to effort.  It is a lamentable lack at the present time among a large proportion of the daughters of comfortable and refined homes, that they have small physical strength and no qualities of endurance at all.  They are “all tired out” if they sweep and dust or do housework for an hour or two, or take a half-mile walk on an errand, or sew continuously for an hour.  Very likely they will want to lie down and rest an hour after such exertion.  This is all the result of unexercised muscles and mental indolence.  That mother was quite right, who, when her boarding-school daughter complained that it made her arms ache to sweep, replied:  “Well, you must sweep till it doesn’t make them ache.”  Mind and body both grow strong through exercise.  Unexercised muscles, of course, will be weak and flabby and tire easily.  But the young girl whom it tires to work is most likely on the qui vive about some folly or other nearly all the time.  Lack of healthful mental and bodily occupation and stimulus will almost certainly produce a craving for unhealthy excitement.  Such a girl is apt to be constantly planning for mere pleasure and to have “a good time.”  And, oh! what an unsatisfying, unworthy aim in life is this, and how pernicious in its effects!  Pleasure and “a good time” are all very well, but unless they are partaken of sparingly they produce a mental effect similar to that which the constant use of desserts and sweetmeats, instead of plain substantial food, would produce in the physical system.  Association with the idle and the mere pleasure-seeker is therefore to be guarded against, for their influence cannot but be harmful.

2.  Although perfection is not to be expected in any companion or associate, yet there are certain defects of character which are so grave that parents cannot afford to encourage their children in associating with those who exhibit these in a marked degree.  Untruthfulness; the habit of gossiping about friends or acquaintances or divulging family privacies; sullenness and moroseness under reproof; rebellious and disrespectful expressions and conduct toward parents and teachers; indifference to the good opinion of sensible people, as shown by unusual and startling conduct in public places; all such things mark the undesirable associate for young girls.  But there are young girls against whom none of these complaints could be made, who are undesirable companions because they are wholly absorbed in love of dress and display and desire to be admired and noticed.  It is generally among this class that we find young girls who prefer to an altogether unreasonable and unbecoming extent, the society of young men to the society of their own sex.  It is among these that we find the young lady who does not know how to prevent undue familiarity in the conduct of young men; who will tolerate without disapprobation or protest, rude conduct on the part of young men.  This over-eagerness for their society, and easy toleration of too familiar conduct and conversation, young men, who are quick discerners in such matters, are very apt to take advantage of.  Only the best and most high-principled among them will refrain from doing so.