Female Modesty
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indulgence, and their mistaken love for their children, that they dare
not pursue a decided course to make a change, and restrain their too
fast children.
With many young ladies, the boys is the theme of conversation, and
with the young men, it is the girls. Out of the abundance of the heart the
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mouth speaketh. They talk of those subjects upon which their minds
mostly run. The recording angel is writing the words of these professed
Christian boys and girls. How will they be confused and ashamed when
they meet them again in the day of God. There are too many children
who are a sort of pious hypocrites. The youth who have not made a
profession of religion stumble over these hypocritical ones, and are
hardened against any effort that may be made by those interested in
their salvation. Oh! that we could arouse fathers and mothers to have
a sense of their duty. Oh! that they would feel deeply the weight
of responsibility resting upon them. Then they might forestall the
enemy, and gain precious victories for Jesus. Parents are not clear in
this matter. They should investigate their lives closely, analyze their
thoughts and motives, and see if they have been circumspect in their
course of action. They should closely watch, to see if their example in
conversation and deportment has been such as they would wish their
children to imitate. Have purity and virtue shine out in your words and
acts before your children.
There are families where the husband and father has not preserved
that reserve, that dignified, godlike manhood, which a follower of Jesus
Christ should. He has failed to manifest kind, tender, courteous acts
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due to his wife, whom he has promised before God and angels to love
and respect and honor while they both shall live. The girl employed
to do the work may be free and somewhat forward in her attentions
to dress his hair and be affectionately attentive, and he is pleased,
foolishly pleased. And he is not as demonstrative in his attention and
love as he once was to his wife. Be sure Satan is at work here. Respect
your hired help, treat them kindly, considerately, but go no farther. Let
your deportment be such that there will be no advances to familiarity
from your help. If you have words of kindness and acts of courtesy
to give, it is always safe to give them to your wife. It will be a great
blessing to her, and will bring happiness to her heart which will be
reflected back upon you again. Also, the wife may let her sympathies
and interest and affection go out to another man beside her husband.