Page:Our Little Girl (1923).pdf/73

 “How could they do that?’ she demanded. “You never told me anything about it before. I don’t believe in such things. I’m surprised to hear Miss Blagden tolerated them.”

Her indignation, however, didn’t destroy the continuity of her discourse.

“Every woman, after she has reached a certain period of life, begins-"

It wasn’t what she wanted to say.

“Every woman has in her the seeds of a new life. Before she is married these seeds are—just seeds. After her marriage, they are brought to blossom and to bear fruit by her husband’s love. Just as the pollen produces the flower so does the man’s love.”

Mrs. Loamford was forgetting her text.

“What I mean is that children are the result of love between man and woman.”

She paused a moment.

“I don’t have to tell you why you should keep your body strong, clean and pure for the man who will be the father of your children—and let us hope that your union will be blessed with children. I know that you are a fine girl morally and that you will develop into a fine woman. Still, a mother must tell her daughter these things.

“At the same time, there are many smaller bad habits which are in their way just as bad as some of the worse offences. Never allow any young man to put his arm about you. Even though he goes no further, you will lower yourself in his eyes if you let him do it. The minute a girl lets young men get intimate with her she loses something that no young girl should lose. Many girls today think nothing of holding hands with any young man they meet. Some of them think it’s necessary to indulge in such things to be popular. Dorothy, I would