The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-10-08
The Girl OF Fourteen.

puzzles and problems to girls mother.
Childhood is left behind, womanhood is
not yet here. Too old for doll and romps
and the unchecked f.ecdom which she
had the other day; too young for the
company of the older girls to which she
aspires, feeling strangely enough if she
were ten years her own senior, at once
tilnid and bold, restive under restraint,
and dependent upon wife guidance, the
little maid of fourteen needs, as she ney-
er before, very loving, very patient, and
very sympathetic treatment. The tides
other life being are rushing in upon her
she does not understand her own moods,
she cannot account for her own caprices;
she has her little gusts and storms, as
we'll as her hours of sunshine, and in
| this time of ferment, of revolt, yet OF
real sweetness, and Of peril, chiefly be-
cause of the issues involved, our girl OF
fourteen is happy if her mother is her
dearest and her safest confdant. No
other can be so safe, and no other ought
to be so dear.
"What shall do for my daughter at
this most troublesome sge?" writes one
o7erburdened woman. Scan you tell me
of good school for her, where she will
have the best care, be under the best in
Aueuces, and wholly guarded from the
very thought of besux?" The latter
consideration seems to many parents i'm
portant beyond every other, where their
young daughters are concerned. and it
not infequently happens that the sedu-
lous anxiety of mothers and teachers to
shut cut the other sex, to seclude the
growing girl, or SO regulate her inter-
course with boys of her own age that is
to the last degree formal and occasional
brings about the state of things mos
dreaded.
A girl to whom the idea Of boys al
beaux would never have occurred, brides
looks blushingly conscious of their pres
ence, assumes airs and graces, and laughs
in an unnatural fslsetto when they ap-
pear on the scene, and all because nature
and good breeding were forgotten in the
first place. If only girls and boys could
be permitted to meet and associate on
the footing common to friends ane
playmates, with no thought Of sex or sill.
ly sentiment, there would never be the
annoyance and irritation which spring
from the placing of these young people
in false positions.
But, dear mother, if the mischief hal
been done, and your little maiden o
fourteen cannot meet with boys withou
behavior that will cause her to bt
ashamed and forgetful when she shall b.
older, don't think to cure this by sending
her away to a boarding school. Th'
perhaps necessary, yet, to her view
rigid aud arbitrary, restrictions which
she will encounter there will only con-
firm her in obstinacy, or arouse an uu-
fortunate antagonism. Keep her rather
at home, lovingly, mind you, unde
your own eye, and if you have no alter
nate, let school have the e by for 4 yea
or two. She will not acquire the les'
readily, nor develop the less charmingI.
for an interval spent in studying domes
tic lore, in learning to be womanly, b.
being made her mothers companion
friend, and daily assistant. The girl VIII
is fully and happily employed in worl
that occupies the hands, as we'll as tn
mind, will generally pass easily an'
gracefully through the critical periot
when she is in danger of doing or saying
stupid things in regard to boys, who
dear, honest fellows, are perfectly read.
to be .aer friends, comrades, and compan
ions, if their fathers and mothers hav
not made that impossible.
Indeed, somewhat extended observa
ton of boys, and very pleasant &C
ouaintance with many of them, leads M
to the conclusion that they care yer.
little about posing in the role of beauz
It bores them and its only attractivenes
comes to them by the rule of contrarie:
Being prohibited, it naturally become
desirable.
At fourteen girl has her fit for GIG
Cling at triaes, and the sound of her buh
ling and irrepressive laughter seem
now and then to a severe taste like th
cracking of thorns under a pot spoke
Of by the psalmist. But were you no
once fourteen, aud have you forgot hoy
little it took to make you laugh, ho7
easily you were amused and diverted
Life has taken so much out of you ths
now your laughter is neighbor to you
tears, in these graver years. Yet yo
cannot but be tolerant, if you pause
think of the mirth which is so innocen
so good humored, so significant of hig
health and Lope. Besides, the dear chill
will never be fourteen again.
Let the little maiden by all NEAR
have room of her very own, if you Cal
or, if it is impossible, give her half
room, dividing her share Of it by scree
from that of her sister or little brotbe
A seperate bed should be arranged fe
each child in The family, and, as you va
ue her future vigor, do not let your gil
of fourteen sleep with her grandmothe
or with an invalid aunt or cousin. Ii
her have her own little withdrawn spc
where she may read OR write, or stud
or pray-her clos"' sacred to her use.
And,:if you can, give the girl OF four
teen little money to use as she please
an allowance, or, if you choose, a.
sign her to certain parts of the house
work and then pay her for it. Money
ones own means confers response
bility, aud we desire our darling to be
o,,o,;;bIo ,,,onou-,a who can he III