founded In 1769 and in 1770
held what has been called the flrst
Protestant
church
services
|n
h«Iweir ‘Ca'
° thcr ihurchM «re
holding such watch night service,
4
| None of Her
Business
::
Pretty Woodland Scene
By PAPINTA KSOWI.ES
J r WASN'T any of her business, of
1 course. ----
But ....
the . . fuel
. . didn't keep
ner from worrying over the situa­
tion that was us evident us the nose
on her face between Jim and Hetty
upstairs. She’d slept very little the
night before from thinking about
them. And now she sut in Pa s old
rocker by the heater in (he front
room, listening to Mike's little feet
patter across the floor above her.
Sh® wondered whnt an old widow
could do to rlghten things between
two that she’d come to love as her
own children.
For three days Mollie hadn’t
heard Jim step his f.x.t on the stairs
which substantiated the news she'd
heard that morning from T illie
Smith across the street thut Jim was
»laying in a room downtown.
Everything had been alright at
Christmas, apparently. J im had
Jh'ri.dei ed “ Ccdar ,r<e UP ,he »‘ a ir,
mat d been olmost too big to get
through the door, and he’d said to
Mollie, grinning his infectious grin
through the cedar brunches, ’ M ike
r M M A BUTTON laid aside the his eye to see the handsome reflec­
sweater she was knitting and tion he made in the m irror. Not
cleared her throat. Her husband. bad at all, he thought.
Walter, instantly snapped to atten­
Emma caught sight of him
tion. His lean frame had been com­ through the open doorway as he
fortably sprawled in his favorite
was preening himself. "M y. m y ."
chair, but now he was sitting ud she intoned sarcastically, "aren't
straight.
you the sportsman, though." Her
"We could save a lot of money on husband hung his head in silence.
o u rm e a t b ill," began Emma, " if A fiery blotch of red appeared at
you'd get out and do some hunt­ his neck and rose rapidly upward
ing." Walter remained silent. He until it covered his countenance. He
He was within a few feet of the
was accustomed to being m ildly | attempted to beat a hasty retreat, car when he stopped dead still. The
startled by his wife's remarks.
sight that met his eyes was a re-
but Emma wasn’t finished.
Zeke Smith goes hunting nearly
"H I were you. Walter Button. markable one.
every Saturday," she continued. I'd wait until I brought home some
For gosh sakes!" he exclaimed,
And he always comes home with big game before I started play-act­ heated on the seat of his car was
two or three rabbits. Sadie says
in’ in front of a m irro r.” Thispow- a rabbit! A real, live rabbit that
they save a right smart amount erful verbal blast shook Walter vis- eyed Walter with surprise, but cer­
each week."
lb ly .
tainly not with fear. It evidently
W’alter thought it was time he
F inally he managed to blurt. “ I had hopped in the car through the
said something. " I ’ ve never done
guess I 'll go to bed. Got to get up open door.
any hunting. Emma. Zeke’s been
W alter’s hand shook as he raised
early in the m orning." Upstairs he
doing it all his life.”
his gun. This was his big chance.
scrambled
at
a
reckless
pace.
"H um ph!" Emma snorted. You
Saturday morning dawned bright ™ ~i.d hinlself- He mustn't muff
can learn, can't you? And there's
and
cold. A light snow had fallen. it. Then he lowered his weapon as
a perfectly good shotgun rusting
W’alter bounded out of bed with un­ he realized that a blast of shot
7011
usual vigor when the alarm sound­ would ruin his car.
I ve got to get that bunny out of
ed. " I t ’s a wonderful day to go
p A I N T th is p ic tu r e w ith y o u r
hunting, ’ he said as he peered out the ca r." he muttered. "Then I ’ll
the window. Without waiting to shoot him ." His day wouldn't have
n e e d le ! A w o o d la n d sce n e th a t
lo o ks lo v e ly in a n y r o o tn — in n u t-
awaken Emma he dressed hurriedly been spent in vain, after all
Cautiously he inched forward
u r a l c o lo r ; m a in ly s in g le s titc h .
and stole downstairs.
»he
fa r-fa m e d
P h ilad elp h ia
Quickly he fixed himself a break­ Mustn’t scare the rabbit.
