The best part of our Christmases has been getting together with all the family. There was never a time, up until their deaths, that I didn’t spend Christmas with my parents.

Many times, the gifts were scarce, but the joy was abundant. As the kids grow older some are unable to come home for Christmas and others just have things they would rather do. However, when there is a vacant chair at the table there is sadness in the hearts of Mom and Dad. Edgar Guest talked about that sadness in the following poem . . .

Going Home For Christmas

He little knew the sorrow that was in his vacant chair; He never guessed they’d miss him, or he’d surely have been there; He couldn’t see his mother or the lump that filled her throat, Or the tears that started falling as she read his hasty note; And he couldn’t see his father, sitting sorrowful and dumb, Or he never would have written that he thought he couldn’t come.

He little knew the gladness that his presence would have made, And the joy it would have given, or he never would have stayed.

He didn’t know how hungry had the little mother grown Once again to see her baby and to claim him for her own. He didn’t guess the meaning of his visit Christmas Day Or he never would have written that he couldn’t get away.

He couldn’t see the fading of the cheeks that once were pink, And the silver in the tresses; and he didn’t stop to think How the years are passing swiftly, and next Christmas it might be There would be no home to visit and no mother dear to see.

He didn’t think about it -- I’ll not say he didn’t care. He was heedless and forgetful, or he’d surely have been there.

Are you going home for Christmas? Have you written you’ll be there?

Going home to kiss the mother and to show her that you care?

Going home to greet the father in a way to make him glad?

If you’re not I hope there’ll, never come a time you’ll wish you had.

Just sit down and write a letter -- it will make their heart strings hum With a tune of perfect gladness -- if you’ll tell them that you’ll come.

—CC—

We recently received a letter from our good friend Tom Adams. He always has some interesting items for us to read and we thank him for taking the time to send the following to us.

Dear Bill: Your paper continues to print great reading. You have the usual ingredients of all newspapers, local & area news, ads, editorials, high school sports, legal notices, comics, etc. Plus, you provide humor with Mr. Martin’s and Mr. Bullard’s columns. Both are very talented humor writers. I try to write with, but Doris tells me that I am only half the wit they are; i.e. a halfwit! Now I find THE NEWS to