Daddy You’re Wonderful!

A little book compiled by Mary W. Lightfoot entitled “The Heart of a Father” contains the following contribution by James G. Gilken:

You say I exaggerate the splendors of a fine home? That the love and loyalty which gradually take shape within a family are not worth what they cost? Consider this incident, reported from New York City. One afternoon an extremely popular opera was scheduled for performance at the Metropolitan Opera House. A famous tenor was to sing, and every seat was sold. But just before the curtain rose a disappointing announcement was made. The famous tenor had fallen ill; his role that afternoon would be sung by an almost unknown substitute. So the performance began, and the substitute tenor made his entrance and sang his first aria. Usually that solo is followed by a tumult of applause; this time the audience sat silent. Then something dramatic happened. A small boy, seated in a box near the stage, rose and addressed the singer.…