,,confidences ,by the same author ,,truths ,talks ,with a ,boy ,concerning ,himself #ej cents4 ,,herself ,talks ,with ,women ,concerning ,themselves #a4jj4 ,,false ,,modesty #ej cents4 ,,confidences ,,talks ,,with ,a ,,young ,,girl ,,concerning ,,herself ,,by ,,edith ,b4 ,,lowry1 ,m4,d4 ,,chicago #aiai 99 99 99 99 99 ,to the daughters of my friends1 but especially to ,,mary ,,louise this little book is lovingly dedicated4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,preface ,no one can come in contact with children and young people without feeling the need of a united effort on the part of the parents1 physicians and teachers to lessen the immoral tendencies1 with their degrading effects1 to which the present generation is subjected4 ,knowledge of the right sort will prevent many wrecked lives4 ,ignorance as to facts and to the best manner of presenting them prevents many a parent from daring to trespass upon such sacred ground1 and the instruction is postponed from day to day until it is too late4 ,with the desire to aid mothers in giving the necessary instruction to their daughters1 this little book has been written4 ,the author has tried to tell in suitable language the facts that should be known by every girl from ten to fourteen years of age4 ,the book is of such a character that it may be placed in the hands of the young girl1 but better still it may be read aloud by the mother to her daughter4 ,it is hoped this book will form the basis of a closer intimacy between mother and daughter1 and that the knowledge herein set forth will forestall that which might be given in an entirely different spirit by the girl's companions4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,secret ,,ii4 ,the ,flower ,babies ,,iii4 ,the ,bird ,babies ,,iv4 ,mother's ,baby ,v4 ,the ,baby's ,nest ,,vi4 ,building the ,nest ,,vii4 ,the ,sign ,language ,,viii4 ,rest and ,sleep ,,ix4 ,injury of the ,nest 99 99 99 99 99 ,in all places1 then1 and in all seasons1 ,flowers expand their light and soul-like wings1 ,teaching us1 by most persuasive reasons1 ,how akin they are to human things4 ,longfellow4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,secret ,listen1 ,violet1 ,i am going to tell you a wonderful secret4 ,and this wonderful secret is about your namesakes1 the violets4 ,every little flower that grows is a living being1 as you or ,i--and every plant is a household4 ,how do ,i know this8 ,the flowers told me themselves1 and now ,i am going to let you into the secret4 ,of course1 ,i must admit that the flowers do not talk as we do4 ,unlike ourselves1 they cannot express themselves aloud4 ,they must show their thoughts by their motions or by their change of expression4 ,when a flower is thirsty1 how does it tell us so8 ,by drooping its head and looking sad4 ,then1 if we give it a drink1 how quickly it says1 ,thank you6 by lifting its head and smiling at us4 ,if we would have the flowers tell us their secrets1 we must watch them very closely so as to be able to hear what they say4 ,sometimes1 however1 we must learn from others what the plants like1 for at first1 until we are better acquainted1 we will not be able to understand them1 and might make many mistakes2 so ,i am going to tell you a few things today4 ,first1 we must learn something about the flower's family1 and where the flower gets its food4 ,the flowers are a part of the plant household just the same as you or any little girl is only a part of the family4 ,you could not very well live without the rest of the family--your father and mother1 who do so many things for you and take such care of you1 and your brothers and sisters1 who all help to make the home happy4 ,the flower is like a little girl and needs some one to care for her4 ,do you know the other members of the plant household8 ,first1 there are the roots1 whose work it is to hold the plant in place so it will not be tossed about by every wind4 ,the roots also must draw the water and nourishment from the ground4 ,you know when the rain comes1 it soaks into the ground and then when the plant needs water the little roots suck it out of the ground just as you could draw lemonade through a straw1 for every root is supplied with many hair tubes that serve as straws4 ,these hair tubes often are so small we could not see them without a microscope1 but it is through these tiny tubes the plant receives nearly all the water it uses4 ,other members of the family1 the leaves1 are kept busy1 for they must do the breathing for the plant1 as well as digest the food4 ,you know water is never quite free from mineral matter1 so when the roots draw up the water from the ground1 they also draw up some mineral food for the plant which is dissolved in the water4 ,before the plant can make use of this food1 it must be digested by the leaves1 much the same as your stomach must digest the food you eat4 ,that is1 it must change it into another form4 ,but in order that the leaves may do this1 they must have plenty of chlorophyll1 which is the green coloring matter of the leaves4 ,this chlorophyll will grow in the leaves if they have plenty of sunlight1 and if it does not grow the leaves will not be able to digest the food and the plant will starve4 ,so you see how necessary it is for plants to have plenty of sunshine1 and why they lose their green color and then die if they are kept away from the light4 ,they really are starved to death4 99 99 99 99 99 ,flowers