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 will 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 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). If you are going out in the sun or wind, follow with a little
good talcum or rice powder, to protect the face from the raw winds,
or, if the skin is inclined to be dry, apply a little cold cream before
using the powder. Any eruptions on the face show a defect in the
circulation. The blood is not disposing of the waste material properly,
and it is being left to clog the pores of the skin. These eruptions
should not be neglected, as they sometimes indicate a serious condition
of the blood or circulation.
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. Sometimes, if the eyes are
tired, it will rest them to bathe them in warm, boiled water in which
some boracic acid crystals have been dissolved. You may even put a few
drops of this solution right in the eye, but never put anything else in
it except by the directions of a physician, as the eyes are too precious
to take any risks, and sometimes they are injured by various eye waters.
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. Just think how quickly one
notices thin, dry, stiff hair on a woman's head. And as for those that
carry around diseased scalps, plastered with offensive oils, they are
perfectly hideous. If people only knew how much esteem they lose through
such defects, they would give more attention to the matter. 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. Usually once in two weeks is often enough, but light, oily hair
may require it more frequently, for it loses much of its beauty when
oily. To promote the growth of the hair, massage of the scalp usually
brings very satisfactory results, stimulating a new growth and healthy
appearance. The value of tonics often is in the massage. Many of the
hair tonics and shampoos on the market not only are not beneficial, but
are dangerous. An ordinary egg shampoo, which may be prepared at home,
is perhaps the best, for it not only cleanses but nourishes the hair.
I must remind you of a part of your body that many people notice very
often and by it judge if you are careless. That is your hands and nails.
People who are careful about the appearance of their nails usually are
careful about other things. You will find as you grow older that you are
judged a good deal by the little things. It will pay you to get up half
an hour earlier if necessary so as to give yourself time for those
little personal attentions that help to make a girl dainty. You will be
surprised at the effect on your mind of extra well-brushed hair, clear,
bright complexion, polished nails and a well-put-on tie, also neat
gloves and shoes.
* * * * *
Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber,
Holy angels guard thy bed!
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
Watts.
* * * * *
CHAPTER VII
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. You remember, we found
the stomach must have a time to rest between meals. The other parts of
the body require rest, too. 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 hot foot bath,
which draws the blood away from the brain, frequently will be found
beneficial. A glass of hot milk or cocoa, taken just before retiring,
often will have the same effect. If the 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. Never take any sleeping powders or tablets except
upon the advice of a physician, for they usually contain drugs that
will injure the heart.
You will find, Violet, that you will meet a number of women who are
nervous, which means they have not control of their nerves, but let
them run away with them. Sometimes this is shown in palpitation of
the heart, headache, backache, and many other disorders. There may
be a tendency to cry at trivial things, or a feeling of having "the
blues." The cause usually can be found in uncongenial surroundings or
occupation, loss of friends, or real or fancied troubles. Whatever the
cause, it should be removed, if possible, and measures taken to restore
the worn out nerves that are crying for rest or food. Tonics help, so
does nourishing food, such as eggs and milk; also a change of scene and
occupation, if possible. A woman who is nervous frequently does not
realize what is the cause of her condition, and considers only the
symptoms. So when she has a headache, resorts to headache powders or
various effervescing drinks. In taking these she only is deadening the
pain and not removing the cause, so the pain is liable to return. Most
of the remedies taken for headache contain some harmful drug. If you
look carefully at the label, you usually will find that they contain
morphine, phenacetin, or acetanilid, which are very depressing to the
heart. Pain is the cry of tortured nerves, so if one suffers from
headaches or backaches, she should not take any of these harmful
drugs, but should hunt for the cause of the pain and remove that.
* * * * *
Even from the body's purity, the mind
Receives a secret sympathetic aid.
Thomson.
* * * * *
CHAPTER IX
INJURY OF THE NEST
We who love birds would not do anything to injure their homes, but
there are some children who have not learned to love birds or who are
thoughtless and injure their nests, sometimes even tearing them to
pieces or breaking off the limb of the tree.
There also are thoughtless children who do things to injure their
bodies. You would think it very foolish to allow someone to put a bee
on your face that would sting you and yet there are some thoughtless
children who would do just that if you would let them. They might even
try to tell you it would not hurt you, but of course you would know
better. You, who know how necessary is every part of the body, would not
allow anyone to injure any part of it, especially the part that contains
the mother nest. Think how badly the mother bird must have felt when the
child destroyed the nest, and think how badly you would feel, when it
came time for you to marry and have a baby, if you found the nest had
been so injured that you could not have any. You know, the nest as well
as the rest of the body belongs to you alone, and no one has a right to
injure it, but sometimes girls are as careless or as thoughtless as the
boy with the bee and do things that are harmful. I have told you how to
care for this mother nest so it will grow well and strong, but now I
must tell you something more. As you go out in the world you will meet
some girls and some boys who have never been told these things and do
not understand all the things you do. Sometimes they have very wrong
ideas and will do many things that are harmful. Not only that, but they
will try to get you to do them. Some little girls who do not understand
what their organs are for will even play with them, for they think it
gives them a pleasurable sensation. I am sure they would not do this if
they understood that by so doing they were injuring the precious nest.
You know if you or anyone else would put things into your eyes or ears
or play with them in any way you might lose your sight or hearing. It is
the same way with the mother nest and other organs. The best plan is to
just keep them clean and then not touch them at any other time nor allow
anyone else to do so. But in bathing the parts you must be careful to
have your own towel and not use any cloths that have been used by other
people, for there are some dreadful diseases, called the black plagues,
that can be carried to these organs by anything that is not strictly
clean, and these diseases sometimes destroy the nest and ovules. So you
must be careful in all you do.
If at any time, Violet, questions come up in your mind as to what is the
best thing for you to do, remember that mother will be glad to answer
them or will help you obtain books that will explain things to you.
Do not go to your companions, for they might not understand and would
give you wrong ideas. 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 better to go to her than to the other pupils. 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 and it is nearing the time for you to
marry, 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.
* * * * *
THE GIRL WANTED
BY
NIXON WATERMAN
Cheerful, friendly talks to young women, telling them how they can mould
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Every young woman should read this book. Every parent should make
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No one can resist it. A fine book for presentation at graduation,
either from grammar or high school.--_The World's Chronicle._
Will at once win the reader's heart. In these pages one does not rake
among dry leaves, but rather wanders through sweet-smelling
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Illustrated. Beautiful cover. Cloth, 8vo.
PRICE, $1.25
_For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid by the publishers_
FORBES & COMPANY, CHICAGO
* * * * *
HAPPY SCHOOL DAYS
A BOOK FOR GIRLS
BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER
In this book Mrs. Sangster writes charmingly and sympathetically of the
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It ought to reach the hands of every girl.--_St. Paul Pioneer Press._
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Every girl's mother ought to make her a present of this book.--_St.
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Handsome cover. Decorated box. Cloth, 12mo.
PRICE, $1.25
_For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid by the publishers_
FORBES & COMPANY, CHICAGO
* * * * *