THE NYSSA GATE CITY JOURNAL. NYSSA. OREGON
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1961
Charlie Mouse's
Pathetic Little Tail
By ANNE STRINGER
(Nyssa High Journalism Student)
Charlie the churchmouse needs
help desperately!
Charlie lived in a tiny church
on the south side of town. It was
Christmas Eve, and Charlie was
busily preparing gifts of cheese
for his buddies on the east side.
His friends liked to call him
“Good-Time Charlie” because he
always remembered everyone at
Christmas.
He was a fine fellow, but even
the churchmouse must celebrate.
Charlie had been indulging in
Christmas cheer (if you know
what we mean).
Ahem! To continue the story,
Charlie was gaily wrapping the
gifts when a short-circuit in one
of the Christmas tree candles
suddenly caused the tree to catch
fire.
After having his tail burned
twice, Charlie realized what had
happened and left in a flash to
get help. He was too late, and
now he is looking for a new
home!
Forward all contributions to
CARE.
Carol Singing Prevalent Everywhere
But Beginning of Custom Is Obscure
"Oh come, all ye faithful, joy
ful and triumphant."
"Silent night, holy night."
"God rest you. merry gentle
men."
"It came upon the midnight
clear, that glorious song of old."
"Oh. little town of Bethle
hem."
"Deck the halls with boughs
of holly."
"On the first day of Christ
mas."
Wherever people gather, the
glad sounds of hymns and carols
ring out at Christmas time, as
they have for centuries.
Although the words and music
of favorite carols are well known,
the meaning of the word “carol”
itself is obscure. One explanation
holds that it comes from the old
French word, “caroler.” meaning
“to dance.” The first carols were
often sung by worshippers danc
ing in a circle.
There is also the belief that
“carol” comes from the Greek
word for flute player, in compli
ment to the musicians who played
for the Christmas ring - dances.
Still another thought is that car
ols originated with the songs of
the Roman Saturnalia
St. Francis Leads Singing
The name. “Father of the Christ
mas Carol,” is often given to St
Francis of Assisi. At Greccio in
1224 he arranged a Nativity scene
and led the singing of songs of
praise to the Christ Child. Al
though carols had been sung ear
lier, this act by St. Francis gave
impetus to the idea of happy sing
ing at the Christmas season.
Early carols were in Latin. As
carols gained popularity during
the 14th and 15th centuries, many
people preferred to sing in their
own languages and new carols
were developed.
The growth of carols was help
ed 1 along by “wassailing” or
“gooding” expeditions. Children
went from house to house, singing
songs and receiving treats.
First Carols Printed in 1521
Wynkyn de Word, apprentice
to the famous English printer,
Caxton, issued the first printed
book of carols in 1521.
Later, English people learned
carols from printed “broadsides”
which sold for a penny. When
the Puritans abolished holiday
observances in the 17th century,
the broadsides were still printed
and “bootlegged” to the public.
Students of Christmas stories
might be puzzled whether it was
carol singing or carol stinging in
an English legend. According to
the legend, bees used to gather on
Christmas eve to hum carols.
Christmas Season
Brings Good Will
PAGE FIFTEEN
Lei s Pul Chris! Back Into Christmas
By Thinking About Its True Meaning
By JACKIE BARNHOUSE
(Nyaa* High Journalism Student)
com.,l.tu14 . dor.
H,m._
This Christmas Christ should
be put back into Christmas. There
is a great story behind this day.
The first to know about the
birth of Christ were the shep
herds.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of
the Lord shone round about them,
and the angel said unto them,
‘Fear not: for. behold I bring you
good tidings of great joy which
shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, which is Christ
the Lord. And this shall be a
sign unto you: ye shall find
the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.’
"And suddenly there were with
the angel a multitude of heaven
ly hosts praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward
men.’
"As the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shep
herds said to one to another, ‘Let
us now go even unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which the Lord
hath made known unto us.’ And
they came with haste, and found
J
"ADESTE FIDELIS," one of the earliest Christmas hymns, is now
one of the most popular — said io be sung, around the world,
more often than any other. It is sung to the tune of "Cantus
Diversi." published in 1751, and it probably existed much earlier.
Il has been translated into 120 languages from the original Latin.
Of the 40-some English versions, the best known is the one by
Frederick Oakley.
“F-
tk vuxjui
1 & I f
CHRISTMAS
jwl
By MARILYN SCHOENEMAN
(Nyssa Hi|jh Journalism Student)
NYSSA PHARMACY
Christmas is a glorious time of
the year. People all follow, more
enthusiastically, that one particu
lar fashion of being kind to each
other and helping mankind. Peo
ple are seen scurrying to and fro
with that certain gleam of happi
ness in their eyes.
Children all suddenly try their
hardest to be “good little boys
and girls,” so that Santa will
bring them gifts. Many children
follow the fad of staying awake
to see Santa, though few of them
succeed.
At this time of the year, more
happiness is seen than ever be
fore. It would be glorious, in
deed, if people would only follow
this wonderful fashion the year
around.
In Oxfordshire, around the 16th
century, every maid-servant had
the right to ask the man for ivy.
If he refused, the maid stole a
pair of breeches and nailed them
to the gate.
Somewhere around the middle
of the fourth century, Pope Julius
established Christmas at Rome on
Dec. 25. This date was finally
accepted by all nations of Chris-
tiandom.
Mary, Joseph, and the babe, lying
in a manger. And when they had
seen him, they told abroad which
they had seen and heard.
“Now, wise men are searching
for Jesus, and are stopped and
asking King Herod saying, ‘Where
is he that is born King of the
Jews’’ When Herod heard this,
he was troubled, and all Jeru
salem with him. He gathered the
chief priest and scribes together
and demanded where this Christ
should be born.
"Herod told the wise men to go
and search diligently for the
young child and when they had
found him, come back and tell
him, so he could worship the
child. They departed and, lo, the
star in the east went before them
until it came and shone where the
young child was.
“When they went into the
house, they saw the child with
Mary, his mother, and fell down
and worshipped him. And they
opened their treasures and pre
sented him gifts of gold, frankin
cense, and myrrh.”
This is only part of the story
of Christmas, but the meaning
should have reached to you. This
Christmas, let’s think more of
Christ, for this is His birthday.
ET
*41
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I
PRUYN'S
AUTO
REPAIR
Merry Christmas
OREGON!
Best Wishes for A Happy
Holiday Season and a
Prosperous New Yearl
Your friends and neighbors at your nearby
First National Branch want to thank you for making
First National "My Bank” for ao many Oregon people.
Aa we meet you at a deak or over a counter, we are
reminded again and again that we live and work in a land at
truly wonderful people. Thank* to you, Oregon, wa look
forward to another pleaaant, atimulating year..
NYSSA BRANCH
MAY a
large measure of the love
inspired two thousand years ago
come to vour family and to all people.
And as we seek spiritual replenishment
at this time, may we remember that
nothing that may appear in the sky
can have the everlasting significance of
the light that appeared over Bethlehem.
DAMO V POWER