are words ,which even a babe may understand4 ,bishop ,coxe4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,flower ,,babies ,the flower itself has many parts1 just as there are many parts to your body4 ,when the flower is a little bud1 or baby1 rocked by the breezes1 it is closely wrapped in a little green cloak4 ,we call this cloak the calyx1 because when it opens it looks like a cup1 and the word calyx means cup4 ,after the bud is grown1 it opens its cloak and throws it back4 ,then we see the pretty dress underneath4 ,we call this dress the corolla4 ,sometimes it is all in one piece1 but often it is divided into several leaf-like parts which we call petals4 ,if we look within the dress or corolla1 we find the real body of the flower1 which is called the pistil4 ,its shape varies greatly in different plants1 but it always consists of two or three distinct parts4 ,one of these is the cradle for the seeds1 and is called the ovary4 ,at one end of the ovary is usually a little tube leading down into it4 ,this tube is called the style1 and the opening at the other end is called the stigma4 ,each ovary or cradle contains one or more ovules which by and by will grow into seeds4 ,just outside the pistil of a flower you usually will find a row of slender1 thread-like stalks1 each bearing a soft1 oblong body at the top1 falling out of which you will see a fine yellow powder called pollen4 ,it is a peculiar fact that these seeds never can grow into new plants unless they are fertilized1 that is1 unless they receive some pollen4 ,it is another peculiar fact that although nearly every flower has this pollen growing right near the little ovules1 yet they cannot be fertilized with this pollen1 but must receive some from the flower of another plant family4 ,this pollen is carried from one plant to another by the wind or by the bees and butterflies that come visiting in search of honey4 ,in fact1 the flower coaxes the bees and butterflies to come so they may bring her the pollen4 ,soon after the seed is fertilized it is ripe2 that is1 it is ready to leave its cradle1 the ovary4 ,it is now ready to grow into a new plant4 ,but before it can grow it must be put into a little nest in the ground4 ,but the poor plant is so helpless that she is unable to prepare this nest herself1 so all she can do is to scatter her seed babies out on the ground and hope some one will take pity on them and make a nice nest for them4 ,sometimes the wind helps her by blowing some dirt and dead leaves over them1 for you know the seeds cannot grow unless they are covered nice and warm4 ,sometimes the children and grown people help her by preparing a nice flower-bed4 ,for a long time the tiny seed lies very quietly in its warm nest1 and if we could peek at it we could not see it move at all1 but all the time it is growing very slowly1 until finally some bright day it will send up its little sprouts1 and then we will see that all the time the seed was lying so quietly it was growing into a baby flower4 99 99 99 99 99 ,so the ,bluebirds have contracted1 have they1 for a house8 ,and a nest is under way for little ,mr4 ,wren8 ,hush1 dear1 hush6 ,be quiet1 dear6 quiet as a mouse4 ,these are weighty secrets1 and we must whisper them4 ,susan ,coolidge4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,bird ,,babies ,today1 ,violet1 ,i shall tell you another secret1 but this time the secret is not about flowers1 but about something else we love very dearly4 ,i intend to tell you some secrets about the birds4 ,i wonder if you know how much they are like the flowers8 ,you remember1 the flowers had a language which we could understand1 even if they did not talk out loud4 ,the birds1 too1 have a language of their own1 and they can express themselves better than the flowers1 for they have a sign language1 and are also able to make sounds4 ,how much we enjoy hearing the birds sing1 not only because they make beautiful music1 but because they are telling us how happy they are6 ,if birds are in pain or in trouble1 their notes are quite different from when they are singing2 while1 if they or their little ones are in danger1 they quickly send forth a note of warning4 ,the young birds1 in calling for food1 make an entirely different sound1 and the answer of the mother bird is a sweet lullaby4 ,one of the ways birds express themselves in sign language is by their feathers4 ,if they are sick1 their feathers droop4 ,when they are well and happy1 their feathers seem much brighter4 ,in the bird family1 as in the flower family1 each member has a special work to do4 ,the mother bird and the father bird work together to build the nest1 but while the mother bird lays the eggs and then must sit on them for a number of days1 the father bird must bring her food and water and sometimes take his turn watching the nest while the mother goes for a little exercise4 ,the mother bird's body resembles the plant1 too1 for it needs fresh air1 food and water4 ,instead of leaves to take in the air it has lungs1 which not only take in the fresh air but also send out the impure air4 ,instead of the little rootlets to take in the food and water from the ground1 the bird has a mouth1 and as the bird is not fastened to the ground1 but is free to fly or move about1 it goes after its food4 ,instead of sap1 it has blood to carry the food to all parts of the body4 ,the birds have ovaries just the same as the flowers1 and inside each