The modern athletic girl glories in her strength.  She feels it a disgrace to be a frail flower that cannot enter into the best enjoyment of life.  She glories in her strong, well-trained body.  She walks with free yet graceful step, holding her head high, for she knows she is queen of her kingdom—­her body.  Her lungs are well developed and her body well cared for, so she has no fear of disease.  But the modern girl does not stop there.  She wants to have healthy sexual organs with room for development of the babe, and strong muscles to perform their work in expelling the babe.  So she discards clothing that restricts her organs.  She wears comfortable, well-fitting clothes.  The old-fashioned corsets pushed the organs out of place, but the modern ones, made to conform to nature’s lines, serve only as a support.  As nature did not make a waist line, the one-piece dresses are especially desirable.  Besides developing every organ and muscle of her body and training her mind, the modern girl goes to a training school to prepare for the mother calling.  Recently, in a few schools, a course of study has been provided for the girls in the care of children, hygiene and nursing.  Even women who never become mothers themselves in this way learn general principles of psychology, hygiene and the care of the sick that they might make use of in every station of life.  I hope, Violet, that after a while you will be able to learn many of these things, so that when you are a grown woman and the time comes for you to marry and have a baby you will know just how to care for it.

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Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.  As by the one, health is preserved, strengthened, and invigorated; by the other, virtue (which is the health of the mind) is kept alive, cherished, and confirmed.

  Addison.

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CHAPTER VI

BUILDING THE NEST

Now that I have told you so many things about the mother-nest, especially about how it is growing all the time, I must tell you more about the many helpers you have who assist in its growth.  This they do by providing it with food and by carrying away the waste material.  We found the body was composed of many parts or organs, each one of which had its own especial work to do.  If any one organ could not perform its work, some other one would have to assist it, but, although the organs are willing to help each other, it would not be fair to make one do more than its share of work, except for a short time.