• • •
‘ ‘Shoo!” said Walter. The rabbit
M u m m e rs ’ parade unfolds along
fast of bacon and eggs and coffee.
„.Jf,0“ ci*n fra m e or Ju.t line th l, beau-
•
Hye m ite stretch
of
Broad
While he gulped the food he thought didn t stir. If anything, it settled
1ul1’ tran * r"
street each J a n u a ry I .
about the adventure which lay down more leisurely on its haunches
Our N e e d lru n rk book will .how m u
infuriated
Walter. stepping
Stepping
ahead. Maybe he’d get half a doz­ . This
account PU| l ' i ° “ ri ‘ 'is '0 " » " •*" < » > ’ good
i
. . ----
-----—_________
a ito u n t. Il.S o n l,. 15 i-< u t, anil h a , lllu ,
en rabbits! Perhaps a pheasant! closer he lunged at the bunny. This
, tmtlfiriM of the b. t (I c h I v iim
A free p«(
time
it
moved,
and
fast.
But
Wal-
M
u
m
m
e
r
s
’
P
a
r
a
d
e
tern 1« printed In the book.
Why hadn't he gone hunting be­
..
“ tu n c
also. uri.t-
With a
fore, he asked himself. This was ter swung into action aim
jerky motion he brought the gun to Each New Year
a real he-man sport.
W. Kandolpb Nt. «
M
The sun was just a weak, red ball his shoulder. Sighting rapidly, he
Encloa, 20 cent, for pallern.
I!-- Mummers parade on New
in the eastern sky as Walter headed fired. As he picked himself off the
N o _ _ __________
his little pre-war coupe toward the ground he glimpsed the white bob T- ar s Eve is to Philadelphia what
the
Mardi
Gras
is
to
New
Orleans
city lim its. About two miles out, of the rabbit's tail as it bounced
Addreas.
I lie earliest settlers in the vicin
he found the corn field which was unhurt toward the com field.
"There goes my ra b b it!" Waiter it.v of present-day Philadelphia were
to be the scene of his debut as a
English and Swedes The English
For three d ay, M ollie hadn’t
modern nimrod. He parked the car wailed. He stamped upon the ground
cherished the traditional Mummer heard Jim step his foot on the stairs.
with
rage.
Suddenly
a
sound
of
es­
carefully just off the road in a lit­
Play "St. George and the Dragon."
tle grove of trees. He clambered caping air drew his attention.
He gaped with open eyes at his wlnle the Swedes were fond of mas­ say, Santa Claus won't come with­
out. laden with shotgun, knapsack,
out a cedar tree all decorated with
binoculars and a great quantity of left front tire. It was sinking rap­ querading inform ally on New Year’, tinsel and lights.”
Eve
The
two
custom,
had
merged
idly.
Numerous
small
holes
showed
shells which were distributed among
They d set up the tree and dec-
his pockets. He gave the car door only too clearly what had happened long before the Revolution and It
I
'
i
-----------
‘
■r~«='vn
among
the
<
’
*’,f
rd
and invited her up to look
wa,
custom
ary-even
among
Walter
went
to
the
trunk
and
j a nudge but it failed to shut. How-
, and eat
popcorn that
; ever, rather than set down his bur­ brought out a jack and tire tools Q uakers-to extend hospitality to 2,
dens he disregarded it. The snow Wearily he sat down on the running the masqueraders or give them a Betty d p° f’Ped in an old iron skillet
dole for refreshments.
on the stove.
"But I ’d have to buy a hunting
had stopped. It wouldn’t hurt to board to rest.
After the Revolution. George
Holly’s step sounded on the stairs
license," remonstrated Walter
It had been a trying day.
leave the car door open.
weakly.
Washington replaced at,
St. George
as
I and after a moment she and Mike
vreurge
as
Off across the field he started, his
the central
figure of ‘ the
festivities c“ ™ into «>e room. " I ’ m g(,ln<f
----- - -------
’
• way up in the attic because no­ head held high and shoulders
which continued along the path of downtown to buy a few groceries.
body uses it.” She was referring squared. I f only Emma could see
spontaneity until 1886 when the pa­ Mrs. Elm s," she said. "Would It
him now!
to a weapon 01 questionable age
rade was sponsored Oy the Silver be too much trouble to keep Mike
The
corn
field
looked
extremely
and condition that Walter had been
Crmon New Year's association.
while I'm gone?"
long, but W’alter wasn't daunted
given by his grandfather.
