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"How can I ever go!" cries Betty (_See page 1_]
BETTY'S BATTLES
_AN EVERYDAY STORY_
BY S. L. M._Author of "Jabez the Unlucky"_
PREFACE BY MRS. BRAMWELL BOOTH
_Illustrated by Gertrude M. Bradley_
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PREFACE
I have derived real pleasure from the reading of "Betty's Battles,"because I am sure if we can only get it into the hands of other"Bettys," that they will be inspired and helped to take up arms in theirown cause, and fight, as Betty did, for the love and peace andorderliness of their own dear homes.
I think a fact is revealed in this story which is not actuallytranscribed in black and white. It is that the Grandmother--throughstaying with whom Betty had been so much blessed and helped--bore thesame surname as Betty's father. For if she had brought up Betty'smother, I am quite sure there never could have been so much difficultyin the home as was the case when Betty returned from her holiday!
This little book will, I believe, help our Young People to realise theirresponsibility towards their own homes and their fathers and mothers.
Nothing is more grievous at the present time in many countries wherecivilisation is most advanced, than the decay of all that which isprecious and beautiful in home life. There are many causes which havecontributed to this, to which I cannot allude here; but there is oneremedy which by the blessing of God cannot fail. It is that our youngwomen should be enlightened and trained to acknowledge and to carrytheir responsibilities for that work which God has committed to women.
Undoubtedly, it is God's arrangement that women should beautify andadorn the home. A home is an absolute necessity to her; and only by theretirement and protection of a good home, can women ever be fitted totrain and mould the nation's youth. As a wise, far-seeing writer hassaid: "It is not too much to say that the prosperity or adversity of anation rests in the hands of its women. They are the mothers of the men;they make and mould the characters of their sons, and the centre oftheir influence should be, as Nature intended it to be, the home. Homeis the pivot round which the wheel of a country's highest statesmanshipshould revolve; the preservation of home, its interests, its duties andprinciples, should be the aim of every good citizen.... A happy home isthe best and surest safeguard against all evil; and where home is nothappy, there the Devil may freely enter and find his hands full. Withwomen, and women only, this happiness in the home must find itsfoundation."
I believe in the successful mission of this little book, and wish itgood speed.
Florence E. Booth
_November 1907_
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. "GOOD-BYE, GRANNIE" 1
II. HOME AGAIN 7
III. THE BATTLES BEGIN 19
IV. BETTY'S BIRTHDAY 31
V. REAL TROUBLE 48
VI. FOR FATHER'S SAKE 59
VII. DAY BY DAY 71
VIII. THE CAPTAIN 83
IX. A PLACE FOR EVERY ONE 95
X. A QUARREL 107
XI. FATHER AT HOME 123
XII. LUCY 129
XIII. COMRADES 140
XIV. BETTY'S BIRTHDAY ONCE MORE 147
BETTY'S BATTLES