The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-19
A Sisters Influence.

81 wonder" said Mrs. Eaton, ''what
makes Frank Sawyer so different from
Tom Blake and Bill Harris. They've
both good homes and good parents,
butITom and Bill are rs rough as young
Indians, and never seem to know the
difference between the inside OF the
house and outdoors" Well, the fact
was, Frank Sawyer had sisters, and 1t
was impossible to feel that the ''inSide
of the house was the same as ''out-
DOORS" where the presence and lnilu-
ence of either Younger or Older sisters
was constantly felt.
Said gentleman in our hearing, not
long since: II can never tell what my
older sister was 20 me all through my
growing up. l knew nothing of her
value to me as boy, recognized COM
parativelv little of it rs young man.
but now that | have reached years OF
maturity. realize how much she did
to make home attractive, and my child
hood Il pleasant one.
And again. it was but little while
ago lady was speaking of the gentle
manner and unusual ability in enter
tanning shown by 4 young gentleman
who had recently come into the COM
munitv. 20. well, said friend, III
tell YOU where ne learned his ease, and
acquired such finished manners; he
grew up with lot of sisters, and they
ALWAYS depended on him to help when
thew had company, and they consulted
him about their fancy work and the
arrangement of a room or tea-taole,
Just rs if he was another girl.
Commend us to these boys who have
grown up with "a lot of sisters. We
have often heard gentleman remark
regretfullv. Il never had 4 sister; that
was something missed" We feel for
them a genuine pity that they should
have missed so much. But do the girls
OF the family realize even slightly the
great influence they are eXerting or
might exert over their brothers?
We know something about these ir-
repressible, incorrigibIe boys; but,
though we term them irrepreSsible,
| they are not unimpreSSible. BY no
means! And the more vehementiy they
| declare they won't and they won't be
made to, and that's the end of it the
| sooner we know they will Weld If the
prudent sisters only remain patient,
| and perhaps coax 4 little.
The natural influence of 4 sister Is
purifying. refining and restraining. and
anv boy who makes his sister COM
panion is pretty sure of learning from
her only lessons the most beneficial
and wholesome. Suppose brother Will
or John is little turbulent. or given
to teasing sometimes; invite him to
Join in the games, the picnic, and see
to it that he alicays is present at the
/ little supper company. And then its
great deal nicer to have Your own
| brother walk with you to church or
! SUNDAY School than to 90 with some
other girl, and have him sauntering oil
with some other boy
There often is lacking that strong,
aaectionate feeling of kinship on the
part of brothers and sisters, because
the sister is not inclined rs she should
be to make a companion of her brother.
And in this particular we think the
GIRLS are most at fault. Tie merry
bows. with all their mischievOuSness,
are warm hearted as can be, and almost
/ invariably will meet more than hall
way anv advances or offers on the part
of their sisters to "be friends Cherish
them well. these useful rOgues, who one
dav are to make the laws, prOtec,
society. and conduct matters much Il:
they are influenced to by sister Nell OF
Sue Golden Rule.