CONFIDENCES _By the same author_ TRUTHS Talks With a Boy Concerning Himself _50 cents_. HERSELF Talks With Women Concerning Themselves _$1. 00_. FALSE MODESTY _50 cents_. CONFIDENCES TALKS WITH A YOUNG GIRL CONCERNING HERSELF BY EDITH B. LOWRY, M. D. CHICAGO 1919 * * * * * _To the daughters of my friends, but especially to MARY LOUISE this little book is lovingly dedicated. _ * * * * * PREFACE No one can come in contact with children and young people withoutfeeling the need of a united effort on the part of the parents, physicians and teachers to lessen the immoral tendencies, with theirdegrading effects, to which the present generation is subjected. Knowledge of the right sort will prevent many wrecked lives. Ignoranceas to facts and to the best manner of presenting them prevents manya parent from daring to trespass upon such sacred ground, and theinstruction is postponed from day to day until it is too late. With the desire to aid mothers in giving the necessary instruction totheir daughters, this little book has been written. The author has triedto tell in suitable language the facts that should be known by everygirl from ten to fourteen years of age. The book is of such a characterthat it may be placed in the hands of the young girl, but better stillit may be read aloud by the mother to her daughter. It is hoped thisbook will form the basis of a closer intimacy between mother anddaughter, and that the knowledge herein set forth will forestall thatwhich might be given in an entirely different spirit by the girl'scompanions. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. The Secret II. The Flower Babies III. The Bird Babies IV. Mother's Baby V. The Baby's Nest VI. Building the Nest VII. The Sign Language VIII. Rest and Sleep IX. Injury of the Nest * * * * * In all places, then, and in all seasons, Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings, Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons, How akin they are to human things. Longfellow. * * * * * CHAPTER I THE SECRET Listen, Violet, I am going to tell you a wonderful secret. And thiswonderful secret is about your namesakes, the violets. Every littleflower that grows is a living being, as you or I--and every plant is ahousehold. How do I know this? The flowers told me themselves, and nowI am going to let you into the secret. Of course, I must admit that the flowers do not talk as we do. Unlikeourselves, they cannot express themselves aloud. They must show theirthoughts by their motions or by their change of expression. When aflower is thirsty, how does it tell us so? By drooping its head andlooking sad. Then, if we give it a drink, how quickly it says, "Thankyou!" by lifting its head and smiling at us. If we would have the flowers tell us their secrets, we must watch themvery closely so as to be able to hear what they say. Sometimes, however, we must learn from others what the plants like, for at first, until weare better acquainted, we will not be able to understand them, and mightmake many mistakes; so I am going to tell you a few things today. First, we must learn something about the flower's family, and where theflower gets its food. The flowers are a part of the plant household justthe same as you or any little girl is only a part of the family. Youcould not very well live without the rest of the family--your father andmother, who do so many things for you and take such care of you, andyour brothers and sisters, who all help to make the home happy. The flower is like a little girl and needs some one to care for her. Doyou know the other members of the plant household? First, there are the roots, whose work it is to hold the plant in placeso it will not be tossed about by every wind. The roots also must drawthe water and nourishment from the ground. You know when the rain comes, it soaks into the ground and then when the plant needs water the littleroots suck it out of the ground just as you could draw lemonade througha straw, for every root is supplied with many hair tubes that serve asstraws. These hair tubes often are so small we could not see themwithout a microscope, but it is through these tiny tubes the plantreceives nearly all the water it uses. Other members of the family, the leaves, are kept busy, for they must dothe breathing for the plant, as well as digest the food. You know wateris never quite free from mineral matter, so when the roots draw up thewater from the ground, they also draw up some mineral food for the plantwhich is dissolved in the water. Before the plant can make use of thisfood, it must be digested by the leaves, much the same as your stomachmust digest the food you eat. That is, it must change it into anotherform. But in order that the leaves may do this, they must have plentyof chlorophyll, which is the green coloring matter of the leaves. Thischlorophyll will grow in the leaves if they have plenty of sunlight, andif it does not grow the leaves will not be able to digest the food andthe plant will starve. So you see how necessary it is for plants to haveplenty of sunshine, and why they lose their green color and then die ifthey are kept away from the light. They really are starved to death. * * * * * Flowers are words Which even a babe may understand. Bishop