The municipal administration offi­
Mike ran Into M ollie', arm ,, and
The
bigger
the
field,
the
more
rab­
"But I ’d have to buy a hunting
cially recognized the parade in 1901 Mollie smiled up at Betty
"O f
bits
there
would
be,
he
figured
with
by
NANCY
PEPPER
license."
remonstrated
Walter,
and representative citizenry began course not. dear. Mike and I w ill
logic.
He
wondered
idly
if
he’d
be
weakly. He saw his line of defense
turning out to watch and partici
Play tra in -a n d ball. . . •• Shc got
gem session
being methodically torn down by able to carry all his fu rry victims
pate in the festivities.
out the little train she kept for Mike
back to the car in one trip.
T w in k le , Twinkle — Everybody's
his wife.
ÎÎS Îiw
-t.h5 .^ 'st: known »
when he came to visit her.
By the time he was half way to collecting rhinesjone jewelry. When
Emma regarded him deliberate­
remedy you cnn £ e ’ïo
After a while an odd, happy glow
ly. “ One little cotton-tail rabbit the end of the field, the bitterly cold you see how divine those Poor Public Reception
came into Mollie's dim blue eyes
would more than pay for a license " wind had chilled him to the bone. Man’s Diamonds look with the
and she asked Mike, "would you like
Walter surrendered. He might as His gun had grown surprisingly prom iorm als in Calling All Girls
A
t
W
hite
House
s
x
s
s
to go over to see Aunt Tillie. dear’’ "
heavy and it was an effort to move you’ll know why. Choker neck­
well make the best of it now.
h Î, ToliinlnK th* Wor', t miserie, of
I
t
has
been
the
custom
from
the
his
feet.
But
still
he
plodded
on.
Was aU ea<e’’nes,. because
his cold are gone. Try it
•>,-
laces, bracelets and earrings are
, Yes. that's true,” he agreed.
one and only Vicks VapoRubi “
beginning of the Republic for the
’Aunt" T illie gave him little bags
'And the exercise m ight do me The corn stalks lay like white the favorites. You like to fasten
branches on the uneven soil. And rhinestone clips to your black suede President of the United State, to of candy. "Le's go—le’s g o !" He
good.”
welcome the New Year by holding jumped up and down with excite
as
yet, no rabbits had appeared. ballerinas, too.
"O f course it would, dear," Em ­
ment.
a
Not
a
single
one.
They’re
probably
Borrowed Brooches — You're all lie. reception open to the general pub
ma beamed. As usual she had
T hty d hardly reached T illie
all
down
at
the
end
of
the
field
borrowing
mother's
cameo
brooch,
emerged the victor.
“ Today’s
On the first New Year’s Day after Smith's little house across the street
Thursday, why don’t you go Satur­ thought Walter.
and, if you’re lucky, she has a
But at the end of the field, there large one with a diamond hanging his inauguration, President Wash­ when Mollie asked Tillie. "Would
day?" she queried. Emma was not
were
no rabbits. Nor did he en­ like a pendant around the cameo ington opened his home to receive you keep Mike little while. T illie ’
one to put things off once she had
counter any on the way back. When lady’s swan like neck. You make the people. Throughout the seven I have something I must take care
made up her mind.
"That’s awfully soon,” said Wal­ he finally observed the car in the sure it has a good safety catch- y®a.rs , * ’hJ ch Washin«ton lived in of at the house I’ll not be gone
Philadelphia, then the capital of the long. ’
ter, even though he knew it wouldn’t distance, Walter felt as though he then you wear it to school with your
"Why, yes. Mollie. I ’ll take care
do much good to stall. " I ’ll have had tramped a thousand miles.
Gibson blouse and swirling, long nation, he continued this custom
"What w ill I tell Emma?” he skirt. Next thing you know, they're
of Mike. We'll get along fine
to give the gun a thorough clean­
shc
said.
asked him self out loud. She would describing your outfit in the school
ing and buy some shells.”
lft W »
V M tD Y iNR> tab -
N ew Year Kisses
t,,'
pu'-’ly vcgcuble ls.ailT«
Emma glared at him. "You can scarcely believe that he hadn’t even papers.
