Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Sketches of Jewish Social Life, A. Edersheim, Eerdmans, p. 139 Love Behind The Gift

The love behind a gift is more important than the gift itself. The person who has learned this will not be frustrated because his gift is small, like the husband who wrote the following lament to his wife on Mother's Day:

M is for the mink coat you want, dear,

O is for the opal ring you crave,

T is for the tiny car you'd love, sweet,

H is for the hat that makes you rave,

E is for the earrings you'd admire, love,

R is for the rug on which you'd tread;

Put them all together, they spell bankrupt,

So I'm giving you this handkerchief instead.