Page:Side talks with girls (1895).djvu/99

Rh late for a meal, throw yourself carelessly into a chair, and as you eat the semi-cold dishes, you sulk and refuse to speak to anybody. When you are asked to help a little in the household, you start to do it by banging the door and giving poor work because your heart is not in it, and you make everybody about you uncomfortable by your disagreeable manner. Some one comes in to see your mother, some old friend, and she wishes to present you to her. You toss your head, curl your lips, don't want to go, but at last yield, principally from curiosity. Probably the lady you meet is not very finely dressed, nor can she chatter about social affairs as you like your friends to, but that doesn't excuse your speaking to her in the stiffest manner and making her feel anything but comfortable.

If one of your pet sins is to sulk I will tell you what to do. As pleasantly as you can ask your mother to excuse you for a little while; then go to your own room and sit in front of your looking-glass. Watch your face and see how ugly it grows when you yield to this sin. I am sure that in a very little while you will be down on your knees asking God to help you, and making to Him a promise to do all that you can to help yourself. Another ugly fault, and one which is of