The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-15
A Sweet Pickle Of Fourteen.

A great writer speaks of "that
hard, Slight thing called girlishness." )"
The phrase is one likely to recur often
to the mind of any person who sees
the daily behavior Of many American
young girls. Too frequently they do
indeed appear hard and they are apt
to be hardest to those to whom of all
others the most tenderness is due
their mothers.
True the hardness is sometimes so
mingled with the charming gayety,
the pretty, imperious, unconsciously
selfish ways of youth that we scarcely
resent its presence even when we feel
that it is there.
But again some trifling event throws
it into sudden prominence. and we
look with wonder at the daughter,
who, with no sense Of cruelty or un-
fitness, can fling to her tired mother
in the tone of a challenge such ques-
ton as, "What have you done with
my hat? l want it right away!' or,
dear me where can you have tuck
ed away my library book this time :"
Or perhaps it is the mother who
asks a little help in some domestic
task, and receives for answer a reluct-
ant and sullen o bother! Must ?'
"Yet, bad as these things are, they
are not always so bad as they seem.
Often they indicate no lack of an aftec-
tionate disposition, but merely the
lack, common in all young creatures,
of judgment.
The same girl who will answer her
mother, sister or brother in words that
sting like a whip, will frequen tly
lavish the tenderest affection and con-
sideration upol friend. dull school
mate whom she helps, a brilliant one
whom she admires, shy and timld
one who admires and clings to her.
Of course the girls family have an
indefinitely greater claim upon her
love and kindness than any of her
mates but odd as it sounds to say so,
that is often the very reason she takes
no trouble to practice these virtues at
home. :,
The family she loves of course, and
of course they know it. 1t can be
taken for granted and though she
does not deliberately say, that there
fore crossness at home matters less
than ill-temper among friends, she
acts as though she did.
Itis true also that she cannot meas
ure the effect of her own sharp tongue.
She speaks quickly and forgets quickly
what she has said, and she expects
others to forget as soon. She cannot
tell the difference between giving a
scratch and stab. =,
1t is often the sharp-tongued and
hard girls who are lovliest and most
selfsacrificing in their friendships.
Who has not known some such
sweet pickle in her teens to attach
herself to another girl, gentler, prettier
and more popular than herself, wait
upon her, pet her, and enjoy at second
hand with touching unselfishness the
praise, affection and admiration be-
slowed upon her friend, which she
has not the gift to win for herself.
We must remember that generosity
is the grace of youth, but justice
comes with maturity.
Her ickerfiing CLEANS of good and
and little spirits of evil, remind one OF
the swapping and flinging about of
spiteful sparks that goes on at the
kindling of a wood-fire on the hearth,
which nevertheless forgets presently
all about its youthful tempers, and
settles down steadfastly and quiet ly
to be the light and joy of the
house.