Coxe. * * * * * CHAPTER II THE FLOWER BABIES The flower itself has many parts, just as there are many parts to yourbody. When the flower is a little bud, or baby, rocked by the breezes, it is closely wrapped in a little green cloak. We call this cloak thecalyx, because when it opens it looks like a cup, and the word calyxmeans cup. After the bud is grown, it opens its cloak and throws itback. Then we see the pretty dress underneath. We call this dress thecorolla. Sometimes it is all in one piece, but often it is divided intoseveral leaf-like parts which we call petals. If we look within the dress or corolla, we find the real body ofthe flower, which is called the pistil. Its shape varies greatly indifferent plants, but it always consists of two or three distinct parts. One of these is the cradle for the seeds, and is called the ovary. At one end of the ovary is usually a little tube leading down into it. This tube is called the style, and the opening at the other end iscalled the stigma. Each ovary or cradle contains one or more ovuleswhich by and by will grow into seeds. Just outside the pistil of aflower you usually will find a row of slender, thread-like stalks, eachbearing a soft, oblong body at the top, falling out of which you willsee a fine yellow powder called pollen. It is a peculiar fact that theseseeds never can grow into new plants unless they are fertilized, thatis, unless they receive some pollen. It is another peculiar fact thatalthough nearly every flower has this pollen growing right near thelittle ovules, yet they cannot be fertilized with this pollen, but mustreceive some from the flower of another plant family. This pollen is carried from one plant to another by the wind or by thebees and butterflies that come visiting in search of honey. In fact, theflower coaxes the bees and butterflies to come so they may bring her thepollen. Soon after the seed is fertilized it is ripe; that is, it isready to leave its cradle, the ovary. It is now ready to grow into a newplant. But before it can grow it must be put into a little nest in theground. But the poor plant is so helpless that she is unable to preparethis nest herself, so all she can do is to scatter her seed babies outon the ground and hope some one will take pity on them and make a nicenest for them. Sometimes the wind helps her by blowing some dirt anddead leaves over them, for you know the seeds cannot grow unless theyare covered nice and warm. Sometimes the children and grown people helpher by preparing a nice flower-bed. For a long time the tiny seed lies very quietly in its warm nest, and ifwe could peek at it we could not see it move at all, but all the time itis growing very slowly, until finally some bright day it will send upits little sprouts, and then we will see that all the time the seed waslying so quietly it was growing into a baby flower. * * * * * "So the Bluebirds have contracted, have they, for a house? And a nest is under way for little Mr. Wren?" "Hush, dear, hush! Be quiet, dear! quiet as a mouse. These are weighty secrets, and we must whisper them. " Susan Coolidge. * * * * * CHAPTER III THE BIRD BABIES Today, Violet, I shall tell you another secret, but this time the secretis not about flowers, but about something else we love very dearly. I intend to tell you some secrets about the birds. I wonder if you knowhow much they are like the flowers? You remember, the flowers had a language which we could understand, evenif they did not talk out loud. The birds, too, have a language of theirown, and they can express themselves better than the flowers, for theyhave a sign language, and are also able to make sounds. How much weenjoy hearing the birds sing, not only because they make beautifulmusic, but because they are telling us how happy they are! If birds are in pain or in trouble, their notes are quite differentfrom when they are singing; while, if they or their little ones arein danger, they quickly send forth a note of warning. The young birds, in calling for food, make an entirely different sound, and the answerof the mother bird is a sweet lullaby. One of the ways birds expressthemselves in sign language is by their feathers. If they are sick, their feathers droop. When they are well and happy, their feathersseem much brighter. In the bird family, as in the flower family, each member has a specialwork to do. The mother bird and the father bird work together to buildthe nest, but while the mother bird lays the eggs and then must sit onthem for a number of days, the father bird must bring her food and waterand sometimes take his turn watching the nest while the mother goes fora little exercise. The mother bird's body resembles the plant, too, forit needs fresh air, food and water. Instead of leaves to take in the airit has lungs, which not only take in the fresh air but also send out theimpure air. Instead of the little rootlets to take in the food and waterfrom the ground, the bird has a mouth, and as the bird is not fastenedto the ground, but is free to fly or move about, it goes after its food. Instead of sap, it has blood to carry the food to all parts of the body. The birds have ovaries just the same as the flowers, and inside eachovary are a number of little seeds or ovules