THE HOME AND SOCIAL LIFE OF GIRLS.
By A Girl
Of all the people in the world, girls should be the most careful of what they say. Yet the average girl, who talks all of the time, never pauses to think seriously, if what she is saying is worth while or not. I love girls dearly, and believe in them, yet I am able to see how often unpleasant and troublesome incidents occur, both to themselves and others, through the thoughtlessly unkind remarks they make. The tongue is your mightiest ally for good or evil. It lies wholly with you how you will use it—for or against your neighbor. There can be no real altruism in a girl's life, if she says sarcastic, careless things about her friends. Your life, tho moulded so as to conform to the highest ideals of duty, can not be all it should be, if you do not keep your tongue under perfect control. It is really strange what a wonderful part in every one's life so little, and seemingly insignificant, an organ plays. And yet the sum total of a person's existence, after they have gone, is what they have said and done. What are your acts but the manifestation of your inward life to others? Your dearest desire, or it should be, is to live above public reproach. Of course, what other people say of you is not always of the most importance. There are times in every girl's life when she has her conscience only as a guide, and the world may think her in the wrong—think so for a time, but in the end they will see and laud the wisdom of her conduct. In such cases, all you need is a clear, decisive knowledge that what you are doing is right. On the other hand, I am very sorry for the girl who says she does not care what people say of her. In the first place, it is not true, and, in the second place, she is hardening her natural refinement and timidity by taking such a stand. What more beautiful monument could any of you wish to be erected over your grave in after years, than the memory of all who see it, that in that little plat of ground was all that was left of a woman whose life was a continuous joy and sunshine to all who knew her? To think that people would say of you, after you were gone, "There lies a girl who always had a kind, cheering word of praise or sympathy for all when it was needed, and lived with a halo of love and good-will shining about her!" Would not that be more beautiful and more lasting than the costliest shafts of cold, white marble? Think what it would mean to live on in the memory of those who knew you, as a spot of sunshine in their lives, the influence of a nature kind and gentle, with always something pleasant to say about the people you knew! If you are optimistic in your views of life, live them out openly and clearly before the world. If you expect the best of people, say so. If you are disappointed, keep it to yourself; it will be easier to forget. Make your every-day life a practise of the old adage, "If you haven't anything good to say, don't say anything at all." Then when you have lived such a life, how beautiful it will be to linger in the memories of your friends, and be called blessed.