meant by
"reproductive" organs and their location in her body. We mean by this
term the group of organs which are concerned in creating and nourishing
a child until it is old enough to be born into the world.

THE FEMALE GENERATIVE ORGANS.--These organs are the womb or uterus, two
ovaries, two fallopian tubes and the vagina. The womb or uterus is the
"nest." It is about the size of and is shaped like a pear. It is hollow,
however, though its walls are quite thick. The ovaries are about the
size of a peach stone and lie at the side of the womb,--one on either
side. The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries with the womb. The vagina
connects the womb with the outside world,--it is sometimes known as the
birth canal. In the very lowest part of the abdomen, or belly, in front,
is the bladder, which collects the urine until it is necessary to pass
it out. In the back part of this region is the rectum; it collects all
the undigested food, etc., from the intestinal canal. Between these
two,--the bladder and rectum,--we find the reproductive organs, the
womb, ovaries and vagina, described above.

THE FUNCTION OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.--It will be difficult, even for
mothers, to acquire a clear understanding of the function of the
reproductive or generative organs. It is an exceedingly interesting
process, however, and it is well worth a patient, attentive study to
clearly understand the brief description we give of it. If you acquire a
distinct mental picture of the problem you will be able to tell your
daughter a story that will be of intense interest to her, and a tale
that is interesting is impressive and is productive of thought and
reflection. That is the condition of mind we want daughters to be in
when they hear this story.

The human ovaries begin to prepare themselves for their life work when
the girl is about eight years of age. When they are ripe, or ready to
perform this duty, the girl menstruates for the first time. This is
known as the age of "puberty," which implies that she has developed,
passed from girlhood into womanhood. After having reached the age of
puberty it is possible to become a mother.

THE AGE OF PUBERTY.--There is no fixed age at which the first
menstruation takes place. Some girls develop quicker than others,--a
condition that depends upon the health and type of girl. A strong,
robust, full-blooded girl will menstruate at an earlier age, than will a
sickly anemic girl. The average age is four