ovary are a number of little seeds or ovules which by and by will grow into birdies4 ,it takes quite a while for the ovules to ripen1 just as it took quite a while for the seeds to ripen1 and when they are ripe they must have a nest prepared for them1 just as the flowers did4 ,but the birds are not as helpless as the flowers1 and are able to make their own nests4 ,so when the ovules 7which are called eggs when they are ripe7 are ready1 the parent birds select a nice place for a home4 ,the father and mother work very hard until the nest is finished4 ,often the mother will line it with some of her own feathers1 so that it will be soft and warm4 ,after the nest is ready the mother bird lays the tiny eggs in it4 ,then she must sit on them to keep them warm for many days1 for the eggs1 like the seeds1 cannot grow unless they are kept good and warm4 ,if we look at the eggs from day to day we will not be able to see any change in them1 but the change is inside the shell where we cannot see it4 ,every day there is an alteration taking place1 and the egg gradually is being transformed into the little bird4 ,after a while1 when the right time comes1 the birdie will peck a tiny hole in the shell4 ,this will keep growing larger and larger until it is large enough for the birdie to come through1 then out it comes6 99 99 99 99 99 ,a sweet1 new blossom of ,humanity1 ,fresh fallen from ,god's own home to flower on earth4 ,gerald ,massey4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,mother',s ,,baby ,there is another wonderful secret that ,i have to tell you4 ,i wonder if you can guess what this is6 ,no1 it is not about a flower1 nor a bird--but1 yes1 you have guessed it right1 for it is about a girl just like you6 ,is it not queer how much alike the flowers and birds and little girls are1 after all1 even if they do not look at all alike8 ,you have lungs just the same as the bird1 and breathe as it does4 ,you have two feet1 but instead of wings you have arms and hands4 ,you have a sign language1 as the flowers have1 and you have a language of sounds that is even better than the bird language4 ,when you are happy1 ,i can tell it by the smiles on your face1 and sometimes when you are a wee bit cross1 ,i know it by a tiny frown that mars the beauty of your face4 ,but1 of course1 that does not happen very often1 because1 you know1 as we grow older1 our faces do not change their expressions as easily as they do when we are young4 ,and would it not be dreadful1 if when you grew up1 you always had a frown on your face and were not nice looking at all8 ,you know the frown wrinkles try to stay1 and every time we let them come out they leave a tiny mark4 ,when the flower took in the fresh air it made green coloring matter1 but when you take in the fresh air it makes red coloring matter4 ,so if you want to have red cheeks and red lips you must have plenty of fresh air4 ,i know you get a great deal in the daytime when you are playing1 but you must be sure to get it at night1 too1 or you will lose all your pretty color4 ,be sure that your window is open every night4 ,you remember1 the leaves not only had to breathe but they had to digest the food for the plant1 too1 but the bird had a stomach to perform that work4 ,in this way you are like the birds1 for you have a stomach which takes care of the food you eat4 ,if you wish to grow strong and well so as to be able to run and play and also to help your mother with her work1 you must eat plenty of good1 nourishing food4 ,you know some food makes muscles1 but other things are not very good for people to eat4 ,plenty of bread and milk and cereals1 also meat1 potatoes and fruit1 are very good things to make girls grow4 ,you must take care of your stomach1 too1 and give it time to rest1 for it works very hard and might get tired out4 ,then what would you do8 ,you have seen1 ,violet1 that in a great many ways you are like the birds and flowers1 but now ,i am going to tell you something that perhaps you did not know4 ,girls have ovaries just the same as flowers and birds1 and inside each ovary are a great many little ovules that after a while will ripen as the seeds did1 only instead of growing into flowers or birds they will grow into babies4 ,is that not lovely1 and are you not glad that perhaps some day you will be able to have a baby all your own8 ,but of course that will not be for a great many years yet1 for you must wait until you have grown into a strong woman and have a home of your own and a husband to help take care of the baby4 ,when the little ovules are ripe there must be a nest prepared for them1 just the same as there was one prepared for the flowers and birds4 ,but now ,i shall tell you another wonderful secret4 ,mothers do not have to build nests1 for they are already prepared for them right inside their bodies close to their hearts4 ,the nest is called the womb4 ,although we do not have to build the nest1 we have to take good care of it so it may grow strong4 ,this nest and the tiny ovules are growing constantly from the time the girls are babies1 but they grow so very slowly that none of the ovules are ripe until the girl is about twelve years old4 ,after that one ripens every month and passes to the nest or womb4 ,at the same time an extra amount of blood is sent to the womb to provide nourishing material for the ovule to use in its growth4 ,but the womb1 or nest1 is not strong enough yet to hold a healthy baby1 