St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-14
A Girls Influence.

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criticism, if not really censurable.
Her inexperience, perhaps, made her
confident, for the expression Of her
opinion that one cannot hold man
to the same rigid standards OF right
living which are demanded of a
woman was unqualified. An older
friend challenged the position taken
by the young girl. and, in few sen.
fences showed her that right and
wrong are the same for human
beings, whatever their surroundings;
that a man, equally with woman,
is bound to live soberly, honestly,
and in the fear of God.
What | want to impress upon
girls is a feeling that their influence
for good or i'll on the characters and
lives of men is potential and far
reaching. A girl cannot condone
vice in her associates. She must not
have loosely elastic notions as to
what her brothers and cousins, and
the men she meets socially, may do
without reproach. The truth is that
man has no license beyond that
accorded to woman, and good men
and good women do mot need license.
There is abundant liberty for all
right-minded and right.deeded per-
sons, within the safe and sacred circle
OF divine and human law.
A girl exercises her influence, first
and most strongly, by simply being
good herself. By good | mean all
that the term implies: truthful, sin
cere, virtuous, Christian. Such a
girl goes on her way as Una with
her lion. Evil does not touch her, for
her garments are white. Sin, pro.
family, intemperance are repealed, and
shun her presence.
We will take an example: 1t may
be Bible-reading or church going or
attendance on the mid week prayer
meeting. The young girl who always,
as naturally as the flower blooms,
takes her stand on the highest plane
as to these things, creates around
her a sweet atmosphere, which has
its magical effect on those whom she
meets. One such girl will uplift a
whole set of young people, holding
them to that which is noble by the
force of her own sweet consistency,
although she may never say a word
in blame or Reproduction.
Evelyn Archer is coming home
from college," said Ralph Earl to a
friend. when Evelyn is here, no.
body knows how she does it, but we
all take more interestin good things
The young meu go to church more
regularly. The town puts on better
manners. How one girl can manage
to do so much nobody can tell, for
she seems to be doing nothing, but
there it isl A fellow would be
ashamed to do anything mean when
Evelyn Archer was around"
Yet quiet EveIyn's only spell was
that of one who communed with
God and daily tried to let her light
shine.
A girls hand should never offer
temptation to any one. A girls
lips should never jest about sacred
things. A girls temper should be
serene. A girls friendships should be
always among the honest and
upright.
One great mistake which a girl
sometimes makes is in accepting
attentions from and yielding her love
to man in6rm of purpose, erring OF
practice, who assures her that her
love will be his salvation. 1t never
will, Jesus Christ may and will save
the man who repents and forsakes
his sins and begins new life of trust
and service. But the man who thus
abjures his past and begins to follow
Christ is not a weak sentimentalist,
willing to cruelty in her tenderest
nature a woman who disapproves
his conduct, but loves and tries to
upift him. Do not marry man to
reform him, my dear girl, but let him
give proof of reformation before he
even asks your love.
The sutton who's worth woman's
love should be worthy. SO let him
live that he may be the protector,
not the drag weight of the woman
who becomes his wife.
do not wish to be understood as
saying that good men are rare, or
that women have a monopoly of the
virtues, for this would be manifestly
unjust and untrue But the influence