FROM FOURTEEN TO TWENTY 133 



not forget that, for good or for evil, character develops as 

 fast as cells multiply, and that, by his own choosing, he him- 

 self decides what the nature of his character development 

 shall be. 



During this adolescent period girls find themselves more 

 self-conscious than formerly, more subject to the blues, more 

 given to reverie, more critical of themselves and others. 

 Often they are shy and awkward, while at the same time 

 some of them giggle at everything and at nothing. In fact 

 giggling is one of the symptoms of their shyness. They begin 

 to think more about their clothes, their looks, and their man- 

 ners, and about boys and what will please them. Some girls 

 become unexpectedly forward ; others find themselves sensi- 

 tive and tearful so much so that their parents and friends 

 sigh and exclaim, " What in the world is the matter with 

 her ? She does n't seem at all like herself lately." 



Let no one worry, least of all the girl herself. The period 

 of change will come to an end ; and after a while she will 

 lose whatever she may now have of unusual boldness or of 

 awkwardness, of shyness, of giggles, or of tears. For, despite 

 them all, even now she grows constantly more attractive in 

 appearance and more winsome in manner. She is becoming 

 more womanly and gracious day by day. She cares more for 

 the welfare of others, feels more sympathy for those who 

 suffer, grows ambitious to excel in all lines of endeavor, some- 

 times takes the highest rank in her classes, is in danger of 

 living under high nervous pressure, and must be protected 

 against herself by those to whom she is dearest. 



It is during these same years that girls dream daydreams 

 and are tempted to overdo the reading of fiction. Much read- 

 ing of this kind is harmful, because it abnormally stimulates 

 the imagination and the emotions. Girls as well as boys meet 



