Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/184

180 it. There had to be certain rules made that each member of this American family should keep. So Uncle Sam, through the Congress and Senate at Washington, enacted a body of general laws that the whole country would be better off and safer for keeping. The different states make their own laws, too, and so do the cities and towns of the United States. And the National laws have to be changed from time to time, especially in time of war. Uncle Sam says, "Obey the law."

The more our country grows and the more riches and power it finds, the more property it has. If you travel far enough through the United States you will see almost everything that is in the fairy tale books. We have public buildings of marble and gold, with pictures and furnishings as beautiful as any castle. Our gold, and silver, and silks would make a prince or a princess open their eyes. Aladdin himself never thought of such great ships, wonderful aëroplanes, racing automobiles, and sky-scraping buildings as we make. Uncle Sam owns forests and parks that a king might dream of. We are very generous with whatever the public owns. Public libraries, parks, schools, museums, playgrounds, baths, hospitals, and homes for the poor are paid for by a few people, and are free to a great many. Uncle Sam asks the American people, though, to take good care of public property.