“_The fun of gettin’ money is the gettin’ of it, son._” This line is the wind-up of a wild Western solo one of the boys in camp used to sing with banjo accompaniment. That is all I remember of the song. It struck me as funny and also as being gospel truth. After having satiated one’s utmost desires, every luxury seems trivial and vain. Anticipation, which is a species of joy, no longer dwells in the heart. Thereafter we hunger for the unattainable--_contentment_. Very seldom do we change our ways when we have waxed fat and soft--and money won’t buy everything. Note the “if” in old Aunt Dinah’s Camp Meeting ditty:-- “If Heaven was a place that money could buy The rich would live and the po’r would die----” And there we are, blockaded with a measley “if.” There are things that money won’t buy--for instance, a _good night’s sleep_. Our “open sesame” to the higher level is via the _Self-Denial line_. Money won’t buy a ticket--only the good and faithful servant may pass through the turnstile. [Illustration] CHAPTER XV THE BOY ACROSS THE SEA Paraphrasing a well-known song to fit a new emergency one of my good friends, on learning the title of my new book, sends the following lines which he hopes may find a place in _Making Life Worth While_. And so they shall, with many, many thanks to the contributor. Keep the home fires burning, For our boy across the sea, Then he’ll know, when he comes home Things are as he hoped they’d be. Loving hearts are yearning, Eager eyes grow dim, Many are there bowed down in prayer-- Hoping--longing--calling for him. There is a wonderful pathos in this lyric. Al Jolson, in a serious moment, could put enough soul stirring melody in the last line to bring an audience to its feet. And wouldn’t “Rodey” make a Billy Sunday meeting fairly ring with it? There is more than sentiment in the verse quoted--there is _duty_, _loyalty_, _fidelity_. Our boys have a right to expect that nothing untoward shall be allowed to disturb their dear ones while they are absent, and that whatever the misfortune to themselves over there, the welcome home will be whole-hearted and genuine. If ever there was need of cheerful sympathy, the genuine article, it should come forth now for distribution among the homes from which husband, son, or brother has gone forward in defense of civilization. One need not fear to show an interest, which is heartfelt, to any wife, mother, father, or other relatives of an American soldier. It is a relief to them to share their hopes and fears with friendly neighbors. They are brave as they never were before. They are _fortified_ by the spirit of the manly fellow who went forth to war through the very gate you lean upon as they tell what they know.