WORLD, MY SON STARTS SCHOOL TODAY!

  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