K t in to , c° " ’ i ,p i" on w“ bow the u.uM
seen a single rabbit. Instead she’d
MoUie sat in Pa’s old rocker by
Honestly, our bark is worse than Began In Scotland
it o f .
f ,5k* n,n«’ Perturbing sensa­
the
heater
and
a
strange
little
---- -
nu more
tion,, and d o t, no( csose a r?,l,. Try
our bite. Or, as the little dog said
............
■
c
“
ne
«•»
»
t
Ä
S
.
N R —you w ill ,te (he diilrrencr I In
about it. Come Saturday, (here she
The custom of interchanging pure­ prayer slipped from her lips, "Dear
when he wiped his paws on sand
coiled or candy costed—their sciion
paused significantly) you’re going
paper, "Rough, rough!"
ly platonic New Year kisses started God, forgive me. but it can’t be a
* • dependable, thorough, yet gentle ■■
s in !"
hunting!” With these parting words
in Scotland.
m .lhon, o f N R , h lv * ¿rmed ¿ e ,*.’
She became silent and fastened a 2 5c hox and use a , directed.
sne bundled up her knitting and
In the memoirs of Lord Langdale
stalked haughtily out of the room.
by Sir T. D. Hardy, it is recounted frightened look upon Betty who had
As Walter heard her heavy foot­
how just at 12 o'clock, wherever returned from town with her arm ,
loaded with tfrocerieg.
steps echoing up the stairs he ad-
you may happen to be, you proceed
dresseri himself to the empty room. .
"H e’s gone . Betty, he's GONE'
to kiss the nearest g irl by way of
Well that's that." He. too. went
M° .. ou K Wasn’1 Jim Wh0 ‘ OOk
a New Year greeting.
upstair, to find solace in a good
FUSSY STOMACH?
She managed the falsehood
In Scotland, no work was done on him.
night’s sleep.
but
somehow
she
wasn't
feeling
bad
MlIEF
FOR ACID
[•O W can he thank Thee, Lord, fo r the good
New Year’s as late as 1904. No
The next day, after work, Walter
inside for doing it.
MOICESTION, '
porters
or
crabs
were
at
the
Waver­
went up to explore the attic. He I
grain
Mollie hardly knew what happened
ly station in Edinburgh, and a vis­
GASANO i S’ «“ *'
found the shotgun standing in a 1
FOR
W h o has n o t conquered th iftle and brier
after she’d spoken the lie; only that
iting
noble
lord
had
to
wend
his
HEARTBURN
well-cobwebbed corner. It was cov­
THE TUMMY!
Betty
had
dropped
her
groceries
in
and
weed
?
way to his hotel In a m ilk cart.
ered with a thick coat of dust, and
the middle o f the floor and had
H o w can he thank Thee fo r the sweet w ild rain
in spots it had begun to rust. Wal­
dashed to the telephone to coll Jim
W h o has n o t tro d parched lands above dead seed?
ter shook his head sadly. Never- 1
Then after Jim was there, holding
January N am ed
theless, he carried it downstairs and
H o w can he lif t a grateful heart fo r peace
Get Well
Betty m his arms ano trying to stop
set to work. Emma nodded ap­
her
tears,
and
the
whole
neighbor­
W
h
o
has
n
o
t
k
n
o
w
n
some
re
d
-lit
battlefield?
For Ancient God
proval.
, j
hood was roused with the news that
O Lord, h o w can he comprehend release
When he had finished, Walter !
The name January is derived someone had taken little Mike, Tillie
From Voue Couth
could not help being a little proud
W h o has n o t fe lt at la ft an o ld w ound healed?
Ouo to a C o l ^
from the two-faced god, Janus. He Smith and Mike walked in the back
of his efforts. The gun gleamed f
was originally the god of light and door.
F
O
I
F
Y
'
Ç
H<>"***T .r
from the tip of the barrel to the end
day. However, he gradually be­ tho Wcllk u ' P ,lie Said in 8urPri»e at
O Cough Compound
O u t o f earth's agony w hite flowers shine-
of the stock.
came the god of the beginning of he neighborhood gathering. "What’a
Above the o ld scarred fields w ild grasses kin -
In spite of himself. Walter began 1
things
I^thn Ah»NeW Year’S P8rty?
