An unforgettable Christmas story

Recently, I was cleaning out some files at home and came across an article by Tom Anderson.

Born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1910, Anderson studied economics, sold securities, became an advertising man and eventually editor of a magazine in Dallas called Farm and Ranch, the University of Tennessee’s web page of Tennessee-born authors says.

His monthly column called “Straight Talk” was one of the most widely quoted and reprinted columns in America.

So, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that it was one of Anderson’s columns that, for me, is one of the most moving examples of the Christmas spirit I have ever read. I share it with you in hopes you will share it with others.

Anderson’s story went like this:

“A friend of mine named Paul received a new automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out his office, a street urchin was walking around the new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked.

Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…” he hesitated.

Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels. “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”

Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, and then impulsively he added, “Would you like to go for a ride in my automobile?”

“Oh yes, I’d love that.”

After a short ride the boy turned and with his eyes aglow said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.

“Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.

He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

“There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. And some day I’m gonna give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you all about.”

Paul got out and lifted the lad into the front seat of his car. The shiny-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when he said, “It is more blessed to give…”

Monument to Education

We just couldn’t forget that old, student-made sculpture that stood for so many years in the front yard of Westdale Elementary School at the corner of Claycut Road and Jefferson Highway. When officials announced plans to demolish it, impassioned pleas from former students and fans of the unusual creation failed to persuade. Contributing writer Amy Alexander tracked it down in a weedy lot, and along the way discovered there is much more to that splendid creation than disapproving passersby realized. Find out why it’s still worth salvaging here.

Holden on

Mike Richardson and his family realized Hurricane Gustav was the real deal when some of the gorgeous trees in their Holden yard started to come down. Lucky for them they got out before a pair of water oaks and ultimately nearly two-dozen timbers smashed their home and knocked it off its piers. But from that tragedy, Richardson began a journey of research that led him to rebuild a new home but with modern, state-of-the-art energy efficiency and other features showcased at LSU’s LaHouse, a model of modern home construction. Now, the Richardson’s are about to move in to the home of their dreams, one whose monthly DEMCO utility bill should be about $40. Read Jeff Roedel’s account here of the Richardsons’ journey from disaster to home sweet energy-efficient home.

Lookin’ good, Baton Rouge!

Readers submitted more than 500 photographs for the second annual 225 photo contest. We got photos of adorable babies, loveable puppies, stunning sunsets, children’s football games, mouthwatering food, old barns, new faces and seemingly every facet of life in and around Baton Rouge. We tapped local professional photographers Jeannie Frey Rhodes and Tim Mueller to judge the photographs. It wasn’t easy, but they came up with winners and runners-up in nine categories. Check out the photos in this month’s cover story here.