ing ten days when I began, instead of being lively and cheerful as before, to become uneasy and dejected, a burden to myself and to others. On the twelfth day I was seized with a pain in my side, which lasted twenty-four hours, and this was followed by a fever which continued with so much violence for thirty-five days that my life was despaired of; but, by the blessing of God, and my former temperate mode of life, I recovered, and now, in my eighty-third year, I enjoy a happy state both of body and mind. 9. "I can mount my horse without assistance; I climb steep hills; and I have lately written a play abounding in innocent wit and humor. When I return from a private company, or the senate, I find eleven grandchildren, whose education, amusement, and songs, are the delight of my old age. I often sing with them, for my voice is now clearer and stronger than it ever was in my youth; and I am a stranger to those peevish1 and morose5 humors which fall so often to the lot of old age." In this happy disposition the wise and virtuous Cornaro attained to his hundredth year, but his example has seldom, if ever, been imitated. 1 PÄR-TIC'-I-PA-TING, taking part in; par-4 PEE'-VISH, fretful. taking. 5 MO-ROSE', sour; sullen. 2 DIS-SI-PA'-TION, a dissolute or intemper-6 HU'-MORS, peculiarities of temper or dis. ate course of life. position. 3 DIS'-LO-CA-TED, put out of joint. LESSON XI. ADVANTAGES OF TEMPERANCE IN DIET. HITCHCOCK. 1. TEMPERANCE promotes clearness and vigor of intellect. If the brain be not in a healthy and vigorous state, equally unhealthy and inefficient must be the mind also. History will bear us out in asserting, that the highest and most successful intellectual1 efforts have ever been associated with the practice of those general principles of temperance in diet for which we plead. 2. It is the mighty minds that have grappled most successfully with the demonstrations2 of mathematical, intellectual, and moral science, that stand highest on the scale of mental acumen3 and power; and it is such minds that have found strict temperance in diet essential to their success. Let us advert to the history of a few of the master spirits of the human race. 3. Foremost on the list stands that eminent philosopher and mathematician, Sir Isaac Newton. The treatise of his, that cost him the mightiest intellectual effort of all his works, was composed while the body was sustained by bread and water alone. And in spite of the wear and tear of such protracted and prodigious mental labor as his, that same temperance sustained him to his eighty-fifth year. 4. That celebrated intellectual philosopher, John Locke, with a feeble constitution,5 outlived the term of threescore years and ten, by his temperance. "To this temperate mode of life, too, he was probably indebted for the increase of those intellectual powers, which gave birth to his great work on the human understanding, his treatises on government and education, as well as his other writings, which do so much honor to his memory." 5. Another intellectual philosopher, who saw fourscore years, was the venerable Kant. "By this commendable and healthy practice," early rising, says his biographer, "daily exercise on foot, temperance in eating and drinking, constant employment, and cheerful company, he protracted his life to this advanced period;" and we may add, acquired the power for his immense labors of mind. 6. Few men have more fully established their claims to intellectual superiority of a very high grade than that American theologian, President Edwards. But it was temperance alone that could carry him through such powerful mental efforts. "Though of a delicate constitution, by the rules of temperance he enjoyed good health, and was enabled to pursue his studies thirteen hours a day." 7. The same means enabled the great German reformer, Martin Luther, though his days were stormy in the extreme, to make the moral world bend at his will, and to leave for his posterity so many profound literary productions. "It often happened," says his biographer, "that for several days and nights he locked himself up in his study, and took no other nourishment than bread and water, that he might the more uninterruptedly pursue his labors." 8. The records of English jurisprudence contain scarcely a name more distinguished than that of Sir Matthew Hale. And it is the testimony of history, that "his decided piety and rigid temperance laid him open to the attacks of ridicule; but he could not be moved." In eating and drinking, he observed not only great plainness and moderation, but lived so philosophically that he always ended his meal with an appe tite. 9. Perhaps no man has accomplished more for the world than he who has written such a commentary on the Scriptures as that of Matthew Henry. And it is, indeed, an immense literary labor. But the biographer's account of that writer's habits shows that temperance and diligence were the secret of his success. 10. Few men have accomplished more than the distinguished Methodist divine, John Wesley; and it is gratifying to learn that it was "extraordinary temperance which gave him the power to do so much, and to live so long." 11. In reading the poetical works of Milton, we are not so much delighted with the play of imagination, as with the rich and profound views which he opens before us. The fact is, he was a man of powers and attainments so great as justly to be classed among the leading intellects of the world. Nor were such powers and attainments disjoined from temperance. 12. Europe, as well as America, has been filled with the fame of Franklin, the philosopher; and no less wide spread is the history of his temperance. Early in life he adopted a vegetable diet; and thus he not only gained time for study, but "I made the greater progress," says he, "from that greater clearness of head and quickness of apprehension which generally attend temperance in eating and drinking." The habit of being contented with a little, and disregarding the gratifications of the palate, remained with him through life. 1 IN-TEL-LĚCT'-U-AL, pertaining to the mind 5 CON-STI-TU-TION, bodily system; the huor intellect. man body itself. 2 DEM-ON-STRA'-TION, the act of stating and 6 THREE'-SCORE, a score is twenty. proving truths. 7 JU-RIS-PRÛ'-DENCE, the science of law. 3 A-CU'-MEN, quickness of mind; readiness.8 DIS-JOINED', separated from. * TREAT'-ISE (treet'-is), a written work. 9 PAL'-ATE, taste; the appetite. LESSON XII. THE CONFESSION. BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE. 1. There's somewhat on my breast', father' 2. 'Tis not the lack of gold', father', .2 My lands are broad and fair to see, 2. 'Tis not that Janet's false', father', 1 FAIN, gladly; with joy or pleasure. 2 GEAR, clothing; ornaments; possessions. 3 LEAL (Scottish), faithful. 14 CON-FOUND-ED, that which ought to be condemned. 5 "I've eat," a poetic license for "I have eaten." Temperance is the best physic. The best physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merry man. Diet cures more than the lancet. LESSON XIII. THE ORGANS OF CIRCULATION AND OF RESPIRATION: THE HEART, ARTERIES, CAPILLARIES, VEINS, and Lungs. 1. NEAR the centre of the upper portion of the body, but a little on the left side, is the heart, the great working engine which sends the blood to all portions of the system, to do its work of building up and keeping in repair the house we live in. We have given a brief account of the formation of the blood-the material which the heart uses; and we now proceed to describe the manner in which this building and repairing process is carried on. 2. We will commence by informing you that your heart, a drawing of which we place before you, is a strong muscular organ, but little larger than your fist, and containing four cavities. The upper cavity on the right side, which is called the right auricle,1 receives the blood from the body through a number of large veins; this auricle then contracts2 by the power of its muscles, and forces the blood into the cavity below it, called the right ventricle.3 The right ventricle then contracts and sends the blood to the lungs; the left auricle, which is the upper cavity on the left side of the heart, receives the blood back from the lungs, and forces it into the left ventricle below it; and the left ventricle forces the blood through the arteries all over the body. 3. This is a very brief explanation of the labor which the heart has to perform in circulating the blood. But now let us trace the course which the blood takes, from the time when it is received from the body into the right auricle until it has performed its round of circulation and gets back again; then we shall begin to realize what a curious and wonderful piece of machinery these circulating and breathing organs are. 4. When the blood is received into the right auricle of the heart it is of a dark color, and full of the waste and impure particles which it has received from all parts of the body. If this impure blood should be sent in this condition throughout the body, death would very soon be the result. The |