h, when his friend
the bishop, thinking that he was overworked, took away the key of his
library, was restless and miserable the first day, had a bad headache
the second, and was so ill by the third day that the bishop, in alarm,
returned the key and let his friend read as much as he liked." Writes
Frederick the Great, "My latest passion will be for literature." The
poet, Milton, while a child, read and studied until midnight. John
Ruskin read at four years of age, was a book-worm at five, and wrote
numerous poems and dramas before he was ten. Lord Macaulay read at three
and began a compendium of universal history at seven. Although not a
lover of books, George Washington early read Matthew Hale and became
a master in thought. Benjamin Franklin would sit up all night at his
books. Thomas Jefferson read fifteen hour a day. Patrick Henry read for
employment, and kept store for pastime. Daniel Webster was a devouring
reader, and retained all that he read. At the age of fourteen he could
repeat from memory all of Watt's Hymns and Pope's "Essay on Man." When
but a youth, Henry Clay read books of history and science and practiced
giving their contents before the trees, birds, and horses. Says a
biographer of Lincoln, "A book was almost always his inseparable
companion."

Then, read for enjoyment. Fortunately, a habit so valuable as reading
may grow to become a pleasure. So that as one is gathering useful
information and increasing in knowledge, he may have the keenest
enjoyment. Such an one sings as he works. He has learned to convert
drudgery into joy; duty has become delight. But even for such an one a
portion of his reading should be purely for rest and recreation. If
one has taught school all day, or set type, or managed a home, or read
history, or labored in the field, or been shopping, heavy, solid reading
may be out of the question, while under such circumstances one would
really enjoy a striking allegory or a well-written novel. Or, if one is
limited in knowledge, or deficient in literary taste so that he may find
no interest in history, science, philosophy, or religion, still he may
enjoy thrilling books of travel, of biography, or of entertaining story.
In this way all may enjoy reading. "Of all the amusements which can
possibly be imagined for a hard-working man, after his daily toil, or
in its intervals, there is nothing," says Herschel, "like reading an
interesting book. It calls for no bodily exercise, of which