which by and by will growinto birdies. It takes quite a while for the ovules to ripen, just as ittook quite a while for the seeds to ripen, and when they are ripe theymust have a nest prepared for them, just as the flowers did. But thebirds are not as helpless as the flowers, and are able to make their ownnests. So when the ovules (which are called eggs when they are ripe) areready, the parent birds select a nice place for a home. The father and mother work very hard until the nest is finished. Oftenthe mother will line it with some of her own feathers, so that it willbe soft and warm. After the nest is ready the mother bird lays the tinyeggs in it. Then she must sit on them to keep them warm for many days, for the eggs, like the seeds, cannot grow unless they are kept good andwarm. If we look at the eggs from day to day we will not be able to seeany change in them, but the change is inside the shell where we cannotsee it. Every day there is an alteration taking place, and the egggradually is being transformed into the little bird. After a while, whenthe right time comes, the birdie will peck a tiny hole in the shell. This will keep growing larger and larger until it is large enough forthe birdie to come through, then out it comes! * * * * * A sweet, new blossom of Humanity, Fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on earth. Gerald Massey. * * * * * CHAPTER IV MOTHER'S BABY There is another wonderful secret that I have to tell you. I wonderif you can guess what this is! No, it is not about a flower, nor abird--but, yes, you have guessed it right, for it is about a girljust like you! Is it not queer how much alike the flowers and birds and little girlsare, after all, even if they do not look at all alike? You have lungs just the same as the bird, and breathe as it does. Youhave two feet, but instead of wings you have arms and hands. You have asign language, as the flowers have, and you have a language of soundsthat is even better than the bird language. When you are happy, I cantell it by the smiles on your face, and sometimes when you are a wee bitcross, I know it by a tiny frown that mars the beauty of your face. But, of course, that does not happen very often, because, you know, as wegrow older, our faces do not change their expressions as easily as theydo when we are young. And would it not be dreadful, if when you grew up, you always had a frown on your face and were not nice looking at all?You know the frown wrinkles try to stay, and every time we let them comeout they leave a tiny mark. When the flower took in the fresh air it made green coloring matter, butwhen you take in the fresh air it makes red coloring matter. So if youwant to have red cheeks and red lips you must have plenty of fresh air. I know you get a great deal in the daytime when you are playing, but youmust be sure to get it at night, too, or you will lose all your prettycolor. Be sure that your window is open every night. You remember, the leaves not only had to breathe but they had to digestthe food for the plant, too, but the bird had a stomach to perform thatwork. In this way you are like the birds, for you have a stomach which takescare of the food you eat. If you wish to grow strong and well so asto be able to run and play and also to help your mother with her work, you must eat plenty of good, nourishing food. You know some food makesmuscles, but other things are not very good for people to eat. Plenty ofbread and milk and cereals, also meat, potatoes and fruit, are very goodthings to make girls grow. You must take care of your stomach, too, andgive it time to rest, for it works very hard and might get tired out. Then what would you do? You have seen, Violet, that in a great many ways you are like the birdsand flowers, but now I am going to tell you something that perhaps youdid not know. Girls have ovaries just the same as flowers and birds, andinside each ovary are a great many little ovules that after a while willripen as the seeds did, only instead of growing into flowers or birdsthey will grow into babies. Is that not lovely, and are you not gladthat perhaps some day you will be able to have a baby all your own? Butof course that will not be for a great many years yet, for you must waituntil you have grown into a strong woman and have a home of your own anda husband to help take care of the baby. When the little ovules are ripe there must be a nest prepared for them, just the same as there was one prepared for the flowers and birds. Butnow I shall tell you another wonderful secret. Mothers do not have tobuild nests, for they are already prepared for them right inside theirbodies close to their hearts. The nest is called the womb. Although wedo not have to build the nest, we have to take good care of it so itmay grow strong. This nest and the tiny ovules are growing constantly from the time thegirls are babies, but they grow so very slowly that none of the ovulesare ripe until the girl is about twelve years old. After that one ripensevery month and passes to the nest or womb. At the same time an extraamount of blood is sent to the womb to provide nourishing material forthe ovule to use in its growth. But the womb, or nest, is not strongenough yet to hold a healthy baby, so