Letters to a Daughter and A Little Sermon to School Girls | Page 5

and
speech and conduct requires help from the divine Spirit which is
always around and over us, and within us, if we will but let our hearts
be receptive to its influences. The greatest possible help to self-control
is to learn in the moment of temptation to lift the heart to God in
earnest aspiration for His help and guidance. A sense of the presence of
God is always a strength, and help when we are conscious of earnest
effort to do right. The Bible says: "It is God that worketh in you both to
will and to do of his good pleasure." It is one of the great mysteries and
yet one of the most evident truths of life, that we must work ourselves,
and that God works in and with us, to accomplish any good thing. That
you may know and realize this truth, and learn to find for yourself the
comfort and support and strength of soul that comes from seeking after
God, is my most earnest hope and prayer for you.

LETTER III.
AIMS IN LIFE.
My Dear Daughter:--There is no disputing the fact that in making plans
for life very different motives and aims influence young girls from
those which influence young men. Every right-minded and
affectionate-natured young girl looks forward to, and hopes most of all
to have, a home of her own, which it shall be her life-work to keep and
guide. To prepare herself rightly to fulfill all the duties that belong to
the mistress of a home, should be the one all-embracing aim of any

young girl's life; but with this should be other aims, which may help to
prepare her for vicissitudes, emergencies, or disasters, and also give her
worthy occupation and interest in life should she never be called to the
duties of a wife and mother.
To speak first of preparation to become the mistress of a home, should
Providence have such a future in store. What qualities are needed to
insure that a woman shall be a happy home-keeper? Certainly, a good
temper, a cheerful disposition, a willingness to give time and thought to
the details of home-keeping, commonly called domestic cares, habits of
order and neatness, and good health, so that one may both give and
receive pleasure while discharging the duties of the home.
This thought of a possible future home, the abode of love and
happiness, should be the greatest safeguard to every young girl in her
acquaintance and association with young men. A high ideal of the
exclusiveness of that affection which must be the foundation of every
true and happy home, should constrain every young girl to exercise the
greatest possible caution in regard to the advances of acquaintances of
the opposite sex. Not that there should be a prudish self-consciousness
of manner, or a disposition to suspect matrimonial intentions in every
young gentleman who is friendly and polite to her, but that all young
men should be firmly prevented from coming into any intimacy of
acquaintance or relationship that might cause unhappy and mortifying
reflection in after-time. Treat all young men kindly and respectfully, if
they are polite and respectful to you. Scorn to encourage any to make
advances which you know you will one day repel. But in discouraging
such advances, be kind and respectful. Never do or say anything
wilfully to wound and give pain to the feelings. Remember that the
sharpest grief of life, as well as its greatest happiness, is connected with
the love-making period in the life of all good young people, and never
treat with frivolity or rudeness any earnest feeling on the part of anyone.
The young girl who can rudely repulse the sincere advance of any
honorable young man has some defect in her moral and affectional
nature And as for any advance by a gentleman, young or old, that is not
respectful or sincere, a young girl is much to blame if it ever happens
more than once. Chaffing and teasing about beaux and courtship and

marriage are very unbecoming, and blur that delicacy of feeling which
is the greatest charm in the relation between young people of opposite
sexes.
Cherishing as the happiest ideal of life the possible future home of your
own, you should still remember that it may never be yours, and should
make such other provision for living your life as shall help you to the
next best thing. The first and highest good, next after a home of your
own, is to be able to render to the world some service for which it will
pay you, thus making you independent and enabling you to shape your
life as you wish. You and all young girls of the present generation are
happy in having avenues of useful remunerative