Girls: Faults and Ideals

Girls: Faults and Ideals (A
Familiar Talk, With Quotations
From Letters)

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Title: Girls: Faults and Ideals A Familiar Talk, With Quotations From
Letters
Author: J.R. Miller
Release Date: November, 2005 [EBook #9386] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 28,

2003]
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FAULTS AND IDEALS ***

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GIRLS: FAULTS AND IDEALS.
_A FAMILIAR TALK, WITH QUOTATIONS FROM LETTERS._
BY
J.R. MILLER, D.D.
NEW YORK 10 EAST FOURTEENTH ST.
THOMAS V. CROWELL & CO.
BOSTON: 100 PURCHASE STREET. GIRLS: FAULTS AND
IDEALS.
"Cleanse thou me from secret faults." PSA. xix, 12. "The King's
daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold."--PSA.
xiv. 13.
The religion of Christ has something to say to every man, woman, and
child, in every relation, on every day, in every experience of life. It is
not something for Sundays, and for prayer-meetings, and for
sick-rooms, death-beds, and funerals: it is just as much for the
school-room, the play-ground, the store, the kitchen, the street.
Wherever you may chance to be, if you listen you will hear a voice
behind you, whispering, "This is the way; walk ye in it." The Bible is
the Word of God, our Father's will concerning his children; and it has
something to say each day, at every point of experience, to every one of
us. I want to help the girls and young women, if I can, to hear a little of
what Christ has to say to them.
It is good for us to see ourselves as others see us. Hence, I have asked a

number of Christian young men to give me answers to certain questions,
and from these I have quoted in this familiar talk. I take two of these
questions, viz.;
1. "What are some of the most common faults in young women of your
acquaintance?"
2. "What are some of the essential elements of character in your ideal
of true young womanhood?"
We shall think then of common faults and of ideals. The first text I
have chosen is a prayer for for the cleansing of faults. The second is a
description of the life that pleases God.
"Cleanse thou me from secret faults." Is there one of us who does not,
from deepest heart pray this prayer? I pity that man or that woman who
does not long to be cured of faults, whatever they are, however painful
or costly their removal may be.
Some one says,--and the words are worthy of being written in
gold,--"Count yourself richer that day you discover a new fault in
yourself,--not richer because it is there, but richer because it is no
longer a hidden fault; and if you have not found all your faults, pray to
have them revealed to you, even if the revelation must come in a way
that hurts your pride." Mr. Ruskin has this word also for young women:
"Make sure that however good you may be, you have faults; that
however dull you may be, you can find out what they are; and that
however slight they may be, you had better make some patient effort to
get rid of them.... Therefore see that no day passes in which you do not
make yourself a somewhat better creature; and in order to do that find
out first what you are now.... If you do not dare to do this, find out why
you do not dare, and try to get strength of heart enough to look yourself
fairly in the face, in mind as well as in body.... Always have two
mirrors on your toilet table, and see that with proper care you dress
both the mind and body before them daily."