Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

March 21, 2008

?Today?s Announcement

?Don?t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.? Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

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Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.?? You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today?s Stories

?Mears Family Store
by Clara Wersterfer
cbwest@webtv.net

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Bernard Mears had arrived in America in his mother's arms. He was two years old in 1878. The Mears family were all hard workers and made a place for themselves in the land of opportunity. Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss. When Bernie
was 25 he took a wife. Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry
goods and grocery store combined. He and Marie found an empty building
to rent and proceeded to fill it with inventory. There was an apartment
upstairs. They were not blessed with children, so the two of them worked
side by side to become established and build a trade. Marie had a knack
for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers, Bernie didn't mind
the long hours. He was happy, life was good. The business thrived until
the great depression hit the entire country. No one had money to purchase pretty things or? even food. In 1930 Marie had a heart attack and left Bernie alone.

Following Marie's death, which Bernie felt was brought about from worry about the store, he lost interest in anything. He was keeping odd hours of opening and
closing the store. He had few customers and did not make them feel welcome.
Bernie wandered about the store, dusting a bit and sweeping the
floor. His inventory remained almost the same as nothing much was sold.
After awhile, he stopped sweeping and dusting. The grocery part still had canned foods but little else. Bernie was loosing weight and not eating much once his fresh meats and cheeses were depleted. A deep depression set in. He had lost Marie, his true love, and now his business seemed lost as well. Why did he want to live?

A few houses down the street lived a family who had also fallen on hard times. They seldom had three square meals a day. Julie, the youngest girl was fourteen. Julie worried about Mr. Mears getting so thin. At mealtime, she would take a portion of their
meager meal to Bernie.

She would stay and talk to him, dusting and cleaning. After several months Bernie began to improve. He still had no customers to speak of, but from what he had left in the store, he would sack a few cans and take to Julie's family. Julie spent time cleaning the store and talking to Bernie. In early spring Julie saw her father planting a garden.

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This gave her an idea. She suggested to Bernie to make a garden in the big space beside the store, which they had once thought would become a parking lot, and sell the produce
really cheap in the store. It would help the neighbors and also Bernie to have money for new merchandise. They would plant half the garden space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time.

Julie prayed hard as they placed the seeds in the ground. When the seeds sprouted, Julie looked anxiously at the rows and there were no empty spots. They all came up and produced the best? crop of vegetables Bernie had ever seen. Julie gave another prayer of thanks. You might say those two had the idea for the first Dollar Store as they reduced the prices until nothing in the store cost more than a dollar, many items were a penny or
nickel.

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They soon became well known in the community for having the best prices and finest produce in town. They also extended credit to their neighbors and accepted various items as trade for merchandise. The two of them worked hard throughout the 1930's and made a very successful business. Julie earned a salary.

As the economy picked up, so did sales at the store. Bernie was now in his 66th year. Julie was doing most of the work while Bernie clerked a bit and kept books. They had
hired a man to plant and tend the garden. One afternoon when Bernie closed his
ledger, he smiled at Julie. "We are now knee deep in black ink, Julie. Our hard
work has paid off. Please give me a dollar bill." Julie had no idea why he wanted a dollar, but pulled one from her purse and gave it to him.
Bernie smiled. "Julie, you now own this store. I have given it much thought, and since my parents have passed and my sister married well, there is no one I want to
leave it to, or who deserves it more. You saved me and the store years ago. As soon as the paperwork to transfer title to you is complete, I plan on going out and seeing the rest of
this great country."

Julie thanked him, and added that she would always keep the name of Mears Family Store, and he could come back when he wanted to.

A few days later Bernie packed, loaded his car and left among many tears and good luck wishes from the neighbors. Many postcards, letters and phone calls would be forthcoming over the years. Bernie would meet many interesting people in his travels, and view wonderous things.

