Wichita eagle., 1889-11-19
OUR LOST GIRLS.

Mother Sadly Regrets That She Cannot
Have the Training Of Her Daughter.
There has been no mysterious disappear
ance, neither have they wandered from the
path of rectitude; they fit in and out of our
homes, these bright, sweet, good girls, but
we have nearly lost them, and the sense of
loss increases every day. When they nestled
in our arms, and we cared for them so ten
derby during the years of helpless infancy
and development from babyhood into young
girlhood, we thought we could keep them till
that far off time when they should leave
home to seek educational advantages or enter
upon the worlds work.
But, alas! just as our daughters are enter
ing their teens, or before, we discover that
we have lost them. Where have they Comet
We rub our eyes, partly TO brush away the
tears, and partly ~ convince ourselves that
we are not dreaming 1t is fact that the
average girl is restless unless she can visit or
receive visits from some young lady friend
most of the time The result is that the
household tasks, if she is SO fortunate as to
have any. are hurried through with unseemly
haste, to the end that she may leave home as
soon as possible. The presence of other girls
during these tasks only adds to the haste and
carelessness of their performance, leaving
very little opportunity for quiet attention to
home duties.
A mother said to me not long since: "Oh
if l could only have my daughter to myself a
part of the time have no opportunity Tor
quietly training her or cultivating her COM
partnership"
Every judicious mother may be able to do
for her daughters before they are fifteen THAT
can never be done for them after that age.
Sympathetic companionship; little seeds Of
counsel dropped wisely here and there; a
knowledge of what the girls are thinking
about and what they are interested in; a wise
ignoring of some girlish follies-all these are
needed, but cannot be secured unless the girls
spend considerable time at home, ia the
society of their own family circle. Our homes
should not be simply boarding houses where
our children eat and sleep, but dwelling
places where they are TO spend most Of their
time ont Of school hours
OF course, girls should be allowed TO enjoy
much freedom OF outdoor life, which il e.
sential 10 health Is well as happiness. They
should be permitted 10 cultivate, within suit
able limits, friendships with each other that
often deepen and broaden into q lifelong bless
ing. Staying at hume a. a rule, and visiting
as an exception, will not interfere with these
social advantages.
The habit OF being able 20 enjoy ope's own
society occasionally is a valuabss ene; q per
son who cannot do this will always carry a
restless spirit, thereby losing that quiet
strength Of character which every woman is
sure 10 need in the varied experience. that
make up her life
''Wh hat IL a mother forf' was asked Of one
who shrank q little from the labor and anx-
iety Of training half grown daughter. Per
maps II all mothers would ask themselves this
question, their mission and dotr would -
more clearly defined in their own IItlds Tie
years speed by 70 rapidly that we cannot al
ford TO lose Our dear girls before We must:
and tney cannot afford TO lose mothers
companionship and training during the crit.
cal years Of eariy girihood.-Mrs J. G. Fraser
In Congregatioualist.