Cultivating a Pure Expression.
EVERY word that falls from the lips of mothers and sisters especially should be pure, and concise, and simple; not pearls, such as fall from the lips of the princess, but sweet, good words, that little children can gather without fears of evil, or after shame, or blame, or any regrets to pain through all their life. Children should be taught the frequent use of good, strong, expressive words—words that mean exactly what they should express in their proper places. If a child or young person has a loose, flung-together way of stringing words when endeavoring to say something, he should be made to “try again” and see if he cannot do better. It is painful to listen to many girls’ talk. —They begin with a “My goodness!” and interlard it with “Oh’s!” and “Sakes alive!” and “So sweet!” and “So queenly!” and so many phrases that one is tempted to believe they have had no training at all, or else their mothers were very foolish women. There is nothing more disgusting than the twaddle of ill-bred girls; one is provoked often into taking a paper and reading, and letting them ripple and gurgle on, like brooks that flow, they know not whither. My heart warms with love for sensible girls and pure boys; and, after all, it is our own fault—that this great trust rests in heart and hands of the women of our land. If we have a noble, useful purpose in life, we shall infuse the right spirit into those around us.