Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-07-12
A Plea for the Girls

that impels her to deeds which shock
her friends and lowers her in her own
est nation.
l can so we'll understand the Bohe-
m an side of her nature. the spanning
mt cOnstraint. the beating against old
walls of custom and propriety, the fling
ing aside of worn out rags of proverbs
and muxins. which have always been
Haunted before her, to her intense DIS
dam and derision.
can sympathize with that first con-
ceit of thinking for herself. of probing
great questions. of finding out that the
way in which she has been brought up
is not the only way after all. that even
good aud respectable people have diff
Ierent ideas. and vet are not utterly
1emoralzed thereby; the first shock of
doubt that perhaps her own parents are
not infullble. nor her own minister
absolutely perfect-all these things
which throw her mind into chaos for Il
| me, and make her a torment to all
about her.
Oh. the peril she is in. and just here.
and the wisdom, subtle as serpent.
that ought to be with those who have
her in charge!
She IL no longer a simple. unreasOn-
Ing child. nor is she mature, just and
thoughtful woman. She is an impris-
Dned bird, who dreams of freedom aud
happiness, and yet beats her wings in
yam against close, narrow cage;
Happy the bird who comes of we'll
trained race. and will accept her des-
tiny with meekness; but woe to her of
free nature and lofty ideas. for she
will hurt her tender spirit cruelty
against the barriers she feels but does
not understand! Yet we can't open
the door and let her fly to certain
run. Is there, then, no way for us
mothers to keep the pretty things more
contented in the house nestp
First, keep them busy. They can't
bear dullncss and stagnation. Let
them laugh and romp at home. En-
courage them 10 try their hands at
cooking. Never mind if they do make
mess of it. and waste good material.
1t won't cost so much as to deck them
Tor the streets.
Praise their efforts Don't make
fun OF them, and don't attempt to be
with them every minute. ordering and
harrassing them in every way. That
spoils 1t all.
Think up excursions in which all
shall Join. Be gay and lively Yourself,
and don't SEQ too much. When you
become only constraint upon your
children your influence is upon the
wane.
Encourage them to bring their
friends home. If they are under your
own,eyes they cannot get far away.
DO you ask aghast But when shall
rest, or read, and be quiet and COM
fortable?'
Where, indeed? But the resting will
come by-and-by. Your house will be
quiet and in order, and there will be
no swish of trailing dresses through
The hall. no scream of laughter from
; the lawn. nor merry "lra-la-las" from
the parlor below. Your daughter will
go away to another home. and you
will have rest and quiet enough But
} oh while she is with you make her
| home SO delightful no after-abiding
place can quite take its place in her
heart
Encourage her in reading and don't
insist on dull, stupid books beyond her
comprehension. In these days of super
abundant literature there is no occa-
sion to resort to dulness. even for the
purpose of Improvement A sparkling
. book of travels read aloud in the eve-
nings. with frequent recourse to large
map and convenient cyclopedia, will
teach both geography and history in
so charming Il way that even a eiddy
, girl of sixteen will swallow it with
, eagerness. A reading circle. especial
ly if the young men are invited. will
, employ many an evening in a pleas
ant and profitable way. l say invite
the young men. because the circle
won't live without them. AS well keep
} the needle from the magnet as the girl
/ from the boy. 1t can't be done-and
the only ;hing is so to manage their
soc al intercourse that it shall be de-
corous and improving. BE present
yourself occasionally, not always Let
your coming in seem spontaneous and
be unexpected. Don't in any way act
the duenna, but keep yourself in read
J mess whenever your presence is need
ed. When ,ou do enter. don't be q
, damper upon the company-laugh with
|, them and never mind if they are silly.
You were silly yourself at their age.
: and see what sensible, well-bred
5 woman you are now.
, Keep yourself rs young and pretty
) as you can. Nothing so pleases 8
young girl as TO see her mother
admired by her own friends, and moth
ing so impresses a young man with 6
sense of his duty to the daughter a:
. the memory of kindness received from
3 her gentle. lady-like mother.
{ Encourage company at home rather
than visiting. and don't scowl If hour.
are late, both for bed and breakfast
It's trying, but you are keeping a hole
; of your daughter, and that Is the only
essential now.
e II she confdes in you what seems
. the verest trash. listen as If it were al
oracle. for if you seem interested In
, what interests her you will win bel
confidence in weightier things. Moth
ing chills the confding soul of chile
Like the ridicule and scorn of thos,
older and wiser than they; and aftel
l all. would not your troubles will
Bridget seem quite as tiresome to 1
man of lofty mind as Lottie's it'll,