186 How Much Work for the Country Girl 



the chemical substances to be present in large amount 

 if the others be absent. There must be a sort of 

 balanced ration for the vegetable life. Similarly 

 in case of that tender plant of the household, the 

 young girl ; she can be kept alive on work and 

 study alone, but for beautiful and symmetrical 

 growth other elements of character-nourishment are 

 necessary. What are they ? The reader is referred 

 to Chapter I for a general list. 



The hurry of work and the isolation of the ordinary 

 country home tend to foster an over-serious disposi- 

 tion in girls. There is too little to provoke a smile 

 and not half enough practice in smiling. Laughter is 

 also too infrequent. A boy may grow up habitually 

 stern and sedate and yet be able to fight his way 

 through a successful manhood. But with the girl 

 it is different. Her habit of smiling and of be- 

 ing pleasant and agreeable may prove to be one of 

 her most valuable charms. So, the early and con- 

 tinuous training of the girl in sociability must be 

 considered among the parental duties to her; and 

 that by encouraging her to be sociable at home and 

 by providing that she have frequent companion- 

 ship with others of her age. 



WORK BEGINS WITH OBEDIENCE 



One of the initial steps in the training of a child 

 is that of securing a willing obedience, a habitual 

 performance of required tasks and duties. It may 



