CHAPTER XXV 



REST AND SLEEP 



"You must not burn the candle at both ends/' is a 

 caution often heard. In other words, work and play 

 must be followed by sufficient rest and sleep, or serious 

 consequences will result. During sleep the brain and 

 all other parts of the body rest and regain lost strength. 

 Therefore, if we do not sleep enough, the body cannot 

 be in its best condition, for it has not had a chance 

 to get fully rested. 



But how much sleep is necessary? That depends 

 on one's age and various other conditions. A very 

 little baby usually sleeps a large part of the day. 

 Growing children need from fifteen to nine hours daily, 

 the number decreasing as age advances. Adults should 

 sleep from eight to ten hours. Provided our bedtime 

 is early enough, it is a safe rule to sleep as long as we 

 are naturally inclined. If we awake fully refreshed and 

 rested in a shorter time than is ordinarily needed, that 

 period is sufficient. However, it is very unwise to 

 decide, after a short experiment, that we can get along 

 well on an unusually small number of hours' sleep. 

 While for a time there might be no serious consequences 



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