wakening spirit is, as it were, casting around in every direction for a
some one, they know not who;[15] and if at this time the young girl
comes under the influence of one of these men, she is likely to fall
into a most unnatural and morbid state; and the man, whoever he be, that
shows himself pleased by such adoration and devotion, who does not by
the force of loyalty to the simple Right, persistently and quietly
repel, and effectually repel, all such tribute, is responsible for much
harm, and must answer for much unhappiness. The remedy would lie in an
education for these girls which should be sound and healthful; in ample,
active employment of the thought in other directions. The safeguard,
however, lies in the mother's hands. No mother who holds the
unquestioned confidence of her daughter need ever fear for her in this
or any other way. So long as the girl knows that she can go fearlessly
to her mother with all her thoughts and fancies, foolish though they be,
so long as she is never repelled or shut up within herself by ridicule
or want of comprehension, so long she is as safe, wherever she may be
and into whatever companionship fallen, as if fenced about with triple
walls of steel. But let that perfect confidence which should subsist
between mother and daughter be once lost or disturbed; let the girl once
fear to think aloud to her mother, and the charm is broken, and dangers
encompass her around. No thoughtful woman can see a girl, thus alone,
carried away by her impulsive feeling, devoting herself to the worship
of some prominent man who dares to encourage or permit such tribute,
without longing to step between and defend her, as Spenser's Britomart
did the innocent Amoret from what she knows is the unseen, unfelt, and
yet real danger.

As to direct physical care of themselves, American girls between
fourteen and twenty-one are to be ruled only through their own
convictions on the side of prudence, for they will not, as has been
before said, blindly obey what seem to them arbitrary rules, as the
girls of some other nations can be easily made to do. The American
mother is not so likely to say to her daughter, "You must not go to this
party," as, "Do you think you had better go?" If a girl, then, is made
to know that when any organ is in a congested and softened state it is
much more likely to be injured than at other times, she will not, while
this is the case, if previously properly educated on the will side, dr