DECEMBER 1s,1941

m“ ERNIE TIIE GREENIE

BY SPEIIGER FIIEEII

TIIKC .

gm]; Tapwell had managed to ‘as to Canada after obtaining his discharge from the British Army. Evq-ybody said the Dominion was ms place for a young man in quest ,1 fortune.

Actually his luck had proved fit- lul and capricious. indeed the only ml; Ernie seemed to have encoun- tered was bad luck. The Jobs he ll-led ivere not suited to him,. or ygl-hapa inversely he was not suit- ed to them. A short time before Christmas he found himself pretty much on his uppers, \vhich is sup- msd to mean that he had very mpty pockets and no Job in sight to meet the landladys demands ‘or money.

For a chap who didn't drink liq- ior-or even beer -and tried to be decent he felt life had used him a trifle roughly. lt was wiiile pon- derifig this manifest injustice at his drab boarding house that Lady Luck actually winked at him. A chap staying at the boarding house lapped him on the shoulder. There's | guy at the Empire Hotel looking for men to go to a lumber camp ind cut trees." he stated, "why don't you give it a tryi"

Ernie was at the Empire Hotel in iia time A stocky man with one ‘iugt diamond in his scarf pin and anoi-ler on a plump hand, looked mm over sardonically.

“You a iumberman?" he demand- ed in a tone that gave the answer in advance. Ernie shook his head despondeniiy and admitted h: wasn't.

"Couldn't tell a spruce tree from a poplar. I reckon." said his ques- tioner. "How long in Canada?" Er- his told him. The man shook his head. "Give you a job as cookie. ivsitin‘ on the cook house tables and iviishin‘ dishes." he offered. No hard work. Peelin‘ potatoes, an‘ Jobs like that." Ernie accepted this without hesitation. There would be no tiresome board bills blankets and bunk came free.

"My name is Carstairs -- Sam Carstairs-J’ the man at the hotel 531d, and scribbled something on a iiip of paper and handed it to Er- nie. "Give this in to the Super’ of- lice at the camp." he said’ not un- rindiy. "and you'll be put to work.‘

3o that was Sam Carstairs the Chicago millionaire, Ernie reflect- id, as he packed his few things and made ready to leave for the lum- ber camp. Everyone knew Sam Csrstairs in that part of British Columbia, the Chicago millionaire who had amassed a fortune out of ‘. le shrewd buying up and control i; Canadian timber limits . . .

Ernie found the duties at the camp not too onerous. He was for- tunate enough to make friends with the head cook, which often stood iiim in good stead. The rough lum- bermen in camp ragged him n great deal about his "English accent” and dubbed him Ernie the Greenie, and so he was known lo them all.

in the afternoons he was free. snd used to roam through the vast woodlands, glad to get away from me monotony of camp life for 1i few hours. It was on a bright and ssnshiny afternoon a few days be- fore Christmas that he met ihe grimly. They looked at each other in mutual aston- ishment, the bear and the man. This was far outside the operating timber limits, and the grizzly was as surprised as Ernie. Their recep- tion towards each other however was not altogether similar. The grizzly bear gave a loud grunt of annoyance and as it sounded like a bears polite hint to be gone Quickly. Ernie being an obliginiz sort of chap found wings on his heels and h-avelied fast.

When he got back and recounted his dramatic experience with the lrizzly bear. the entire camp roared with laughter. Ernie received plenty o.’ advice on what to do next time. including the time worn joke about carrying one of the salt shakers from the tables with him for emer- Ifliry use. On one thing all the rough lumbermen were fully agreed -thst if a man was unarmed. he should climb a tree for safety, as l rrizzly alone of the beni- Spo"lt‘5 in Canada is unable to climb trees due to his excessive weight. Ernie

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didn't dare explain to the boister- ous lumber Jacks that he wasn't very good at climbing trees himself.

Three days before Christmas a. sensational piece of news struck the cam-p. and the lumber lacks for- got Ernie the Greenie. The Big Boss was coming out to the camp on a tour of inspection and would be staying over the Christmas holi- nay.

There was great excitement in iJie culinary department of the lumber camp, with the head cook hopping around likes. hen on a liot stove. Neverhad the Big Shot stayed for Christmas before. Er- erything must be spic and span. and tiiere would have to be a special table with special‘ cooking for the millionaire. Mysterious boxes of edibics and drinks arrived. and a couple of turkeys, one for the cooks and cookies themselves, and one for the Boss and his table 1t pio- mised to be an exciting aid mem- orable Christmas . . .

