Dear Daughter, I wanted to share my favorite poem with you. It's one that my grandfather shared with me on a printed piece of paper which I kept with me in my wallet for years. It's one that I think of a lot, and it's one that strikes me as wonderful advice. My grandfather was a lawyer, and a good one at that. He was also a very good and kind hearted man who gave away to the poor and needy. He's a man I truly admired, and I know that you would have liked him too. He was an extremely well read man, and so it's no surprise that the poem he shared with me is amongst my favorites. Here it is:

Your Name, by Edgar A. Guest

You got it from your father, t'was the best he had to give And right gladly he bestowed it It's yours, the while you live.

You may lose the watch he gave you and another you may claim, But remember, when you're tempted, to be careful of his name.

It was fair the day you got it, and a worthy name to bear, When he took it from his father there was no dishonor there.

Through the years he proudly wore it, to his father he was true, And that name was clean and spotless when he passed it on to you.

Oh there's much that he has given that he values not at all, He has watched you break your playthings in the days when you were small.

You have lost the knife he gave you and you've scattered many a game, But you'll never hurt your father if you're careful with his name.

It is yours to wear forever, yours to wear the while you live, Yours, perhaps some distant morn, another boy to give.

And you'll smile as did your father, with a smile that all can share, If a clean name and a good name you are giving him to wear.