ranges, and grapes, and we can grow flowers
with sweeter smells and prettier colors. We do all this by training
these animals and trees to grow a certain way, to eat certain food, to
drink pure water, and we protect them from the cold and sometimes from
the sun if it is too hot. Our faculty to think and reason has taught us
just what is good for them, and we compel them to obey our laws. As a
result they become strong and more healthy. Now show the little girl how
important she is; how much more precious she is than a tree, or animal,
or flower, and how much more necessary it is that we, mammas and papas,
should use our ability to think and reason in her interest. Show her how
we have found out all about babies and little girls and how we know just
what to do to make strong and healthy, and pure, and good, and clean men
and women of all the little boys and girls in the world. Tell her that
this is what mother is doing now, training her and compelling her to do
the things that will make her a strong and a good mother when she grows
older. Let her distinctly understand that it is the duty of mothers to
instruct and to correct their little daughters when they do any wrong.
Mothers know, because they have had experience in these matters, and
they know just how a little girl must live, and dress, and eat, and
behave, in order to be strong and pure, and good. So when mother
reproves and corrects, it is because she knows that what you are doing
to merit a correction is not for your ultimate good. Show them that all
young things, and young animals, and young babies, and young girls, must
be compelled to obey certain rules and laws, otherwise they would not
grow up to be strong and healthy. Sometimes a rose bush grows up among
stones and weeds, but it never thrives, it is always more or less sick.
It does not grow strong, its flowers are poor little sickly things
compared to the roses on a bush that is planted in proper soil, and
carefully tended and pruned, and watered. So would the little girl turn
out if she grew up in bad company and did not have a mother to guard and
guide her,--to prune her when she was growing careless. Everything in
this world has a meaning, and when mother tells you that you must not do
a certain thing you very much want to do, she has a very good reason for
telling you not to do it. You may not know the reason, but you should
have confidence in your mother, you should believe that she knows what
is best,