A MAN AND HIS DREAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1926, Page 20

A MAN AND HIS DREAMS.

A JOM.Y WAY GF BRINGING THEM TRUE. Cnee there was e doling man called J. D. O’Connell working on a farm in Ontario. He was very poor, but he loved, children, and longed to be able to give them pleasure. Penniless as he was, there seemed, to be many worse off than himself. He saved up a little money, and one day gave himself the great treat of asking the children of the neighbourhood. to a little party. But, alas, when tea-time came, there was not enough to eat!

The young man never forgot the bitter sorrow of that day. He gave no more picnics or parties, but made up his mind that if ever he was a rich man he would give glorious parties and. picnics, where the tables would be loaded and no child should go away hungry.

Time rolled by, and the young philanthropist of the Ontario farm became b. wealthy business man. Most people forget their poor friends when they grow rich, but not so Mr. O’Connell. He has retired from business, and is now indulging in the secret day dreams of his life. By means of his generosity picnics on a gorgeom. scale are being given all over America.

The children of fifty different, towns can have a waterside picnic every year now, because Mr. O’Connell has set aside endowment funds for that purpose. This lias cost him already about forty thousand pounds. There are to-day many thousands of children in America who have cause to bless the mime of J. I>. O’Connell. As the years go by and the towns continue to draw on their picnic funds, many thousands more will become Mr. O'Connell's guests. Who can tell how many happy hours and beautiful thoughts will enrich the lives of children condemned to the squalor of city life because of the., day dreams of one man ’