THE GIRL AS A SISTER by Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 10.

THE GIRL AS A SISTER.

By Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

THE sister's responsibility, her influence over a brother for good or ill, is much greater than most realize. She can, to a great extent, mold a brother's character as she wills. Here is an illustrative incident: A revival series was in progress in a certain place. A young man was thinking seriously of giving his heart to God, and was on the point of expressing himself determined to become a Christian, when his sister, a proud, wilful girl, succeeded in keeping him back. That night, on his way home, he was thrown from his horse, and instantly killed.

I have known a few model sisters who took a deep interest in the welfare of their brothers. It is a beautiful sight to see a brother and sister who truly love each other, and who, instead of teasing and perplexing, strive to make each other happy.

A sister should not grudge the time and care spent upon her brothers. She should do all she can to make home attractive and pleasant for them. She should take pains to “dress up” and look as neat for her brother as for some other girl's brother. If she is a musician, and has a musical instrument, she ought to play for them; and if they are singers, they can unite their voices in happy song. Many hours can thus be spent in profitable enjoyment, and the boys be kept at home, instead of going “down street,” or to the country store or post-office, where they hear vile stories and their minds are filled with poison of the worst kind. But if the sister is selfish, and loves her ease, she will pay no attention to the boys, nor care where they spend their evenings.

The sister ought to take an interest in her brother's room, to keep it neat and in order. Perhaps she can share some of the dainty articles from her own room to help beautify his. I knew a girl who, in the season of flowers, kept a bouquet on the table in her brother's room. Her brother did not seem to notice, and often she thought it was labor lost; but one day he told her he loved to see the flowers in his room when he went in at night, tired with his day's work. Soon after she was called from home, and her brother wrote her how he missed her flowers. She felt amply paid for the pains she had taken.

Some one may say, “I do try to be good and sisterly; but my brother never seems to care for me, or notice me, only to tease or find fault; he never wants me to go anywhere with him, and acts as if he did not want me near him.”

I think I have seen a few such brothers, and it is a sad thing. But, my dear girl, do not be discouraged; go right on being a good sister. Be patient, loving, and kind. Show an interest in your brother. Chat with him; tell your witty stories for him; look after his wardrobe; keep his buttons sewed on, his handkerchiefs neatly ironed; in fact, perform any little sisterly act that may be needed to convince him of your love. And your tenderness will not be lost. You will win by and by. Sometime, somewhere, your brother will come to realize the worth of a true sister's love.

Not all brothers are like the one we have been speaking of. There are brothers who value a good sister, and who are as polite to her as to any girl acquaintance, and are as willing to escort her to church or lecture as some girl friend. I have in mind several such brothers. Would there were more.

It does pay to do all you can for your brother. Whatever you do for him will come back to you again. If you set him an ill-natured, fault-finding example, it will recoil upon you from his own irritated nature. If, by patience with his infirmities, you dwell with him in love during the few years you yet remain in the home nest together, you will not lose a rich reward by and by. It is only just a little time now that you will all be together in the dear old home that has sheltered you all since childhood. So, dear girls, while you have your brothers yet with you, do all in your power to make them noble, pure men, if they are not such already.

There are also sisterly duties toward the sisters of the same family. Sisters should be loving and kind to one another; but too often they are sharp and cross, and in some cases there is lifelong enmity over mere trifles. Such a situation is indeed sad in any family. Ill-will, hatred, bitterness, or anger ought never to find place with children of the same family. God never intended that any spirit but love should pervade the home. Satan loves to stir up strife and discord in the family. He is doing all in his power, in these last days, to ruin homes, to set the hearts of children against each other, against their parents, against God and His truth.

O, that the brothers and sisters in the many homes that the SIGNS enters, would realize Satan's wiles, and not let him use them in his service! Rather may they consecrate themselves to God and His service, and may each brother, each sister, do all that is possible to comfort the dear parents, and make their home the brightest, cheeriest place on earth. Soon you will leave the home of your childhood for other duties, and as you go out into the world, carry with you the knowledge that you did your best to make the home you are leaving a happy one, the memory of which will be a joy to you thru all life's journey.

Grand Ledge, Mich. Mrs. M. C. Du Bois.