Evening star., 1936-07-04
Letters of
Criticism
And Praise
From Many Readers.
All Are Appre-
ciated.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

EC7 good many years now I have
been writing to mothers and faith
ers and children concerning children.
Many letters have come to me in re-
sponse to my messages in the papers
and today want to say word of
thanks and of cordial appreciation
for those letters. Some of them I
treasure highly and re-read when I
feel the need of word Of cheer. There
Is one written by an old lady, well on
in her S0s. telling me how happy she
Is in her cabin on the mountainside.
alone now, save for the pets she loves
and cares for. and telling me. too,
about the children reared at her knee
and how they have grown up to praise
and bless her. I wouldn't exchange
that letter fcr-well, for anything I
can think of in the way of rewards.
have one from a mother, who wrote
while she sat beside her sick baby.
1t is like a prayer for help set in a
hymn of Thanksgiving to God. Who
has sustained and helped her through
many weary day. Her faith makes
my worried doubts look like childish
nonsense as she tells me what God
means to mothers of little sick chill
dren. battling alone in the night. I
read that one whenever I feel that
I'm losing out in a struggle to hold
up some wavering child.
One letter week comes from lit
tie girl who cannot 60 to school with
other children. who can never play
with them because she nuts live in
a wheel chair. She tells me of her
work, how many words learned. how
many examples done, how many
stitches knitted and what a good time
she has been having with the sky and
the birds and the shaggy little dog that
loves her. I'm just one of her friends.
mighty glad to be counted in.
From all sorts of people. from all
sorts of places, the letters come asking
me questions try hard to answer,
telling me things that am the better
for knowing. Somebody scolds me.
somebody praises me. somebody ques-
tions and somebody replies, maybe
from q hospital, maybe from a jail, al
ways from friendly human hearts.
Not one could I spare.
Tread them and answer them as best
I can. Sometimes I have to say that I
don't know the answer. Sometimes I
have to disagree and say no to some
body who wants me very much to say
yes. Especially the children. who hope
that I am going to stand their friend
and say yes when everybody else has
said no. always hate to add nv
mo" to the rest, but If I must, do.
My first duty is to stand by them and
that may mean refusing to agree with
their ideas. A real friends speaks the
truth, and I try hard to befriend all
children.
So We go on together day after day
I writing my messages. the newspaper
audience sending me their letters. l
enjoy both sides of the job. If there
is any preference it is for receiving
the letters rather than for sending out
my messages. I am grateful for every
one get, even when some disagree
with everything have said.
Somebody said the other day that
would probably never see his letter
because some secretary would throw
1t in the basket as soon as he found
that it was a disgreeable note. No
such thing. Every letter Is read and
answered as soon as can get to it.
So thank you again for your kind
ness, for your letters, for your spiritual
support. As long as we work together
we will arrive together at some essen
tial good.