so this extra amount of blood with the ovule is sent out of the body through the vagina1 which is a muscular tube leading from the womb to the external parts 7private parts74 ,we call this flow the menstrual flow4 ,this occurs every month and each time the womb becomes a little stronger and better able to hold a growing babe4 ,but the womb is not fully developed until the rest of the body is matured4 ,menstruation is the sign of the possibility of motherhood4 ,realizing this fact1 one cannot fail to have a high idea of this function4 ,most girls1 naturally1 desire children4 ,little girls love their doll babies1 and spend much time in caring for them1 but as girls grow into womanhood they desire real babies4 ,a woman who does not desire children has had her mind perverted by false ideas or fear4 99 99 99 99 99 ,build me straight1 ,o worthy ,master6 ,staunch and strong1 a goodly vessel ,that shall laugh at all disaster1 ,and with wave and whirlwind wrestle6 ,longfellow4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,baby',s ,,nest ,you remember1 ,violet1 ,i told you that although mothers do not have to build nests1 yet they have to take good care of them so they will grow strong4 ,as the natural desire of every girl is to become a mother some time1 she must begin very early to prepare for it4 ,by exercise1 fresh air1 and good1 nourishing food1 she should make her body grow strong and well4 ,by studying she will develop her mind so as to be fitted to care for and to teach her child4 ,shall ,i tell you some ways you can make the nest grow strong8 ,first1 ,i shall tell you more things about this mother nest4 ,although it and the tiny ovules are growing all the time1 yet there are greater changes in them when the girl is from twelve to fourteen years old4 ,about this time they grow faster than at any other time4 ,as these organs grow1 the pelvis1 or the part of the body that contains them1 also must grow to make room for them4 ,so the hips begin to grow broader4 ,other parts of the body grow faster at this time1 too1 and often some parts grow so much faster than others that they are out of proportion1 and the child becomes clumsy and feels awkward4 ,but that will not last long1 for after a while the parts that are growing slowly will catch up to the ones that grew fast1 and then the body will be graceful again4 ,have you ever watched a young puppy8 ,you know how clumsy and awkward it is while it is growing1 but after a while1 when it is fully grown1 it will be very graceful4 ,we know it is not wise to run or play or work hard right after eating a large meal1 for then the stomach is working very hard and needs a great deal of extra energy1 so the other muscles must rest a while1 in order to let it have it4 ,you remember1 ,i told you1 ,violet1 that every month1 or every twenty-eight days1 there was an extra amount of blood carried to the womb which it had to send out of the body4 ,of course that requires the womb to work very hard for a few days1 so1 in order to help it1 we must be careful not to take any severe exercise at this time or overexert ourselves in any way1 for1 if we did1 the womb would not be able to do its extra work properly4 ,you remember1 ,i told you this flow1 which we call the menstrual flow1 was the sign of the possibility of motherhood1 so every girl should be glad of the fact that she menstruates and should take good care of herself at that time4 ,she should pay especial attention to cleanliness during this period4 ,she should be provided with a circular girdle of some strong material cut upon the bias1 so it may be elastic1 and provided with tabs to which to pin the folded cloth4 ,she also should have a supply of sanitary cloths made of absorbent cotton fabric1 or pads made of absorbent-cotton enclosed in gauze4 ,the latter are especially convenient for the girl who is obliged to room away from home1 for they may be burned1 and the cost of new ones is no greater than the laundry of cloths4 ,these pads or cloths should be changed at least twice a day4 ,it also is necessary that one should bathe the parts in warm water with each change1 as unpleasant odors can thereby be avoided4 ,at the close of each period she should take a bath and change all clothing4 ,one cannot be too careful about these matters1 so essential to cleanliness and health4 ,during this period1 girls naturally have a feeling of lassitude or disinclination to do any great mental or physical work1 accompanied1 perhaps1 by a slight feeling of uneasiness in the pelvic region 7the part of the body that contains the womb and ovaries74 ,because so many do suffer at this time1 it often is considered natural and allowed to continue1 but now that you know so much about the body you will understand that it is not necessary to have any pains at this period4 ,if there is pain1 it shows that we are not taking proper care of ourselves4 ,even our stomach will give us severe pain if we do not take proper care of it or if we overload it4 ,the monthly discharge varies in quantity with the individual4 ,usually fleshy girls flow more than thin ones1 and dark complexioned girls than light ones4 ,the discharge lasts about four days1 and is the only symptom that many girls experience in menstruation4 ,this usually is the case with those who are well and whose lives are happily employed4 ,i wanted you to know all these things1 ,violet1 for sometimes when little girls do not understand