Keepers Of The Sweet And Beautiful

There are just a few things that we're pretty sure to get to most every day: bible reading and memorization, music, phonics and everyone's favorite -- lunch time read-aloud. Today we finished reading Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. I think it was my 3rd time reading it aloud in 5 years, and One read it once or twice by herself too (of course, she's reads so much and so fast it's hard to keep her in books).

I like Caddie Woodlawn a little more each time I read it. I like the characters and the story, but mostly I like the poignant moments between Father and Caddie that say women are good, noble and important in the care-giving role God designed them for; especially this one in Chapter 21 after Caddie's mother has punished her severely for being in on a disturbing practical joke played on their house guest:

Then he began to speak in his nice quiet voice, without asking her to wake up or open her eyes or look at him.

"Perhaps Mother was a little hasty today, Caddie," he said. "She really loves you very much, and, you see, she expects more of you than she would of someone she didn't care about. It's a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie -- harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the winderness. A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's. But no man could ever do it so well. I don't want you to be the silly, affected person with fine clothes and manners whom folks sometimes call a lady. No, that is not what I want for you, my little girl. I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind. Do you think you would like to be growing up into that woman now? How about it, Caddie, have we run with the colts long enough?"