250 CHANGES OF THE HUMAN BODY 



completely hardened, and our muscles capable oi 

 powerful exertion. We can carry heavy weights, 

 and go through a great deal of labour or of active 

 sport. We are sent from home to acquire know- 

 ledge, for during this part of our lives the mind is 

 active and inquisitive, and it is our duty to store it 

 with useful information, so as to fit us for perform- 

 ing our public and private duties. We now begin 

 to mix with our seniors, and occasionally to enter 

 into conversation with them, as we can think, comr 

 pare, and recollect. Our growth is still going on, 

 but less actively than before, and most of our 

 organs and functions are perfect. 



Again a few brief years, and we are men, mix- 

 ing with the world, and probably removed from 

 our parental roof. The body is full grown and 

 vigorous ; the complexion darker ; the voice deeper 

 and more powerful ; the muscles larger and firmer ; 

 the bones increased in thickness ; and the mental 

 faculties quite mature. The whole body has the 

 appearance of ripeness, and its shape is rounded 

 and well defined. We are now masters of our 

 own actions, and responsible agents, and in most 

 cases dependent on our own exertions for support. 

 Our character becomes more grave, and from the 

 constant occasion we have for exercising the judg- 

 ment, we think more, and lose our fondness for 

 many of those active exercises which delighted us 

 in earlier life. 



But a short time, and another change comes over 

 us. We become old ; we lose the firm step and 



