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266 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR. 
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tion in Jerusalem, explaining the conversion of the Gentiles, 
said: “God made no difference between us and them, puntying 
their hearts by faith;’’ and the wise man says: ‘‘ Keep thy 
heart with all diligence, for out ofit are the issues of life.” A 
good heart then, or a love of the good and beautiful, is the 
essential of a happy and prosperous life even in this world, while 
it is indispensable to that which is tocome. Next to caretul- 
ness in following the right path, we should avoid running after 
the fashions and pleasures or vanities of the world, which are 
destructive to health and happiness. Smoking narcotic tobacco 
is one custom which we would condemn. We often see a 
boy with a pipe in his mouth. Where has he learned this 
filthy habit? Probably from his father, who may be hypo- 
critical enough to thrash his son for doing what his own 
example has taught him. Or see the young lady putting a vice 
round the most important organs of her body in the shape of 
tight-laced stays. Let every mother who wishes her daughter 
to grow up healthy, and in time gave birth to healthy children, 
not only persuade, but, if needful, use her authority to prevent 
this outrage on the female form. Some customs have been so 
much exposed, and so far banished, that we need only mention 
them to warn against a revival, viz., low-bodied dresses, where 
the chest 1s exposed, and thin shoes, or more properly slippers, 
used on damp streets. Late parties, balls, theatres, &c., 
have not only sent thousands to an untimely grave, but have 
augmented the sum of human suffering in the weak offspring 
of mothers. who never took to heart the Apostle’s warning 
that “ she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” 
As we have already extended this chapter as far as our limits will 
reasonably allow, let us, for the sake of impressing it on the 
mind and making it better remembered, give a few numbered 
directions, realising the fact that it is more easy to give advice 
than to take it. 
1. Begin and continue the practice of early rising. The 
old scale of sleeping hours are not too stinted. For 
infants and young children as much as they can ; fora man, 
six or seven hours; for a woman, eight hours, or one less may 