this extra amount of blood withthe ovule is sent out of the body through the vagina, which is amuscular tube leading from the womb to the external parts (privateparts). We call this flow the menstrual flow. This occurs every monthand each time the womb becomes a little stronger and better able tohold a growing babe. But the womb is not fully developed until therest of the body is matured. Menstruation is the sign of the possibility of motherhood. Realizingthis fact, one cannot fail to have a high idea of this function. Mostgirls, naturally, desire children. Little girls love their doll babies, and spend much time in caring for them, but as girls grow into womanhoodthey desire real babies. A woman who does not desire children has hadher mind perverted by false ideas or fear. * * * * * Build me straight, O worthy Master! Staunch and strong, a goodly vessel That shall laugh at all disaster, And with wave and whirlwind wrestle! Longfellow. * * * * * CHAPTER V THE BABY'S NEST You remember, Violet, I told you that although mothers do not have tobuild nests, yet they have to take good care of them so they will growstrong. As the natural desire of every girl is to become a mother some time, she must begin very early to prepare for it. By exercise, fresh air, and good, nourishing food, she should make her body grow strong and well. By studying she will develop her mind so as to be fitted to care for andto teach her child. Shall I tell you some ways you can make the nestgrow strong? First, I shall tell you more things about this mother nest. Althoughit and the tiny ovules are growing all the time, yet there are greaterchanges in them when the girl is from twelve to fourteen years old. About this time they grow faster than at any other time. As these organsgrow, the pelvis, or the part of the body that contains them, also mustgrow to make room for them. So the hips begin to grow broader. Otherparts of the body grow faster at this time, too, and often some partsgrow so much faster than others that they are out of proportion, and thechild becomes clumsy and feels awkward. But that will not last long, for after a while the parts that are growing slowly will catch up to theones that grew fast, and then the body will be graceful again. Have youever watched a young puppy? You know how clumsy and awkward it is whileit is growing, but after a while, when it is fully grown, it will bevery graceful. We know it is not wise to run or play or work hard right after eating alarge meal, for then the stomach is working very hard and needs a greatdeal of extra energy, so the other muscles must rest a while, in orderto let it have it. You remember, I told you, Violet, that every month, or everytwenty-eight days, there was an extra amount of blood carried to thewomb which it had to send out of the body. Of course that requires thewomb to work very hard for a few days, so, in order to help it, we mustbe careful not to take any severe exercise at this time or overexertourselves in any way, for, if we did, the womb would not be able todo its extra work properly. You remember, I told you this flow, which we call the menstrual flow, was the sign of the possibility of motherhood, so every girl shouldbe glad of the fact that she menstruates and should take good care ofherself at that time. She should pay especial attention to cleanlinessduring this period. She should be provided with a circular girdle ofsome strong material cut upon the bias, so it may be elastic, andprovided with tabs to which to pin the folded cloth. She also shouldhave a supply of sanitary cloths made of absorbent cotton fabric, or pads made of absorbent-cotton enclosed in gauze. The latter areespecially convenient for the girl who is obliged to room away fromhome, for they may be burned, and the cost of new ones is no greaterthan the laundry of cloths. These pads or cloths should be changedat least twice a day. It also is necessary that one should bathe theparts in warm water with each change, as unpleasant odors can therebybe avoided. At the close of each period she should take a bath andchange all clothing. One cannot be too careful about these matters, so essential to cleanliness and health. During this period, girls naturally have a feeling of lassitude ordisinclination to do any great mental or physical work, accompanied, perhaps, by a slight feeling of uneasiness in the pelvic region (thepart of the body that contains the womb and ovaries). Because so manydo suffer at this time, it often is considered "natural" and allowedto continue, but now that you know so much about the body you willunderstand that it is not necessary to have any pains at this period. If there is pain, it shows that we are not taking proper care ofourselves. Even our stomach will give us severe pain if we do nottake proper care of it or if we overload it. The monthly discharge varies in quantity with the individual. Usuallyfleshy girls flow more than thin ones, and dark complexioned girls thanlight ones. The discharge lasts about four days, and is the only symptomthat many girls experience in menstruation. This usually is the casewith those who are well and whose lives are happily employed. I wanted you to know all these things, Violet, for sometimes when littlegirls