In conclusion, I should like to record an incident full of encouragement to mothers.  A young fellow of eighteen or nineteen, whom his widowed mother had brought up on the principles which I have been advocating, said to her one day, “Mother, you know that men don’t always think like you about poor girls.”  “Alas!” she replied, “I know that but too well; but what makes you say so?” “Well, mother, I was with a lot of college fellows yesterday, and they were giving one another the best addresses in the West End to go to.”  “But didn’t you say anything?” “No, I only kept silence.  Had I said anything, they would only have called me a confounded prig.  There were three other fellows who kept silence, and I could see they did not approve, but we none of us spoke up.”  “Oh, my son,” exclaimed his mother in great distress, “how are we to help you young fellows?  Do you think if the clergy were more faithful, they could help you more than they do?” “I don’t think they would listen to what a parson says.”  “Then if doctors were to warn you more plainly than they do?” “I don’t think it would be of much use; they would not heed; and then a fellow generally goes to a doctor too late.”  “Then what can we do, what can we do?” “Well, I think there is only one person who can really help, and that’s a fellow’s mother—­she can save him, if she would only try.”

Doubt not, but earnestly believe.  “In every man’s breast is to be found a lotus-blossom,” says the pretty old Indian saying, and, watered by your prayers and your tears, be sure it will blossom into “the white flower of a blameless life.”

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 26:  Coventry Patmore.]

[Footnote 27:  The word in Greek is the same for woman and wife.]

[Footnote 28:  White Cross Publications, E.P.  Dutton & Co., 31 West Twenty Third Street, New York.]

[Footnote 29:  Office of White Cross league, 7 Dean’s Yard, Westminster Abbey, London.]

[Footnote 30:  THE WHITE CROSS OBLIGATIONS.  I. To treat all women with respect, and endeavor to protect them from wrong and degradation.

II.  To endeavor to put down all indecent language and coarse jests.

III.  To maintain the law of purity as equally binding upon men and women.

IV.  To endeavor to spread these principles among my companions, and to try and help my younger brothers.

V. To use every possible means to fulfil the command,

“Keep thyself pure.”]

CHAPTER VIII

THE INFLUENCE OF SISTERS