what this flow means they are frightened when they see the blood4 ,some women even dread motherhood because they do not know what to expect at that time nor how to care for themselves4 ,all women naturally love babies and if taught correctly would want to have them4 ,if they do not1 it usually is because they have known of other women suffering through ignorance and are afraid4 ,if they would learn more about these wonderful bodies of ours and more about the care of little babies1 they would understand how to care for themselves so as to have healthy1 happy babies4 ,not only that but they would see it was the natural and the best thing for them to have children4 ,in any work we undertake1 in everything we do1 there is a possibility of an accident4 ,so it is in motherhood4 ,a woman in normal health whose home life is congenial1 who loves children and who desires to have one1 never should have any serious trouble nor great pain4 ,painless childbirth is a possibility if women only understood the care of themselves4 ,the modern athletic girl glories in her strength4 ,she feels it a disgrace to be a frail flower that cannot enter into the best enjoyment of life4 ,she glories in her strong1 well-trained body4 ,she walks with free yet graceful step1 holding her head high1 for she knows she is queen of her kingdom--her body4 ,her lungs are well developed and her body well cared for1 so she has no fear of disease4 ,but the modern girl does not stop there4 ,she wants to have healthy sexual organs with room for development of the babe1 and strong muscles to perform their work in expelling the babe4 ,so she discards clothing that restricts her organs4 ,she wears comfortable1 well-fitting clothes4 ,the old-fashioned corsets pushed the organs out of place1 but the modern ones1 made to conform to nature's lines1 serve only as a support4 ,as nature did not make a waist line1 the one-piece dresses are especially desirable4 ,besides developing every organ and muscle of her body and training her mind1 the modern girl goes to a training school to prepare for the mother calling4 ,recently1 in a few schools1 a course of study has been provided for the girls in the care of children1 hygiene and nursing4 ,even women who never become mothers themselves in this way learn general principles of psychology1 hygiene and the care of the sick that they might make use of in every station of life4 ,i hope1 ,violet1 that after a while you will be able to learn many of these things1 so that when you are a grown woman and the time comes for you to marry and have a baby you will know just how to care for it4 99 99 99 99 99 ,reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body4 ,as by the one1 health is preserved1 strengthened1 and invigorated2 by the other1 virtue 7which is the health of the mind7 is kept alive1 cherished1 and confirmed4 ,addison4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,building ,,the ,,nest ,now that ,i have told you so many things about the mother-nest1 especially about how it is growing all the time1 ,i must tell you more about the many helpers you have who assist in its growth4 ,this they do by providing it with food and by carrying away the waste material4 ,we found the body was composed of many parts or organs1 each one of which had its own especial work to do4 ,if any one organ could not perform its work1 some other one would have to assist it1 but1 although the organs are willing to help each other1 it would not be fair to make one do more than its share of work1 except for a short time4 ,you remember1 the stomach had a great deal of work to do in digesting the food or preparing it so it could be taken up by the blood and carried to the womb and all parts of the body4 ,but the stomach does not have to do this all alone4 ,it has several helpers4 ,one set of helpers is the teeth1 which cut and grind the food into small particles4 ,in order to do this1 they must be kept in very good condition2 otherwise1 they could not do their work4 ,you know if your mother would let the kitchen knives get dull or rusty1 she would be unable to cut the bread1 meat and other food materials with them4 ,the same is true of the teeth4 ,we can keep them in good condition by brushing them4 ,it is as important to do this as to wash the dishes4 ,then1 too1 we must be careful not to break the teeth by biting nuts and other hard things4 ,nothing so detracts from a girl's appearance and nothing is more conducive to indigestion than poorly cared for teeth4 ,they should be brushed at least twice daily and the mouth afterwards rinsed with a mild antiseptic solution4 ,the teeth should be thoroughly examined by a good dentist at least every six months4 ,another assistant that the stomach has is the intestines or bowels1 which not only help to digest the food but also carry off the waste material4 ,the bowels are very good1 and will tell us when they have waste material to be disposed of1 but sometimes people are too busy and do not pay attention4 ,if we neglect them many times the bowels get tired of telling us1 and then their work is not done4 ,we think they are lazy and so we try to whip them up by taking a laxative4 ,this seems to help at first1 but we soon find we have to do the same thing every day4 ,all this time the fault was our own1 for we did not understand4 ,the best way is to have a regular time of going to the toilet1 say1 right after breakfast4 ,if we always go