Page:Side talks with girls (1895).djvu/89

Rh of worry, and in the sight of God you have committed a great sin. You have lacked consideration for others, and you have ill-treated the body which was made in His image. If you had kept yourself well and strong and been a help to your mother, your Easter day might have been a happy one, but as it is, it can only be filled with remorse. Pray for wisdom."

This explains better than I can what I mean when I tell you that you must make your material and your spiritual lives in perfect harmony. The soft answer that turneth away wrath does more to convince your brother of the value of your religion than all the prayers ever written, if you are ill-tempered. The forgiveness rendered some one who has hurt you is more convincing of the beauty of the golden rule, and of your living up to it, than all the societies that were ever formed for the benefit of the heathen. To make religion beautiful in your own home and among your own people is a great work. And if every girl did that there would be no heathen. I know it is hard to always do the right thing. I know it is hard when there are beautiful, high, and noble thoughts that we would like to enjoy alone to have to sweep a floor, or mend a gown, or bathe a baby, but the doing of any of these gently and cheerfully is better than thinking high thoughts—it is living them.