Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-20

! his tribute. 20 the sacred things OF
life. Not alone to those things which
have been especially vested with "A
sacred character through any special
theology but the reverence which
readily responds TO any form Of viz
tue. the reverence which In II part
OF true chivalry and IL not TO be daz-
zled by mere display and ostentation.
! would give him the gift Of health
that he might never have his char
acter warped through pain and sL.-
fering: that he might rejoice in his
youthful strength and In muscles re
spending swiftly 10 their tasks: that
he might be free OF those petty hates
and Carping fancies which are often
the outward signs OF n sickly body.
would give him u viii that should
be firm enough 10 overcome obstacles.
yet elastic enough TO Weld 10 reason.
\ Will that would save him from the
embsrrassments OF too-ready assent
10 the claims OF speciOus fellowship :
yet one which would also be gracious
enough 10 admit mistakes and never
blindly obstinate
/ could 60 on with this iist still
further. Bud has not asked for these
things. nor docs he knoe no needs
than. Unfortunately there N "A dif-
ference between wants and needs
What he thinks no wants ! can buy
for him. yet what ! know h- needs
] can only wish for. But having lived
through many years 81 life and know
ms what shortly he will have 20 face
I want 10 sec him wcll-equlppcd
II l were Santa Claus ! would give
him oil these gifts. Hs might no,
know that he was receiving them and
might not know their worth. Hut as
I slipped them into tho stocking o;
his mind ! would whisper 20 him a.
he slept:
This. my boy. will bring you safely
through the perils OF manhood: thi.
will make you useful 70 the world
this Will assure 10 you the respsc, o.
all: this little gift OF courage Will en-.
able you 10 rise from failure 10 vic.
tory. and this gitt OF honor will bInr
with !; the precious boon a sleep"
life II not hard TO live " we bu
! knew IT, Most OF the difficulties W.
encounter We ourselves have made
II We could now make "a fresh star
and wipe out al the petty jealousle
! We have builded: destroy the falls
idols Of sham and pride and self
glor!hca;lOn We have thrown up: {
we could forget the lies we have toll,
and the meannesses we have done
( our Sigoiries and our hatreds. an,
start anew 20 neighbor here with on
another. knowing what we have nov
! learned. how different We should tr,
10 live. And this is what / hops 10
Bud. That ne will come 10 the worl,
when & has need or him. ready 10 d
his best in its service: that he shall
know that as he shall take so must h,
expect 10 give, that he cannot intur
his neishbOr without dealing a mucl
worse injury 10 himself: that moth
: Ing which afterwards must bc livs-
down is ever worth It's profit n ssil
u glory and that he alone 10 respon
s.ble for his future.
These would be rich gifts TO give
and ! can only wish that I could be
: stow them. But the very wish carrie
with s; the realization that il Is m
E obligation. / cannot be Santa Claus
. J have no magic powers. As his fathe
! am limited 70 the means within m
I command. In 80 far as those mean
Z 20 ] conceive Il 20 be my duty Z
e provide him with the best eQuipmen
Z possible. Since Il is my pleasure tx
: travagantly 70 supply his wants fror
D time 10 time; since / gladly spen
: more money than / should upon hi
] toys that he may be happy. should
70 not stand ready and willing to &
5 just as far for him that he may D.
truly successful? To me he must loo
5 for guidance and help. From me mus
= come his training II he is ever I
o know the love Of friends and the re
sPect Of his associates.
After all these Christmas wishes
i mine perhaps ] can give TO him-nC
= all this Christmas, but through IN
e Christmas days 10 come. Perhaps
e may be able TO show him the rigl
q way 20 live; what men will expect an
&, what he may in honor grant. To d
u this may cost me much IN persona
Is pleasure; much IN time which / migl
II spend upon myself much though
II ard self-denial, but like the toy, whic
n / cannot well afford. yet gladly Civ
extravagant though this expenditui
:. CT self may seem, l shall gladly max
y the effort.