at the same time the bowels will remember it4 ,then we need have no trouble with constipation nor take any horrid medicine to whip the bowels4 ,a regular daily action of the bowels is necessary to health4 ,constipation often may be relieved by drinking a glass of cold water upon rising1 at intervals during the day1 and upon retiring4 ,fruit at breakfast or figs taken after meals often will relieve a tendency to constipation4 ,regularity in going to the toilet is one of the most important measures in treating constipation4 ,laxatives or cathartics should not be taken except for an occasional dose or during illness1 upon the advice of a physician4 ,so common is the practice of taking daily laxatives that it has become a national curse4 ,people do not realize that they are slaves to this habit4 ,so cleverly worded are the advertisements of many of the laxatives that people are led to believe that if they drink certain waters or teas they are avoiding medicine1 while often these same teas and waters contain drugs more powerful and harmful than any pill4 ,the bowels have some one to assist them1 too1 for the kidneys carry off much of the waste material of the body4 ,indeed1 they carry off so much that they sometimes are called the sewers4 ,it often is necessary to flush the sewers of the city1 that is1 to send quantities of water through them to clean the system4 ,in the same way it is necessary to flush the kidneys4 ,we do this by drinking plenty of water4 ,every one should drink about two quarts of water a day4 ,there is another worker that helps both the kidneys and the bowels4 ,this is the skin1 which sends off waste material through the tiny pores or openings4 ,if dirt accumulates on the skin1 it clogs the pores so the skin cannot use them4 ,so you see how necessary it is to take frequent baths to keep the pores open4 ,other helpers that carry some of the waste material from the body are the lungs1 which send out the impure air4 ,the lungs also take in the pure air1 which1 you remember1 helps to make the red coloring matter in the blood4 ,if you want to have nice red cheeks1 you must breathe in plenty of fresh air4 ,also you must have plenty of exercise1 so as to help send the blood all over the body4 ,you know when you run1 the blood flows much faster than when you are quiet4 ,it is a good plan to stand by an open window every morning and every evening and fill your lungs with good1 pure air1 taking about twenty-five deep breaths4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i want to help you to grow as beautiful as ,god meant you to be when ,he thought of you first4 ,george ,mac,donald4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,the ,,sign ,,language ,do you know one way we can tell if all the organs are doing their work well8 ,by watching for the sign language4 ,if the blood is not carrying the skin sufficient nourishment1 it will be very pale and dull looking4 ,if the waste materials are not being carried off1 they may accumulate in the skin and clog the pores4 ,then we will have pimples or blackheads4 ,each person's skin is a law unto itself1 and what is beneficial to one may not be to another4 ,generally1 though1 it will be found helpful to bathe the face at night with hot water1 to remove all dirt2 then1 if the skin is rough1 massage with good cold cream4 ,in the morning a quick rub with cold water should be taken 7and do not be afraid to rub the face a little74 ,if you are going out in the sun or wind1 follow with a little good talcum or rice powder1 to protect the face from the raw winds1 or1 if the skin is inclined to be dry1 apply a little cold cream before using the powder4 ,any eruptions on the face show a defect in the circulation4 ,the blood is not disposing of the waste material properly1 and it is being left to clog the pores of the skin4 ,these eruptions should not be neglected1 as they sometimes indicate a serious condition of the blood or circulation4 ,the eyes tell if we are tired or unwell1 for then they will be dull1 while1 if we abuse or strain them1 they often are red4 ,this not only makes them less attractive1 but it shows we must attend to them4 ,would it not be dreadful if they became so tired or worn out that we could not see with them8 ,the care of the eyes is very important4 ,when you are reading or writing1 the light should come over your left shoulder1 and you should never try to read in a poor light4 ,sometimes1 if the eyes are tired1 it will rest them to bathe them in warm1 boiled water in which some boracic acid crystals have been dissolved4 ,you may even put a few drops of this solution right in the eye1 but never put anything else in it except by the directions of a physician1 as the eyes are too precious to take any risks1 and sometimes they are injured by various eye waters4 ,the hair also shows the state of the health1 and it shows if we are careless4 ,nothing so detracts from a girl's appearance as soiled or untidy hair4 ,one of the most potent charms a woman can have is a well-kept1 luxuriant1 glossy head of hair4 ,just think how quickly one notices thin1 dry1 stiff hair on a woman's head4 ,and as for those that carry around diseased scalps1 plastered with offensive oils1 they are perfectly hideous4 ,if people only knew how much esteem they lose through such defects1 they would give more attention to the matter4 ,the hair should be shampooed often enough to keep it clean and fluffy4 ,how