268 EXERCISE AND REST. 



cheerful and lively, promotes digestion, and pro 

 cures us sound slumbers. 



Labour, which is only exercise of a severer kind, 

 is highly salutary to us. It makes the body strong 

 and robust, gives it firmness and tone, and pro- 

 longs life, by warding off those evils which flow 

 from idleness. 



Walking, running, leaping, riding, and perform 

 ing manual labour, are all proper for us ; and we 

 ought to diversify our studies and pursuits, if 

 sedentary, by devoting some part of every day to 

 them. We should, however, be careful not to 

 continue them too long or too violently ; as by 

 doing so, we exhaust our strength, and may injure 

 our health. 



Exercise is particularly advantageous to chil- 

 dren. At that time of life our feelings prompt us 

 to be always in motion; and this disposition should 

 not be checked. We observe the same thing in 

 the young of all animals; witness the playfulness 

 of kittens, and the sportive actions of the colt. 

 This is a wise ordination of Providence, and cal- 

 culated to encourage the growth of all our organs. 

 We are not then fit for any thing like labour, our 

 bodies not having attained sufficient strength for 

 continued exertion. 



We should generally avoid taking exercise im- 

 mediately after a full meal. The stomach is then 

 actively engaged in digestion, and violent motion 

 disturbs its operations, and is very apt to produce 

 nausea, or sickness. 



