Dear Ann Landers,
wept when I read the letter from the Milwau-kee grandmother of a 2-year-old whose father had pushed the boy's face into his birthday cake and then videotaped the child's stunned re-sponse. I'm afraid that little guy is in more danger than your response indicated. The father is clearly a bully who probably suffers from low self-esteem. As his son matures, the peril to that youngster will increase. Will you please advise the grandmother to stay as close to the situation as possible and suggest that she be less reluctant to intervene? That father's behavior certainly sounds like child abuse. -Ruth, Glastonbury, Conn.

Dear Ruth,
The outpouring of sympathy and support for the boy was enormous. When I read his grandmother's letter, my heart ached for him, but I didn't anticipate the tremendous amount of mail that let-ter would generate. Read on: From Brooklyn: The letter about the 2-year-old boy whose father pushed his little face into his birthday cake made me cry. It's bad enough that the grandmother left without saying a word, but where was the kid's mother, for heaven's sake? And how about the rest of the clan? Didn't anyone have the coiirage to speak up? Some family! Groton, Conn.: I am a 57-year-old grandfather and not the bleeding heart type, but I shed tears when I read about that helpless child, his face smeared with ruined birthday cake, while that heartless jerk of a father videotaped. May the good Lord stand by this boy and speed the years until he is able to get away from that awful man. Lexington, Ky.: About that slob of a father. You called it hostility. I call it greed. Thanks to those TV shows that give big prizes for video-taping such things, thousands of mean-spirited, money-hungry apes are running around with cameras taking advantage of anyone who hap-pens to be in an embarrassing situation. I'll bet that father was trying to get some footage that would win a prize. Sacramento: If a father can do that in front of people, what does he do when nobody is looking? Dickinson, N.D.: That little boy will never trust his father again. And those goofy relatives who just stood around need a thump on the head to instill some caring and compassion. Appleton, Wis.: We live in Appleton, which is not much of a drive to Milwaukee. Will you please hurry and send me that father's address? I would like to go to his house and paste him one in the mouth. The following appeared in the Laurens, Iowa, Sun through the courtesy of Jim Gale. I hope it will make people stop and think. A Letter from a Father to All Who Drive Dear Driver: A few weeks ago, I saw a litde girl struck by a car when she tried to cross the street. Her father raced toward her, swept her up in his arms and held her close as she struggled against the certainty of death. I saw all the plans he had made for her future fade into nothingness. A look of despair came over his face. I could only offer a prayer that such a thing would never happen again-but I knew it would and more hearts would be broken. Today, my 6-year-old daughter started off to school. Her cocker spaniel, Scott, watched her leave and whined his doubts about the value of education. Tonight, we talked about her very first day. She described the girl with yellow curls who sits in front of her and the boy across the aisle who makes faces and the teacher who has eyes in the back of her head. As I write this letter, my adorable little girl is sound asleep, with her big doll, Paddy, in her arms. When Paddy gets broken, I can fix the cut on her finger or the bump on her head, but when my daughter starts across the street, Mr. Driver, she is in your hands. It is not possible for me to be with her at all times. I must work to pay for her home and food and education. So I am asking you to look out for her. Drive slowly past schools and intersections. And remember that sometimes children run from behind parked cars. Please don't kill my little girl. -A Father Here are some rules for protecting your children: Keep your child next to you at all times while shopping, even if it means a harness. Never leave a child in a locked or parked car. A tot can easily be tricked into unlocking the door. Tell your child that if you become separated to go directly to a checkout counter and say to the clerk, "I am lost." Adults, please do not ignore the plight of a lost child, no matter how busy you are. Take the youngster to a sales person. You would want your child or grandchild to be helped in that manner. In every batch of letters, there is at least one from a parent asking how to ease the hostility between siblings. Here's a letter that says it best: