Talks with a
Young Girl Concerning Herself
Chapter 1: The Secret
Listen, Violet, I am going to tell you a wonderful secret. And this wonderful secret is
about your namesakes, the violets. Every little flower that grows is a living being, as
you or I--and every plant is a household. How do I know this? The flowers told me
themselves, and now I am going to let you into the secret.
Of course, I must admit that the flowers do not talk as we do. Unlike ourselves, they
cannot express themselves aloud. They must show their thoughts by their motions or
Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
by their change of expression. When a flower is thirsty, how does it tell us so? By
drooping its head and looking sad. Then, if we give it a drink, how quickly it says,
"Thank you!" by lifting its head and smiling at us.
If we would have the flowers tell us their secrets, we must watch them very closely so
as to be able to hear what they say. Sometimes, however, we must learn from others
what the plants like, for at first, until we are better acquainted, we will not be able to
understand them, and might make many mistakes; so I am going to tell you a few
things today. 8 Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
First, we must learn something about the flower's family, and where the flower gets
its food. The flowers are a part of the plant household just the same as you or any
little girl is only a part of the family. You could not very well live without the rest of
the family--your father and mother, who do so many things for you and take such
care of you, and your brothers and sisters, who all help to make the home happy.
The flower is like a little girl and needs some one to care for her. Do you know the
other members of the plant household?
First, there are the roots, whose work it is to hold the plant in place so it will not be
tossed about by every wind. The roots also must draw the water and nourishment
from the ground. You know when the rain comes, it soaks into the ground and then
when the plant needs water the little roots suck it out of the ground just as you could
draw lemonade through a straw, for every root is supplied with many hair tubes that
serve as straws. These hair tubes often are so small we could not see them without a
microscope, but it is through these tiny tubes the plant receives nearly all the water it Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
uses.
Other members of the family, the leaves, are kept busy, for they must do the
breathing for the plant, as well as digest the food. You know water is never quite free
from mineral matter, so when the roots draw up the water from the ground, they also
draw up some mineral food for the plant which is dissolved in the water. Before the
plant can make use of this food, it must be digested by the leaves, much the same as
your stomach must digest the food you eat. That is, it must change it into
another form. But in order that the leaves may do this, they must have plenty of
chlorophyll, which is the green coloring matter of the leaves. This chlorophyll will
grow in the leaves if they have plenty of sunlight, and if it does not grow the leaves
will not be able to digest the food and the plant will starve. So you see how necessary
it is for plants to have plenty of sunshine, and why they lose their green color and
then die if they are kept away from the light. They really are starved to death.
Chapter 2: The Flower Babies
The flower itself has many parts, just as there are many parts to your body. When the
flower is a little bud, or baby, rocked by the breezes, it is closely wrapped in a little
green cloak. We call this cloak the calyx, because when it opens it looks like a cup,
and the word calyx means cup. After the bud is grown, it opens its cloak and throws
it back. Then we see the pretty dress underneath. We call this dress the corolla.
Sometimes it is all in one piece, but often it is divided into several leaf-like parts
which we call petals.
If we look within the dress or corolla, we find the real body of the flower, which is
called the pistil. Its shape varies greatly in different plants, but it always consists of
two or three distinct parts. One of these is the cradle for the seeds, and is called the
ovary. At one end of the ovary is usually a little tube leading down into it. This tube is
called the style, and the opening at the other end is called the stigma. Each ovary or Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
cradle contains one or more ovules which by and by will grow into seeds. Just outside
the pistil of a flower you usually will find a row of slender, thread-like stalks,
each bearing a soft, oblong body at the top, falling out of which you will see a fine
yellow powder called pollen. It is a peculiar fact that these seeds never can grow into
new plants unless they are fertilized, that is, unless they receive some pollen. It is
another peculiar fact that although nearly every flower has this pollen growing right
near the little ovules, yet they cannot be fertilized with this pollen, but must receive
some from the flower of another plant family.
This pollen is carried from one plant to another by the wind or by the bees and
butterflies that come visiting in search of honey. In fact, the flower coaxes the bees
and butterflies to come so they may bring her the pollen. Soon after the seed is
fertilized it is ripe; that is, it is ready to leave its cradle, the ovary. It is now ready to
grow into a new plant. But before it can grow it must be put into a little nest in
the ground. But the poor plant is so helpless that she is unable to prepare this nest
herself, so all she can do is to scatter her seed babies out on the ground and hope
some one will take pity on them and make a nice nest for them. Sometimes the wind
helps her by blowing some dirt and dead leaves over them, for you know the seeds
cannot grow unless they are covered nice and warm. Sometimes the children and
grown people help her by preparing a nice flower-bed.
