all-sufficient reason, that dog's teeth are white! A New Zealand chief has his distinctive coat-of-arms emblazoned on the skin of his face as well as on his limbs; and an Esquimaux is nothing if he have not bits of stone stuffed through a hole in each cheek. Quite as absurd, and still more mischievous, is the infatuation which, among some Europeans, attaches beauty to that modification of the human figure which resembles the wasp, and compresses the waist until the very ribs have been distorted, and the functions of the vital organs irreparably disordered. J. F. Davis.

MISERIES OF INDOLENCE.

NONE So little enjoy life, and are such burdens to themselves, as those who have nothing to do.

A want of occupation is not rest

A mind quite vacant is a mind distress'd."

Such a man is out of God's order; and opposing his obvious design in the faculties he has given him, and th condition in which he has placed him. Nothing, therefore, is promised in the Scriptures to the indolent. Take the indolent, with regard to exertion-What indecision! What delay! What reluctance!-What apprehension ! The slothful man says, "there is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets." "The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain." Take him with regard to health—What sluggishness of circulation !—What depression of spirits! -What dulness of appetite !-What enervation of frame! Take him with regard to temper and enjoyment-Who is pettish and fretful?-Who feels childish cravings?— Who is too soft to bear any of the hardships of life ?Who broods over every little vexation and inconvenience? Who not only increases real but conjures up imaginary evils, and gets no sympathy from any one in either?Who feels time wearisome and irksome ?-Who is devoured by ennui and spleen ?—Who oppresses others with their company, and their questions, and censorious talk? The active only have the true relish of life. He who knows not what it is to labour, knows not what it is to enjoy Recreation is only valuable as it unbends us; the

idle know nothing of it. It is exertion that renders rest delightful, and sleep sweet and undisturbed. That the happiness of life depends on the regular prosecution of some laudable purpose or lawful calling, which engages, helps, and enlivens all our powers, let those bear witness who, after spending years in active_usefulness, retire, as they suppose, to enjoy themselves.—Joy.

TO THE SKYLARK.

AWAKE, ere the morning dawn-Skylark, arise!
The last of the stars hath waned dim in the skies;
The peak of the mountain is purpled in light,
And the grass with the night-dew is diamonded;
The young flowers at morning's call open their eyes;
Then up, ere the break of day, Skylark, arise!

Earth starts like a sluggard half roused from a dream,
Pale and ghast the mist floats away from the stream,
And the cataract hoarsely, that all the night long.
Pour'd forth to the desolate darkness its song,
Now softens to music, as brighten the skies;
Then up, ere the dawn of day, Skylark, arise.

Arise from the clover, and up to the cloud,
Ere the sun leaves his chamber in majesty proud,
And his light lowers to earth's meaner things!
Catch the stainless effulgence of heaven on thy wings,
While thy gaze, as thou soarest and singest, shall feast
On the innermost shrine of the uttermost east!

Up, up, with a loud voice of singing! the bee
Will be out to the bloom, and the bird to the tree;
The trout to the pool, and the par to the rill;
The flock to the plain, and the deer to the hill:
Soon the marsh will resound to the plover's lone cries-
Then up, ere the dawn of day, Skylark, arise!
Up, up, with thy praise-breathing anthems! alone
The drowsy-head, man, on his bed slumbers prone;
The stars may go down, and the sun from the deep
Burst forth, still his hands they are folded in sleep :
Let the least in creation the greatest despise-
Then up to Heaven's threshold, blithe Skylark, arise!

INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY ON THE FEMALE CHARACTER.

THERE is one topic intimately connected with the introduction and decline of Christianity, and subsequently with its revival in Europe, which deserves our peculiar gratitude and attention: I allude to the new and more interesting character assumed by woman since those

events.

In the heathen world, she was the slave of man. Christianity constituted her his companion. But, as our religion gradually lost its power in the dark ages, she sunk down again to her deep moral degradation. The age of chivalry, indeed, exalted her to be an object of adoration; but it was a profane adoration, not founded upon the respect due to a being of immortal hopes and destinies, as well as man. This high character has been conceded to her at a later period, as she has slowly attained the rank ordained for her by Heaven. Although this change in relation of woman to man, and to society, is both an evidence and a consequence of an improvement in the human condition, yet now her character is a cause operating to produce a still greater improvement. And if there be any one cause, to which we may look with more confidence than to others, for hastening the approach of a more perfect state of society, that cause is the elevated character of woman, as displayed in the full development of all her moral and intellectual powers.

