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176 must give her the privilege of doing what who she pleases. I do not mean that in your desire to be a good mother that you must make her selfish; but you must understand her, and you must be tender and patient with her. One girl may be able to endure what is commonly known as a "good talking to," and be all the better for it; another girl, given the same treatment, may suffer agony and grow to hate her mother. Possibly you think I am exaggerating, but if you will take the trouble to study your own and other girls, you will find that there is truth in what I say.

You who lack all romance, have no imagination, who do not mind hearing the plain unvarnished truth, have been given a daughter who finds her greatest happiness in the world of imagination; her feelings are easily hurt; she longs, not only for love, but for the expression of it. The other day when she came up to you, leaned over your shoulder and kissed you gently, you said, "Oh, nonsense!" and gave her a little push. I don't think she will ever try to kiss you again. And yet, in your heart, you were pleased at the kiss, but you had so long thought it foolish to give an outward sign of the inward love that you felt it almost as your duty to act as you did.