HOW TO GET STRONG
hold each breath in till she has taken at first ten steps; but gradually more till she does twenty steps in one breath; also to always hold her neck firmly against the back of her collar; she will find a quickened pulse; driving the morning's thoughts out of the mind; scattering low spirits to the winds—and a pleasant feeling of recreation and change besides; and the benefit from such a walk would be immediate and marked.
Is this asking much? A mile or a mile and a half could easily be covered in that time; while the dinner would taste twice as good for the exercise. Another mile, or better yet three of them, might be walked just before supper-time, and at a brisk pace now, for the stomach is not busy. If the confinement is so close as not to permit even these few snatches of time for a little recreation or the walk home to supper, never mind. Do not give it up yet. The ten minutes on rising were made sure of anyhow.[1] Yes, another chance remains. When at last the work is ever, even though it is time to retire; get out-of-doors for half an hour's smart walk with brother or friend, and see how refreshing it will prove; and then eat some light simple food. The jaded body will almost forget its tire; and the sleep which follows, while it may not be quite as long as before, will make up in quality; and the new day will find a far fresher woman, one better up to her duties, than if no exercise had been taken.
But if you now ride home from work, and the distance is three miles or less; why not walk it, and save your fare—quite an item in a year? And if more than three miles—why not walk three miles of it? What is
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