do not understand what this flow means they are frightened whenthey see the blood. Some women even dread motherhood because they do notknow what to expect at that time nor how to care for themselves. Allwomen naturally love babies and if taught correctly would want to havethem. If they do not, it usually is because they have known of otherwomen suffering through ignorance and are afraid. If they would learnmore about these wonderful bodies of ours and more about the care oflittle babies, they would understand how to care for themselves so asto have healthy, happy babies. Not only that but they would see it wasthe natural and the best thing for them to have children. In any workwe undertake, in everything we do, there is a possibility of an accident. So it is in motherhood. A woman in normal health whose home life iscongenial, who loves children and who desires to have one, never shouldhave any serious trouble nor great pain. Painless childbirth is apossibility if women only understood the care of themselves. The modern athletic girl glories in her strength. She feels it adisgrace to be a frail flower that cannot enter into the best enjoymentof life. She glories in her strong, well-trained body. She walks withfree yet graceful step, holding her head high, for she knows she isqueen of her kingdom--her body. Her lungs are well developed and herbody well cared for, so she has no fear of disease. But the modern girldoes not stop there. She wants to have healthy sexual organs with roomfor development of the babe, and strong muscles to perform their work inexpelling the babe. So she discards clothing that restricts her organs. She wears comfortable, well-fitting clothes. The old-fashioned corsetspushed the organs out of place, but the modern ones, made to conform tonature's lines, serve only as a support. As nature did not make a waistline, the one-piece dresses are especially desirable. Besides developingevery organ and muscle of her body and training her mind, the moderngirl goes to a training school to prepare for the mother calling. Recently, in a few schools, a course of study has been provided forthe girls in the care of children, hygiene and nursing. Even women whonever become mothers themselves in this way learn general principles ofpsychology, hygiene and the care of the sick that they might make use ofin every station of life. I hope, Violet, that after a while you will beable to learn many of these things, so that when you are a grown womanand the time comes for you to marry and have a baby you will know justhow to care for it. * * * * * Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. As by the one, health is preserved, strengthened, and invigorated; by the other, virtue (which is the health of the mind) is kept alive, cherished, and confirmed. Addison. * * * * * CHAPTER VI BUILDING THE NEST Now that I have told you so many things about the mother-nest, especially about how it is growing all the time, I must tell you moreabout the many helpers you have who assist in its growth. This they doby providing it with food and by carrying away the waste material. Wefound the body was composed of many parts or organs, each one of whichhad its own especial work to do. If any one organ could not perform itswork, some other one would have to assist it, but, although the organsare willing to help each other, it would not be fair to make one domore than its share of work, except for a short time. You remember, the stomach had a great deal of work to do in digestingthe food or preparing it so it could be taken up by the blood andcarried to the womb and all parts of the body. But the stomach does nothave to do this all alone. It has several helpers. One set of helpers isthe teeth, which cut and grind the food into small particles. In orderto do this, they must be kept in very good condition; otherwise, theycould not do their work. You know if your mother would let the kitchenknives get dull or rusty, she would be unable to cut the bread, meat andother food materials with them. The same is true of the teeth. We cankeep them in good condition by brushing them. It is as important to dothis as to wash the dishes. Then, too, we must be careful not to breakthe teeth by biting nuts and other hard things. Nothing so detracts froma girl's appearance and nothing is more conducive to indigestion thanpoorly cared for teeth. They should be brushed at least twice daily andthe mouth afterwards rinsed with a mild antiseptic solution. The teethshould be thoroughly examined by a good dentist at least every sixmonths. Another assistant that the stomach has is the intestines or bowels, which not only help to digest the food but also carry off the wastematerial. The bowels are very good, and will tell us when they havewaste material to be disposed of, but sometimes people are too busy anddo not pay attention. If we neglect them many times the bowels get tiredof telling us, and then their work is not done. We think they are lazyand so we try to whip them up by taking a laxative. This seems to helpat first, but we soon find we have to do the same thing every day. All this time the fault was our own, for we did not understand. Thebest way is to have a regular time of going to the toilet, say, rightafter