The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-07


overburened woman. "C&n you tell
me of good school for her where she
will have the best care, BE- under the
best influences, and wholly guarded
from the very thought of beauS?"
The latter consideration seems to many
parents important beyond every other,
where their young daughters are con-
cerned, and it not infrequently hap
pens that the sedulous anxiety of
mothers and teachers to shut out the
other sex, to seclude the growing girl,
or so regulate her intercourse with boys
of her own age that it is to the last de-
gree formal and occasional, brings
about the very state of things most
dreaded.
i girl to whom the idea of boys as
beauX would never have occurred,
brides, looks blushingly conscious of
their presence, assumes airs ana graces,
and laughs in an unnatural falsetto
when they appear on the scene, and
ali because nature and good breeding
were forgotten in the first place. If
only girls and boys could be permitted
to meet and associate Oh the footing
common to friends and piaymates,
with no thought Of sex or Of silly SEN
timent, there would never be the an
novance and the irritation which
spring from the placing Of these young
people in false positions.
But dear mother, if the mischief has
been done, and your little maiden
fourteen can not meet with boys With
out behavior that will cause her to be
ashamed and regretful when she shall
be older, don't think to cure this by
sending her away to boarding school.
The perhaps necessary, yet, to her view
rigid and arbitrary, restrictions which
she will encounter there will only con-
firm her in obstinacy, or arouse an un-
fortunate antagonism. Keep her rather
at home, lovingly, mind you, under
your own eye, and if you have no al
terna:e, let school have the go by for
wear or two. She will not acquire the
less readily, nor develop the less
charmingly, for an interval spent IN
studying domestic lore, in learning to
be womanly, by being made her moth
er's companion, friend, and daily assis-
tant. The girl who is fully and happi-
ly employed in work that occupies the
hands, as we'll as brain, will generally
pass easily and gracefully through the
critical period when she is in danger Of
doing or saying stupid things in regard
to boys, who, dear, honest fellows, are
perfectly ready to be her friends, COM
rades, and companions, if their fathers
and mothers have not made the thing
impossible.
Indeed, somewhat extended OBJ
servation of boys, and a very pleasant
acquaintance with many of them, leads
me to the conclusion that they care
very little about posing in the role OF
'beaux." It bores them and its only
attractiveness comes to them by the
rule of contraries. Being prohibited,
it naturally becomes desirable.
At fourteen a girl has her fit Of gig
Cling at trifles, and the sound other
bubbling and progressive laughter
seems now and then to a severe taste
like "the cracking of thorns under
pot" spoken of by the psalmist. But
were YOU not once fourteen, and have
Won forgotten how little it took to make
you laugh; how easily you were amused
and diverted? Life has taken so much |
out of you that your laughter is often
to your tears, in these graver
years. Yet you can not but be toler-
ant, if you pause to think of the mirth
which is so innocent, SO good humored,
so significant Of high health and hope.
Besides, the dear cl.!1 will never be
fourteen again,
Let the little mailen by all means
have 4 room of her very own, If you
can, or, if this be impossible, give her
halfa room, dividing her share Of it by
I screen from that OF her sister or little
brother. \ separate bed should be ar
ranged for each child in the family,
md, as you value her future vigor, do
lot let your girl of fourteen sleep with
Ter grandmother, or with an invalid
aunt or cousin. Let her have her own
little withdrawn spot where she may
cad or write, or study or pray-hcr
.loset sacred TO her Use.
And, if you can, give the girl of four
cen Il littlemoney to Use as she pleases,
n allowance, or, if you choose, as
ign TO her certain parts Of the house
work, and pay her for taking charge of
hem. Money Of ones own means,
nd confcrs, responsibility, and we de-
ire our darling to he responsible
woman one VINO can be depended
II in all stress Of circumstances.
In mistaken desire TO shield the
ear child from trials, do not hide from
cr the family perplcxities and cmbar-
a~smcnts, and thea, having done this,
o not add to it the injustice Of hlam-
lg her for tAoughtlessness. Trust
or, love :r'.:, wait tcndcr!y on her in !
xpcrirncr. Fourteen is only a bud, q
nd buds are blightcd by frost.