The apparatus for firefighting was of the type most city people have
forgotten. Men rushed to the fire company's quarters and dragged the
engine forth. From one of the highest hilltops flames lighted the sky.
The men seizing the rope dragged the apparatus up the steep slope. Just
before reaching the top it stuck. Suddenly a sharp appealing voice rang
out into the darkness. It did more than request, it commanded and
demanded. "Everybody take hold" it shouted, and under the power of it
people sprang to obey and the engine reached the hilltop.

Those who look with sympathy and love at girlhood today, cannot help
wishing that some Voice of power would ring out through every place
where girls are found saying--"Everybody take hold!" If everybody would
respond to the task as that night in the fire and the storm, the girl,
in body, mind and spirit might easily be saved. Everybody may not
respond now--but how about _you_, the girl herself?




XIII

THOU SHALT NOT


In our effort to get away from the harsh negative teaching of the past
which made young people feel that life meant "don't," we have made the
mistake of failing to teach with power the fact that there are things to
which God's law and man's law say _thou shall not_. "I did not know it
would do any harm," is oftentimes a truthful statement and the girl has
the right to be carefully, wisely and sanely taught the things to which