1. A COLONEL" showed to his officers, who were dining with him, a new and very beautiful golden snuff-box. After a while he wanted to take a pinch of snuff, and, feeling in all his pockets, said, with surprise," "Where is my box? Do just see, gentlemen, if any of you has put it into his pocket in a fit of absence of mind." 2. They all stood up immediately, and turned their pockets inside out, without the snuff-box being discovered."1 An ensign only remained sitting, and he, with evident embarrassment, said, "I cannot turn my pocket out: my word of honor that I have not got the box ought to be sufficient." 3. The officers went away, exchanging nods with one another, and each looking upon him as the thief. The following day the colonel had him sent for, and said, "The box has been found; there was a hole in my pocket, and it got in between the lining. But now tell me why you refused to show your pocket, as all the rest of the company did." 69 4. The ensign answered: "To you alone, colonel, can I willingly tell it. My parents are poor; I, therefore," give them half my pay; and I eat nothing hot at my dinner. When I was invited by you, I had already got my dinner in my pocket; and I should have felt ashamed if, in turning out my pocket, a slice of black bread and a sausage had fallen out." 5. The colonel exclaimed, in delight, "You are a very good son! and, in order that you may support your parents more easily, you shall dine at my table every day." He then invited all the officers to an entertainment, assured them all of the ensign's innocence, and handed to him, for a testimony of his esteem, the golden snuff-box as a present. 6. I must confess I should have liked the ensign better, however, if he had manfully turned out his pocket, and not felt any mortification in doing it, so long as he knew that he had done nothing wrong or mean. Never be afraid of being known to submit to poor fare and poor attire, so long as it is in a good cause, and consistent with your ability. VI. THE SENSES. 1. SAY, what is it, Eyes, ye see? 122 These we see, and for the sight heard? 2. Tell me, Ears, what have ye These and morel15 an entrance find To the chambers of the mind." 3. Tell me, busy Hands, I pray, What ye're doing through the day? -- We are servants to the will.” . 1. BODILY exercise, especially in the open air, is of the greatest importance to health. It produces hunger and thirst," assists.100 in digesting what we eat and drink, and renders it useful to the body; it purifies the blood, and keeps up a healthy action in all the organs; it gives us sweet and wholesome sleep. 2. The exercise of any particular limb does littlo In order to besides improving the strength of that limb. increase our general" strength, the whole frame must be brought into exercise. 3. The blacksmith, by wielding his hammer, increases the muscular volume and strength of his right arm only;36 body derive any advantage from his or, if the rest of his exercise, it is through the general movement which the wielding of a hammer occasions. 44 112 4. One whose profession consists100 in dancing70 or leaping, for the same reason, chiefly improves the muscles112 of his legs. The right hand of most persons, by being more frequently employed than the left, becomes sensibly larger, as well as stronger. 5. In order, then, to maintain in a sound state the energies which nature has given us, and, still more particularly, to increase their amount, we must exercise them. If we desire to have a strong limb, we must exercise that limb; if we desire that the whole of our frame should be sound and strong, we must exercise the whole of our frame. 43 6. Exercise should never be too violent, or too long continued. It may then be hurtful. If excessive exertion be indulged in, the vital powers of the part are exhausted, and a loss of energy, instead of a gain, will be the consequence. 7. When we have been taking a good deal of exercise, or have worked so industriously that we are over-heated, and perspire very freely, it is dangerous to sit in a draught of air, or to drink very cold water; because by so doing we produce too sudden a change in the body, and by this means endanger health, and even life. 46 8. The air that we breathe should be fresh, pure, and dry, Have you never felt unwell when you have remained some time in a small room with a great number of persons, especially if neither doors nor windows were open ?118 Air that has been once drawn into the lungs and then breathed out, becomes deprived of its health-giving virtue. Bad, impure air, if breathed for a length of time, will often bring on the worst diseases. ΕΙ 9. When a number of persons sleep together in a small room, and they neglect the means of ventilation, the air becomes foul and injurious. Each individual is constantly throwing off impurities from the lungs into the room. What should be done? The door or window should be left open, if there is no other way of keeping the air fresh. 30 10. The effect is still worse, if, in a room, besides the breath of a number of people, there is smoke from lamps or candles, or the burning of gas. In such cases, we are not only liable to be made sick, but are sometimes almost suffocated. Frequently death is produced from the gas of charcoal, where there is no way for it to escape up the chimney or out of the window. 35 11. The blood receives from the air certain parts that are necessary to alter it, and fit it for circulation through the body; but it cannot receive those parts unless fresh air has been drawn into the lungs. If the air is not pure, it fails to improve the blood; it is much more apt to do harm than good. For this reason, it is impossible to feel well any length of time in a place where the virtue of the air has been exhausted by the number of persons breathing it. 12. People who live in swampy districts, where vast quantities of vegetable matter are constantly decaying, are subject to ague, and other troublesome and dangerous disorders. This is owing to their breathing damp and impure air. A collection of stagnant water on the surface of the ground will often breed fevers, which spread through a large neighborhood. 13. Neither men, nor animals, nor vegetables, can live, if the air which surrounds them be not constantly renewed." A plant confined in a glass case soon dies; and instances have been known where a number of men, shut up in a small, close dungeon, have perished, after dreadful sufferings. VIII. THE CALIPH AND THE WEAVER. ΕΙ ΕΙ 1. A CALIPH, who once reigned in Bagdad, built a palace renowned for beauty and mag-nif-i-cence. Near its entrance stood an old and ruinous cottage, the humble dwelling of a poor weaver. 112 40 2. There, contented with the trifling returns of his daily labor, the old weaver tranquilly passed his time, free from debt and anxiety, envying nobody, and envied by none." 3. As his abode fronted the royal mansion, the vizier wished at once, without cĕr-emony, to have the hovel pulled down; but the caliph commanded that its value should first" be offered to the owner. 4. Ac-cord-ing-ly, the weaver was visited by the vizier, who tried, by offering him gold, to persuade him to give up his hab-i-ta-tion. แ 5. "No; keep your money," the poor man replied. "My labor at the loom places me beyond want, and as to my house, I cannot part with it. Here I was born, here my father breathed his last mortal breath, and here I hope to breathe mine." 6. "But," said the vizier, angrily, "your miserable hut is too near to the caliph's palace. It offends the eye; and, if you obstinately refuse to give it up, you shall be turned out without the money I now offer." 36 7. "The caliph can, if he pleases," said the weaver, "drive me away and destroy" my home; but, if he does so, he will behold me every morning seated on its last stone, and weeping at my misery. I know that his generous heart would be touched at my desolation." 8. This language provoked the vizier to wrath. He returned to his master, the caliph, and asked permission to punish the rash cottager, and level" his humble abode instantly to the ground. 9. But the caliph said, "At my cost let the cottage be repaired; my glory will live with its continuance. Look |