On Christmas Eve at supper time. conversation at the Boss's table had turned to wild game and the fore- man related Ernie's adventure with the grizzly. Presently the super beckoned Ernie over.

"Mr. Cairstairs has been hearing about your meeting up with a grizzly ba'ar,“ said the Super. “lie wants you to go out and bring him in as a trophy to take back with him to Chicago . . . What about it, son. You can take my rifle, and you know how to shoot!"

Ernie found Sam Chi-stairs shrcwd eyes studying iiim \\iII1 a half-amused half-rluizzical survey, and something broke loose inside iiim. He'd call their bluff.

“X could try it, sir," he answer- ed, respectfully.

"All right," the Super ans-sored {or the Big Boss, "that's settled then."

Sam Carstnirs rciiciicci across the the table for the bottle, poured gen- erously into his glam, and invited the others to fill up. it was a br and o.‘ imported ivhiskey of exceptional quality‘, and Sum Carat-airs was be- ginning to think well of the world.

"land's Okayi" he told them. as Ernie disappeared into the kitchen. "Wiliin’ to try. That's the spirit l like. Tell him to come hcre azaiii. The Super rose quickly and called io Ernie from the kitchen door."

Ernie hurried in a disiiciotii still in his hand.

Sam Carstairs put down his glass and eyed the cookee. "You git that grizzly bear for nie Clirismus Day -clead or alive -:ind I'm handin‘ you a cheque for One Thousand Dollars!"

"Yes sir. Thank you sir," Ernie replied, and scurried back to the kitchen. The Bosses were all hav- iiig a good laugh together. The ivliiskcy was doubtless beginning to work!

U O O

Ernie found himself an object for inucii interest and much jestiug on Christmas morning. The head cook had his instructions from higher up, and beckoning to Ernie told him a good Christmas dinner was to be packed for him - with tur- key and all the trimmings - and asked him what he would like to drink to keep his courage.

"Pack in a vacuum flask of hot coffee," Ernie suggested.

“‘I‘hat'i1 do me fine. I don't want anv hard stuff!"

The heal cook sighed. Funny chap that. 'ouidn’t even ask for a drink on Christmas Day. Well, it was so much more for the rest . . .

With his Christmas dinner swung over one shoulder and a loaded magazine rifle under his arm, Ernie felt almost as though he was back iii the Army. After three or four hours of heavy tram-ping he decid- ed there was no grizzly, but there was a good Christmas dinner to hand. He stacked his rifle against a tree in a sheltered little wooded zieil. and did ample justice to his dinner. There must have been some mistake about the drinks though, for he discovered the flask of cof- fee had been omitted and a quart bottle of imported Scotch whiskey of a famous brand substituted . . .

Actually what had happened wrii this. The millionaire boss had

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Think of Youth Th is Christmas

(By Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Pophun G.C.V.0., RC3» C.M.G., D.-O._ AJ-ZC.)

Christmas is by tradition. and in fact, a period of happiness and of family reunions. both being di- iectly associated with children. Without them. Christmas lacks not merely one of its constituent parts. but its mainspring; they help, in- deed force us, to throw off the out- ward cares of life and make con- tact with the inner joys of love and aniseifishness.

We elders owe much, not only to children at certain seasons, but to ycuth at all times. For as the years creep on, our minds are apt. to grow rigid, our ideas to be over- laid with a tangled mass of facts and information bewildering in quantity and often contradictory. To balance this we need close con- tact with the initiative and flexi- biiity of youth - with its flashes of insight, which, having but a thin covering to pierce, can pene- trate down to ultimate truths.

YESTERDAY’S FANTASY, TODAY'S FACT

Up to the present. we have hard- iy made full use of this potential- ity; but adaptability we must have. i! our brains are to keep pace with the rapidity of scientific and tech- nical developments of today. The very basis on ivhich we were taught rkemisiryl up to the end of ihe i9th century. Iius been knocked ii- sicie through vhc disintegration of (I16 atom, ivl-iifl-t the transmutation of elements. deemed but recently to be a mere fanth-qa of past cen- turies, has become an established fact.

Surely. events of the past thirty years prove that uuless we do keep pace with these developments, we

shall fail to utilize them for the benefit of mankind and merely

hatched an idea. If they slipped a quart bottle of mountain dew inio the chap's haversack it was a cinch the only grizzly bear he would bring in would be a Christmas headache.

Ernie felt thirsty, but lit a cigar- slit. The quart of whiskey he prop- pcd up oii the snow and debated whether he would take a pot shot at it. but decided it would esseii his. chances of locating the grizzly. The contents of the bottle cast a glowing and colorful light on the hliOW.