breakfast. If we always go at the same time the bowels willremember it. Then we need have no trouble with constipation nor take anyhorrid medicine to whip the bowels. A regular daily action of the bowelsis necessary to health. Constipation often may be relieved by drinkinga glass of cold water upon rising, at intervals during the day, andupon retiring. Fruit at breakfast or figs taken after meals often willrelieve a tendency to constipation. Regularity in going to the toilet isone of the most important measures in treating constipation. Laxativesor cathartics should not be taken except for an occasional dose orduring illness, upon the advice of a physician. So common is thepractice of taking daily laxatives that it has become a "nationalcurse. " People do not realize that they are slaves to this habit. Socleverly worded are the advertisements of many of the laxatives thatpeople are led to believe that if they drink certain "waters" or "teas"they are avoiding medicine, while often these same teas and waterscontain drugs more powerful and harmful than any pill. The bowels have some one to assist them, too, for the kidneys carry offmuch of the waste material of the body. Indeed, they carry off so muchthat they sometimes are called the sewers. It often is necessary toflush the sewers of the city, that is, to send quantities of waterthrough them to clean the system. In the same way it is necessary toflush the kidneys. We do this by drinking plenty of water. Every oneshould drink about two quarts of water a day. There is another worker that helps both the kidneys and the bowels. This is the skin, which sends off waste material through the tiny poresor openings. If dirt accumulates on the skin, it clogs the pores so theskin cannot use them. So you see how necessary it is to take frequentbaths to keep the pores open. Other helpers that carry some of the waste material from the body arethe lungs, which send out the impure air. The lungs also take in thepure air, which, you remember, helps to make the red coloring matterin the blood. If you want to have nice red cheeks, you must breathe inplenty of fresh air. Also you must have plenty of exercise, so as tohelp send the blood all over the body. You know when you run, the bloodflows much faster than when you are quiet. It is a good plan to stand byan open window every morning and every evening and fill your lungs withgood, pure air, taking about twenty-five deep breaths. * * * * * I want to help you to grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when He thought of you first. George MacDonald. * * * * * CHAPTER VII THE SIGN LANGUAGE Do you know one way we can tell if all the organs are doing their workwell? By watching for the sign language. If the blood is not carryingthe skin sufficient nourishment, it will be very pale and dull looking. If the waste materials are not being carried off, they may accumulate inthe skin and clog the pores. Then we will have pimples or blackheads. Each person's skin is a law unto itself, and what is beneficial to onemay not be to another. Generally, though, it will be found helpful tobathe the face at night with hot water, to remove all dirt; then, if theskin is rough, massage with good cold cream. In the morning a quick rubwith cold water should be taken (and do not be afraid to rub the face alittle). If you are going out in the sun or wind, follow with a littlegood talcum or rice powder, to protect the face from the raw winds, or, if the skin is inclined to be dry, apply a little cold cream beforeusing the powder. Any eruptions on the face show a defect in thecirculation. The blood is not disposing of the waste material properly, and it is being left to clog the pores of the skin. These eruptionsshould not be neglected, as they sometimes indicate a serious conditionof the blood or circulation. The eyes tell if we are tired or unwell, for then they will be dull, while, if we abuse or strain them, they often are red. This not onlymakes them less attractive, but it shows we must attend to them. Wouldit not be dreadful if they became so tired or worn out that we couldnot see with them? The care of the eyes is very important. When you arereading or writing, the light should come over your left shoulder, andyou should never try to read in a poor light. Sometimes, if the eyes aretired, it will rest them to bathe them in warm, boiled water in whichsome boracic acid crystals have been dissolved. You may even put a fewdrops of this solution right in the eye, but never put anything else init except by the directions of a physician, as the eyes are too preciousto take any risks, and sometimes they are injured by various eye waters. The hair also shows the state of the health, and it shows if we arecareless. Nothing so detracts from a girl's appearance as soiled oruntidy hair. One of the most potent charms a woman can have is awell-kept, luxuriant, glossy head of hair. Just think how quickly onenotices thin, dry, stiff hair on a woman's head. And as for those thatcarry around diseased scalps, plastered with offensive oils, they areperfectly hideous. If people only knew how much esteem they lose throughsuch defects, they would give more attention to the matter. The hairshould be shampooed often