hours should be spent, in order that "tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep" may perform its full and perfect mission?

It is much easier to answer this question negatively than affirmatively. It is much easier, at any time, to tell what we should not do, than to say what it is desirable we should do. The world is full of Thou shalt nots. In the present case, however, perhaps a few negatives are nearly all that can reasonably be expected.

First. We should not sit, during the evening, around a very hot fire; or, indeed, in a very hot room, even though there should be no fireplace in it. Secondly. There should be no eating of nuts, condiments, fruits, oysters; or drinking of cider, wine, beer, tea, or coffee. Thirdly. There should be no exciting company, nor any very exciting books or papers.

Willich says that to read interesting letters received late in the evening, usually occasions an unquiet sleep. He also adds, what is almost equally pertinent that the mind ought to be serene and cheerful previous to going to rest; we should, therefore, as much as possible, avoid gloomy thoughts which require reflection and exertion. It is, also, a pernicious and dangerous practice to read ourselves asleep in bed.

This advice is of the highest importance. As to the practice of reading ourselves to sleep in bed, it is, as it is commonly managed, so dangerous that I had not thought it necessary to speak of its unquiet tendencies, or even to mention it at all. He who knows how many precious lives have been lost in this way will be cautious about indulging in it.

All meetings, except the occasional enlargement of the family circle for social cheer, seem to me undesirable at

these hours, especially all crowded meetings. It were far better that meetings of the latter description should be attended in the afternoon. If they are not of sufficient consequence to induce an attendance in the afternoon, the question may fairly be raised whether we ought not to omit them altogether. There is, however, one other resort. Meetings for scientific and religious purposes have been held in the morning, and, if necessary, could be again.

A thousand frivolous objections would immediately spring up, I know, in most minds, to such a suggestion. But they might almost all be resolved into one word inconvenience. The strongest, that we have not the time, may be met by saying that an hour is no longer in the morning than in the evening. That it is worth more I grant; but is not this a strong reason which benevolence might urge, why we should give it to social or religious purposes to our fellow-men or to the Lord? Shall we continue to give to God and others that which is almost good for nothing to ourselves?

Some of the most spirited and permanent meetings for prayer I have ever known were held in the morning. One in Taunton, Massachusetts, was kept up without intermission many years. Scientific lectures have also been delivered successfully in the morning; as at Portland, Maine, and other places.

Thus far I have spoken as if I were almost or quite unable to answer, in an affirmative manner, how the evening hours ought to be spent. There is one species of social meeting, however, which, it must be obvious on the barest inspection, might serve as a preparation for quiet and healthful sleep. I refer to family religious exercises. These should be commenced soon after the evening meal; that is, by about seven o'clock. This secures the attendance of the children, who will

gradually disappear soon afterwards. The hour from seven to eight might be spent in a review of the day-something after the Pythagorean manner.

From eight to nine, or till the time of retiring, might be a season of the most entire relaxation. Light reading, light conversation, — I do not mean trifling or sinful,- - light exercise, the warm bath and friction, for such members of the family as use it, might all have a place.

The occasional use of the pediluvion, or warm foot bath, on going to bed, by equalizing the circulation, or at least quickening capillary action, seems to have a most happy effect on the nervous system, and, if properly managed, to secure a healthful and undisturbed night of rest. If the general warm bath is taken, it should be at this hour. Franklin long ago said to those who were desirous of procuring pleasant dreams, which is next to sound sleep,- that

a good conscience was indispensable. Now, I go a little farther than Franklin, and endeavor to secure a sleep that shall have no dreams at all.

A cool room, but especially a pure room, is another of the indispensables to sound and healthy sleep. A spacious room is indeed desirable; but if we cannot have quite so much of space, we must make up for the want of it by due regard to ventilation.

I do not like very warm rooms for sleeping rooms; but there is less objection to a temperature not exceeding fifty or fifty-five degrees, than there is to impurity. He that would be perfect, in this matter, should have a large, dry room, one which is unoccupied during the day, -with free access to light when he chooses to admit it, and with the means and implements of excluding it.

The ceiling should be high; there should be a chimney

flue; and the bed should stand out a little from the wall. A distant door or window should be left open during the hours of repose, taking care to prevent the possibility of the fresh night air falling in a current directly on the bed. There should be but one bed in the room, and that should have but one occupant.

Still there is always a second best, when circumstances do not permit any thing more. A smaller room may answer very well the purposes of health, when every thing else is favorable. Two beds in a very large room, or two occupants of a very broad bed, may also be allowed, when circumstances render it indispensable.

I have, incidentally, discussed all these topics in a former lecture; but it seems needful to review. I will, however, be short.

The bed should be plain, and, if the spiral wire bed cannot be had, may be made of corn husks, well hatchelled; of dried straw or hay; of palmetto, Manilla grass, moss, wood shavings, &c. Mattresses of horsehair and other similar substances answer a very good purpose. Some use cotton; but I do not like it. It may, indeed, be true that cotton is better than feathers; but it is by no means cleanly or easily ventilated. As to feathers, they seem wholly inadmissible, not because they are soft, but for other reasons. Mere softness, as I have shown elsewhere, would be a recommendation.

It is on this account, more than any other, that I prefer the elastic wire bed, so lately come into fashion. It was alluded to at page 220. It secures all the advantages of feathers, without retaining any of their disadvantages. It will, most undoubtedly, ere long, come into very general use.

Willich attaches great importance to the right preparation and condition of beds and bed clothing. He recommends, as

I do, that a bed should be soft, but made of cool and light materials, and that it should be protected by porous covering. He says that, if the bed is what it should be, the occupant will not be apt to sleep in it too long, but "will generally awake in six hours, feel himself refreshed, rise with cheerfulness, and be fit to undertake his usual tasks, either of body or mind."

All this may be true to the letter; but I confess I have not quite so much faith in the efficacy of a single choice arrangement in human circumstances to restore human nature to its original integrity.

Some people allow themselves to sleep with their heads covered by the bed clothing. This is a bad practice for several reasons. 1. The head is kept too warm. 2. We are not so apt to awake promptly. 3. A still stronger objection is found in the fact that we are thusl iable to breathe, over and over again, the poisonous gas which is formed on the surface of our bodies. To nightcaps I am also strongly opposed, unless in the case of the aged and those who are destitute of hair. If they are used by other persons, however, as by females, they should be as thin and light as possible.

Lamps or candles, left burning in a room, after the English fashion, render the air impure, to say nothing of any other danger or accident to which they expose us. So does the respiration of domestic animals, as cats and dogs. And the same might be said of plants left in the room during night.

I have known a few parents, who, ignorant of its unhealthy tendency, allowed the favorite cat or dog to sleep, not only on, but sometimes in the beds of their children. A few have supposed the breath of the dog quite sanitary. No mere mistake could be more reprehensible.

Darkness favors sleep; it has therefore been recommended,