average, made so great an effort as seriously to impair his health for the time.  Another case of a boy, who was frequently into some daring scheme of house-climbing or leaping, sought the crest of a cliff, some thirty feet, and, to astonish his companions, essayed the feat of flying; and, though he flew well enough, the lighting proved too much, since, as he struck the ground, both his legs were broken short off.  We cite these various instances, coming within the range of boys’ sports, for the purpose of warning others from attempting excesses.  Leaping, running, climbing, are well enough in their way, and may be practiced in perfect safety, as millions of boys have practiced them with no detriment, but absolute advantage.  Care should be exercised, and counsel given, to beware of the danger of going to extremes.  The race over the meadows for the cows; hoeing in the garden or field; sawing or cutting wood for the fire; riding the horse to mill; a walk to the village post-office; holding plow; raking hay; the most of which are charming things to do, and just what boys should do to become strong and capable men.

The renowned of any age usually come from humble life, in which character, both physical and mental, has had opportunity for development.  Washington was a farmer’s boy; so were Adams, Jefferson, Putnam, Jackson, Webster, Clay, Douglas, Lincoln, and Raymond, of the past; and Grant, Sherman, Trumbull, Emerson, Bryant, Buckingham, and Greeley, of the present; while nine out of every ten of successful lives in any department of labor have come from the fields of country life.

Gymnasiums offer a very good substitute for outdoor exercise; and if practice in them is at all times controlled by a careful judgment, the result is undoubted benefit.  Indeed, the lung power of an individual can be more rapidly enlarged here than elsewhere, since exercise is here adapted and may be directed solely to that end.  However, one may not require for this purpose anything beyond a simple and inexpensive apparatus, consisting of a cross-bar and a pair of rings attached to some point above, with just room enough to swing the person clear of the floor.

SLEEP

is the “sweet restorer,” and invisible physician, playing an important part in the restoration and maintenance of health.  Without this daily dying, as we are constituted, there could be no daily living; and whatever promotes sound, natural, balmy slumber is beyond all price in the economy of life.  Chief among these promptings to restful slumber are a clear conscience, proper exercise, a suitable diet, and place.  All but the latter have been considered.  One-third of the whole time of life is spent in bed.  Suppose an individual has attained the age of seventy-five years, twenty-five of this, on the average, have been passed in sleeping!  How essential, then, it becomes to understand and to have every help which can be afforded, in securing the required rest our wearing frames demand.