enough to keep it clean and fluffy. How oftenthat is depends on the nature of the hair and the occupation of theowner. Usually once in two weeks is often enough, but light, oily hairmay require it more frequently, for it loses much of its beauty whenoily. To promote the growth of the hair, massage of the scalp usuallybrings very satisfactory results, stimulating a new growth and healthyappearance. The value of tonics often is in the massage. Many of thehair tonics and shampoos on the market not only are not beneficial, butare dangerous. An ordinary egg shampoo, which may be prepared at home, is perhaps the best, for it not only cleanses but nourishes the hair. I must remind you of a part of your body that many people notice veryoften and by it judge if you are careless. That is your hands and nails. People who are careful about the appearance of their nails usually arecareful about other things. You will find as you grow older that you arejudged a good deal by the little things. It will pay you to get up halfan hour earlier if necessary so as to give yourself time for thoselittle personal attentions that help to make a girl dainty. You will besurprised at the effect on your mind of extra well-brushed hair, clear, bright complexion, polished nails and a well-put-on tie, also neatgloves and shoes. * * * * * Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head. Watts. * * * * * CHAPTER VII REST AND SLEEP You have seen, Violet, how all the parts of the body work together, although each one has its especial part to do. You remember, we foundthe stomach must have a time to rest between meals. The other parts ofthe body require rest, too. This they usually get while we are asleep. We must not be neglectful and fail to give them enough rest, or theywill soon get worn out and give us trouble. Most little girls requireeight or ten hours' rest every night. Sometimes, when people are not well or are all tired out, they find theycannot sleep well at night. There are a number of little things thatcan be done to induce sleep. A warm bath before retiring, followed bya gentle massage, especially along the spine, often will, by relaxingthe nerves and muscles, produce very good results. A hot foot bath, which draws the blood away from the brain, frequently will be foundbeneficial. A glass of hot milk or cocoa, taken just before retiring, often will have the same effect. If the sleeplessness is a result ofindigestion, a plain diet will relieve. Sleeping upon a hard bed withoutany pillow sometimes produces the desired effect. Always have plenty offresh air in the room. Keep the mind free from the cares of the day. If they will intrude, crowd them out by repeating something else--somesoothing sentence or bit of poetry. One good plan is to close the leftnostril by pressing on it with the finger, then take four deep breathsthrough the right nostril. Then close the right nostril and take fourdeep breaths through the left one. Repeat this about four times. Thenbreathe slowly through both nostrils, but count your breaths. You seldomwill count very many. Never take any sleeping powders or tablets exceptupon the advice of a physician, for they usually contain drugs thatwill injure the heart. You will find, Violet, that you will meet a number of women who arenervous, which means they have not control of their nerves, but letthem run away with them. Sometimes this is shown in palpitation ofthe heart, headache, backache, and many other disorders. There maybe a tendency to cry at trivial things, or a feeling of having "theblues. " The cause usually can be found in uncongenial surroundings oroccupation, loss of friends, or real or fancied troubles. Whatever thecause, it should be removed, if possible, and measures taken to restorethe worn out nerves that are crying for rest or food. Tonics help, sodoes nourishing food, such as eggs and milk; also a change of scene andoccupation, if possible. A woman who is nervous frequently does notrealize what is the cause of her condition, and considers only thesymptoms. So when she has a headache, resorts to headache powders orvarious effervescing drinks. In taking these she only is deadening thepain and not removing the cause, so the pain is liable to return. Mostof the remedies taken for headache contain some harmful drug. If youlook carefully at the label, you usually will find that they containmorphine, phenacetin, or acetanilid, which are very depressing to theheart. Pain is the cry of tortured nerves, so if one suffers fromheadaches or backaches, she should not take any of these harmfuldrugs, but should hunt for the cause of the pain and remove that. * * * * * Even from the body's purity, the mind Receives a secret sympathetic aid. Thomson. * * * * * CHAPTER IX INJURY OF THE NEST We who love birds would not do anything to injure their homes, butthere are some children who have not learned to love birds or who arethoughtless and injure their nests, sometimes even tearing them topieces or breaking off the limb of the tree. There also are thoughtless children who do things to injure theirbodies. You would think it very foolish to allow someone to put a beeon your face that would sting you and yet there are some thoughtlesschildren who would do just that if