there were, in 1870, 163 separate schools, with 20,652 pupils; while there were at least 40,000 Roman Catholic children attending the public schools. It thus appears that a vast majority of Roman Catholics prefer the public to the separate school system.

HIGHER EDUCATION.

There are above a hundred High Schools in the province of Ontario, with an aggregate of about 8000 pupils. They are supported by Government, and provide liberal training in classics, science, and modern languages. There is, besides, a great Central Normal School in Toronto, specially designed for the training of teachers, and having a large library, an educational museum, and, in fact, every requisite to secure the most efficient training for those who devote themselves to the noble profession of teaching. I was taken through it, and had the pleasure of meeting there the Chief Superintendent of Education, who kindly furnished me with a complete set of the public documents regarding education.

On Sunday, June 2, I preached in John Knox Church in the morning, and in the evening in Cooke Church. In the latter I felt a special interest, as it was named in honour of the late Rev. Dr. Cooke of Belfast.

THE THOUSAND ISLES.

As we

On Tuesday the 4th I was joined by my son, and we set out together for Ottawa. were anxious to see the great St. Lawrence and the beauties of the Thousand Isles, we took the steamer for Prescott. We left Toronto at two P.M., and as the afternoon was wet, and little to be seen on the lake, I retired to the saloon, hoping to secure a long night's rest, which I greatly needed. We found a crowd of clergy on board: some Presbyterian, going to the Assembly of the Kirk at Kingston; others Wesleyan, going to the Conference at Montreal. Towards evening the captain, with half-a-dozen ministers, came to me, requesting on the part of the passengers that I would give an address. It was an odd request on board a public steamer; but then one must expect odd things in America. So I consented, though with considerable mental reluctance. Arrangements having been made in the grand

| saloon, a regular religious service was conducted, and I was delighted to see that it was attended by the entire body of passengers. I addressed them, giving some account of my researches in Palestine, and showing how Bible history is illustrated by the present state of that country.

Early next morning we were among the famed Thousand Isles. Innumerable islands, large and small, most of them wooded, stud the bosom of the great river. There is no grandeur in the scenery; but there is a pleasing mixture of richlytinted foliage, smooth gray rocks, curved and deeply indented shore-lines, tortuous channels, and broad sheets of water that mirror all around and above. Here and there a log-hut, or an ornamental wooden house, or a small scattered village, appears to break the solitude.

We landed and dined at Prescott, and then took the train for Ottawa, passing, at the rate of ten miles an hour, through a region of dismal swamps and trackless forests, and then emerging where, on the picturesque bank of the river Ottawa, the palaces of the new capital of Canada rise before one like a vision of paradise.

OTTAWA.

The situation of Ottawa is fine. The river which gives its name to the city, after rushing down a series of rapids in sheets of foam, immediately expands, and glides swiftly round the base of a lofty isolated cliff, on whose southern side is a deep glen, which has been made, by a series of locks, the opening of the Rideau canal. A mile or so further down, the Rideau river falls into the Ottawa over a high ledge of rocks, forming one of the grandest cascades in Canada. On the level summit of the abovenamed cliff stand the new Parliament Houses and other government buildings-a magnificent pile of Gothic architecture. The town is built on the sloping ground behind, while on the opposite side of the river is the rising suburb of Hull. The sides of the river, both above and below the rapids, are thickly studded with sawmills and huge piles of "lumber."

Parliament was in session, and by the kindness of the Hon. Mr. Currier, member for Ottawa, I was admitted to the floor of the House, and

I

placed in a seat close to the Speaker's chair. was soon joined by my countryman Sir Francis Hincks, the Premier, Sir John Macdonald, and other prominent members, whose genius and administrative talents have largely contributed to raise the Dominion of Canada to its present state of prosperity. I was greatly impressed with the dignity of the assembly, which presented a marked contrast to the House of Representatives at Washington, and, in my mind, even rivalled our own House of Commons.

A keen debate was proceeding, which showed the ability and eloquence of some of the speakers. When it closed, the House went into committee, and the Speaker left the chair. A few minutes afterwards the Premier brought me an invitation from the Speaker to meet him in his private This was an honour I had not expected, and for which I cannot sufficiently express my grateful thanks, as it gave me an opportunity of meeting several of the leading politicians of Canada, and of hearing their views on matters in which I felt a deep interest.

room.

I found a good deal of religious life in Ottawa; and Presbyterianism is making considerable progress. One of the principal merchants-Mr. Hay —is a power in himself. There are several fine churches in the city; and since my visit a new one has been organized in Hull, in the establishment of which my son has taken an active part.

MONTREAL.

The sail down the Ottawa river was pleasant. The banks are densely wooded, and though low at the water's edge, they rise gradually toward ranges of hills in the background. We stopped at an Indian village, where the little houses struck me as being placed after the manner of an Arab encampment. We "shot" the rapids at the western opening of the river Ottawa into the St. Lawrence, and finally landed at La Chene, as our steamer could not venture to pass down the La Chene rapids. Entering a very dirty railway car, half an hour brought me to Montreal. Our

train was a very small one, and on getting out of the car a gentleman came up and said, Can you tell me whether Dr. Porter is in this train?" "I am Dr. Porter," was, of course, my answer. It was Mr. Court, who, having telegraphed to Ottawa, learned that I had left by the morning's steamer, and had very kindly come to meet me, and to conduct me to the hospitable mansion of Mrs. Redpath, which was my home during my short stay in Montreal.

