p. 14 | The Girl as Daughter by Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 7, 1913

The Girl as Daughter

By Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

By Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

THE home that is not blessed with one girl at least is denied one of Heaven’s choicest blessings; for a bright, loving girl adds greatly to the happiness of the home. Of course there are girls who bring sorrow instead of joy; but the well-trained girl, who has been brought up to obedience and self-control, is a comfort to her parents.

The daughter has her place in the home, a work which only she can do. She ought not to ask or expect all the easy, pleasant work. She should, as soon as old enough, step into line, and take her share in the responsibilities of domestic life. She can be ears, eyes, feet, and hands for mother. If she will but use her eyes, she will see many opportunities for helpfulness. She can be feet for mother by saving her weary steps; hands, by responding to the many calls upon her here and there. If there are small children in the family, there is always a little face that needs washing, a little head to comb, a hurt toe or finger to tie up. She can do these things, and save mother a little.

In some homes, the daughter feels herself above these little home ministries. She has no time. She has her music, painting, fancy work, circles, charity work, and so on. She really has no time for such homely work as washing dirty faces and combing the tousy head of a little brother or sister. This outside work is all right; music and painting are good to a certain extent; but the girl who would be a real blessing, to her parents in particular and the world in general, must know something of the real, practical side of life. No girl is prepared for an all-round useful life who knows nothing of the mysteries of the kitchen. So the daughter should take her place by the mother’s side, and know how to operate the household machinery.

Perhaps some girl will say, “Mama keeps plenty of hired help; you don’t catch me soiling my hands and spoiling my complexion over the cook-stove.” This may be true, my dear girl; but you ought to know how to cook healthful food, and how to manage and care for a home, even tho you may always be able to hire competent help.

A knowledge of housework degrades none. It is a mistaken idea that our girls should be kept out of the kitchen as if it were a pest-house. Right here is where the mother often makes a sad mistake. She thinks that to make her daughter a lady is to dress her in fine clothes, and bring her up without work. Hundreds of girls are growing up with this false idea. But is there anything unladylike in making bread, cooking a relishable dinner, making a shirt, doing a washing, if one has the strength, mopping a floor, or washing dishes?—No, indeed. Ignorance, idleness, and fine clothes never yet made a true lady.

The girl, then, to fill her place in the home, needs to be taught housework in all its details, as one branch of her education. On the other hand, the daughter should not be made the family drudge; all the hard, unpleasant work should not be put upon her young shoulders. Far from this. She needs recreation, and the mother should enjoy it with her as often as she can.