The writer has known Prof. T. W. Shannon, the talented author of this book, for some years, and we have watched his efforts with interest and admiration. A voluminous writer, a wide traveler, he has probably reached more people with his uplifting message of purity through his books and upon the platform than any other living man of the same age. His methods are never sensational and he does not stoop to uncovering all the cesspools of sin and vice, but he leads people upward by directing their minds and hearts to the beauty and rewards of pure living and right thinking. Through the strength of his personality and the profound truth in his message, he has helped thousands of college students and other young men to avoid the pitfalls which have brought disaster to so many young lives. By education and experience Prof. Shannon is eminently fitted to prepare just such a book as this and his authorship should at once entitle it to a high place among the standard works of the day dealing with these problems. As the volume has received my own endorsement, even so I trust it may be most cordially received into the homes of America, that our sons and our daughters may be fortified through the truth, presented in an attractive and safe and sane manner, against the temptations which constantly meet them; that human wrecks may be fewer, and that every life may have a fair chance to attain all for which it was created. B. S. STEADWELL. La Crosse, Wisconsin, December 18, 1912. CONTENTS FIRST DIVISION THE HOME CHAPTER PAGE I THE ESSENTIALS OF A HOME 15 II THE FATHER’S RELATION TO THE HOME 24 III THE MOTHER’S RELATION TO THE HOME 29 IV THE BOY’S RELATION TO THE HOME 34 V THE GIRL’S RELATION TO THE HOME 41 VI TRAINING AND GOVERNMENT IN THE HOME 47 SECOND DIVISION HOW TO TEACH SOCIAL PURITY AND SEX TRUTHS TO A CHILD VII THE RIGHT OF A CHILD TO A KNOWLEDGE OF SEX 63 VIII FIRST STORY--BABY PLANTS 87 IX SECOND STORY--BABY OYSTERS AND FISH 99 X THIRD STORY--BABY BIRDS 104 XI FOURTH STORY--BABY ANIMALS AND MAN 108 XII PRACTICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED 117 THIRD DIVISION HOW TO TEACH SOCIAL PURITY AND SEX TRUTHS TO A GIRL XIII A TALK TO MOTHERS 122 XIV MOTHER’S FIRST TALK--THE FEMALE FORM 130 XV MOTHER’S SECOND TALK--DAWNING OF WOMANHOOD 138 XVI MOTHER’S THIRD TALK--CHOOSING A CHUM 143