World, take my child by the hand--he starts school
today!
It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while, and I wish you
would sort of treat him gently. You see, up to now, he has been king of the
roost. He has been the boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair
his wounds, and I have always been handy to soothe his feelings.
But now things
are going to be different. This morning he is going to walk down the front
steps, wave his hand, and start on a great adventure that probably will include
wars and tragedy and sorrow.
To live in this world will require faith and love
and courage. So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and
teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him-but gently, if you can.
He
will have to learn, I know, that all people are not just that all men and women
are not true. Teach him that for
every scoundrel, there is a hero; that for every enemy, there is a friend. Let
him learn early that the bullies are the easiest people to lick.
Teach him the
wonder of books. Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in
the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill. Teach him that it is far
more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him they are wrong.
Try to give my son the strength not
to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him
to listen to others, but to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and to
take only the good that comes through.
Teach him never to put a price tag on
his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears on the howling mob-and to stand
and fight if he thinks he is right. Teach him gently, World, but do not coddle
him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
This is a big order,
World, but see what you can do. He is such a nice son.
--Signed, Abraham Lincoln
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