SECTION XI. Early rising conducive to health and longevity. 1 The first sensation of drowsiness is nature's call for sleep. Waking shows the body is rested. After the degree of strength, of which the state of the system is capable, is restored by sleep, longer stay in bed only relaxes. He perverts reason, who, by habit or artificial excitement, keeps awake so late that he is not ready to rise at daybreak, nature's undoubted signal for quitting repose, obedience to which secures desire of rest at the fit hour. Some people close their shutters against it. 2 George III. consulted his household physicians, separately, as to the modes of life conducive to health and longevity; as to the importance of early rising, there was full coincidence. Old people, examined as to the cause of longevity, all agree that they have been in the habit of going to bed early and rising early. 3 We lose vigor by lying abed in health, longer than for necessary sleep; the mind is less tranquil, the body less disposed for refreshing sleep, appetite and digestion are lessened. Few things contribute so much to preserve health and prolong life, as going to bed early and rising early. Boston Medical Intelligencer. 4 It is a reprehensible practice, in many parents, to prevent their younger children from acquiring the pleasant habit of early rising, for the purpose of "keeping them out of the way in the morning." The habit of rising at daybreak or earlier during the winter season, and washing the face and hands with cold water, ought to be enjoined as an indispensible duty in every public school, or domestic nursery. 5 Rising early is not only a healthy and agreeable habit, and cheap, and easy to preserve, when once acquired, but profitable, and generally absolutely necessary to success in the pursuit of wealth, prosperity, and happiness. 6 Mr. John M'Leod, the proprietor and principal of the Central Academy, at Washington City, has given an example worthy of universal imitation, and demonstrated how easily children can be led into the path of duty by rewards and proper discipline. His pupils rise voluntarily and con stantly at day light or earlier. J. T. PART EIGHTH. POPE'S ESSAY ON MAN &c. CHAPTER I. AN ESSAY ON MAN; IN FOUR EPISTLES TO H. ST. JOHN, LORD BOLINGBROKE. то WHICH IS ADDED, THE UNIVERSAL BY ALEXANDER POPE, ESQ. PRAYER. EPISTLE I. Of the Nature and State of Man, with respect to the 1 AWAKE! my St. John! leave all meaner things 2 Together let us beat this ample field, 3 Say first, of God above, or man below, What can we reason, but from what we know; Of man what see we, but his station here, From which to reason, or to which refer? Through worlds unnumber'd, though the God be known, 'Tis ours to trace him only in our own. 4 He, who through vast immensity can pierce, 5 But of this frame, the bearings and the ties, The strong connexions, nice dependencies, Gradations just, has thy pervading soul Look'd through? Or, can a part contain the whole? In human works, though labour'd on with pain, Yet serves to second too some other use. 7 When the proud steed shall know why man restrains 8 Then say not, man's imperfect, Heav'n in fault; If to be perfect in a certain sphere, What matter soon or late, or here or there? As who began a thousand years ago. 9 Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate, The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Atoms or systems into ruin hurl'd, And now a bubble burst, and now a world. 11 Hope humbly then; with trembling pinions soar : Wait the great teacher, death, and God adore! What future bliss, he gives not thee to know, But gives that hope to be thy blessing now. Hope springs eternal in the human breast: 12 Lo! the poor Indian, whose untutor'd mind He asks no angel's wings, no seraph's fire; 13 Go, wiser thou! and in thy scale of sense 14 În pride, in reas'ning pride, our error lies; 15 Ask for what end the heavenly bodies shine, Earth for whose use ? Pride answers, ""Tis for mine: "For me kind Nature wakes her genial power, "Suckles each herb, and spreads out every flower; "Annual for me, the grape, the rose renew "The juice nectareous, and the balmy dew; "For me, the mine a thousand treasures brings; "For me, health gushes from a thousand springs; "Seas roll to waft me, suns to light me rise; "My footstool earth, my canopy the skies." 16 But errs not Nature from this gracious end, From burning suns when livid deaths descend, When earthquakes swallow, or when tempests sweep Towns to one grave, whole nations to the deep? "No ('tis reply'd) the first Almighty Cause "Acts not by partial, but by general laws; Z "Th' exceptions few; some change since all began: 18 Better for us, perhaps it might appear, 19 What would this man? now upward will he soar, Shall he alone, whom rational we call, Be pleas'd with nothing, if not blest with all? 21 The bliss of man (could pride that blessing find) Is, not to act or think beyond mankind; No pow'rs of body or of soul to share, But what his nature and his state can bear. Why has not man a microscopic eye? For this plain reason-man is not a fly. 22 Say what the use, were finer optics giv'n, |