The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-09-07
DID 1IV[ S0MMER In ST Paul This
vi yAly Year Has Been a frost"

lryCMng. we are real pals, CnlS boy
and I. He is not too small for me-
neither am I large for him. May it
never be otherwise. May the time
never come when he cannot come to
me with his problems, his perplexi-
ties, his condolences, and find me in
a mood for an open and consistent
hearing. I have time for kites, fish
ing, few minutes catch with the ball
before dinner, hikes. with camp fires,
boiled eggs and roast potatoes, with
this boy of mine. He is worth it.
Punch Him in the Ribs
Some day your boy will take the
initiative in the game. A few years
later he will be competing with a
million other fathers sons in the bust.
ness game, while you may be a
spectator. See that he gets started
right. Coach him now to win. Make
your boy your pal. It will pay you
to go more than halfway, if neces-
sary, but, if he sees the right DISPOSE
ton on your part, he will meet you
before you get there. It will surprise
you how quickly he will begin to carry
the load, if you give him half a
chance. Whatever you do, play fair
with him.
Does your boy ever want to sit on
his dads lap? Does he grab you
around the thighs and lift your hum
dred and eighty pounds into the air
just to show you how stout he is
Does he ever measure himself on your
vest buttons? Does he ever tie your
pajamas into knots, and stuff things
into the toes of your shoes, when you
do the same for him? Does he ever
throw his arms around your neck and
put kiss on your cheek,-an express
sion of love, confidence, respect, trust,
and loyalty that is far above any
thing that this world has to offer?
Does your boy walk up to you, with
a twinkle in his eye, and square him
self for a playful sparring match?
Does he ever lock holds and challenge
you to go to the carpet with him for
tussle? Does he ever drive into
you and muss up your hair? Do you
ever come back at him in the same
way? Do you ever give him a
squeeze, punch him in the ribs, and
slap him on the shoulder just like real
pals? Do you ever show your love
and respect for him and your con-
fidence and interest in him in any
other way than by a casual notice
or Reluctantly handing him a few
dollars to spend?
Or, is he just the ordinary youth
whose father is too busy making a
few paltry dollars to know that he
has son of his own,-a possible and
probable rival in the business game,
few years hence?
The Rod and the Pal
Falling your boy is real tonic. 1t
is good recipe for keeping yourself
young. It will show him that he is
part of the family. It will solve
many of the problems, difficulties, and
perplexities in the administration of
home affairs in which he is interested.
Through that intimate association, he
will get a correct vision of the re-
sponsibilities of home and business
and national life.
The wise man said, "Spare the rod
and spoil the child" That is the way
with disciplinarians, but he only said
part of it. You can get away from
lot of that rod stuff, and make a real
man out of your boy, if you will just
be a genuine, whole-hearted pal to
him. Probably, nine chances to one,
it is not a rod that -he boy needs, as
much as he needs a father with a
little of the milk of human kindness
in his heart, and an understanding
and appreciation of the boy spirit.
You experience an enjoyable con-
seriousness of pride and satisfaction
as you develop the association and tie
the bands of palship a little tighter as
the son grows older. If you have
been delinquent in this, and want to
test out your tact and diplomacy,
tackle that boy of yours.
He is the best pal have ever had,
or ever expect to have, and I do not
know that I want a better,--is my
own son. I have paid the price, and
how cheap is that price! It is not
reckoned in coin and chattels, but it
is counted in something that will
mean more to him in the ultimate, my
time.
Can I be his pal when he is twenty
and in college? Can still be his
pal when he enters upon life's new
problems at twenty-five? My body is
worthy, and he is worth my time and