"Remedy? Yes, of course there's a remedy," she retorted emphatically,
"but the world's votaries have elbowed it out. What can one expect
from a baby girl who has been brought up for the world, but that she
shall be of the world? Little misses who can waltz before they know
the 'Our Father,' who are taught manners before morals, and are given
for their absolute standard 'what others will say.' Can they become
good women? It would be a paradox to suppose so. And our boys in
knickerbockers who smoke cigars and buy ten cent novels, who speculate
in the market of experience with ill-gotten gain, who form opinions of
life from dime shows and contact with veterans in vice; can they grow
in virtue and integrity after such an initiation as this? It would be
nothing less than a moral phenomenon if they did. Yes there is a
remedy, and its application is needed at the very root of the evil.
Let fathers and mothers look abroad over the heads of their prattling
offspring, and realize the fate that is awaiting them if they do not
take proper and timely precautions. I attribute much blame to them
because I have seen results of their carelessness grow and magnify
under my own eyes."
Here the door-bell rang violently, and interrupted cousin Bessie's
wholesome homily on the social irregularities of the day. As her hands
were still buried in flour I started to my feet and answered the hasty
summons. A man in ragged attire stood leaning against the outer post
of the doorway.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253