Ho was smoking compicicently iviieii iic gave a start of surprise. Same primitive instinct warned him he was not alone. Giancing over flIS shoulder he almost collapsed. Behind iiim some thirty yards away stood the grizzly bear, sniffing eagerly at the remnants of the roast turkey. ft was no time for courteous exchanges or the season's compliments. Notwithstanding the handicap of his great coat. Ernie found himself up the nearest tree and out on a. branch. As for the giizziy he gave a whoof of approv- al at Ernie's flight‘ and proceeded on a tour of inspection. The first object of his attention was the abandoned rifle. This he promptly smashed with a blow that would have felled an ox. The remnants o1 the luncheon proved disappoint- ing to a huge and hungry grizzly bear. and he looked up at Ernie and licked his chops!

Suddenly the grizzly potted the bottle propped up in the snow, and shuffled over to investigate. Hod nearly overlooked that possible tit bit. He examined it with his snout and peered at it approviiigly with his small piggish eyes. Not to be banked he tore the cork off the Lottie with his teeth, and lapped iloubtfuliy at the contents. Hot and swcctisii. He lapped some more and decided it was delicious. Something stirred in his bear memory. Once before he had raided and robbed a hunter's cabin during the own- er's absence. and had then acquired his first taste for liquor. This lap- ping business was too slow. The grizzly picked the bottle up expert- ;y from the snow, and holding it aloft between his enormous fore- pmlvs, sat down on his haunches and drank almost like a perfect gentleman .. .i

Ernie decided after a couple of hours that it “.15 a miserable ilvay to spend Christmas Day perched up iii a tree with u grizzly bear wait- ing for him downstairs. The bear looked pretty lzroggy though and might leave for his den soon. Then it happened. Without warning the branch of the tree broke and Ernie landed on top of the bear. For a minute lie was too dumbfounded to move. Why the grizzly was iieip- icssiy drunk and simply ignored iiim. Ernie clambered off and sur- vcyed the bear. The bear waved his massive head back and forth as though he were drugged, and couldn't even muster a growl . . .

high - tailing it for camp, with big news. He had captured the grizzly! When Iie dashed in. too breaihicss to talk coherently, the camp laughed uliroariously and figured the grizzly had chased him agaiii._ This gave way to amaze- ment when iio told his story, and liie whoic camp turned out —Ii‘i- ciao-Rig the Big Boss himself - to verify the story. The concensus of opinion was that Ernie the Grcciiie had indulged in one drink too many. and was seeing things . . Anywny_ thc millionaire lumber- msn from Chicago has his trophy on display in his palatial home in that city, and when showing II to visitors admits somewhat doiefuiiv Phat it set him back one f-hOUSiflfI bucks . . . and the fellow who did the trick was a greenhorn!

TEE END.

The characters in this story are cntireiy imaginary. No reference is intended to any living person or to

Rm‘ puhiic oi private company.

Once more Ernie found himself ,

0 Shepherds Say?

(Queile est cette odeui- agreeable?»

What perfume this, O Shepherds. 55y.

That sweetens all the cold night

air? Faint breath of cv'ry sweet spring flower Making the winter snowfieids fair? What perfume this, O shepherd...

SEY- That sweetens all the cold nigh‘. air? -

0 whence this star that sudden shines

Across the dark upon our sight?

Never the sun in all his glory

shed such a wondrous tender light

O whence this star that suddei. shines

Across the dark upon our sight?

In Bethlehem a cradle rocks A babe-oui- Saviour and our King Come let us kneel in adoration. While Angel hosts His Praises sing In Bethlehem a cradle rocks A babe-our Saviour and our King. —Faith Liddeii.

follow behind. led unwillingly a- long paths we would fain avoid. towards some end we know not, but fear. Can we not call in the aid of youth more than has been done in the past, and utilize the freshness of young minds to iieip us make these developments oui servants instead of letting them be- come our masters?

THINGS THAT MATTER

Flexibility, however, Iilli its (‘Ifilb gers unless it. too, is imlrin-zcii. ll iiay be led astray by wild imagina- lions and fail to pursue a line oi development for a timi- sullincnt to obtain any result. eveii if only to prove that the trail is false. Anti thus, in the same way as age re- quires the inspiration of youth, so much youth he given the steady- iiig influence of cxpericnrc.

And it is not merely in material things that this Iilillifiilteqis rc- quircd, but also fii the spiritual realm. For the passing years giva us the opportunity to distinguish bztiveen the temporary and the permanent to learn what are the things that really matter. that truth and unseifishness. sense oi’ duty and the spirit of service arc eternal realities, unaffected by dis- iovcrics and inventions.