often that is depends on the nature of the hair and the occupation of the owner4 ,usually once in two weeks is often enough1 but light1 oily hair may require it more frequently1 for it loses much of its beauty when oily4 ,to promote the growth of the hair1 massage of the scalp usually brings very satisfactory results1 stimulating a new growth and healthy appearance4 ,the value of tonics often is in the massage4 ,many of the hair tonics and shampoos on the market not only are not beneficial1 but are dangerous4 ,an ordinary egg shampoo1 which may be prepared at home1 is perhaps the best1 for it not only cleanses but nourishes the hair4 ,i must remind you of a part of your body that many people notice very often and by it judge if you are careless4 ,that is your hands and nails4 ,people who are careful about the appearance of their nails usually are careful about other things4 ,you will find as you grow older that you are judged a good deal by the little things4 ,it will pay you to get up half an hour earlier if necessary so as to give yourself time for those little personal attentions that help to make a girl dainty4 ,you will be surprised at the effect on your mind of extra well-brushed hair1 clear1 bright complexion1 polished nails and a well-put-on tie1 also neat gloves and shoes4 99 99 99 99 99 ,hush1 my dear1 lie still and slumber1 ,holy angels guard thy bed6 ,heavenly blessings without number ,gently falling on thy head4 ,watts4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,rest ,,and ,,sleep ,you have seen1 ,violet1 how all the parts of the body work together1 although each one has its especial part to do4 ,you remember1 we found the stomach must have a time to rest between meals4 ,the other parts of the body require rest1 too4 ,this they usually get while we are asleep4 ,we must not be neglectful and fail to give them enough rest1 or they will soon get worn out and give us trouble4 ,most little girls require eight or ten hours' rest every night4 ,sometimes1 when people are not well or are all tired out1 they find they cannot sleep well at night4 ,there are a number of little things that can be done to induce sleep4 ,a warm bath before retiring1 followed by a gentle massage1 especially along the spine1 often will1 by relaxing the nerves and muscles1 produce very good results4 ,a hot foot bath1 which draws the blood away from the brain1 frequently will be found beneficial4 ,a glass of hot milk or cocoa1 taken just before retiring1 often will have the same effect4 ,if the sleeplessness is a result of indigestion1 a plain diet will relieve4 ,sleeping upon a hard bed without any pillow sometimes produces the desired effect4 ,always have plenty of fresh air in the room4 ,keep the mind free from the cares of the day4 ,if they will intrude1 crowd them out by repeating something else--some soothing sentence or bit of poetry4 ,one good plan is to close the left nostril by pressing on it with the finger1 then take four deep breaths through the right nostril4 ,then close the right nostril and take four deep breaths through the left one4 ,repeat this about four times4 ,then breathe slowly through both nostrils1 but count your breaths4 ,you seldom will count very many4 ,never take any sleeping powders or tablets except upon the advice of a physician1 for they usually contain drugs that will injure the heart4 ,you will find1 ,violet1 that you will meet a number of women who are nervous1 which means they have not control of their nerves1 but let them run away with them4 ,sometimes this is shown in palpitation of the heart1 headache1 backache1 and many other disorders4 ,there may be a tendency to cry at trivial things1 or a feeling of having the blues4 ,the cause usually can be found in uncongenial surroundings or occupation1 loss of friends1 or real or fancied troubles4 ,whatever the cause1 it should be removed1 if possible1 and measures taken to restore the worn out nerves that are crying for rest or food4 ,tonics help1 so does nourishing food1 such as eggs and milk2 also a change of scene and occupation1 if possible4 ,a woman who is nervous frequently does not realize what is the cause of her condition1 and considers only the symptoms4 ,so when she has a headache1 resorts to headache powders or various effervescing drinks4 ,in taking these she only is deadening the pain and not removing the cause1 so the pain is liable to return4 ,most of the remedies taken for headache contain some harmful drug4 ,if you look carefully at the label1 you usually will find that they contain morphine1 phenacetin1 or acetanilid1 which are very depressing to the heart4 ,pain is the cry of tortured nerves1 so if one suffers from headaches or backaches1 she should not take any of these harmful drugs1 but should hunt for the cause of the pain and remove that4 99 99 99 99 99 ,even from the body's purity1 the mind ,receives a secret sympathetic aid4 ,thomson4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,injury ,,of ,,the ,,nest ,we who love birds would not do anything to injure their homes1 but there are some children who have not learned to love birds or who are thoughtless and injure their nests1 sometimes even tearing them to pieces or breaking off the limb of the tree4 ,there also are thoughtless children who do things to injure their bodies4 ,you would think it very foolish to allow someone to put a bee on your face that would sting you and yet there are some