The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-23

Rufus Steele, one of the prominent writers of the country today here on a visit to his brother during the holi-
 day season, had the holiday spirit yiv idly brought to him as he remember ed how at the Central Methodist church in this city in his earliest childhood he knew inc bappiest Christmastide of all his life.
 I'm very glad to be in Hot Springs for Christmas said Rufus Steele yes. terday and I'd like to tell you why l For about thirty years, as regularly as Christmas Eve has come round. my thoughts hayo reverted 10 an incl
 dent that happened in this city that long ago The Central Methodist
 church then stood on Central avenue 1 where the Spauldiug hotel stands now Ally father, Rev C. c Steele, who !
 looked about as young then as he does today. was thc pastor Al Christ l mas time there was a Christmas tree l festival in the church that was cal Culated to make any younester of
 seven, such as was at the time. feel
 hat he had been transported to the glucrug heart of Fairyland Maybe the tree was not a hundred feet high.
 but it looked it. Maybe its wondrous limbs did not bear billion dollars worth of glis enins gifts for boys and
 girls but they seemed 10. 1 shall
 never forget the impression that
 matchless night made upon red-head- ed freckednosed little me was
 an infant Columbus in a Kingdom oi
 magic
 With my mouth full of candy that tasted as no candy has ever tasted since, and with each chubby hand clutching an orange that was like | full moon my eyes ranged up and
 down that resplendent tree Suddenly
 an object high up in the branches ' caught my gaze and held it fixed u | was long and slender and shiny and 1 it seemed 10 my deyourme eyes to
 carry with it the full conquest of the world II was am lHdiau--hasng
 izzly-slayng lin barroIed gun.
 Suddenly my joy had turned 10
 ashes Fer even as my eyes and
 heart were filled with that gun. the thought that t was intended for
 some one of the mavelously rich lit tle boys who sat in the throng about me smote me with agony The gun
 was to me but a glimpse of glory
 that could never De nine santa l Claus came No doubt he was as won
 derful as the tree and the occasion 1 demanded. I don't kuoN. hardly | saw him. There were carols and reel ! tatious and pleasant little speeches to voice the Christmas joy. but they | were nearly lost on me was ab | sorbed in drinking in the romantic glories of that gun which in a very | few minutes must disa pear into the 1 outstretched hands of some far more fortunate boy. santa Claus and his assistants be gan to strip the tree The presents bore the names of those for whom they were intended and with each announcement came a fresh squeak Of joy as another little heart reached 1
 the zenith of happiness. l remember
 that my brother Hush got the coast
 er he SO much wanted. for his copper toes mutuated my shius as he climbed out into tho aisle to grab it away
 from am usher who was too slow In finding him l. too received some pretty gifts but they ked the
 poNer to stir me for more than am in
 staut My eyes were glued to the
 top of the tree was grateful that
 the gun was SD hj-h lt would he
 plucked last oi all could look it and dream about jt until Il was
 time 10 go home and cry myself 10
 sleep
 We'll by and bye. that tree stood nil ! but stripped of its splendid fruit X | ladder was set up The opmo-t pres ents came down When | saw them
 snip inc cord and take off the gun | put my face down into my jacket and |
 -mothcred heart6reak with all the |
 rOrtitude a sevcn-yearuld could com mand. In fact, 1t was as though he |
 struggle were too great for me and | was swept out of this vale oi tears | into Heaven itself for suddenly ar | angel mas speaking my name. There
 could be no doubt about it. Ii was | my name. ihUn dnOihtf dn-ei fdHlC | floating toward me. dropped its winss ! about me and swung wide the door of l happiness before my teardimmed 1 eyes Instantly 1 tasted the joys of ! aradise regained The magical king dom stood perfect once more. bu! now il glittered a thousand times more brightly han before My heart
 Ieaped with a joy that was absolute ly without bounds MY sun was in MY hands,
 "I have wandered far since that Christmas Eve of the long ago but ! have never got away from it's les
 son or its spell X thousand times when, weary and discouraged at the 1 long space that seemed Co intervene between me and some cherished god.