The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-05
Little Girls.

cannot well imagine home more In
complete than that one where there Is no
little girl to fill the void Of the domestic
circle which boys can never I'LL, to draw
all hearts within the magic ring of her
presence. There is something about little
girls which is especially lovablc; even
their wilful naughty ways seem utterly
void of all evil, when they are soon fol-
lowed by the sweet pcnitence that over
flows In such gracious showers. Your
boys are great, noble fellows, generous,
loving, and full of good impulses; but
they arc noisy and dcmonstrative. and,
dearly as you love them, you are glad
their place Is out of doors. But Estellc,
with her light step, is always beside you; {;
she brings the slippers for papa, and with
her pretty dlmpled fingers, unfolds the
paper for him to read; she puts oil Thin
bic 10 bigger than fairy's, and with
some very mysterious combination Of
"doll rags" fills up small rocker by
mamma, with wonderful assumption Of
womanly dignity, and even more than
wonlanly grace. And who shall tell how
the little thread Of speech, that flows with
such sweet silvcry llghtness from these In
nocent lips, twines itself around the
mothers heart, never to rust, not even
when the dear little face Is hid among the
daisies, and comes no more forever, us so
many mothers know!
But Estellc grows TO be a woman, and
there Is u long and shining track from the
hali.latched door of childhood till the
girl blooms into the mature woman. There
are the brothers who always lower their
voices when they talk to their sister, and
tell of their sports, In which she takes al
most rs much interest rs they do, while
In turn she instr,icts them In all the little
details of home life. Of which they would
grow up In ignorance II not for her. Anu
what n shield she Is upon the dawning
manhood, wherein so many temptations
lie, Always her sweet presence To guard
and insplrc them, u check upon profanity,
, living sermon on immortality, sweet
example of purity.
How fragrant the cup Of tea she hands
them at the evening meal; how cheerful
her voice as she relates the little incidents
or the day. No silly talk Of incipient
beaux, or loves Of young men, met on the
promenade. A girl like that has 10 emp
~ space In her head for such thoughts TO
run riot In, and you don't find her spend
ing the evening In the dim parlor with
questionable young man for her company.
When her lover comes, he must say what
he has to say In the family sltting-room
with father and mother, or II ashamed to,
there Is no room for him there. Estellc's
heart has not been tainted with the per-
nlcious nonsense which results In so many
unhappy marriages, or hasty divorces.
Dear girl, she thinks only OF what good
home she has, what dear brothers, and,
on bcndcd knees, Graves the blessing OF
heaven TO rest on them; but she does not
know how far, very far, for time and cter-
nifty, her own pure example goes-how Il
will radaie rs blessing to other homes
where sisters memory will be the consc-
Grated ground Of the past.
Cherish, then. the little girls-dlmpIed
darllngs, who tear their aprons. and cut
the tablc-cloths, and eat the sugar ana