thoughtless children who would do just that if you would let them4 ,they might even try to tell you it would not hurt you1 but of course you would know better4 ,you1 who know how necessary is every part of the body1 would not allow anyone to injure any part of it1 especially the part that contains the mother nest4 ,think how badly the mother bird must have felt when the child destroyed the nest1 and think how badly you would feel1 when it came time for you to marry and have a baby1 if you found the nest had been so injured that you could not have any4 ,you know1 the nest as well as the rest of the body belongs to you alone1 and no one has a right to injure it1 but sometimes girls are as careless or as thoughtless as the boy with the bee and do things that are harmful4 ,i have told you how to care for this mother nest so it will grow well and strong1 but now ,i must tell you something more4 ,as you go out in the world you will meet some girls and some boys who have never been told these things and do not understand all the things you do4 ,sometimes they have very wrong ideas and will do many things that are harmful4 ,not only that1 but they will try to get you to do them4 ,some little girls who do not understand what their organs are for will even play with them1 for they think it gives them a pleasurable sensation4 ,i am sure they would not do this if they understood that by so doing they were injuring the precious nest4 ,you know if you or anyone else would put things into your eyes or ears or play with them in any way you might lose your sight or hearing4 ,it is the same way with the mother nest and other organs4 ,the best plan is to just keep them clean and then not touch them at any other time nor allow anyone else to do so4 ,but in bathing the parts you must be careful to have your own towel and not use any cloths that have been used by other people1 for there are some dreadful diseases1 called the black plagues1 that can be carried to these organs by anything that is not strictly clean1 and these diseases sometimes destroy the nest and ovules4 ,so you must be careful in all you do4 ,if at any time1 ,violet1 questions come up in your mind as to what is the best thing for you to do1 remember that mother will be glad to answer them or will help you obtain books that will explain things to you4 ,do not go to your companions1 for they might not understand and would give you wrong ideas4 ,in school we have text books and a teacher1 who is older and more experienced than we1 to whom we can go for help in our school problems4 ,we know she will tell us the right solution and we know it is better to go to her than to the other pupils4 ,so in this study of our bodies and the care of them1 we must learn from some one older and more experienced1 or we must study books that have been written for that purpose4 ,then we will be sure to obtain the right ideas4 ,after a while1 when you are grown and it is nearing the time for you to marry1 ,i will tell you some things about the care of the baby and how you may have a good-natured1 healthy child4 ,but now all you need to do for a number of years is to take good care of this mother nest and the rest of your body1 so it will grow strong and well4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,girl ,,wanted ,,by ,,nixon ,,waterman ,cheerful1 friendly talks to young women1 telling them how they can mould their temperaments and shape their characters to sweetest and noblest influence4 ,every young woman should read this book4 ,every parent should make it a point to have her read it4 ,every institution dedicated to her instruction should introduce to her this beautiful book of the heart and mind4--,boston ,globe4 ,there is nothing trite or juiceless in this book4 ,every paragraph is appetizing4 ,a girl will be glad she has read it1 and will be the better1 the sweeter1 the happier therefor4--,the ,journal of ,education4 ,no one can resist it4 ,a fine book for presentation at graduation1 either from grammar or high school4--,the ,world's ,chronicle4 ,will at once win the reader's heart4 ,in these pages one does not rake among dry leaves1 but rather wanders through sweet-smelling meadows4--,christian ,endeavor ,world4 ,illustrated4 ,beautiful cover4 ,cloth1 #hvo4 ,,price1 #a4be ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid by the publishers ,,forbes ,,company1 ,,chicago 99 99 99 99 99 ,,happy ,,school ,,days ,a ,,book ,,for ,,girls ,,by ,,margaret ,e4 ,,sangster ,in this book ,mrs4 ,sangster writes charmingly and sympathetically of the things nearest to the hearts of girls4 ,it discusses the school1 home and entire life of the girl in her teens4 ,it ought to reach the hands of every girl4--,st4 ,paul ,pioneer ,press4 ,the book is as fascinating as a story4--,des ,moines ,register and ,leader4 ,every girl's mother ought to make her a present of this book4--,st4 ,louis ,times4 ,a charming book pervaded with the spirit of sweet friendliness1 complete comprehension and joyous helpfulness4--,chicago ,news4 ,an interesting1 suggestive1 sensible ,book1 in which ,mrs4 ,sangster is at her best4 ,it is a book of great worth1 and whoever extends its usefulness by increasing its readers is a public benefactor4--,the ,journal of ,education4 ,handsome cover4 ,decorated box4 ,cloth1 #abmo4 ,,price1 #a4be ,for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid by the publishers ,,forbes ,,company1 ,,chicago 99 99 99 99 99