to banish deep affection and respect as well. Some daughters cannot be
their best at home and some mothers can never reveal their best selves
in their daughters' presence. That such can be the case is most
unfortunate and wrong. Away back in the daughter's childhood someone was
careless, in early girlhood a thin partition was raised which shut out
mutual love and trust. It might then have been destroyed, but was left
until it became a barrier almost impossible to break down.

But there are some girls who are misunderstood by their mothers, and who
because of circumstances must accept it and learn, despite
misunderstanding, to let love triumph. There is much that every girl
owes to her mother even though it be true that she is unfair and unjust.

One of the sweetest home makers I have ever known, in whose family it
seems to me no cross or critical word is ever spoken, whose boys and
girls trust her absolutely and love her devotedly, learned her patience
and forbearance, acquired her fine courtesy and graciousness in the
years when she was a misunderstood girl and had to live in an atmosphere
of petulance, ill-temper and selfishness.

The misunderstood girl whatever may be the reason for the
misunderstanding must cultivate frankness. She must learn to be
generous, she must help people to understand her. She must believe that
being misunderstood should deepen her sympathy and increase her tact.
One of the most marvelous teachers in our country today, who succeeds in
awakening dull hearts and minds, in controlling wayward and wilful
childhood, when asked to explain her power said simply, "I was a
misunderstood child. How I suffered! My mission is to relieve the
suffering of the misunderstood, whatever the cause."