The Sensible Girl by Smith Baker

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 11, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 10.

The Sensible Girl.

By Smith Baker

THE sensible young woman is self-reliant. She is not merely a doll to be petted, or a bird to be supported; but, though she may be blessed with a father able and willing to care for her every want, she cultivates her capabilities. She seeks to prepare herself for possibilities, and, though she may not need to, she qualifies herself to feed and clothe herself, so that, if left alone, she can stand upon her own feet, dependent upon no human being. With the multiplied ways of honest toil now open for young women, it seems quite excuseless for any one of them to be helpless. There are but few nobler sights than that of a young woman who, though she may have a good home with father and mother that are willing to indulge her to the utmost, realizing the limitation of their means, and their hard self-denial, says, "Father shall not be burdened by me; I will be self-reliant and clothe myself; yea, I will help him pay for the farm, and help him educate the younger children." Such a one is a thousand times superior to the pale-fingered, befrizzled, bejeweled substitutes for young women, who are good for nothing but to spend a father's hard-earned money.

The sensible young woman is brave. Heroism is not most seen upon great occasions, but in little things. The strength of life is in the power of each little, common act. Bravery is best exhibited, not in enduring things we cannot help, but in the small matters one might help. In such a little thing as dress is a field for heroism,—in willingness to be neat and not fashionable, in daring to wear last winter's cloak or last spring's bonnet until you can afford to have another, in being superior to the laws of style. Some young women who would be willing to die for the flag of their country, will almost die, in another sense, for the want of a little ribbon.

The sensible young woman makes the best of everything. What we want and what we need are not the same. What we want and do not need makes life miserable. A sensible young woman treats herself as she does her plants. She gives them all the sunshine there is. If there is but one little window in her room, she gives them the benefit of that; and if the sun comes round to them but once a day, she gives them the benefit of that. She does not lock them up in her closet and stifle what life they have because they are so small, but she makes all the more of them because of their smallness. So the sensible young woman lets all the light there is come into her heart, pushes back her tears and throws out her smiles; and thus her life grows in contentment and gladness.

The sensible young woman is reverential. Somehow it seems more unnatural for a young woman not to be a Christian than it does for a young man to reject Christ. Such a young woman is like a flower refusing the sunbeams which draw forth its beauty. It is by faith in Christ that her true self-reliance comes, and she is made brave and calm, and her life incarnate sunshine, bursting at last into the eternal fullness of the heavenly world. Such sensibleness wins the admiration of men and the approbation of God.—Rev. Smith Baker.