A
POINT
IN
TIME
By Shirley Sargent
1 HEY found each other on New
* Year’s Eve- Joe had come to
we party because there was noth
ing else to do and because you
were expected to celebrate the
coming of a new year. To be gay
and happy. Instead he was bored
with the raucous confusion.
Joe was watching the dancers
whirling in prescribed fashion
when he saw the girl in the green
formal. She wasn’t Hollywood-beau
tiful nor was she the wholesome
1ype, but she had beauty. A radi
«»ce? No, Joe answered himself,
she whirled .off in the arrps of
® tall athletic guy, she was too
subdued for radiance. He had seen
enough to make him forget his
horedom. He had seen the pale,
rewind face framed by black hair.
He had looked into her big, dark
■eyes.
Wish Granted
When she reappeared, she looked
directly over her partner’s shoul
der at Joe and her e ye s were
imploring. Joe did not dare to
hesitate for fear of losing his cour
age, but quickly threaded his way
through the dancers and cut in.
One second he was tapping her
.partner's muscular shoulder, the
**ext she had drifted into his arms.
She laughed. “You were star
ing at me and I did need res
cue.”
They danced wordlessly, solemnly
He hardly dared look at her.
■worrying now that he had misread
tile look in her eyes.
•'Thanks.” she said and her low
■voice had a sweetness and an en
thusiasm to it.
Joe said. “You were looking at
Hie then?”
She laughed and glanced up.
“You were positively staring at
me and I did need rescue. So,
thanks. You can leave me now
the music’s stopped/'
, "Oh, please, can’t we be prop
erly introduced? He might come
back and besides,” he went on
rapidly, “when you rescue some
one you have to give artificial
respiration. You wouldn’t want me
to lose my rescuer's badge so
soon?”
“No, of course I wouldn’t.”
Iffheif she laughed, there were
dimples in her cheeks and her eyes,
Sparkled. “But artificial respira
tion here?” The dancers were re
grouping around them.
Important Things
"Outside,” he said and started
ofl, firmly clasping her hand. He
could not bear to lose her and he
knew just two things about his
partner; she was the kind of a
girl he had always searched for
and her left hand was ringless.
She looked up searchingly as
they got their coats from a maid
"If we go out, I warn you I’m not
Come,
Share our
Joy for the
New Year
Palmer Body and Paint
New Year Once Top
Holiday in Russia
Welcoming in the New Year in
Pre-revolutionary Russia was a
rousing affair—a booming 100 can
non shots fired at midnight.
In Petrograd, now Leningrad,
the streets would be jammed with
merrymakers. After the booming
cannon ushered in the New Year,
the Czar would formally receive
the good wishes of his subjects
On New Year’s Day the winter
palace was open to society. Fes
tivity reigned throughout the city
and hospitality and charity were
the watchwords from palace to
cottage. {
uvsen influence
The mythical Ovsen was sup
posed to be around at this time.
He was usually depicted astride a
boar, symbolically associated with _
the pork served for New Year din
ner and. the, synjbolism of Aryan
descent.
Ovsen’s name (similar to the
French word for oats) suggests
his influence over matters pertain
ing to the harvest. Since earliest
times Russian boys were accus
tomed to go from house to house
encouraging everyone “across” the
gulf between the Past and the Fu
ture Year, while scattering oats
and other grains in petition for a
bountiful harvest.
coming 'bacic.’’
“Wonderful.” Joe swung the
door open and followed her out
into the frosty air. “Why? Were
you bored too?”
“Stiff. All that meaningless chat
ter, everyone trying so hard to
find the gaiety associated with New
Year’s Eve. Why?”
They were walking slowly down
a well-lighted residential street.
“Why? The holiday spirit? Trying
to be conventional, not wanting
to stay home when everyone else
is at a party. I don’t know, not
really. I was there for lack oi
anything better to do. What do you
think should be done on New
Year’s Eve?”
Point In Time
“Well, it’s a point in time,” she
spoke thoughtfully, their steps
slowed. “A time to put the past
year in perspective.”
“You mean assessing w’hat’s
been done or left undone?”
“Yes, and looking forward too
Oh, I know how we laugh at New
Year’s resolutions, but what bette
time for inner resolutions? Do I
sound very foolish to you?”
"No, very dear.” It was out be
fore he could stop it. Hurriedly he
tried to bypass it. “I’ve often
thought that wild parties were the
wrong way to greet a New Year
Just think of the aching heads!”
Suddenly, she halted and taking
his hand, pointed. Hand in hand,
they entered the lighted church
where they knelt silently, so sud
denly two youn^ hearts filled with
joy.
When someone you love passes
on. you'll appreciate the com
forting and dignified way in
which we handle things. Ouf
peaceful service will do much
to lighten your burden of so
row and help you find the com
fort you need. Let us be of
service when you need us.
PALMER
FUNERAL CHAPEL
WM. BOUWENS, Mgr.
# May the year bring you
* peace and happiness.
Matanuska Valley
Federal Credit Union
THE
The New Year cometh and the old year must depart, and so has it
been for centuries.
Once every 365 days, the world pauses for a moment of reflection,
for a brief but meaningful examination of self and surroundings. Then,
with a shrug, a new, unlettered page is prepared to record the fulfill
ment of a new set of ambitions, intentions and purposes.
Through the centuries customs and traditions have contributed to
the New Year observance to make it more than a time to mark the
passing of another era. It is a season of awakening to the realization
that we have not accomplished all of the things once planned. It is a
time to be grateful for the blessings received. It is a time to plan and
hope; to lay the mental foundation for new ambitions and aspirations.
While New Year resolutions are no more worthy, nor more likely
to be kept, than resolutions made at Thanksgiving or Christmas, there
is a psychological advantage that favors the custom of making New
Year promises. The New Year marks the beginning of another era
and, in a sense, we start with "a clear slate.” There are other ad
vantages, too. We are older, wiser, and should have profited from our
experiences, good and bad.
One need not make resolutions, however, to profit from the coming
of a New Year. Blueprint ambitions and dreams are no more im
portant than a determined effort* to do things a little better, learn a
little more and give whatever talents we may possess to the making
of a better world in which we live.
And there’s no better time to start than with the New Year, when
each bright new page on the calendar has ample room to record every
achievement.
BAHA’I WORLD
God hath sent down His Messengers to succeed to Moses and
Jesus, and He will continue to do so till "the end that hath
no end"; so that His grace may be continually vouchsafed
' to mankind • , . Baha' u' Hah
FOR INFORMATION WRITE; BOX 1512, Star Route A,
! SPENARD, ALASKA PHONE 767*4
FAITH
k
WE WISH YOU A
jrom the first day
to the last, we hope
that 1958 is a year in which
everything goes exactly right for you and yours.
ART STAGY GO.
WHOLESALERS
„ 4 The new year rides into the dawn of the interplanetary era . . . sees man
pushing back ever further the horizons of his knowledge . . . piercing the
mysteries of outer-space ... in effect, mounting his first stepping stone to the
stars! Earth satellites will carry devices of ever-greater intricacy and precision
to measure, record and relay data on outer sfxice, placing in man's hands a
vast wealth of information never before available, and facing him with the
deep responsibility of using this information wisely and constructively.
MATANUSKA VALLEY BANK