W N U — 13
to feel somewhat excited. This was
O u t o f the crushed fruits o f the sun comes wine;
The beginning of the year was
5 2 -4 8
you ,nt* nd* d to come back
his flrst hunting trip and he intend-
sacred to Janus and a festival ip
O u t o f the n ig h t the m o rn in g ila r — the sun.
cd to make it a successful one.
his honor called Angonia was cele­
Betty and Jim were holding Mike
F or every h o u r o f pain that we have had—
On his way home from the office
brated. At the beginning of any im ­ between them and laughing now
Even fo r these— Lord, help us to be glad.
that aftefnoon he had stopped in at
porters or cabs were at the Waver-
ltoC«HH 7 the/ r °yeS i,lppcd to Mol­
the hardware store to get some
rice was sought.
lie silting quietly in the old rocker
shells. The proprietor had
Janus was worshiped as the
0 ’ " ’ ’ " ,d- “ “ » * o»'™ 5 s
most helpful. Walter thought, mot
guardian of trade and shipping and M l h e .r - B I . . . „ „ hear/ J( ™
May W urn o f Disordered
only had he advised him concerning
he was the Inventor of agriculture
Kidney Action
Bless her heart!”
the proper type of ammunition, but
lrr<^!n,7n
h
lif|"i WltÌ ,U hurry *nd w°rry,
he had recommended a particular
Ntw Year’s Started
drlrddnli—It,/l.’l. lTprop,r
»"J
corn field where, according to him,
tlon - if , ' rJ *k of «Pomirs and Infer-
Gregorian
Calendar
nt
.
k
T
r
i
.
’
»train
on
the
work
the rabbits were incredibly plenti-
60 Centuries A{o
oterh-??,edn*.na f
*pt to I"™™
ful.
j
end
1
d i*,11
fl,t*r « " < ■ «eld
New Year’s has been observed as
b"ood*h ImpurlHe, from ths life-giving
Siow
In
Adoption
Later that evening, Walter sur­
• holiday either civil or religious,
veyed him self in front of the full-
h e ii’.’i h T * !
beckerhe.
Great Britain and her colonl
for the last 5,000 year,. Nearly
lì.
. ’ “I»»1"«»«, getting up night,,
length m irro r in the hall. He had
174?
X
j
.
8l|
OrC*
°
rlan
calenda'-
I"
everywhere and at all period, it
tired
»w' llln«—
constantly
donned some khaki trousers which
of k
M*LLWor.n, out' Otl" ’r Siine
has been a day of rejoicing and of com’. l.h* Ju,1° " calendar hnvlng be­
tlmee h.?~ir b l,'l,I"r <*l«order are eome-
he had bought a year ago at a war
come
11
days
alow
by
that
time
par-
t e l o S . " - “ ’ ' ,C‘ aty Of
B.«,uen.
g ift giving; and history tells 11,
surplus store but had never worn
!h atr h iB aby,on’ 3'000 y®a«-« before lament ordered that the day fob
n 7 'fy Boon’, PHIt. Doon'» help the
A green jacket and red cap com­
lowing September 3. 1752, would b ,
the Christian era, the day was
w , . t ? V h i 0,,. h»rm,ul •»'«•« body
pleted his costume. He practiced
cred to Marduk, the solar i S
of' September 14, and that the legal
»nV.^ J \ 7 hl?iT* h* d mor» th»n h lll •
kf publle approval. Aro recoin-
aim ing the gun at im aginary ta r­
Ja n u a ry t *
whom it was believed that all other
gets, glancing out of the corner of
Tha G re g o ria n calendar Is. |n e t.
Hons WCre bUt various manifest«- fre t, a ra vla lo n e d itio n o f the old
«8*
For Little Fellows
With Big Colds...
■
ms : at.
LAXMWl
Ä-
a
¡ = ä X . ä ä
can
quicker
That Nagins
Backache
VKw
n°Uld ^ ' n °n
Roman ca le n d a r
0
D oans P ills