Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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SPECTATOR 27 You say that even though these things are true, the nat- ural trees furnish more enjoyment for the children than do the artificial trees. Granted. But are not the beauties and necessities of nature of more importance than a week’s pleas- ure? At the end of the week the tree is taken down and we pay to have it hauled away. I think it is an acknowledged fact that it does not seem so much like Christmas if we do not have a Christmas tree, but generally speaking, it is not so much the kind of tree we have as the mere idea that we are celebrating the old Christmas custom. So why not deny ourselves the little pleasure of having evergreen trees at the expense of nature and in their stead buy artificial Christmas trees, which can be made to give just as much pleasure and to express as truly the spirit of the season.

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26 SPECTATOR “The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.” The music stopped. Childish voices were heard chat- tering to each other but the sound seemed far away. The candles flickered and the flames hopped about, but the sol- emn stillness rested upon the group. They were held silent by thoughts of true Christmas holiness. We Christmas Tree D. H. T4 The time of year is now approaching when our thoughts are turned toward the Christmas tree and its glittering trim- mings. If we should happen along the country roads, we should see people dragging wagon-loads of evergreens from the woods to their homes, and in the town the streets are lined with trees. We always associate pleasant ideas with these scenes, but, nevertheless, the thoughtful person can- not but see harm in the continuance of this old custom. Itr is hard to give up a habit as old and as dear as this one. There is, however, something to take its place. Many people have, for the last few years, used artificial trees. They are not, it is true, so pretty or so large as the evergreens. How- ever, each year they are made larger, in more useful sizes, and more substantially. They may be trimmed to look just as pretty as the natural trees and. furthermore, they are not so expensive. It is true that an artificial tree costs more than a natural tree, but we have to expend money every year for evergreens, whereas, an artificial tree, once bought, lasts for years, and in the long run, money is saved. When we encourage the cutting down of the evergreens, we do not realize the harm we are doing. Evergreen trees contain moisture and keep forest fires from spreading rap- idly. Then, too, winter birds build their nests in the thick branches of the pine tree and when it is cut down, the nest is destroyed.

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28 SPECTATOR The Greedy Shepherd Once upon a time there lived in the South two brothers whose business it was to keep sheep on a green, grassy plain, which was bounded on one side by a forest, and on the other by high hills. No one lived on that plain but shepherds, who dwelt in low cottages, and watched their sheep so carefully that no lamb was ever lost. Not one of these shepherds had ever traveled beyond the foot of the forest. There were none among them more careful than these two brothers, one of whom was called Covetous, and the other Kind. Although these two men were brothers, there could not be two more unlike in disposition. Covetous thought of nothing but to snatch and keep some profit for himself, while Kind would share his last morsel with any one. The greedy mind of Covetous made him keep all his father’s sheep, after the old man was dead, because he was the eld- est brother, allowing Kind nothing but the place of a servant to help him to look after them. About twice a year traders would come to this far off land to trade their goods and money for the wool clipped from the backs of the sheep. One time near Christmas a trading party came to get some wool from Covetous and Kind. They praised the wool of Covetous’ flocks above all they had seen on the plain, and gave them the highest price for it. This was an unlucky day for Covetous’ flock, because ever after that he would clip the sheep as bare as if they had been shaven, and as soon as the wool grew long enough to keep them warm he was ready with the shears again. Kind didn’t want his brother to do this and they had many a quarrel over it, but Covetous tried to persuade him that close clipping was good for the sheep. Covetous sold the wool and stored up his profits, and as one year passed after another, the shepherds began to think him a very rich man. It was summer again and the wool had grown well. Covetous had taken two crops off his sheep, and was think- ing of taking the third, although the days were now begin-