Montreal occupies one of the grandest sites in America. It stands on the gentle slope of Mont Real-" the Royal Mount "-overlooking the great St. Lawrence, here nearly five miles wide, and a vast expanse of wooded plain beyond, bounded in the far distance by the pale blue mountains of Vermont. And the city is worthy of its site. Its quays are crowded with ships, its streets thronged with an enterprising people, and the delightful slopes of its Royal Mount studded with the palaces of its merchant-princes.

On Saturday my kind hostess drove me to the Magill University, where I had the advantage of inspecting a noble collection of objects of natural history and geology, formed mainly by the labours of its distinguished president; then to the Geological Museum, which contains many most interesting American fossils; afterwards through the leading streets of the city.

On Sunday I was busy as usual. I preached in the morning for Dr. Burns, and in the evening in Erskine Church.

On Monday Mrs. Redpath planned a delightful drive round the Mount, through the splendid new Cemetery, and back by the eastern suburb. I dined with my friend Mr. Mackay, and met Mr. Puncheon, president, and a large number of members of the Methodist Conference, then sitting. In the evening I lectured in Erskine Church.

On Tuesday I bade farewell to Canada; but while I live I shall cherish the memory of the Christian kindness and courtesy of the many friends I met there.

"To-night ain't Sunday," said Elfie.

"No; but they have school to-night, and it would help us both to learn a little more," said Susie in the same gentle tone.

"I don't know nothing," said Elfie with a sigh. | Only a day or two before she had told Susie she did not want to learn any more, and would not go to school. "You'd like to learn to read, wouldn't you, Elfie?" said Susie; "and it'll be nice to go to school of a night, I think."

"Yes, I'll go," said Elfie; "they'll know me there, but you won't let 'em turn you agin' me, will you?" she added.

"They won't try, Elfie, when they know you're wanting to be a different girl," said Susie. "Come and have some tea now," she added, "and I'll tell you how I came to be in the street where you was took up."

Elfie had forgotten to ask about this in the fright and excitement. "How did you get there?" she asked

now.

Susie thought for a minute or two, and then she said, "I think God sent me, Elfie."

"Perhaps he did," said Elfie, with drooping head, "for I'd made up my mind never to come back to you any more when the policeman took me. I thought it was all up then, and I might as well forget all you'd told me, for it only made me feel bad and miserable."

"Then God sent me to bring you home, Elfie; and I've got a place too, I think," said Susie joyfully. "Got a place," repeated Elfie.

"Yes, I'm to go every morning, and do all sorts of work, and learn to be a proper servant," said Susie. "But you'll come back every night?" said Elfie. "Oh yes, I shall come back every night," replied Susie. "I shouldn't like to leave you now."

"No, don't leave me," whispered Elfie. "I do want to love God, but I shall forget all about him if you go away, Susie."

"But you could go to school and learn about him there," said her companion.

"Yes, they'd teach about him, and be kind, I know, but it ain't like loving you," said Elfie. "I can believe about God's love now a little because of yours, but I never had any love before, and I don't want you to go away."

"And I don't want to go away," said Susie. "I mean to earn a lot of money. I shall get eighteenpence for going out every morning; and then of an afternoon I can clean steps, and knives, and forks, at the other places."

"And I'll get some steps to do, and mind the baskets again," said Elfie.

"Oh yes, do; God will help you, I know," said Susie. And her heart beat high with hope as she showed Elfie how to wash cups and saucers; for of this necessary accomplishment Elfie was quite ignorant.

After these had been put away, and their faces washed, they set off for school; Elfie feeling rather shy

at going there again, and Susie quite exultant at tue thought of taking her.

“Elfleda, have you come back again?" said the teacher in some surprise, when Elfie paused before the desk.

It was the first time Susie had ever heard Elfie's proper name, and she hardly knew who was addressed, until she heard her companion say, "Please, I'd like to come back, if you'll let me come with Susie."

The teacher glanced at Susie, wondering whether she would be as troublesome.

"Have you been here to school before?" she asked. "Not on a week-day, ma'am, but I come on Sundays," said Susie.

"Well, you must try and come regular, on week-day as well as Sunday," said the teacher, looking at Susie. It was quite useless to speak to Elfie, she thought; she had tried her so many times before, and she did not expect she would come to school above once a week.

It was a little disappointment to Elfie that Susie was placed in a different class; but Susie whispered that she would soon be able to read, if she only tried to learn, and then they could be together. And with this hope in view, Elfie began that very evening, bending all her energies to master the difficulties of the alphabet—a task she had never even tried to conquer before, although she had had the books before her a good many times.

No one who had known Elfie, and the disturbance she made in the school a short time back, could fail to notice the difference in her now; and a few of her companions teased her about it, calling her a "little saint," and various other names, which Elfie did not take very quietly at first, and which would have led to a fight as soon as they got outside again, if Susie had not interfered. Poor Elfie had a great deal to learn. She could not understand at all, that getting into a passion was almost as bad as being dishonest; and she was half inclined to be cross with Susie for interfering. But by degrees she grew more calm, as she listened to the story of Jesus' life of patient suffering; and before she went to sleep that night she said, "O Susie, I wish I could be like Jesus!"

"We must try to be like him," said Susie; "it's hard work sometimes, and we don't seem to get on a bit, but mother said we must never give up trying."

"You're trying, I know," said Elfie; "and I'll try too. I'll begin to-morrow."

"I think you have begun, Elfie," said Susie, kissing her; "and we'll help each other to keep on trying.”

The next morning, both girls were up early-Elfie to go to the market in search of any odd job she could get ; and Susie to the grocer's, to know when she should begin her work there, for she made sure she should go. She had not given a thought to the possibility of the man seeing her with Elfie and the policeman, and thinking them both alike dishonest. She had not seen him, and had forgotten all about going there in the