Page:How to Get Strong (1899).pdf/103

 a vacation does you most good, you can put in a fortnight, or better yet a month; not of sitting around upon porches; or driving doubled up in a carriage; or cramped up in a small cat-boat; but get in several hours of pleasant out-door exercise, of a sort you like, till you come in comfortably tired, you will stand a good chance of knowing little about sickness. If instead of spending money on your vacation you want to make some; hire out as a farm-hand through the haying, and grain harvest season; rake and do the lighter work at first till you get in good trim; then the harder work. It may prove one of the most profitable months you ever spent.

The few exercises suggested here have been aimed rather to give one enough each day to keep him in health, and good spirits; and to fit him for his duties, whatever they may be. To keep him also from getting run down; and so opening the door to let disease come easily in. "My experience," says one physician, "is that three-quarters of the sufferers from the grip are those who suffer otherwise; or who are not in prime condition. They are for more liable to it than those in sound health and lively spirits. If you heap yourself in tip-top order, and watch your ways; you have a far better chance of escaping it than if you do not." How to build any special part; as well also as the bicycle and its work, will be considered in another chapter.