salutary exercise, you amuse yourself with books, pamphlets, or newspapers, which commonly are not worth the reading. Yet you eat an inordinate breakfast: four dishes of tea, with cream, one or two buttered toasts, with slices of hung beef; which I fancy are not things the most easily digested. 4. Immediately afterwards, you sit down to write at your lesk, or converse with persons who apply to you on business Thus the time passes till one, without any kind of bodily ex ercise. But all this I could pardon, in regard, as you say, to your sedentary condition; but what is your practice after dinner? Walking in the beautiful gardens of those friends with whom you have dined would be the choice of men of sense; yours is to be fixed down to chess, where you are found engaged for two or three hours. 5. This is your perpetual recreation: the least eligible of any for a sedentary man, because, instead of accelerating the motion of the fluids, the rigid attention it requires helps to retard the circulation and obstruct internal secretions. Wrapt in the speculations of this wretched game, you destroy your constitution. What can be expected from such a course of living but a body replete with stagnant humors, ready to fall a prey to all kinds of dangerous maladies, if I, the Gout, did not occasionally bring you relief by agitating those humors, and so purifying or dissipating them? Fie, then, Mr. Franklin! But, amidst my instructions, I had almost forgot to administer my wholesome corrections; so take that twinge, and that. 6. Franklin. Oh! Eh! Oh! Oh! As much instruction as you please, Madam Gout, and as many reproaches; but pray, Madam, a truce with your corrections ! Gout. No, sir, no; I will not abate a particle of what is so much for your good, therefore— Franklin. Oh! Eh! It is not fair to say I take no exer cise, when I do, very often, go out to dine, tad return in my carriage. 7. Gout. That, of all imaginable exercises, is the most slight and insignificant, if you allude to the motion of a car riage suspended on springs. By observing the degree of neat obtained by different kinds of motion, we may form an estimate of the quantity of exercise given by each. Thus, for example, if you turn out to walk in winter with cold feet, in an hour's time you will be in a glow all over; ride on horseback, the same effect will scarcely be perceived by four hours' round trotting; but if you loll in a carriage, such as you have mentioned, you may travel all day, and gladly enter the last inn to warm your feet by a fire. 8. Flatter yourself, then, no longer, that half an hour's airing in your carriage deserves the name of exercise. Providence has appointed few to roll in carriages, while he has given to all a pair of legs, which are machines infinitely more commodious and serviceable. Be grateful, then, and make a proper use of yours. 98. MAGNANIMITY OF A CHRISTIAN EMPEROR. SOHLEGEL. FREDERIO VON SCHLEGEL was born in 1772; died in 1829. Schlegel was one of the most distinguished writers of Germany-as a poet, critic, essayist, and historian. In 1808 he became a Catholic. For many years of his life, in connection with his brother, Augustus William, he was engaged in the publication of the "Athenæum," a critical journal, which did much towards establishing a more independent spirit in German literature.—Cyclopedia of Biography. 1. AFTER the downfall of the Carlovingian family, the empire was restored to its pristine vigor by the election of the noble Conrad, duke of the Franconians. This pious, chival rous, wise, and valiant monarch, had to contend with many difficulties, and fortune did not always smile upon his efforts. But he terminated his royal career with a deed, which alone exalts him far above other celebrated conquerors and rulers and was attended with more important consequences to aftertimes, than have resulted from many brilliant reigns; and this single deed, which forms the brightest jewel in the crown of glory that adorns those ages, so clearly reveals the true nature of Christian principles of government, and the Christian idea of political power, that I may be permitted to notice it briefly. 2. When he felt his end approaching, and perceived that of the four principal German nations, the Saxons alone, by their superior power, were capable of bringing to a successful issue the mighty struggle in which all Europe was at that critical period involved, he bade his brother carry to Henry, duke of Saxony, hitherto the rival of his house, and who was as magnanimous as fortunate, the holy lance and consecrated sword of the ancient kings, with all the other imperial insignia. He thus pointed him out as the successor of his own choice, and in his regard for the general weal, and in his anxiety to maintain a great pacific power capable of defending the common interests of Christendom, he disregarded the suggestions of national vanity, and sacrificed even the glory of his own house. 3. So wise and judicious, as well as heroic, a sacrifice of all selfish glory, for what the interests of society and the necessi ties of the times evidently demanded, is that principle which forms the very foundation, and constitutes the true spirit, of all Christian governments. And by this very deed Conrad became, after Charlemagne, the second restorer of the western empire, and the real founder of the German nation; for it was this noble resolve of his great soul, which alone saved the Germanic body from a complete dismemberment. The event fully justified his choice. The new king, Henry, victorious on every side, labored to build a great number of cities, to restore the reign of peace and justice, and to maintain the purity of Christian manners and Christian institutions; and prepared for his mightier son, the great. Otho, the restoration of the Christian empire in Italy, whither the latter was loudly and unanimously called. 99. THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. AGNES. DE VERE. SIR AUBREY DE VERE-an English poet of the present day, has written ▲ volume of beautiful poems, distinguished by their true spirit of Cathosie devotion. Angels. 1. BEARING lilies in our bosom, Holy Agnes, we have flown Mission'd from the Heaven of Heavens Agnes. 2. Bearing lilies far before you, Whose fresh odors, backward blown, Angels. 8. Unto us the boon was given; Like an incense-grain was laid. Agnes . I am here, a mortal maiden; If our Father aught hath said, Angels. 5. Agnes, there is joy in Heaven; 6. Agnes, from the depth of Heaven When a Christian lies expiring, Angel choirs, with plumes outspread, That, when Death's mild sleep is filed Agnes. & Am I dreaming, blessed angels? ye floated two in one; Late Now, a thousand radiant spirits Lilies, as they wind extending, 9. See! th' horizon's ring they circle; Float like mist and flash like dew. 10 They are rising! they are rising! |