Page:An address delivered by the Hon. Mrs. Welby to the married women of Newton on the first Thursday in Lent, 1872.djvu/17

13 like, and at least you can do your best; when there's a will there's a way.

And you can take special care not to let your cottages be overfull at the feast- time, when I fear much mischief goes on. Why, I have seen bedrooms shockingly crowded above, and a parlour below shut up and seldom used—just kept for foolish show—in which the boys could perfectly well sleep.

Keep your boys and girls at home of an evening as much as possible after dark; you could do this much more than you do.

And don't let sweethearting go on at night except in your presence. When you go to bed yourselves, see that the young man leaves the house. In these respects there ought not, and there need not, be the least difference between the richest and the poorest.

When a young man begins to keep company, and even when he has promised marriage, let him understand, if you like, that he is a welcome visitor at fitting hours, but nothing more.

I cannot say it too strongly, this sin is just