Image provided by: Nyssa Public Library; Nyssa, OR
About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1964)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1964 THE NYSSA GATE CITY JOURNAL, NYSSA, OREGON Nyssa Sixth Grade Students Write Poems Covering Wintertime Topics These are some of the poems written recently, as an assign ment, by Nyssa students in Elvin Ballou’s sixth grade class room. They cover subjects from animals to Christmas day. Both Ballou and the Journal publishers feel that they will be enjoyed by many readers. Stocking Up Begins With Santa Claus Act Santa Claus, envisioned today as a jolly, cheerful man with an affinity for children, was a ro manticist too, according to leg end. The first Santa Claus, St. Nich olas, started the custom of hang ing stockings by the chimney when h i s romantic heart was touched and he gifted a bankrupt merchant’s three marriageable daughters with gold for their dowries. Desiring anonyimity, he tossed the three bags of gold through the window, or, as some tell it, down the chimney. One of the bags landed in a stocking which had been hung up to dry on the mantelpiece. Hanging up stockings thus be came part of the holiday ritual. HORSE DRAWS SLEIGH Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Rudolph would cause no excite ment in the Netherlands where children believe that a horse pulls St. Nicholas’ sleigh. The great horse is named Sleipner, and the Dutch children fill their wooden shoes with hay for him. This gives him energy to get St. Nick to every house. OWYHEE TRUCK & IMPLEMENT CO TREE CANDLES PREFERRED The celebration of a West Ger man Christmas is filled with tra dition, foremost of which is the Christmas tree, dating back 400 years. Until recently, trees were trimmed with candles and al though artificial lighting for tree ornaments has been introduced, the candles are still preferred by many. and warmest wishes to all our friends Christmas Day This November Day On Christmas Day the snow Lay soft and thick and white, But Santa Claus had come To see us in the night. He filled my little stocking; I knew he’d not forget— O, thank you, thank you, Santa; Perhaps I’ll meet you yet. You always are so kind to rne When Christmas comes around. I often wonder how you come; You never make a sound. —By Janie Farmer. It was cold and bleak November On that first Thanksgiving Day, With wilderness all around, With hardship and courage along the way— For there was little food and shel ter. They built a church near a bay, But as freely as they please, They will worship and pray. But with their favorite Indian friends, They sang their grateful phrase Of their love and thanks, In their humble kind of way. Now we live in a modern world, Where the children laugh and When fall comes ’round, Play, And leaves drift to the ground Mr. Winter is on his way down. But we’ll never forget the thanks For November’s Thanksgiving The animals all storing food Day. For the cold months; For this great land of the free, For Mr. Winter has been known We honor the Pilgrim Fathers’ To pull terrible stunts. stay, All the animals so busy— Who did much for you and me, To watch makes one dizzy. For the wonderful land today. Such chatter, such screeching —By Janis Takami. With crows in trees preaching. But when Mr. Winter comes THANKSGIVING The creatures are snug in the On the 26th of November (this nest; year), God planned it that way Is a special day, And his way is best. To thank the Lord for all we have, -By Mardi Tensen. In all we do and say. —By Susan Howes. Mr. Winter GATE CITY CLEANERS • jgw. Christmas Christmas comes in Wintertime; Big bells begin to chime. Jesus’ birth we celebrate, By being friends with small and great. Christmas is a time for fun. Sometimes boys get a popgun; Sometimes girls get little dolls, And little babies get big balls. Christmas is a happy day; Little children act very gay. Hope you have lots of fun— Merry Christmas everyone! —By Frank Sells. WHEN THE AIR IS CRISP AND CLEAR AND COLD The air is crisp and clear and cold, Although this school is very old. Its walls are crumbled And a bit jumbled; The doors hang wrong And the walls aren’t strong. The floors are bowed And the books are sewed. The teachers are nice If you can break the ice When the air is crisp and clear and cold. —By Dellas G. Frederiksen. THE RABBIT THAT IS NO MORE I had a little rabbit; He was always blue. I never had any fun with him, So I made some stew. —By Kyle Lassiter. IN SOUTH PACIFIC For Fiji Islanders, Christmas starts at 2 a.m. when carolers wake the villagers with serenades. At dawn, when everyone is awake and assembled, some at tend church while others take care of preparing the feast. Sober Reminder . . . Want to stay alive for ’65? Stay out of the deadly “Holiday Fol lies.” Don’t drink and drive. This sober reminder is from the Traf fic Safety and Education division of the Oregon Department of Mo tor Vehicles. heartfelt prayer at this holy Christmas season. WILD GEESE Wild geese are flying south today; I’ll play in the falling snow And make icicles crack— Then when spring brings sunny days again, I’ll watch the geese fly back. —By Richard Beck. DR. K. A. DANFORD