FALLING IN LOVE TOO YOUNG.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XVI, 19 October 1895, Page 500

FALLING IN LOVE TOO YOUNG.

Many a fond mother experiences great anxiety for her daughters and sons as they get into their later teens. She is afraid her son will fall in love with a pretty face before he is twenty years old, and mar his fortune. She is still more solicitous as to what may become of her daughter’s susceptibility, because she is perchance of a romantic and dreaming nature. This anxious mother is the representative of a class which numbers thousands. There are not many things which cause more maternal solicitude than the fear that a eon or daughter will be led, while young, into a foolish or disastrous marriage. Among the most prolific provocatives of such youthful folly are idleness, lack of mental occupation, and the restlessness and dissatisfaction which are usually induced by such stagnant conditions. Therefore, we say to any mother who does not want her son to fall in love with a pretty face before the beard grows on his own, give him something to do; let his mind be occupied. Employment is one of the best safeguards as well as one of the best remedies for that intermittent youthful fever mistakenly called love. Furthermore, try to inspire your son with noble ambitions, which will lift him above bis petty desires, and make him eager to achieve a manly and useful career. As for your daughter, as soon as she leaves school give her something to do also —something useful and elevating. She will miss the daily routine of school life, with ins exercise and occupation and discipline of mind. Undoubtedly she will fancy that the change is delightful ; but she will soon become dissatisfied. Her life will be full of restlessness her heart fall of longing ; and before you are aware, she will fall desperately in love with some moustached boy—possibly a harmless, probably a worthless, perhaps a villainous fellow, who, like herself, had nothing to do. Sitan not only 'finds some mischief still for idle hands to do,* but he also provides many ways for idle young people to commit sad and sometimes irretrievable blunders. Oae of his most effective lures is that kind of affection, erroneously called love, which is generated by the restlessness and dissatisfaction caused by idleness and vacuity of mind. Therefore those persons who wish to save their sone and daughters from the evils that come of falling in love too yonng should give them plenty to do, so they may * not rust in idleness, but shine in use.’