duction of animal heat. The co-operation of the nervous system is necessary to its production.

EDITH.

And the mind has a very important influence over the nerves.

MRS. F.

As I told you with regard to the muscles, they require a mental stimulus, and this is also equally necessary to the production of animal heat; for grief, anxiety of mind, and sedentary meditation, weaken the bodily powers; cause the lungs to breathe slowly; make the circulation languid; and thus impair the animal heat. The extremities suffer first, and the feet will, of course, be the coldest.

GRACE.

I suppose, on the contrary, that cheerful exertion and pleasing emotions give a glow of heat to the whole frame, and enable the body to withstand the external cold.

Exactly so.

MRS. F.

There is another thing which much impairs the bodily heat—that is, bad digestion.

EDITH.

That accounts for Miss Smith's feeling the cold so much more before breakfast.

MRS. F.

Chilliness is generally complained of by invalids. Miss Smith leads such a life of indolence, that she increases the natural delicacy of her constitution. Exercise augments bodily heat, while indolence obstructs it, and all the animal functions. I have, I hope, impressed this beautiful law of Nature on you -that by doing good to one organ, we benefit all.

GRACE.

Unlike the laws which man frames; for I heard

Papa talking to a friend of laws made to benefit one class of men, proving very hurtful to another class.

MRS. F.

No laws can be good which are not in accordance with God's law of "do unto others as you would that others should do unto you." But, alas! man is both blind and selfish. I would have you well acquainted with the only perfect laws; in the words of Ecclesiastes, " to seek out wisdom and the reason of things-to know the wickedness of folly." My time draws to a close; but I must just tell you "that if suitable clothing does not keep the body warm, we may infer, although no other sign of bad health should appear, that there is some internal cause that impairs the proper production of animal heat. It is a symptom that all is not right, and until the cause is discovered and removed, the evil will continue undiminished. Comfortable warmth should be sought for by free respiration in the open air, plenty of exercise out of doors, and a contented and actively employed mind.”

CONVERSATION XI.

MRS. F.

I have only a few more words to say to you on the Lungs-that judicious exercise is the best method of strengthening them and of warding off disease. There are two modes of exercising the lungs-indirect and direct. They are exercised indirectly by muscular exertion, which causes quicker and deeper breathing. Rowing, fencing, quoits, archery, and shuttlecock, are all excellent modes of expanding the lungs by indirect exercise. The lungs are used directly by speaking, reading aloud, reciting, and singing. This direct exercise is of great consequence, and may be for good or for evil. Properly managed it gives tone and health to them; but ill-timed, or carried to excess, it is most detrimental. As the direct exercise requires great exertion, it ought to be used with prudence, according to the health and constitution of the person. When used early, and steadily persevered in, it may ward off disease; but, begun suddenly, and carried to excess, it is most injurious. Thus many young clergymen begin by preaching without any preparation, and they often suffer from pains in the chest and the spitting of blood; whereas, had they accustomed their lungs gradually to the task, it might have been a source of strength to them. A young lady, a niece of mine, might

take warning by Nature's slow and sure steps. When she first began singing, she wanted to practice all day long.

EDITH.

I see my error very plainly, dear Aunt; but it is very difficult, I assure you, to control my impatient temper, and confine myself to a jog-trot pace. Grace read me yesterday, for my edification, a Turkish proverb, that "hurry comes from the Devil, and slow advancing from Allah."

Yes, especially if the mind is in pursuit of some agreeable object. At De Fellenberg's school, near Berne, the boys are allowed holidays to make tours about the mountains in search of plants, minerals, &c. I myself have found, when making excursions over the Swiss mountains, that I grew stronger every day. This was to be attributed to passing the whole day in such a fine, clear, bracing air, to the exercise of the muscles, and the agreeable excitement of mind caused by the beautiful scenery. You will be surprised to hear that I walked one day nine miles, and felt less fatigue than I find from four or five miles here. The safest of all exercise for the lungs, is riding on horseback. Even people, whose lungs are not quite sound, may take that exercise with advantage. You will smile when I tell you that, as direct exercise, the crying and sobbing of children is good for their lungs; unless they cry from illness, and then crying is carried to an unusual extent.

EDITH.

Well, certainly, there is "good in everything," even in such disagreeable sounds as the squalling of infants.

MRS. F.

It is very cruel to make children silent in their plays-to control the natural noise and glee of the youthful. It is not only cruel, but contrary to God's laws-he has made activity and noise conducive to their health.

GRACE.

But noisy and romping children are very troublesome.

MRS. F.

They are so but there is a time for every thing; and this they can be easily taught. In the drawingroom, I would have them quiet; but, out of doors, the world is large enough-let them romp and shout to their heart's content.

GRACE.

In a common cold, are the lungs affected?

MRS. F.

Yes, even in a common cold, which is a very bad thing, though we call it " only a cold." In the active stages of a common cold, all exercise which hurries the breathing, ought to be avoided-speaking, reading, and singing particularly, being direct exercises, are then most hurtful. I have told you, that when a joint is inflamed, motion retards its recovery. When the eye is affected, we shut out the light; and, therefore, when the lungs are affected, we should also give them rest, to recover. How often people with a bad cold cannot speak without coughing. However, I will once more advise you not to treat disease yourself; when you are ill, seek a doctor's advice.

EDITH.

But to ward off disease is a great thing, Aunt