“How many bones in the human head? Eight, my child, as I’ve often said. How many bones in the human spine? Twenty-six, like a climbing vine. How many bones in the human chest? Twenty-four ribs, and four of the rest. How many bones in the human arm? In each one, two in each forearm. How many bones in the human wrist? Eight in each if none are missed. How many bones in the fingers ten? Twenty-eight, and by joints they bend. How many bones in the human hip? One in each; like a dish they dip. How many bones in the human knees? One in each, the knee-pan, please. How many bones in the ankles strong? Seven in each, but none are long. How many bones in the toes, half a score? Twenty-eight, and there are no more. And now altogether these many bones fix, And they count in the body two hundred and six. And now and then a bone I should think That forms on a joint, or to fill up a chink, A ses´a-moid bone, or a wormian, we call, And now we may rest, for we’ve told them all.” PROPER CARE OF THE BONES HELEN: What’s the matter with this house, mother? It seems to be all out of shape. MOTHER: Perhaps it is very old and the frame has decayed so it leans far over to one side. It is unsafe to live in such houses, for they may tumble down if a strong wind comes along. I have seen some body-houses which look very much like this to me. Here is one of them. See how this boy’s shoulders are bent forward, and his whole body is wrong. If some disease, as consumption, should come along, like a strong wind, I fear his house would go down. Some one should say to him, “Straighten up, young man; throw your shoulders back, and you will look more manly and will live much longer.” [Illustration: “_See how this boy’s shoulders are bent forward._”] PERCY: I have seen some boys at school bending over their desk when studying and writing. Is that good for the bones? MOTHER: No; boys and girls should sit straight, stand straight, and walk straight. If they do not, after a time the cushions between the bones in the spine will grow thicker on one side than on the other, and the back-bone will become crooked. You know soldiers stand erect and have fine forms. How much better this man looks than the one who bends over! Do not form the habit of bending forward while sitting or standing. The one who made the body “made man upright,” and in this he is different from the birds, beasts, or fishes. ELMER: Can the bones be broken, mother? [Illustration: “_Boys should sit straight._”] MOTHER: Yes, and it is a sad thing for one to get broken, for it is very painful and takes a long time to heal. Children should be careful when jumping, when climbing trees, or when they go in any place where they may fall and break their bones.