TOMORROW: Of course, tomorrow is Christmas Day. In keeping with
tradition, The Era will not publish on Dec. 26. Since a newspaper
requires employees to work throughout a day – our carriers,
business office, editors and reporters, compositors, pressmen and
stuffers – it’s rare when we can all take a day off together. So
this year is doubly nice because Christmas falls on a Sunday so, lo
and behold, we actually have two days off in a row! Merry Christmas
to all our employees, customers, advertisers, and readers. See you
Tuesday.[neWLine]

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PEACE!: Merle Johnson passes along a poem, “”Christmas on the
Farm,”” which we gladly reprint this day before
Christmas.[neWLine]

He writes, “”I read a poem that I wrote many years ago to some
friends today, and they encouraged me to send it to ‘Round The
Square to perhaps give others a smile.””[neWLine]

Christmas On The Farm[neWLine]

The pigs are whistling Dixie,[neWLine]

They’re happy as a clam;[neWLine]

It’s Christmas at the farmer’s,[neWLine]

But he’s not having ham.[neWLine]

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The hound is chasing ducklings,[neWLine]

The geese are after the cat;[neWLine]

The turkey is a shakin,'[neWLine]

‘Cause he’s been gettin’ fat.[neWLine]

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I hear the farmer calling,[neWLine]

He’s asking for his axe;[neWLine]

It’s terror in the barnyard,[neWLine]

The animals cannot relax.[neWLine]

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The lopping block is standing,[neWLine]

The rooster’s turning red;[neWLine]

One wrong cock-a-doodle,[neWLine]

And he could lose his head.[neWLine]

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The chickens are all fainting,[neWLine]

The farmer’s at the coop;[neWLine]

He’s only after eggs this year,[neWLine]

Ma’s making bread and soup.[neWLine]

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TODAY’S QUOTE: “”‘Papa says, ‘If you see it in The Sun it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth: Is there a Santa Claus?”” Today’s quote
comes from a letter written by Virginia O’Hanlon in 1897.