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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 15, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 42.

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FOR GIRLS.

By M. Colburn-Warner

True Incidents and Their Lessons.

“THE liberties taken in this age of corruption should be no criterion for Christ’s followers. These fashionable exhibitions of familiarity should not exist among Christians fitting for immortality.”
SOME way it seems hard for some girls to see that there is any wrong in any of these things. They love the attention of the opposite sex. They must have a “jolly good time.”
A girl is beset by dangers on every side. If she has the priceless gem of modesty, she will be safe.
O that girls would positively refuse any attentions from strange men, especially while traveling! Satan may weave a romantic spell about it, but the end will be a sad reality.
One of Satan’s emissaries, clad in garment of light, formed the acquaintance of a young girl on the train. The night was passed in a sleeper. . . . In course of time he was obliged to marry her. He abused her in every way he dared till she took her baby and fled. Then what! The roar of the lion was again changed to sweetest music. The claws were again encased in velvet, while he went about seeking whom he might devour. At last, to his intense delight, he found, as he supposed, a victim. He was madly in love with her; but this time his pleadings were in vain. The girl frankly told him she did not care for him, and even if she did, she would not marry him, for he had one wife already. Being a married man, he had no right to force his attentions upon her. Then the lion changed his tactics. He was a talented man, and was tired of serving the devil. If she would only give him some encouragement, he would get a divorce and then, with her help, he would live a Christian life. The girl told him he could do that, without marrying her. It was the Lord’s help, and not hers, he needed. Prayer was offered. As they parted the man said, “If all girls were pure like you, we men would lead a different life.” Even a bad man admires a girl that carries herself with queenly dignity.
Another incident: At seven o’clock one evening, a lady, in company with her husband and child, boarded an eastbound express train. After traveling some distance, some one touched the lady on the shoulder. She turned. A young girl, evidently about sixteen, asked the time. As the girl looked tired, the lady asked her if she had been traveling far. I will relate the conversation that followed.
“I have been in Kansas for a month, visiting my uncle,” said the girl, “and am now on my way home. Uncle came with me as far as Chicago, for the rest of the trip could be made without a change. My home is a few stations beyond Toledo. The man back of me says this train does not stop there, so I’ll have to get off at Toledo, and take an accommodation train later; but my father will be so worried for he is to meet me.”
“Is this man a friend of yours?”
“No; I never saw him before. He says he is going to Toledo, and will help me with my baggage.”
“He is kind. But you want to speak to the conductor about the train stopping, he will know. As long as you have a through ticket you will not be carried by. I should pay no attention to the man, but trust to the conductor. Here he comes, ask him.”
She did so. The conductor said if the train did not stop he would let her know before they reached Toledo. While she was talking to the conductor, I was studying, unobserved, the man on the back seat. He was very nicely dressed, wore a silk hat, and altogether made a fine appearance. But to me something said, he is dangerous. I felt I must keep a watch on the girl.
As we steamed into Toledo, the man bent over the girl’s seat, and said something. The girl arose. I turned and said:—
“You do not have to change here, do you?”
“This man says I do.”
“But the conductor was to let you know if you were, and he has not said a word.”
“O, what shall I do? My father will be worried not to find me.”
“What shall you do? Stay where you are. Suppose you get off here, do you know that an accommodation train runs down later?”
“No, but this man says so. He is acquainted there.”
“If there should be no train, then what?”
At that the man said: “I know of a nice hotel near the depot, where I will take you, if a train does not run down to-night. We must hurry.”
Just then my little boy called, “O mama, quick, I feel sick to my stomach!” As I hastened to him, I heard the man say, “Shall I carry your grip for you?”
The next few minutes were spent in attending to the child, that seats and clothes might not be soiled. As soon as I could I turned to the girl, but the seat was vacant. The girl had gone.
Thus ends the story told by the lady. But what of the girl?
Girls take warning from these two incidents. Let Christ live in you, and you will be safe.
MRS. M. COLBURN-WARNER.
Clintonville, Ohio.