MERRY CHRISTMAS From the Bottom of Our Heart.s...

To Keep this week's newsletter/ezine simple and short for this special weekend, we have included a couple of this writer's favorite Christmas poem and a 1897 editorial: Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus -- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

See All of you next week for New Years Eve! If you want to share some of your New Years resolutions with us, send them along to Linda - Email: mcwagner.lk@gmail.com. Thanks for making our seventh volume a memorable one for everyone and The OkieLegacy. We could not do it without you!

This Santa is off to finish up a few things that were listed on her list. So........... From The OkieLegacy Family (including Duchess & Sadie)... MERRY CHRISTMAS from the bottom of our hearts -- A Prosperous, Happy New Year 2006 for ALL -- !
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!...

Is There a Santa Claus? -- The New York Sun, Editorial page, September 21, 1897

This editorial was written September, 1897 by Francis P. Church, for the editorial page of The New York Sun. The New York Sun & Francis P. Church took pleasure in the greatful gratification that its faithful author (Virginia O'Hanlon) was numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Virginia's Letter:
"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.' Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? -- Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-fifth Street

The Sun's Editorial:
"Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

OR... A Visit From St. Nicholas -- by Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Merry Christmas To ALL!
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Candy Bob Kirkbride's recipe for Peanut Brittle...

"Has anybody out there have Candy Bob Kirkbride's recipe for Peanut Brittle. The Evan's family used to have it and made it for themselves, but it has gotten lost with the passage of time." -- Earl View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Automated Customer Services - HELP!...

How many times have you heard this, "Press 3 for customer service. Press 5 to report a problem or stay on line for the next available representative. Your call is very important. Please stay on the line. Do not hang up as this will only removed you from our que. You are caller number 3.... blah blah blah."

Don't you just hate those automated telephone systems when all you want to do is talk to a real live human being. Well, maybe the cheat sheet from the website below will help. It tells you the shortcuts to a human being, bypassing all the recordings for many popular companies and organizations. -- www.paulenglish.com/ivr/ View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

U.S. Army 193rd Tank Battalion in Okinawa, Scoffied Barracks...

"I tried e-mailing billjan@arn.net, but it is no longer a viable e-mail. My father, Rodger W. Beattie, was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army 193rd Tank Battalion in Okinawa, Scoffied Barracks. He was from Glen Park, NY. I am looking for anyone who remembers my father. He died nearly 30 years ago. Any information would be appreciated." -- Evelyn Kormanik Email: oevelyno@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Phroso, Oklahoma Drive...

"Linda, I love to take the beautiful drive through Phroso (Oklahoma). Have you been there? If not, I could take you sometime. It is on an improved black topped road. I think there is still a 'Phroso' sign and a house on each side of the road. It is now famous for the bluebird houses. There are many of them along the road and numbered. They are not kept up anymore. The Enid paper had an article about them a few years ago. I saved it, but have not idea where it is. Of course Phroso is on the 1906 Atlas. Thanks for your articles." -- Carol of Waynoka View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Perry, OK Gas & Weather...

"Perry, Oklahoma gas stations dropped the price back down to $2.07.9 for regular unleaded this morning. The price of the next two grades are $2.179 and $2.279. It's still cold here but supposed to have afternoon highs in the 50's starting tomorrow (Wednesday) for the next 4 days, and then the cold spell is coming again. Perry, Oklahoma gas stations dropped the price back down to $2.05.9 for regular unleaded yesterday (Wednesday) and the price is still there today. Our temperature is supposed to have afternoon highs in the 50's for the next several days (came really close yesterday) and the sun is shining brightly. " -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Goldbugs - Class of '90...

"I stumbled across this site after trying to hunt down some old classmates online. I haven't talked to or seen most of the (AHS Goldbug) Class of 1990 in about 15 years, so would love to hear from anyone who remembers me." -- Ted Bender - Email: tedbender@mail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Merry Christmas...

"To Sadie and Dutchess... I enjoy your antics as much as your Linda does, only I get it only once a week. You can tell your Linda that I have a Great Nephew teaching at the school there in Bayfield. He is their wrestling coach, so you little doggie people better not pick a fight with him, but if you should happen to see him tell him 'Merry Christmas' for me and your Linda too. A friend." -- Reta View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

McCarty, Hill, Shahan, McCallie, Alexander...

"Hello. I came across your website online, and I wondered if you would have an interest in having a copy of my play LOOKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. This play is based on my grandmother Willie Gladys England Doughty Hill, who lived for many years in Oklahoma and Texas. There is quite a bit of the history of my own family incorporated into the play dialogue. I could send you a pdf file of my play, if you like. Here is a more complete list of family names in my Grandma's direct line, in case any of your readers belong to these families.

DOUGHTY (my maiden name), ENGLAND (Grandma's maiden name), McCARTY, HILL, SHAHAN, McCALLIE, ALEXANDER.

I think I added three more family names to the list I sent earlier.

I have relatives in Oklahoma (on my mother's side) still, too: Young, Dewbre, Wagstaff, Scott, and others. Many of these live in and around Oklahoma City.

My uncle Ken Dewbre is an attorney in Oklahoma City, and my cousin Ross is a partner in the firm. One of my Grandma's brothers, Curtis, and his wife Margaret, lived for many years in Chickasha; Margaret taught high school English there. (Grandma was my dad's mother; she had another brother named Clarence.) I think a number of the Englands still live in Oklahoma. I was born in Oklahoma City. My mother's mother's maiden name was Patterson." -- Freda Fuller Coursey, Binghamton University Comparative Literature Dept, PhD student - (Masters in History, and Masters in English) - Email: ffuller2@binghamton.edu View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Everyone...

"MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone. I hope that Santa fills your stocking ~ best wishes for a Happy New Year! Try to remember everything that happens this coming year, so that one day you can say "Well, back in '06..."

(Click on the site below to view Santa Sings) -- Santa Sings" -- Rod Murrow, Freedom, Oklahoma View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

MERRY CHRISTMAS....

"Turn on the sound. Yes, I know. Not another one. Trust me. This one is worth it. Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years to you and yours." -- Charles Cook

[Editor's Note: Great minds think a like! We are sharing this christmas card with you all, because it is SO..... CUTE! YES, Virginia! Santa does sing once in awhile.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe