| Home Making |
Chapter 6 |
Page 13 |
A writer has truthfully said in speaking of a sister’s influence upon her brother: “Woman is to him an object of respect or contempt, according to what he sees of his sister’s mind and heart. She cannot therefore be too careful in teaching him to respect as well as love her. She cannot confer on him a greater kindness than by giving him an exalted idea of womanhood. She cannot inflict a greater injury than by leading him to think that all women are trifling and heartless, indolent except in the pursuit of pleasure, and greed of admiration.”
“We know not half the power for good or ill
Our daily lives possess o’er one another;
A careless word may help a soul to kill,
Or by one look we may redeem our brother.
“‘Tis not the great things that we do or say,
But idle words forgot as soon as spoken;
And little thoughtless deeds of every day
Are stumbling blocks on which the weak are broken.”
Brothers should also be their sisters’ guardians. Every young man knows what true gallantry is, and what it requires of him. He is to honor every lady, whether rich or poor, whether of higher or lower station, and show her every respect. He is to be to every woman a true knight, ready to defend her from danger, to shield her from every insult, to risk his own life in her behalf. There is not better test of a gentleman than his treatment of women.
Page 13
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