ist."

"I'm glad for your decision, my child, but you'll soon meet greater
temptations. Some mothers don't think it worth while to warn their girls
of the dangers that threaten them in regard to love and marriage; but I
want to see you, Bessie, fully prepared, so that you may safely pass
this dangerous period.

"Most girls at your age have some strange idea regarding love. In the
schoolroom, perhaps, a girl notices some particular boy who has a
winning way. At first she simply thinks he is nice; is glad to see him
promoted, receive honor, etc. Gradually her mind becomes filled with
queries concerning his opinion of her. She dares not own that she loves
to appear well in his eyes, but it is true nevertheless. During his
absence she misses him, and upon his return her heart beats with
emotion. If he pays her little attentions, she dwells upon them until
she becomes eager for them. Her playmates notice a change in her, for
she can no longer hide her feelings. She blushes when mention is made
of her preference for him. The couple seek to be together as much as
possible, and are soon meeting together secretly. When reproved, they
may promise not to let the thing happen again, only to repeat it in a
short time. The secrecy of these meetings make them more enjoyable, and
their length and frequency are unconsciously increased.

"Satan, who is never asleep upon such occasions, makes reproof his
companion to push them forward. Friendly warnings are unheeded; and if
force be used to prevent the meetings, the couple may think of eloping.
They may not have thought of marriage until this time; but when the girl
realizes what she has done, she consents to the hasty marriage. Such
marriages, Bessie, seldom result happily.

"The place to stop was at the beginning. She should have gained control
of her wandering affections. Young girls who lavish their love upon boys
of their own age or older lose relish for other things, and their minds
become dwarfed and weakened by being taxed with thoughts that are not
fit for them to consider at so early an age.

"It is all right to form in your mind an ideal for your affections, if
you don't have in mind some particular person; but your common sense
should be your guide. Two rowboats passing each other upon the water are
all right as long as they are far enough apart; but let these boats
drift or be guided too close together, and there is great danger of a
collision. Your affections are to you