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More comfortable dwellings, either for ventilation in summer's heat, or for warmth in winter's cold, are nowhere to be found in the world than in New York. By means of having open doors and windows, so that the morning breeze may circulate freely through the many inlets and outlets to every chamber and hall, and then, before the sun comes round in his fervour, excluding his rays by the outside green venetians, the house is kept tolerably cool; till evening breeze returns, waving the lovely trees which line the footways, and inviting its admission again into the dwelling.

The furnace in the basement warms every corner in winter, perhaps too completely for health. At least in our country we are used to feel the variation of temperature between the rooms and the hall or staircase, or between one room and another, to have rather a bracing and reviving effect. Besides, the rush of the sharp, frosty, outward air into lungs which, for too many hours of the day, have breathed nothing but the dry, hot atmosphere of the furnace, is a trial too great for so delicate a texture as lungs are made of. This, and the inadequate defence of the feet, have often been accused as the cause of the numerous victims to lung diseases-and, I fear, with justice.

There is much ingenuity and taste displayed in making much of little room. Even small dwellings have their neat flower knot behind, and their grapevine over a trellised arch-and the little aviaries,

conservatories, and greenhouses, in very unexpected corners, are innumerable. The freedom of vegetation gives encouragement to planters. It is some times even touching to see a tree, which has been spared in the building of five-storey warehouses, alive in its dusty and dingy recess, and fulfilling all its calling of bud, blossom, smiling green leaf, and fruit-bearing. I have looked on such a tree, and compared it to a Christian choked up in worldly society and occupations, yet drinking in the pure dew of the Divine Spirit, living and refreshing the surrounding dreariness by his presence.

The seclusion of mind is a subject on which I have often mused, with admiration of the wisdom that has so constructed it. The looker-on cannot tell why one in the busy multitude that flits by him laughs and another weeps. And it is well that he cannot. The inmost heart of himself contains evil enough for each. And even its hidden joys are such as might exhale, were they open to the bystander.

Who of all the interested parties that I have happened again and again to see pressing into a "Bank for Savings," or seated on the stoop to wait their turn to enter, could guess why I should be fixed to the spot, or why my tears should flow at the sight? My mind flew back to the peaceful parish of Ruthwell, and there I saw the mild and patient pastor calculating, and planning, and writing rules,

* Rev. Dr Duncan, author of the "Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons."

and correcting them-and at last setting agoing his new scheme of a bank, where as small a deposit as one shilling was to be accepted. Then I saw him smiling good cheer as he stood by his desk, with his great ledger before him, while he received the hardearned saving from the horny hand that earned it. And again I saw him subduing his natural love of retirement, and struggling to awaken the great men of the land to the value of the scheme. And then again in London toiling to secure supporters for passing a bill in Parliament for the protection of savings' banks.

And all this was past—and he who for years laboured for the temporal and spiritual welfare of his people has ceased from his labours. But they have spread-and as it fell out in Solomon's day, that

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no man remembered the same poor man whose wisdom saved the city," so it befell him, while cities and nations far off are profiting by it. Even so! he sought not fee nor reward here, but

"I thank Thee for the quiet rest

Thy servant taketh now,

And for the good fight foughten well,
And for his crowned brow."

L

CHAPTER XIV.

HOTELS AND BOARDING-HOUSES.

HOTELS are generally well managed, and in excellent order. In frequenting the temperance houses, the traveller is sure of society of one stamp, so that the conversation he may enter into will be of a correct, and very likely of an improving character.

The wholesome "click" of the ice against the water-pitchers has something re-assuring in its quiet sound; and the gong, giving forth its musical tone, first in the distant part of the parallelogram, then swelling nearer, till it passes along the gallery where your own chamber is situated, and then again sinking into silence at the further end, summoning all who will to family worship, gives cheering token that you are in good society. It is very pleasant to meet three or four score of travellers in the saloon by seven in the morning, and nine at night, to join in a hymn, led perhaps by a son or daughter of the house, accompanied by an organ-toned pianoforte. Then to hear a passage of Holy Writ, read perhaps by the master of the hotel, and to join in a prayer by

him, if no clergyman be present, or by a clergyman, without reference to his denomination, or, as I once chanced to hear, by a senator. How calm and safe the progress of a day so entered upon!-and how orderly is such a household, even though it numbers at its noonday meal nearly two hundred guests! Enough has been said by English travellers about the amazing celerity with which Americans despatch their food, and of the knife nearly going down the throat after it. Though I had no chance at the race in eating, I generally saw many persons as slow, or slower than myself. One day, being at leisure to observe the proceedings of my neighbours, I saw a very respectable-looking lady reduce one half of an oval slice of bread to the shape of a horse-shoe by one goodly bite that she took out of the middle. This lady introduced herself to me in the saloon, and-0 Dickens! O Trollope! can ye bear the dismal truth?-she told me she was a Londoner! Here ended my discoveries as to peculiarities in conduct at table. A gentleman did tell me, that he saw, at a New York hotel dinner, one person give his fork to another, with, "Just stick that fork into that potato for me, will you?" His surly, unneighbourly neighbour did as he was requested, and left it sticking there. This was a most ungracious way of teaching a hasty man to apply to the waiter-yet it might be useful.

Waiters are always abundant, so that you never hear them rung for or called in an impatient tone.

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