Julie sighed, wiped her hands on the big white butcher apron she wore and went back to work. She sat down at Bernie's big desk and thought to herself, who would ever imagine a Jewish man, a part Indian girl and a few seeds would have survived the worst this
country could throw at them and come out on top? We truly reap what we sow.
Clara Wersterfer

cbwest@webtv.net

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Poetry Corner

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MY SON

Barbara William

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???????????????????????????? I sent my son down to this earth.?
???????????????????????????To become as you at His birth.
??????????????????????????I sent Him here so He could be.
??????????????????????? The one who would set you free.
?????????????????????? He loves you so, oh can't you see.
????????????????????????He did these things just for thee,
????????????????????? He opened up the blind man's eyes.
?????????????????????? He hears the children's many cries.
???????????????????????? He made the lame to walk again.
????????????????????? He rebuked the evil they had within.
????????????????????? He cast out demons from their souls.
?????????????????? When He was through, they were whole.
????????????? When they found Him, He was sold with a kiss,
?????????????? Oh, who'd have believed Judas could do this?
??????????????When they were through, they threw Him down,
???????????????? And on His head, they placed a thorn crown.
????????????????????A robe of scarlet, they put on Him there.
????????? They spit on Him and slapped Him, they didn't care.
??????? They walked Him through the streets, so all could see.
?????????? He had to carry His cross up the hill called Calvary.
???????????? They took Him and they nailed Him to the cross.
?????????????What did they care, to them it was no great loss.
????????????????? They took a spear and put it into His side.
????????????????When they did this, oh, how my heart cried.
?????????????????? Oh, how I wanted to spare Him this pain.
?????????????????? But if it was needed, He'd do the same.
?????????????????? And when this thing for Him was done,
??????? ?I DARKENED THE MOON, I DARKENED THE SUN.
???I MADE THE EARTH SHAKE AND LET THEM ALL KNOW,
???THAT THIS WAS MY SON, THAT THEY'D TREATED SO.
????????????? They took Him down, and put Him in a cave.
?????????????? They rolled a stone over it to be His grave.
?????? There is no grave that can keep Him in the ground.
??? ?To Paradise, he had to go, to release my souls bound.
??????????????Lucifer had no chance to win, over my son.
?????Because what He did, was what I said must be done.
???? When He visited the apostles, Thomas wasn't there.
????????????????????? He had to be gone somewhere.
????????? ?He doubted the presence of Jesus, his Lord,
????? He didn't believe them, wouldn't take their word.
???????? Then Jesus came when Thomas was there,
?????? He said, "Thomas, look at me with much care.
??????????? Place your hands into my pierced side.
?????????????? Oh, Thomas for you how I've cried!"
??????? Then with shame how Thomas did believe.
?????????????? All of Jesus? love he did receive.
????Jesus talked to the disciples told them what to do.?
?????The Holy Spirit came down, to make them all new.
??????? Then my son came to be with me, on the throne.
???????Finally, my son was with me, to forever be home.
??????? Now that you know that He bled and died for you,
??? PLEASE, can't you love us, we want to make you new.

????????? ?Written July 21, 1981 by: Barbara J. Williams

barb242@swbell.net

http://www.geocities.com/barbwill.geo/jesus-cross.html

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  May God keep you in His loving arms and I pray Jesus walks beside you as you walk the path way God has placed you on today. And I pray the Holy Ghost fill you with the Wisdom and the Knowledge to complete all God has placed on your plate each day.
  Barb's Christian Home
  http://www.geocities.com/barbwill.geo/index.html

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Readers Feedback

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??Social Insecurity is the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the American
people. It's a scam, a pyramid or Ponzi scheme. If you or I tried to
start an identical thing like it they would put us in prison. Just look
at how the government defines it. A mirror of Social Insecurity.
http://www.sec.gov/answers/ponzi.htm

My thanks to Duane for his intelligent discussion of Social Security problems and solutions of funding.? What a sadness that our government is unable to move in any direction to solve problems or even to intelligently discuss solutions. Its irresponsibility is shameful!? It is obvious that there are too many vested interests at stake in every corner.? The status quo is easiest!???????? On the short term. ???????????Louise

Dear Carol:

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After reading Duane Bates article, I had to respond.? Have you forgotten Al Gore??

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We, ?the People, elected him. The Electoral College, which should be phase out, and the Supreme Court, put Bush in.

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So, why oh why, bother to even vote.? It counts for NOTHING.? The very rich and powerful OWN America now.?? 5years of war, over a trillion dollars spent, and Cheney says "So?" when asked about the Iraq War.?

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Now what do we do get back our freedom to pick our president and elected representative?

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PJ

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Carol,
??? I am still getting used to having my own column my friend.
I?really feel blessed having my simple words shared in such a wonderful way.? I hope that you have a blessed and beautiful
Easter.? Wishing you every joy, Joe

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Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank?those of you who?chose to be a silent angel and?gave an anonymous donation to keep?Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Clarice Hinson, Conrad?

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