The elders among us have much cause to be grateful to childhood lino youth. We must show our grati- rude not so much by moral pre- ccpis, but hy giving them the means of acquiring at an early age what we Ii1i\'E! learnt by long and Dosibly painful experiences.

ORGANIZED UNSELFISHNESS

Youth movements there are in plenty. We must be careful that they do not gravitate in wrong directions. that they do not cater r-ntirely for amusement or individ- ual advancement. for liiis will lead only to selfishness. It is in organi- zations suvli as the Boy Sroiils followed by the cadet corps that

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the best opportunities are givcii for the development of character and for acquiring thc sense of duty and service.

Objections to cadet corps are sometimes raised. by those who have but little knowledge of them, on the grounds that iliey encour- iige a militaristic outlook and io- IiiClli. nationalist feeling. iiiis mcre- 1y shows failure to realize that tlic effect of drill is to encourage self- control an ilto develop team work; that discipline is organized unself- ishness; that patriotism is pride in the ideals that formed and now cement the Empire, iii truth and justice. freedom and chivalry. It is good citizenship that the cadet corps produce, not an aggressive spirit.

In no better way can age rc- pay its debt to youth than by iieip- ing actively in the work of these corps. And apart from that, the participants will be doing a great. work for our race and will find an inspiration for themselves in the kcciiiicss and enthusiasm of the cadets.

They Hated Christmas

Ycs, believe it or not. there have been folks wlio hated the idea of Chnsuiins jollity so iiiu.h that they did ail llzcgl COLIICI do ‘o i-IIIIK" it (oi ail tziiic. SVFUU’ , i.l‘i'.. 21:1 Iiiiii" Dickens (‘I1Ziffi'."lEl','\'.'Ll5 iiot Llic o'.i.‘y oiic.

Oliver Cromwell secured the passing of a law “foybidziing iner- rimeiit or religious service oii Christmas Driy." Tu brcak that law was to vOnlmII lrcrisciii!

In 16.315 ilic Government. i0 show their iiiicr contempt for Christmas, called upon the shopkeepers to keep open oii Cliristnins Day, in ilie hope that they vvoziid prevent the COLiHIi'_\‘IOIIi joining Ill tCIG- oration and jOIIIIIUZLtIOII. As for the CIliISIillHS pudding, then lic- ccmiiig popular, Oiivcr Cromwell refused lo have it anywhere witliiil iiiiles of him.

One of Crumwclls most earnest cicvotccs \\ 41s .1 mun named Hezb-

EAN'I‘A'S (IHRISTMAS FLIGHT SOLUTION

Contlnucd from page 4)

Santa Claus visited the foi- lowing towns on his round the world flight on Christmas riightI London, DLIIJIIXT. Belfast. Limr UlKiull. Wiiiiiilicg. J.-iiii;iit~ (.i_l~"‘ ‘Town, Jiciclaiiic, Sydney‘, 5i 41i- liore, Ceylon, Delhi, Cyprus, Ma‘. a l Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Oslo oui Glasgow. i

kizih Wood, who wrote a long pamphlet denouncing Christmas. iii: ixrotc that Christmas Day “as zhc "DYOQIlQTIE man's icllc flay." a zlriy of drunkenness and vsantoii- ness.

Even when the Festive Season became a recognized festival — that; was lifter Cromwell‘ of course ~only one days holiday was al-I .o\v'cd. nut in i871. Sir John huh-l bovk, later l0 become Lord Ave- bury, succeeded in getting a Bill passed making the day foiloiviiii; Christmas Dziy a _ public BARR Zioliday.

The “Christ Flower”

One flower appears in most homes at Christmas time - the

chiysxiiciicnzuni. You may imagine

‘pni bus 2s a nuiural happening, iui BIZL‘ u.‘ tntic are ieiv omier Lo-rvcis at the end of December flrluailgc, the chrysanliicmum --- which mcuns “Christ flower." ha! the story of the Sa-

tliat the Wise Mcii. when . to lot-ale iiic stable wiicrc hiarg and lIlL Cliiiri were i_\'i !».l.\\' if smull slur-like flou- i.r at tlic side of ihe road. One oi them stooped down lo pluck it~ rind as lie did so, the stable dot" oliciicd, revealing the birthplace of CJPISI.

Thai first clrvsaililiclnum. A: it became known, was white. Tu- (lay. ilie floivers that ziace ' oui Christmas festivities iliii)’ be. any vuioiil- from lliue to uiid oranGII proof of tiie florists art.