For a long time the tiny seed lies very quietly in its warm nest, and if we could peek Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
at it we could not see it move at all, but all the time it is growing very slowly, until
finally some bright day it will send up its little sprouts, and then we will see that all
the time the seed was lying so quietly it was growing into a baby flower.
Chapter 3: The Bird Babies
Today, Violet, I shall tell you another secret, but this time the secret is not about
flowers, but about something else we love very dearly. I intend to tell you some
secrets about the birds. I wonder if you know how much they are like the flowers?
You remember the flowers had a language which we could understand, even if they
did not talk out loud. The birds, too, have a language of their own, and they can
express themselves better than the flowers, for they have a sign language, and are
also able to make sounds. How much we enjoy hearing the birds sing, not only
because they make beautiful music, but because they are telling us how happy they
are!
If birds are in pain or in trouble, their notes are quite different from when they are
singing; while, if they or their little ones are in danger, they quickly send forth a note
of warning. The young birds, in calling for food, make an entirely different sound, and
the answer of the mother bird is a sweet lullaby. One of the ways birds
express themselves in sign language is by their feathers. If they are sick, their
feathers droop. When they are well and happy, their feathers seem much brighter.
In the bird family, as in the flower family, each member has a special work to do. The
mother bird and the father bird work together to build the nest, but while the mother
bird lays the eggs and then must sit on them for a number of days, the father bird
must bring her food and water and sometimes take his turn watching the nest while
the mother goes for a little exercise. The mother bird's body resembles the plant, too, Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
for it needs fresh air, food and water. Instead of leaves to take in the air it has lungs,
which not only take in the fresh air but also send out the impure air. Instead of the
little rootlets to take in the food and water from the ground, the bird has a mouth,
and as the bird is not fastened to the ground, but is free to fly or move about, it goes
after its food. Instead of sap, it has blood to carry the food to all parts of the body.
Chapter 4: Mother’s Baby
There is another wonderful secret that I have to tell you. I wonder if you can guess
what this is! No, it is not about a flower, nor a bird--but, yes, you have guessed it
right, for it is about a girl just like you!
Isn’t it strange how much alike the flowers and birds and little girls are, after all, even
if they do not look at all alike?
You have lungs just the same as the bird, and breathe as it does. You have two feet,
but instead of wings you have arms and hands. You have a sign language, as the
flowers have, and you have a language of sounds that is even better than the bird
language. When you are happy, I can tell it by the smiles on your face, and
sometimes when you are a bit cross, I know it by a tiny frown that mars the beauty of
your face. But, of course, that does not happen very often, because, you know, as
we grow older, our faces do not change their expressions as easily as they do when
we are young. And would it not be dreadful, if when you grew up, you always had a
frown on your face and were not nice looking at all? You know the frown wrinkles try
to stay, and every time we let them come out they leave a tiny mark.
When the flower took in the fresh air it made green coloring matter, but when you
take in the fresh air it makes red coloring matter. So if you want to have red cheeks
and red lips you must have plenty of fresh air. I know you get a great deal in the
daytime when you are playing, but you must be sure to get it at night, too, or you will
lose all your pretty color. Be sure that your window is open every night.
You remember, the leaves not only had to breathe but they had to digest the food for
the plant, too, but the bird had a stomach to perform that work.
In this way you are like the birds, for you have a stomach which takes care of the
food you eat. If you wish to grow strong and well so as to be able to run and play and
Chapter 5: The Baby’s Nest
You remember, Violet, I told you that although mothers do not have to build nests,
they have to take good care of them so they will grow strong.
As the natural desire of a girl is to become a mother some time, she must begin very
early to prepare for it. By exercise, fresh air, and good, nourishing food, she should
make her body grow strong and well. By studying, she will develop her mind so as to
be fitted to care for and to teach her child. Shall I tell you some ways you can make
the nest grow strong?
First, I shall tell you more things about this mother nest. Although it and the tiny
ovules are growing all the time, yet there are greater changes in them when the girl
is from twelve to fourteen years old. About this time they grow faster than at any
other time. As these organs grow, the pelvis, or the part of the body that contains
them, also must grow to make room for them. So the hips begin to grow broader.
Other parts of the body grow faster at this time, too, and often some parts grow so
much faster than others that they are out of proportion, and the child becomes
clumsy and feels awkward. But that will not last long, for after a while the parts that
are growing slowly will catch up to the ones that grew fast, and then the body will be
graceful again. Have you ever watched a young puppy? You know how clumsy and
awkward it is while it is growing, but after a while, when it is fully grown, it will
be very graceful.
You remember, I told you, Violet, that every month, or every twenty-eight days,
there was an extra amount of blood carried to the womb which it had to send out of
the body. This flow, which we call the menstrual flow, was the sign of the possibility
of motherhood, so every girl should be glad of the fact that she menstruates and
should take good care of herself at that time. She should pay especial attention to
cleanliness during this period. She also should have a supply of sanitary cloths made
of absorbent cotton fabric, or pads made of absorbent-cotton enclosed in gauze.
