790 RuKAL School Leaflet 



It tells of real experience and will help others. Whatever you plan to 

 do, resolve to do it with all your might, and to have a piece of work to 

 show that will make your fathers and mothers and friends realize that you 

 have done something worth while: something that has not only been a 

 pleasure to you, but that has helped others. 



I want every boy and girl who reads this letter to think of what Mr. 

 Dean has said in this Leaflet that he expects of a boy of fourteen. 

 It applies not only to a boy at this particular age, but to all boys, younger 

 and older; and girls, also, will find things there to think of: things that 

 will help them in many ways. 



Now it is time for me to say good-by. It is not good-by for good, 

 because next fall I shall write to you all again, and between now and then 

 many letters will come to me from you, some of which I shall try to answer 

 personally. Let me ask one thing of you. The thing I w^ant to ask is 

 that each boy and girl will take a share of responsibility: responsibility 

 to self, in that good, clean, strong habits are formed; responsibility to 

 others, in that their feelings are considered and their needs supplied, that 

 they may be made comfortable and be helped ; responsibility to .a task, 

 in that it may be carried to a definite and sure end. This does not mean 

 that I do not want you to play and have fine, happy times. I do. I 

 think something would be wrong with you if you did not do these things. 

 Be natural, free, happy boys and girls, but be clean, respectful, useful 

 boys and girls, too. I hope you will feel that I am very earnest in my 

 desire to be a friend that w^ill stand by and pull with you and for you. 

 I shall watch you growing day by day and month by month, and it will 

 be my joy to see the boys and girls of this State find the fullness of life. 



Good-by, and good luck. 



Your friend always, 



You hear that boy laughing? — You think he's all fun; 

 But the angels laugh, too, at the good he has done; 

 The children laugh loud as they troop at his call, 

 And the poor man that knows him laughs loudest of all ! 



Oliver Wendell Holmes 



