CHAPTER III 

 HOW JACK'S WONDERFUL HOUSE BUILDS ITSELF 



A MOST curious thing about Jack's Wonderful House 

 is that it builds itself. True, it must have certain 

 materials in the right proportion and at the proper 

 time. When furnished with these, however, the 

 structure it produces is stronger and more beautiful 

 than the best architect can plan, or the most skilful 

 carpenter construct. What are these materials ? They 

 are nourishing food, pure air, and fresh, pure water. 



An introduction to ' any of the three will not, of 

 course, be necessary; but many of us need to get 

 very much better acquainted with all of them. Too 

 many people know food as something eaten at meals 

 or at other times chiefly because of hunger. The 

 amount taken at a particular meal often depends upon 

 its taste. Many do not know or stop to think whether 

 what is eaten will help or hinder the growth of their 

 bodies. 



How incompetent we should think a carpenter 

 who used his building materials so unwisely ! If he 

 used pine where a great deal of oak was necessary, 

 to give the building strength and durability, what 

 poor houses he would construct ! If he should make 



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