Chapter 6: 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.
The stomach had a great deal of work to do in digesting the food or preparing it so it
could be taken up by the blood and carried to the womb and all parts of the body. But
the stomach does not have to do this all alone. It has several helpers. One set of
helpers is the teeth, which cut and grind the food into small particles. In order to do
this, they must be kept in very good condition; otherwise, they could not do their Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
work. We can keep them in good condition by brushing them. They should be
brushed at least twice daily and the mouth afterwards rinsed with a mild antiseptic
solution. The teeth should be thoroughly examined by a good dentist at least every
six months.
Another assistant that the stomach has is the intestines or bowels, which not only
help to digest the food but also carry off the waste material. The bowels are very
good, and will tell us when they have waste material to be disposed of, but
sometimes people are too busy and do not pay attention. If we neglect them many
times the bowels get tired of telling us, and then their work is not done. We think
they are lazy and so we try to whip them up by taking a laxative. This seems to
help at first, but we soon find we have to do the same thing every day. All this time
the fault was our own, for we did not understand. The best way is to have a regular
time of going to the toilet, say, right after breakfast. If we always go at the same
time the bowels will remember it. Then we need have no trouble with constipation nor
Chapter 7: The Sign Language
Do you know one way we can tell if all the organs are doing their work well? By
watching for the sign language. If the blood is not carrying the skin sufficient
nourishment, it will be very pale and dull looking. If the waste materials are not being
carried off, they may accumulate in the skin and clog the pores. Then we may have
pimples or blackheads. Each person's skin is a law unto itself, and what is beneficial
to one may not be to another. Generally, though, it will be found helpful to bathe the Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
face at night with hot water, to remove all dirt; then, if the skin is rough, massage
with good cold cream. In the morning a quick rub with cold water should be taken
(and do not be afraid to rub the face a little).
The eyes tell if we are tired or unwell, for then they will be dull, while, if we abuse or
strain them, they often are red. This not only makes them less attractive, but it
shows we must attend to them. Would it not be dreadful if they became so tired or
worn out that we could not see with them? The care of the eyes is very important.
When you are reading or writing, the light should come over your left shoulder,
and you should never try to read in a poor light.
The hair also shows the state of the health, and it shows if we are careless. Nothing
so detracts from a girl's appearance as soiled or untidy hair. One of the most potent
charms a woman can have is a well-kept, luxuriant, glossy head of hair. The
hair should be shampooed often enough to keep it clean and fluffy. How often that is
depends on the nature of the hair and the occupation of the owner.
Chapter 8: Rest and Sleep
You have seen, Violet, how all the parts of the body work together, although each one
has its especial part to do. The parts of the body require rest; this they usually get
while we are asleep. We must not be neglectful and fail to give them enough rest, or
they will soon get worn out and give us trouble. Most little girls require eight or ten
hours' rest every night.
Sometimes, when people are not well or are all tired out, they find they cannot sleep
well at night. There are a number of little things that can be done to induce sleep. A
warm bath before retiring, followed by a gentle massage, especially along the spine,
often will, by relaxing the nerves and muscles, produce very good results. A glass of
hot milk or cocoa, taken just before retiring, often will have the same effect. If theBest Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq
sleeplessness is a result of indigestion, a plain diet will relieve. Sleeping upon a hard
bed without any pillow sometimes produces the desired effect. Always have plenty
of fresh air in the room. Keep the mind free from the cares of the day. If they will
intrude, crowd them out by repeating something else--some soothing sentence or bit
of poetry. One good plan is to close the left nostril by pressing on it with the finger,
then take four deep breaths through the right nostril. Then close the right nostril and
take four deep breaths through the left one. Repeat this about four times.
Then breathe slowly through both nostrils, but count your breaths. You seldom will
count very many.
Chapter 9: Your Questions
If at any time, Violet, questions come up in your mind, remember that mother will be
glad to answer them or will help you obtain books that will explain things to you.
In school we have text books and a teacher, who is older and more experienced than
we, to whom we can go for help in our school problems. We know she will tell us the
right solution and we know it is wise to go to her. So in this study of our bodies and
the care of them, we must learn from some one older and more experienced, or we
must study books that have been written for that purpose. Then we will be sure to
obtain the right ideas.
After a while, when you are grown, I will tell you some things about the care of the
baby and how you may have a good-natured, healthy child. But now all you need to
do for a number of years is to take good care of this mother nest and the rest of your
body, so it will grow strong and well.
Best Tips Skin Care Girls https://bit.ly/3hFjGYq