9.  SILLY DIRTY TRASH.—­But I hear some mother say “Such silly dirty trash to tell a child!” It is not dirty nor silly; it is nature’s untarnished truth.  God has ordained that children should thus be brought into the world, do you call the works of God silly?  Remember, kind mother, and don’t forget it, if you fail to teach your children, boys or girls, these important lessons early in life, they will learn them from other sources, perhaps long ere you dream of it, and ninety-nine times out of one hundred they will get improper, perverted, impure and vile ideas of these important truths; besides you nave lost their confidence and you will never regain it in these matters.  They will never come to mamma for information on these subjects.  And, think you, that your son and daughter, later in life will make you their confidant as they ought?  Will your beautiful daughter hand the first letters she receives from her lover to mamma to read, and seek her counsel and advice when she replies to them?  Will she ask mamma whether it is ever proper to sit in her lover’s lap?  I think not; you have blighted her confidence and alienated her affections.  You have kept knowledge from her that she had a right to know; you even failed to teach her the important truths of menstruation.  Troubled and excited at the first menstrual flow, she dashed her feet in cold water hoping to stop the flow.  You know the results she is now twenty-five but is suffering from it to this day.  You, her mother, over fastidious, so very nice you would never mention “such silly trash” but by your consummate foolishness and mock modesty you have ruined your daughter’s health, and though in later years she may forgive you, yet she can never love and respect you as she ought.

10.  “KNOWLEDGE THE PRESERVER OF PURITY.”—­Laura E. Scammon, writing on this subject, in the Arena of November, 1893, says:  “When questions arise that can not be answered by observation, reply to each as simply and directly as you answer questions upon other subjects, giving scientific names and facts, and such explanations as are suited to the comprehension of the child.  Treat nature and her laws always with serious, respectful attention.  Treat the holy mysteries of parenthood reverently, never losing sight of the great law upon which are founded all others the law of love.  Say it and sing it, play it and pray it into the soul of your child, that love is lord of all.”

11.  CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER.—­Observation and common sense should teach every parent that lack of knowledge on these subjects and proper counsel and advice in later years is the main cause of so many charming girls being seduced and led astray, and so many bright promising boys wrecked by self-abuse or social impurity.  Make your children your confidants early in life, especially in these things, have frequent talks with them on nature, and you will never, other things being equal, mourn over a ruined daughter or a wreckless, debased son.