Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women

If the angels look down upon the earth and behold any natural object with particular delight, it must be Girlhood. And yet, if they are not gifted with prophetic vision, they must tremble with fearful solicitude while they gaze delighted. There is a fearfulness in the beauty of Girlhood, which mingles anxiety in the cup of admiration. No good being can look upon it without thinking about its future to ask whether it will be well or ill with it.

The beauty of Girlhood is no perpetual pledge of its safety, and society has built no wall of protection around it. It has no sure defence within itself. Its Maker has hung no flaming sword, turning every way above it to ward off danger. Nothing in man and things impels a provident regard for it. Suns, winds, frosts, storms, time, diseases, and death pay no deferential respect to it. Man respects and bows to it, but while he does it, it withers under his devotion, so little does he mingle wisdom and care in his regard.

Society professes to respect it, and so it does, but it subjects it to so many untimely trials and injurious customs that that very respect is fearful. A young girl, fresh from childhood, blossoming into a woman, rosy health in her veins, innocence in her heart, carolling gaiety in her laugh, buoyant life in her step, the rich glance of an opening soul in her eye, grace in her form with the casket of mind richly jewelled, is indeed an object of beauty.