But it is the
special set of impressions which _habitually_ find _expression_ that
determine character.
This is most encouraging, for it means that if the girl can be lead to
express the right impression and leave the others to fade away into the
recesses of consciousness where it will be hard to awaken them, the
determination of her character will be a possible task. It means that in
the years of habit formation and character making those who share the
task of the girl's training have the opportunity to lead her to
repeatedly express in positive action the high ideal, the noble
self-sacrifice, the great deed or ambition, the generous impulse
slumbering in her thoughts and appearing in her day dreams. The material
which is furnished her for thought creates her day dreams, what she sees
in her day dream _effects_ character, what she _does makes_ it.
It is for this reason that parents and teachers who are seriously
concerned with the problem of making a girl's religion a real and vital
thing seek ways and means by which she may be led to express both in
words and actions the thoughts and desires which their teaching has
awakened.
A successful teacher had been studying with her class for some weeks the
lessons founded upon "Unto the least of these, my brethren"--"A cup of
cold water even," "Ye have done it unto me," and kindred texts.
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