Girls: Faults and Ideals | Page 5

and allay irritability by her sweetness of temper."
Another writes: "A beauty of spirit in which love, gentleness, and
kindness are mingled. Patience and meekness, fortitude, a
well-governed temper, sympathy, and tenderness," Says another: "Kind,
courteous, humble, and affectionate to old and young, rich and poor,
yet ambitious to right limits." One young man writes: "Loving and kind,
a Christian in heart and arts; a character based on Christ and his
teachings." Then follows this noble tribute: "My own mother has lived
and proved this ideal for me."
Of this tenor are all the letters. Without gentleness no woman can be
truly beautiful. Cruelty in a man is a sad disfigurement, but in a woman
it is the marring of all her loveliness.
Purity is another element which, in many of the letters, is emphasized. I
need not quote the words. I need only remind you that purity must have
its home in the heart, if it is to be the glory of the life. "Blessed are the
pure in heart," is the Master's beatitude. "You are pure, you say; are
your thoughts as white
As the snow that falls with the midnight's hush? Could you see them
blazoned in letters of light, For the world to read, and feel no blush?
If you stood in the court of heaven, mid swift, Glad greetings of loved
ones who know no wrong, Could you bare your heart to them all, and
lift Unshrinking eyes to that spotless throng?"
Faithfulness is named by many as another essential element in true
womanhood. One answers: "Courage to take a positive stand on all

moral questions ... Industry that consists in something more than
playing mechanically a few pieces on the piano, or tracing grotesque
figures in wool or silk." Here two elements of faithfulness are
indicated--faithfulness in one's place in all one's work, and moral
faithfulness in following conscience. Other letters suggest practically
the same essential quality.
It is impossible to over-emphasise this element. The time has gone by
forever when woman, in Christian lands, can be regarded as a mere
ornament, and can be shut out of active life. She is not a doll or a toy.
She has her duties and responsibilities. She is not born merely to be
married as soon as possible, and from girlhood to consider her wedding
as the goal of her life. Thousands of young women will never be
married, and yet their life need not be a failure though their fingers are
never circled by a wedding-ring. Women have immortal souls. Their
heaven does not depend upon being linked with a husband, as the
Mormons teach. Marriage is a good thing for a woman, if she marry
well. I honor marriage as one of the holiest and most sacred of God's
ordinances.
But, here is the truth which I want to impress, that a young woman
should not begin her life with the thought that she must get a husband.
Oh, the sad desecration of womanhood that such a purpose in life
produces! Every young girl should set for her great central aim in life,
to be a woman, a true, noble, pure, holy woman, to seek ever the
highest things; to learn from her Master her whole duty and
responsibility in this world, and to do the one and fulfil the other, That
should be her aim,--to realize in her character all the possibilities of her
womanhood, and to do all the work for her Master which he may give
her to do. Then, if God shall call her to be a wife, let her still go on
with the same reverence, faith, and love, in whatever lines she may be
led. I call young women to faithfulness--that is all, simple faithfulness,
Accept your duty, and do it. Accept your responsibility, and meet it. Be
true in every relation you are called to fill, Be brave enough to be loyal
always to your womanhood.
One letter refers to what a true and noble sister may be to her brother,

especially of the better than angel guardianship of an older sister over
her younger brother. Evidently this young man writes with the
consciousness that he himself has had the benediction of such an older
sister. Volumes could be written concerning such ministries. Moses
was not the only child by whose infancy's cradle an older sister has
kept sacred watch. He was not the only great man who has owed much
of his greatness to a faithful, self-denying Miriam. Many a man who is
now honored in the world owes all his power and influence to a woman,
perhaps too much forgotten now, perhaps worn and wrinkled, beauty
gone, brightness faded, living alone and solitary, but who, in the days
of his youth, was guardian angel to him, freely