LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 285 



now concentrated into the greatest possible inten- 

 sity, like rays of light into a focus ; and directed, 

 with almost complete exclusiveness, towards this 

 simple object. 



In the day, therefore, we make blood ; in the 

 night, that blood is converted into solid matter. 

 In the day, we garner up the building materials ; 

 in the night, we repair the building. The hour of 

 rising, therefore, ought to be the time at which our 

 physical strength is at the greatest ; and, with per- 

 fectly healthy persons, this is the case. The languor 

 which sickly persons feel in the morning arises 

 from the process of repair not having been fully 

 accomplished : the building has not been repaired, 

 and therefore its strength has not been restored. 

 The apparent additional strength which is felt, 

 during the day, after eating, is only apparent; it 

 is merely excitement derived from the stimulus of 

 food; in the first instance, in the stomach; and, 

 after that food has been assimilated, of new blood 

 in the system. 



From all this, we learn two important truths : 

 first, that we should take our severest exercise in 

 the early part of the day : secondly, we learn how 

 and why it is that late suppers are improper. 

 When you retire to bed with a full stomach, before 