The influence of the female character is now felt and acknowledged in all the relations of life. I speak not merely of those distinguished women, who instruct their age through the public press; but of a much larger class; of those whose influence is felt in the relations of neighbour, friend, daughter, wife, mother. Who wait at the couch of the sick to administer tender charities, while life lingers, or to perform the last acts of kindness when death comes? Where shall we look for those examples of friendship, that most adorn our nature, those abiding friendships, which trust even when betrayed, and survive all changes of fortune? Where shall we find the brightest illustrations of filial piety?

Have you ever seen a daughter, herself, perhaps, timid

and helpless, watching the decline of an aged parent, and holding out with heroic fortitude to anticipate his wishes, to administer to his wants, and to sustain his tottering steps to the very borders of the grave?

But, in no relation, does woman exercise so deep an influence, both immediately and prospectively, as in that of the nurse and instructor of babes. To her charge is committed the immortal treasure of the infant mind. Upon her devolves the care of the first stages of that course of discipline, which is to form, out of a being perhaps the most frail and helpless in the world, the fearless ruler of animated creation, and the devout adorer of its great Creator. Her smiles call into exercise the first affections that spring up in our hearts. She cherishes and expands the earliest germs of our intellects. She lifts our little hands, and teaches our little tongues to lisp in prayer. She watches over us, like a guardian angel, and protects us through all our helpless years, when we know not of her cares and her anxieties on our account. follows us into the world of men, and lives in us and blesses us, when she lives not otherwise upon the earth. What constitutes the centre of every home? Whither do our thoughts turn, when our feet are weary with wandering, and our hearts sick with disappointment? Where shall the truant and forgetful husband go for sympathy, unalloyed and without design, but to the bosom of her, who is ever ready and willing to share in his adversity or his prosperity? And if there be a tribunal, where the sins and follies of a froward child may hope for pardon and forgiveness on this side heaven, that tribunal is the heart of a fond and devoted mother.-J. G. Carter.

She

SOLITUDE.

DEEP solitude I sought. There was a dell
Where woven shades shut out the eye of day,
While, towering near, the rugged mountains made
Dark back-ground 'gainst the sky. Thither I went,
And bade my spirit drink that lonely draught,
For which it long had languished 'mid the strife
And fever of the world. I thought to be
There without witness. But the violet's eye

Looked up upon me,-the fresh wild-rose smiled,
And the young pendent vine-flower kissed my cheek,
And there were voices too. The garrulous brook,
Untiring, to the patient pebbles told

Its history;-up came the singing breeze,
And the broad leaves of the cool poplar spake
Responsive, every one. Even busy life
Woke in that dell. The tireless spider threw
From spray to spray her silver-tissued snare.
The wary ant, whose curving pincers pierced
The treasured grain, toiled toward her citadel.
To the sweet hive went forth the loaded bee,
And from the wind-rocked nest, the mother-bird
Sang to her nurslings.

Yet I strangely thought

To be alone, and silent in thy realm,

Spirit of life and love! It might not be!

There is no solitude in thy domain,

Save what man makes, when, in his selfish breast,
He locks his joys, and bars out others' grief.
Thou hast not left thyself to Nature's round
Without a witness. Trees, and flowers, and streams,
Are social and benevolent; and he

Who oft communeth in their language pure,
Roaming among them at the cool of day,
Shall find, like him who Eden's garden dressed,
His Maker there, to teach his listening heart.

Lydia H. Sigourney.

ON FISHES.

THE fishes which are most abundant, and most frequent in our sight, have pleasing forms. Many are eminently beautiful in their colours, and in the general appearance of their neat and glossy scales. Several have a golden hue and spots difficult to account for, and many a silvery gloss, as though the particles of these two metals were diffused among their skin. Others display a fine tinge of blue; some, very pleasing tints of green. The effect of the whole is, that the general appearance of the fish creation in their forms, colours, brilliancy, gliding movenient, rapid and changeful activity, and universal anima