you would let them. They might eventry to tell you it would not hurt you, but of course you would knowbetter. You, who know how necessary is every part of the body, would notallow anyone to injure any part of it, especially the part that containsthe mother nest. Think how badly the mother bird must have felt when thechild destroyed the nest, and think how badly you would feel, when itcame time for you to marry and have a baby, if you found the nest hadbeen so injured that you could not have any. You know, the nest as wellas the rest of the body belongs to you alone, and no one has a right toinjure it, but sometimes girls are as careless or as thoughtless as theboy with the bee and do things that are harmful. I have told you how tocare for this mother nest so it will grow well and strong, but now Imust tell you something more. As you go out in the world you will meetsome girls and some boys who have never been told these things and donot understand all the things you do. Sometimes they have very wrongideas and will do many things that are harmful. Not only that, but theywill try to get you to do them. Some little girls who do not understandwhat their organs are for will even play with them, for they think itgives them a pleasurable sensation. I am sure they would not do this ifthey understood that by so doing they were injuring the precious nest. You know if you or anyone else would put things into your eyes or earsor play with them in any way you might lose your sight or hearing. It isthe same way with the mother nest and other organs. The best plan is tojust keep them clean and then not touch them at any other time nor allowanyone else to do so. But in bathing the parts you must be careful tohave your own towel and not use any cloths that have been used by otherpeople, for there are some dreadful diseases, called the black plagues, that can be carried to these organs by anything that is not strictlyclean, and these diseases sometimes destroy the nest and ovules. So youmust be careful in all you do. If at any time, Violet, questions come up in your mind as to what is thebest thing for you to do, remember that mother will be glad to answerthem or will help you obtain books that will explain things to you. Do not go to your companions, for they might not understand and wouldgive you wrong ideas. In school we have text books and a teacher, whois older and more experienced than we, to whom we can go for help in ourschool problems. We know she will tell us the right solution and we knowit is better to go to her than to the other pupils. So in this study ofour bodies and the care of them, we must learn from some one older andmore experienced, or we must study books that have been written for thatpurpose. Then we will be sure to obtain the right ideas. After a while, when you are grown and it is nearing the time for you tomarry, I will tell you some things about the care of the baby and howyou may have a good-natured, healthy child. But now all you need to dofor a number of years is to take good care of this mother nest and therest of your body, so it will grow strong and well. * * * * * THE GIRL WANTED BY NIXON WATERMAN Cheerful, friendly talks to young women, telling them how they can mouldtheir temperaments and shape their characters to sweetest and noblestinfluence. Every young woman should read this book. Every parent should make it a point to have her read it. Every institution dedicated to her instruction should introduce to her this beautiful book of the heart and mind. --_Boston Globe. _ There is nothing trite or juiceless in this book. Every paragraph is appetizing. A girl will be glad she has read it, and will be the better, the sweeter, the happier therefor. --_The Journal of Education. _ No one can resist it. A fine book for presentation at graduation, either from grammar or high school. --_The World's Chronicle. _ Will at once win the reader's heart. In these pages one does not rake among dry leaves, but rather wanders through sweet-smelling meadows. --_Christian Endeavor World. _ Illustrated. Beautiful cover. Cloth, 8vo. PRICE, $1. 25 _For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid by the publishers_ FORBES & COMPANY, CHICAGO * * * * * HAPPY SCHOOL DAYS A BOOK FOR GIRLS BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER In this book Mrs. Sangster writes charmingly and sympathetically of thethings nearest to the hearts of girls. It discusses the school, home andentire life of the girl in her teens. It ought to reach the hands of every girl. --_St. Paul Pioneer Press. _ The book is as fascinating as a story. --_Des Moines Register and Leader. _ Every girl's mother ought to make her a present of this book. --_St. Louis Times. _ A charming book pervaded with the spirit of sweet friendliness, complete comprehension and joyous helpfulness. --_Chicago News. _ An interesting, suggestive, sensible Book, in which Mrs. Sangster is at her best. It is a book of great worth, and whoever extends its usefulness by increasing its readers is a public benefactor. --_The Journal of Education. _ Handsome cover. Decorated box. Cloth, 12mo. PRICE, $1. 25 _For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid by the publishers_ FORBES & COMPANY, CHICAGO * * * * *