ruined but for her inherent love of chastity;
and so our daughters are always in danger of being contaminated. A
perfectly pure and chaste mind, unsullied by impure thoughts or acts,
and cultivated by the exercise of all the Christian virtues, lends
enchantment to the eye, sweetness of expression to the face, music to
the voice, and gracefulness of carriage. Cultivation of merely external
manners will not do; they must spring from the mind and thence they
shine throughout the whole, in every fibre and movement of the body.
Such an one is truly beloved wherever she goes; she has a real affection
for her father and mother, brothers and sisters; and she is fully
prepared to appreciate and love one of the opposite sex whose purity of
life and nobleness of mind fully corresponds to her own.

To retain this charm of excellence will cost her many a trial and her
temptations will be innumerable and very great. But her perceptive
faculties are keen, and at the first suspicion of anything wrong she
must have the moral courage to say: "No! that is not allowable, it is
not right," or, "this is impure and its tendency is to vice." Whatever
the temptation may be, in thought or in deed, let no one persuade her
into wrong-doing--not even her _apparently_ best friend; for it would
only be an appearance of friendship if he tempted to anything of a
vicious nature. She will be beset with hosts of admirers, some of them
pure and having honorable intentions; but (I am sorry to sound the note
of warning here,) others will come with the most dishonorable intentions
possible, though with an air of sincerity, and apparently as artless as
doves. Study all men long and carefully, keeping them meanwhile at a
respectful distance; never allow one to sit near with his arm about your
waist or to hold your hand in his; never allow him to kiss you--_the
vilest of loathsome diseases may be communicated by a kiss_ viz.:
_syphilis_. Do not allow any approach or touch beyond what is customary
in the best of society at a social gathering. Many a young lady with an
angelic form and spotless soul within, full of the best intentions and
of the purest character, giving bright promise of a brilliant future,
has been ruined for life by trusting herself alone with some of these
apparently wise and good, yet really vile men.

Young women have not, as a rule, any sexual propensity, or amorous
thoughts or feelings. If they have been properly educated and cared for,
th