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marks. Though few if any of our readers will ever be in a situation to use the knowledge of how to build a snow-house, this Arctic Architecture, from a chapter on the Esquimaux, is worth reading, should it never turn out to be worth knowing.

"As the days lengthen, the villages are emptied of their inhabitants, who move seaward on the ice to the seal-hunt. Then comes into use a marvellous system of architecture, unknown among the rest of the American nations. The fine pure snow has by that time acquired, under the action of strong winds and hard frosts, sufficient coherence to form an admirable light building material, with which the Eskimo master-mason erects most comfortable dome shaped houses, A circle is first traced on the smooth surface of the snow; and the slabs for raising the walls are cut from within, so as to clear a space down to the ice, which is to form the floor of the dwelling, and whose evenness was previously ascertained by probing. The slabs requisite to complete the dome, after the interior of the circle is exhausted, are cut from some neighbouring spot. Each slab is neatly fitted to its place by running a flenching-knife along the joint, when it instantly freezes to the wall, the cold atmosphere forming a most excellent cement. Crevices are plugged up, and seams accurately closed by throwing a few shovelsful of loose snow over the fabric. Two men generally work together in raising a house, and the one who is stationed within cuts a low door, and creep out when his task is over. The walls being only three or four inches thick, are sufficiently translucent to admit a very agreeable light, which serves for ordinary domestic purposes; but if more be required a window is cut, and the aperture fitted with a piece of transparent ice. The proper

thickness of the walls is of some importance. A few inches excludes the wind, yet keeps down the temperature so as to prevent dripping from the interior. The furniture-such as seats, tables, and sleeping-places-is also formed of snow, and a covering of folded rein-deer-skin or seal-skin renders them comfortable to the inmates. By means of antechambers and porches, in form of long, low galleries, with their openings turned to leeward, warmth is insured in the interior; and social intercourse is promoted by building the houses contiguously. and cutting doors between them, or by erecting covered passages. Storehouses, kitchens, and other accessory buildings, may be constructed in the same manner, and a degree of convenience gained which would be attempted in vain with a less plastic material. These houses are durable, the wind has little effect upon them, and they resist the thaw until the sun acquires very considerable power."

PERSEVERANCE.

"LET us then persevere" we who are called Christians. "Let us not be weary, for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not, in due season, here or hereafter, or both, we whall reap a harvest of graces or of souls. And we shall never then be weary, if we are not weary now; nor faint if we faint not now;-if we faint not, for the promise pledges the threat:-if we faint, we reap not:-or reap only that we sowed, endless lapse, endless despair.

Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees! that is, persevere in prayer, and persevere in walking in the way of God. The time is short. The Lord

will come and will not tarry. A few hours of weary watching, when the eyes are dim and heavy, and then the blissful and eternal vision of Him for whom we watched.Adapted from the Rev. W. E. Heygatas's Sermons on the Care of the Soul.

ON LYING.

"LOUISA, how grave you look," said her friend Miss Ellis, "I have come to persuade you to join our strawberry party, but you seem unusually disturbed." Louisa Gray was the daughter of a clergyman, of a large and populous parish; she had been taught to devote her time and energies to the improvement of the ignorant and neglected, and their interests daily occupied her thoughts.

"I have been truly grieved," said Louisa, while the tears stood in her eyes," and feel anything but able to participate in your amusement to-day, you must excuse me, for indeed I cannot accompany you."

"Pray what are your troubles ?" replied Charlotte Ellis, "they must be very serious."

"I have been sadly disappointed in one of the girls, in our National School, who has been guilty of lying; she was under my especial charge; the confidence which I placed in her has been shaken and she has been publicly disgraced, by wearing a card with liar printed on it, as a justly inflicted punishment." "Do not distress yourself any more about the child, it is not your fault," said Charlotte.

"I know,” replied Louisa, "the dreadful sin of lying has been constantly represented to all the children, therefore, no

Could she see her

cxcuse can be made for Mary Hill. wickedness, as I see it, and tremble at her neglect of Baptismal grace, perhaps real heart-felt repentance might follow."

"I wish," said Charlotte, "she could look at your sad countenance; children seldom think of the anxiety their disobedience occasions to their affectionate teachers, and the painful regrets and apprehensions which arise when they see, or hear, of faults committed in, or out of school."

"I would not mind my own unhappiness," said Louisa, "if the child will only prove by future straightforward conduct, and by her avoidance of the slightest prevarication, her abhorrence of lying, thus showing she is aware of the awful consequences which will undoubtedly follow such repeated acts of open rebellion against the Almighty. We must pray

for Mary, God grant she may pray earnestly for herself. I will not keep you, Charlotte, or you will be late for the party." "Then you really cannot come with us," returned Charlotte. "No," replied Louisa, "I have been too much grieved to enjoy anything of the kind to-day." The two friends theu separated.

If children would return the affection of their teachers, they would be careful not to pain those who love them so fondly; but love to God which is a higher duty than love to our neighbour, should keep them from sin. Love to the Creator and love to His creatures must be the animating principle in all, urging them onward in their journey to heaven.

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SINS OF OMISSION.-The last words that Archbishop Usher was heard to express were, "Lord, forgive my sins, especially my sins of omission."

THE CHURCH.

In answer to the questions and wishes of more than one Correspondent, we beg to call attention to the following admirable and appropriate remarks of Bishop Ken, upon the subject alluded to. We think it will meet their wishes and be a reply to their queries

I BELIEVE, O blessed and adorable Mediator, that the Church is a society of persons, founded by Thy love to sinners, united into one Body, of which Thou art the Head, initiated by Baptism, nourished by the Eucharist, governed by pastors commissioned by Thee and endowed with the power of the keys, professing the Doctrine taught by Thee, and delivered to the Saints, and devoted to praise and to love thee.

I believe, O Holy Jesus, that Thy Church is Holy, like Thee its Author; Holy by the original design of its institution; Holy, by baptismal dedication; Holy in all its administrations, which tend to produce holiness: and though there will be always a mixture of good and bad in it in this world, yet it has always many real Saints it; and therefore all love, all glory, be to Thee.

I believe, Lord, this Church to be Catholic, or Universal, made up of the collection of all particular Churches; I believe it to be Catholic in respect of time, comprehending all ages to the world's end, to which it is to endure; Catholic in respect of all places, out of which believers are to be gathered; Catholic in respect of all saving faith, of which this Creed contains the substance, which shall in it VOL. VII.-No. 2.

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