The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-24
ONE DAY MORE AND THEN CHRISTMAS
Preparations Of Weeks End ing Monday As Birmingham
 Makes Ready

All the days and finally the hours of vivid anticipation, all the visions of sugar plums, all the exhiliration of gift buying, all the happy and hurried preparation and all the sentimental meditation peculiar to the pre-holi day season are nearly over. One day more and then the great day.
 For weeks Christmas carols have proclaimed from hundreds of young throats the approach of the Yuletide season. It has been in truth sea son of vivid anticipation for the youth of the land and of Birmingham in particular. Holly bedecked class rooms have lent joyous atmosphere to the routine of school work for two weeks at least. Lessons have given way to Christmas, to Santa Claus and to all the romance childhood as sociates with the great occasion. At last the momentous day has arrived,
 A blaring of tin horns, the tinkle of a toy piano, the hum of me chanical train and the thump of drums speak in unmistakable tones of the joy that is childhood's heritage al Christmas time. It has always been so, probably it always will be.
 Retrospectiyely older people live again through the proceeding week and what week it was, damned full of shopping tours, crowded street cars, loads of bundles, broken wrap ping cords, drizzlirg rains and what not.
 To many, the anticipation will far surpass the actually. To others the situation is reversed. Anyway Christmas time is here, and what mat ters wealth, society, or social status al Christmas time anyway.
 Uncle John, Aunt Sue, Sister Mary and the kids will have come to see you. Haven't seen them in whole year maybe, anyway their being with you will brighten the ruddy glow of the open hearth. How much more cheer ful the bounteous feast by reason of their presence.
 Firecrackers and bonfires, the new bicycle or some roller skates. To the sportsman-an eager dog, the trusty gun and the elucive call of Bob White will be irresistible. Tired but happy they will return at dusk, ready for the evening feast of turkey, as trad itional and indispensable at Christmas as it is at Thanksgiving.
 Birmingham will spend this Christ mas precisely as she has spent many proceeding ones and as she will spend many others to come Thou SanQS VIII dHSWef tllS SOLb pSSAlli5 oA the church bell and worship at their favorite altar. Special fuletide serv- ices have been arranged in many of the churches of the city for Tues day.
 By far the greater majority will live at home Christmas, kids again for the moment, enthused if they won't admit it, over he way "she takes the curve" speaking of Johhnie's train. or blowing tin cans sky high with the crackers too big for Johnnie to handle.
 The golf course, a picture show, an afternoon ride, or the theatre will all have their appeal, until again the cozy intimacy of the fireside will call them home.
 Now its late, the kids are sleepy and have left their toys in a scat tered heap on the floor. The clock strikes and points impertinently to the lateness of the hour. Outside an occasional rocket Eliminates the sky or the dull boom of a giant cannon cracker echoes and re-echoes through the dismal darkness. Finally they cease entirely.
 One by one the windows are dark ened until there only remains the unsteady flicker of few fast dying fires. Soon silence reigns again on earth and another Christmas Is his tory. Remaining there is treasure of memories of the Babe born in a manager and of the Star of Bethlehem which still shines brightly for those who seek it's guiding light, just as 1t did when discovered by the wise men of the East, many years ago.