Letters to a Daughter and A Little Sermon to School Girls | Page 8

the outward apparel than of that which we know by the
general name of underwear, which is far more personal and important
than the outward costume. The more refined the character and taste of
any young girl, the more particular will she be in the matter of all
articles of apparel that are private to herself, that they shall at least be
daintily neat and clean. I need not say to you how disenchanting it is to
see a young lady's foot with a shoe half buttoned because half the
buttons are gone; or to see a slipper slip off and disclose neglected and
untidy hose. No young girl of proper self-respect or refinement will
ever tolerate any such blemishes in her wardrobe.
Next in importance to habits of order and personal neatness comes the
habit of promptness. The girl who loiters and dawdles and keeps people
waiting, who is behindhand with her work as well as in keeping her
appointments, who is never ready at meal-time, but who is always
ready with some excuse for such annoying conduct, is a household
nuisance, a really painful trial to all who are brought into intimate
relations with her. How often have I wished it were possible to arouse
the consciousness of daughters in comfortable homes to the pain and
inconvenience they give their parents and friends by a habitual lack of
promptness! For my own part, I remember how my conscience was
first aroused, in my youth, on this point. I was reading a book written
for young girls by Jane Taylor--a writer I wish were in print now--when
I came across this instruction: "When you hear the bell ring for meals,
rise immediately, leave whatever you are doing, and at once go to the

table." Just as I was reading this sentence the bell rang, and I
immediately obeyed the summons. I noticed that my mother needed my
help in seating the younger children at the table and attending to their
wants, and I gave her my assistance. Somehow the meal seemed to pass
off more pleasantly than usual, and I felt my conscience prick me that I
had so often given my mother trouble by loitering and delaying at
meal-time. I resolved that henceforth I would be promptly on hand to
help her. From that time there was a marked change for the better in the
ease with which our family meals were served, and all because I was
always promptly on hand to help my mother. I do not know that she or
any of the family knew or noticed the reason, but I was very well aware
of it. It was really a kind of turning-point in my habits of life and
usefulness at home. To this day I never hear a bell ring for meals,
without the injunction of Jane Taylor coming into my mind: "Rise
immediately, leave whatever you are doing, and go at once to the
table." I can assure you, my child, it would add greatly to the comfort
and happiness of many houses, and greatly relieve many an overtaxed
mother, if this good old-fashioned direction were heeded not only by
daughters but by other members of the family also.
And if now, in addition to these good habits, you cultivate the habit of
cheerfulness and earnestly guard against temptation to fretfulness,
moroseness, or impatience, you will be well started on the way towards
a useful and lovely womanhood. A good daughter in a home is a
well-spring of joy, an ever-fresh source of delight and consolation to
her parents. Especially is she the stay and support and strength of her
mother, the happiness of whose life depends so largely upon the
respectful and affectionate conduct and attentions of her children.

LETTER V.
SOCIETY--CONVERSATION.
My Dear Daughter:--To give and receive pleasure in those pleasant
assemblages and meetings of acquaintances and friends known by the
general name of society, is one of the worthy minor aims of life. It is

one of the marks of an advancing state of intelligence and culture, when
an assemblage of gentlemen and ladies can pass delightful hours in the
mere interchange of thought in conversation. And while games and
other amusements may serve for a temporary variety (always excepting
games known as "kissing-games," which should be promptly tabooed
and denounced, and ever will be in truly refined society), yet animated
and intelligent conversation must always hold the first place in the list
of the pleasures of any refined society circle.
How shall a young girl fit herself to enjoy and to afford enjoyment in
general society? Certainly the first requisites are intelligence, a good
knowledge of standard literature, a general knowledge of the more
important events that are taking place in the world, and such a
knowledge of the