So much for Prayer, our duty to God, and for Alms, our duty to our neighbour; how about Fasting, our duty to ourself?

What is the good of fasting?  Is it simply that we should be uncomfortable?  No, the point of fasting is self-discipline and training.  This is your duty to self:  not to get comfort or amusement or success in the world, but, so to train, to drill, to feed and strengthen yourself, that you may be a good soldier for God.

Such questions as the proper amount of Rest and Amusement and Exercise all come under this head, for we ought to aim at just as much as will make us good soldiers, not to try for as much as we can get.

We must manage ourselves; we must keep our bodies in good order, and keep our brains keen and bright.  Self-denial in sleep and food and drink are part of this management.

Early Rising ought to be on your list of resolutions.  Some find it best to name a certain hour, but then, if they are not called punctually, they feel the resolution broken, and they very likely lie on slothfully.  I think it is best to resolve to get up either five or ten minutes after you wake, or are called; look at your watch, and jump up when the time comes.

When you are up, your Rule of Prayer is the first thing to think of and to act on.

And when you are dressed (carefully and prettily dressed), and your soul is dressed in God’s armour, what are you going to do with the new day God has given you?

First carry out some duty in the house; next see to your own improvement, not as a self-ending pleasure, but in order to make yourself a useful woman, to train you for better work in the future.

Reading is not the only kind of such training, but it is one of the best kinds and gives you new ideas.  I advise you to try for half an hour a day, and to keep a list of the books you read:[1] make an abstract of a sensible book once in three months:  sandwich your English novels with foreign ones:  keep a sensible book on hand and, alternately with books you fancy, read something a little above you:  take up some special subject every three or six months and read several books on it, or else read through the books on my lists:  read no novels before luncheon.

It is seldom safe to fix the hour very decidedly; some one interrupts you, and then you feel the rule broken and you get discouraged!

Make a point of being occupied, keep some needlework on hand, idleness leads to silly thoughts and self-indulgence.  Do not be out-of-doors all day; have something indoors to show for yourself.  Feminine occupations have a good result on the character, and help you to be quiet and recollected, to be the womanly woman who makes a real Home for her father and brothers.  As Roger Ascham is reported by Landor to have said to Lady Jane Grey, “exercise that beauteous couple, the mind and body, much and variously; but at home, at home, Jane! indoors, and about things indoors.”