"That is one side of it,--a side that we must look at. On the other is
the horrible danger of forming the habit of taking wine and such things
to excess. The suffering is terrible, and the poverty. That comes from
intemperance in drink more than from any other form of it; and the only
way that it is to be prevented is for us parents to teach our boys and
girls all the danger, teach them that, because they want it, there is no
excuse for their taking it. If you aren't strong enough to deny yourself
something you know is a sin, you haven't learned the first lesson of
good living. But it isn't drinking alone; there are other sins that are
as bad and as dangerous; and a man or woman, to be strong and pure and
good, must turn his back upon them all."
"But I did want to help," Theodora said. "There ought to be something
that a girl can do."
"So there is," her father answered quickly.
"What?"
"From now on, through all your young womanhood, be sure you stand on the
right side of things. Don't preach. That never does any good. Just frown
down any fastness in your friends. Let it be understood that you have
nothing to do with a man who drinks and swears, with a girl who is fast
or familiar, who laces till she can't breathe, and dances all night with
men whom she hardly knows. Let my Teddy, even if she must stand alone,
stand for all that is truest and best in women, and the young men and
women around her will respect her and try to pull themselves up to her
standard. You needn't be a prig, Ted. Be as full of fun as you can; the
more, the better, only choose your fun carefully. Your old father knows
what he's talking about, and he knows that girls have more influence
than most of them are willing to use."
Theodora's cheek was resting against her father's shoulder, and her eyes
had drooped.
"I will," she said humbly.
"And remember this, my girlie; I am always here to talk things over with
you and advise you. When you are older, perhaps you can help me with my
poorer patients. Till then, Teddy, wait, and don't try to do too much.
You're only my little girl yet; and the world is too big for you to
understand. Good-night, dear. Now I must go."
It was the last of the lecture; but, simple as it had been, Theodora
never lost the memory of the quiet hour in the office, and in after
years she learned to know the value of the lesson so gently given.