THE CHILDREN'S PART

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 38, 14 August 1919, Page 4

THE CHILDREN'S PART

The followiJl correspondence has been received by The Post:— .'

"Dear Uncle Tom, —My mother read me your letter in the Evening Post, and the twins' letter. I asked my mother if I could write too. Do you remember sending me a beautiful bunch of roses and your photo. You sent,them to Mount Cook Infant School for me,' because you heard from someone that I was the champion collector for Belgium Day. Ben and Don think we did not get anything back for what we did. I know I got a • warm lovely happy feeling when mum told me how the money we collected would help feed the little Belgian children. That was something back, wasn't it?— Your loving little niece Ruby." "Dear.Miss Ruby,—We Were delighted to. receive your letter from the Editor of The Post, and to learn that you have not f brgotten the sad events in Belgium in 1914, and that the memory of your efforts to help her homeless and starving children still gives you pleasure. , .We beg to assure you that we highly, appreciate your unselfish sentiments. Yours is the true spirit of helpfulness. As a great one has said, 'Hoping for nothing again.' Your aunt read your letter, and as she read she smiled, andi I saw a little diamond drop come into the corner of her eye. When I was at school I had as a writing lesson—Courtesy, Truth, and Charity are their own reward-; and after many years I read a letter from a little girl named' Ruby, proving the truth about the last of the three. But of course you know, Miss Ruby, that'all the boys look for the best of everything from the girls. You walk on a higher plane than us. Eve was made of more refined material than Adam, and you have to live up to those ideals, or I don't know what will become of us, for unless you girls 'charm the tigeV out of us boys, the world- .will go down in chaos. But lam pleased to learn from all the boys I know that they think as you do about rewards for doing knightly deeds; they would all say, 'Mine answer was my deed.' Ben arid Don would Work again like Trojans should the necessity arise. Their letter had more of fun than bun in it; So,' boys and girls, we aie all agreed that we did our best to help the helpless,. and would do it again. Hurrah! Hurrah ! for the chivalry of charity I . Borne grown-ups have gono so far as to say that they regret their youngsters taking part, seeing they got no reward. Just think of it, bairns, these folk would- rather that the Belgian children starved: than their' own should be deprived of a bun or a button. /',■■■•..

"But what about that Children's Day? There were some good things intended1 for juvenility, but somehow tliey did not reach their destination, and oil they have to remember by was a mixture of words and water—good- things in. their way, but as a souvenir of a, great .day, in a. great event rather thin; and will be easily lost in' the mists of their coming years. Vow, ( most worshipful and honourable seigniors, Mayor, council, ' and committees, just a word in your ears: Our Premier tells us that we have not reached Peace Day yet, as one nation with whom we Were at war is still in tho armistice stage; hence when that day does arrive it would '■ be a great opportunity ahd a graceful act to celebrate- it with a Children's Day. It will be a fine chance for the greatest city, of the Dominion to show the rest of the Dominion how to treat their Coming citi'ris, and our bairns, how the heart-heats of the Motherland vibrate through the earth.to us. If it can be done, suggestions as to when,, where,- and how will be freely given • though the united' wisdom 'of those mentioned should be equal to a much greater event than a Children's Day.

"UNCLE TOM."