MARY CARPENTER. 109 



go to the Red Lodge she always breakfasted during 

 the winter months before daylight, and rushed off to 

 work as soon as ever the meal was over. Every 

 minute of the day had its allotted task, and rest and 

 food were quite subordinate affairs. 



Later Miss Carpenter must have discovered the 

 mistake of this kind of self-neglect, for she altered 

 her habits, and though still exceedingly simple in her 

 tastes, was most particular to take her meals at 

 regular and stated intervals. A lady who knew her 

 well three or four years before her death, in writing 

 about her said. " When with us she would see 

 friends all the morning, address a meeting in the 

 afternoon, and go out to dinner in the evening ; 

 but twice between times must come the fifteen 

 minutes' rest and the beef tea. One evening, when 

 two or three gentlemen had each an appointment 

 with her, she said to the first, after the business 

 part of his visit was ended, ' I think that is all you 

 need of me, sir ! ' and bowing to the puzzled man, 

 went to obtain a few minutes' rest before the arrival 

 of her next visitor. Afterwards speaking of it apolo- 

 getically, she said, ' I must do so, or I should ac- 

 complish nothing.' Another proof of her changed 

 habit is found in a letter to a friend who had just 

 attained her threescore and ten years. Miss Car- 

 penter says, ' You have, I hope, found out the secret 

 of preserving health, which keeps me well, viz., to 

 ascertain the measure of your strength and not to 



