'
I talked of the difficulty of rising in the morning. Dr. Johnson told
me, 'that the learned Mrs. Carter, at that period when she was eager
in study, did not awake as early as she wished, and she therefore had
a contrivance, that, at a certain hour, her chamber-light should burn
a string to which a heavy weight was suspended, which then fell with
a strong sudden noise: this roused her from sleep, and then she had no
difficulty in getting up.' But I said THAT was my difficulty; and wished
there could be some medicine invented which would make one rise without
pain, which I never did, unless after lying in bed a very long time.
Johnson advised me to-night not to REFINE in the education of my
children. 'Life (said he,) will not bear refinement: you must do as
other people do.'
As we drove back to Ashbourne, Dr. Johnson recommended to me, as he had
often done, to drink water only: 'For (said he,) you are then sure not
to get drunk; whereas if you drink wine you are never sure.
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