News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-03
LET THE GIRLS HELP.
A Young Girl ShOuld Love to Help Her
Mother About Her Work.

1 ~@Do~-
81 never intend that my daughter
shall work as | had to when girl, y re-
Gently overhead mother say.
She had been one of the unfortunate
ones whose childhood days had been
filled with ''all work and no play" and
this experience had driven her to the
other extreme. She is.wearing out her
own life now III the effort to shield her
daughters, and rear them in idleness.
This is a sad mistake, and an injustice
to both herself and daughters. To her
self, because it is wrong to abuse the
strength God has given her, or to COM
NIT suicide, even though she be years in
doing it. An injustice to her girls, be-
cause she has no right to rear them in
ignorance of what might be of such
practical value to them in after life.
''But," says one, '1et the girls have
good and easy time now while they may.
Toll and care will come soon enough.
They will have enough of these to bear
when it is beyond our power to shield
them"
A good and easy time often costs more
than one can afford to pay, and the fact
that toll and care are so sure to come is
strong argument in favor of preparing
to meet them.
The young woman who takes her place
as mistress of household, entirely ig-
norant of its duties, will find a double
burden resting upon her young, mex
perienced shoulders.
Even if she have wealth at her COM
mand, and her hands are shielded from
all toll, this is no reason why she should
not have some knowledge of the work
over which she is to have supervision.
How much better it fits her for superin-
tending the work of her household, Sc
lecting suitable help, and appreciating
the difference between work properly
done and that which is passed over in a
careless and Indifferent manner
Young girls like to help mamma about
her work. 1t is no task to them. 1t is
rather a pleasure, and one which should
not be denied them.
True, the inexperienced hands may
bother the mother, and delay the work
rather than advance it. But it keeps
them from idleness-perhaps from mis-
chief. 1t affords them pleasure and at
the same time teaches them something
useful; it gets them interested and gives
them experience in just what they ought
to know, and with a little careful train
ing they soon become real help. They
can save the weary feet from many a
step, and the tired hands from many
task; and all the time they are benefit
ing themselves even more than they are
helping the mother. And she is doing
them a great good in training them to
wait upon themselves and to help about
the various kinds of household work
suited to their age and capabilities.
We all wish to give Sour daughters
good education. Let us remember that
the best education we can have is that
which makes the most of the faculties
God has bestowed upon us, and which
best fits us for the sphere in life that we
are to occupy. 1t is one of the saddest
mistakes to suppose that good educa-
tion means simply storing the mind with
a knowledge of books. 1t includes this
and much more. No education can be
considered perfect that does not embrace
a training of the hand, the head and the
heart. And great beauty lies in the
fact that one can advance further with
each, when cultivating them altogether,
than crowding forward the training of
either to the neglect of others.
A proper amount of exercise keeps the
body more healthful and the brain more
active 1t has its influence also in keep
ing the heart true.
Do not let the girls feel that anything
akin to disgrace lies in any kind of
honest work
Idleness leads to sin.
Let the girls help.
Give them chance to learn while
they have the time and inclination. And
whatever they do. train them to do well.