460 PLAIN FACTS FOE OLD AND YOUNG 



heard nothing to the contrary since, and as the remedy 

 seemed to be effectual. It was a severe remedy, and 

 may seem a harsh one, but every other means utterly 

 failed, and the father insisted upon the performance 

 of the operation as a trial. This little girl, naturally 

 truthful and honest, had, through the influence of this 

 blighting vice, been made crafty and deceptive. She 

 would tell the most astonishing falsehoods to free her- 

 self from the charge of guilt, or to avoid punishment. 

 Her father felt so deeply upon the subject, and was so 

 thoroughly awake to the consequences of the sin, that 

 he declared he would take his daughter away into the 

 wilderness, and leave her to die, if need be, rather than 

 allow her to grow up to womanhood with this vile 

 blight upon her, and run the risk of her contaminating 

 with the same vice his other, younger children. He 

 felt so deeply that the tears coursed down his cheeks 

 as he talked, and we were most happy to be of service 

 to him in aiding his daughter to overcome the fasci- 

 nating vice. She seemed willing to try to help herself, 

 but was unable to break the bonds of sin without the 

 extraordinary measures adopted. 



We might continue this rehearsal of cases to an 

 almost indefinite length, but we must bring this chapter 

 to a close. Those described are only a few examples 

 of the many w^e are constantly meeting. None have 

 been overdrawn; for the sake of delicacy, much has 

 been omitted which the exposure of the whole truth 

 would have required us to present. We sincerely hope 

 that these examples may be a warning to those who 

 have never marred their purity of character by an 

 unchaste act. To those who may have sinned in this 

 manner, let these words come with double force and 

 meaning. Do you value life, health, beauty, honor, 



