A Brother Like That

　　　　A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile

　　from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve

　　when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was

　　walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.

　　　　"Is this your car, Mister?" he said.

　　　　Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas."

　　The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it

　　to you and it didnt cost you nothing? Boy, I wish . . ."

　　He hesitated.

　　　　Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. 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, then

　　impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my

　　car?"

　　　　 "Oh yes, Id love that."

　　　　After a short ride, the boy turned 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

　　didnt cost him a cent. And some day Im gonna give you

　　one just like it . . . then you can see for yourself all

　　the pretty things in the Christmas windows that Ive been

　　trying to tell you about."

　　　　Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of

　　his car. The shining-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 . . . "