Confidences

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Confidences, by Edith B. Lowry

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Title: Confidences Talks With a Young Girl Concerning Herself
Author: Edith B. Lowry
Release Date: December 24, 2004 [EBook #14445]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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CONFIDENCES

By the same author
TRUTHS Talks With a Boy Concerning Himself 50 cents.
HERSELF Talks With Women Concerning Themselves $1.00.
FALSE MODESTY 50 cents.

CONFIDENCES
TALKS WITH A YOUNG GIRL CONCERNING HERSELF
BY EDITH B. LOWRY, M.D.
CHICAGO 1919

* * * * *
To the daughters of my friends, but especially to MARY LOUISE this little book is lovingly dedicated.
* * * * *

PREFACE
No one can come in contact with children and young people without feeling the need of a united effort on the part of the parents, physicians and teachers to lessen the immoral tendencies, with their degrading effects, to which the present generation is subjected. Knowledge of the right sort will prevent many wrecked lives. Ignorance as to facts and to the best manner of presenting them prevents many a parent from daring to trespass upon such sacred ground, and the instruction is postponed from day to day until it is too late.
With the desire to aid mothers in giving the necessary instruction to their daughters, this little book has been written. The author has tried to tell in suitable language the facts that should be known by every girl from ten to fourteen years of age. The book is of such a character that it may be placed in the hands of the young girl, but better still it may be read aloud by the mother to her daughter. It is hoped this book will form the basis of a closer intimacy between mother and daughter, and that the knowledge herein set forth will forestall that which might be given in an entirely different spirit by the girl's companions.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
The Secret
II. The Flower Babies
III. The Bird Babies
IV. Mother's Baby
V. The Baby's Nest
VI. Building the Nest
VII. The Sign Language
VIII. Rest and Sleep
IX. Injury of the Nest

* * * * *
In all places, then, and in all seasons, Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings, Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons, How akin they are to human things.
Longfellow.
* * * * *
CHAPTER I
THE SECRET
Listen, Violet, I am going to tell you a wonderful secret. And this wonderful secret is about your namesakes, the violets. Every little flower that grows is a living being, as you or I--and every plant is a household. How do I know this? The flowers told me themselves, and now I am going to let you into the secret.
Of course, I must admit that the flowers do not talk as we do. Unlike ourselves, they cannot express themselves aloud. They must show their thoughts by their motions or by their change of expression. When a flower is thirsty, how does it tell us so? By drooping its head and looking sad. Then, if we give it a drink, how quickly it says, "Thank you!" by lifting its head and smiling at us.
If we would have the flowers tell us their secrets, we must watch them very closely so as to be able to hear what they say. Sometimes, however, we must learn from others what the plants like, for at first, until we are better acquainted, we will not be able to understand them, and might make many mistakes; so I am going to tell you a few things today.
First, we must learn something about the flower's family, and where the flower gets its food. The flowers are a part of the plant household just the same as you or any little girl is only a part of the family. You could not very well live without the rest of the family--your father and mother, who do so many things for you and take such care of you, and your brothers and sisters, who all help to make the home happy.
The flower is like a little girl and needs some one to care for her. Do you know the other members of the plant household?
First, there are the roots, whose work it is to hold the plant in place so it will not be tossed about by every wind. The roots also must draw the water and nourishment from the ground. You know when the rain comes, it soaks into the ground and then when the plant needs water the little roots suck it out of the ground just as you could draw lemonade through a straw, for every