A Letter From One of “My Girls”

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1914

A Letter From One of “My Girls”

“My girls” are scattered over land and sea. I often think of them by name, and wonder how they are meeting the responsibilities of life. Every now and then a favoring breeze from east or west, or sometimes from over the sea, brings the cheering word that all is well. Not long ago I received one of these welcome letters. One paragraph contained so much good counsel that I pass it on, hoping it may help some other mother. She says:—

“I have a neighbor across the way who has two small children, and who is tired of ‘keeping house’ already, and I shouldn’t wonder. All day long she is screaming to those children, ‘Now stop that,’ ‘Let sister alone,’ ‘Give me that,’ ‘Get off the porch,’ ‘Get out of this house;’ a slap and a kick, anything to get those little babies out of her way. O, if she only knew how to take them in her arms and talk to them, telling them wherein they are wrong, giving them a smile once in a while, and only when necessary whipping them, and never saying a cross word to them, how she would enjoy her home life, and enjoy those babies! I have practiced smiling at my boy from the very beginning, and he has a smile for every one. I have never yet seen him fail to meet every person with a smile. Sometimes when he is just crying and I am not sure whether he wants some one to take him or something is wrong, I go and talk to him a little to see if all is right, and if it is, I let him alone.”