vinced that he had written in the interests of religion and morality, and that he had discovered the only satisfactory answer which can be rendered on philosophical grounds to those who impugn. the mysteries of Christian verity-free will and free grace, evil permitted and prayer answered, the wonder of infinite united with infinite in the mystery of the Trinity, and the wonder of infinite blended with finite in the mystery of the Incarnation. Who of us failing to fathom these depths has not felt sore perplexed, and at times even tempted to imitate the wretched thinker

"Who dropt his plummet down the broad Deep universe, and said-'No God,' Finding no bottom?"

In that hour of trial faith, like the dove, returns to its ark, while reason, like the raven, flits over the troubled waters still unsatisfied. Who has not pitied that dark unhappy bird, with its strong pinion and wild, distrustful nature? Who has not hoped that it might find a resting-place, if not within the ark, yet

upon it? If reason is ever to find that rest, it can only be in the acknowledgement of its weakness, the discovery of its limits, the demonstrated philosophy of ignorance. "We know in part" is a confession easily made by even the most arrogant minds, for every intellect less than that of the Most High may say the same. It is necessary to show what part of knowledge is given to us and what part is denied-where we have a right to criticise and where we have none. This is what Sir William Hamilton has demonstrated and Mr. Mansel after him has explained. They have given a definite expresssion and a logical form to the very wide phrase which applies equally to the understanding of a butterfly and that of an archangel-We know in part. They have given a philosophical foundation to that act of humility which leads us to the acceptance of an insoluble fact, and bids us bow our reason mute before the gloomy mystery of sin upon the conscience and the gladdening mystery of reconciliation in the Cross.

Onz was the son of a poor Indian hunter, who lived in a beautiful part of the country. The streams ran clear and sparkling from the mountains,-the wild pigeon, the omemee, flitted from tree to tree, and the deer ran through the forest. Notwithstanding this abundance of life and beauty around him, the father often failed to find game sufficient for his wants, but he never failed to be thankful to the Great Spirit for all he got. And his wigwam was known for the cheerful welcome he gave to every visitor. Though poor, in the estimation of his friends, he ever received them with a smile, and he made amends by his kind manners for what he sometimes lacked on his board. And his wife was always known for her cleanly swept fire-place.

Onz was the eldest son, and he had now reached that age, between youth and manhood, when a fast must be kept, to choose a guardian spirit. His parents had brought him up strictly to respect and worship the Great Spirit, and to be thankful for every gift, however small. They had, in this way, prepared his mind for the importance and solemnity of this fast, which is called Ke-ig-wish-im-o-win.

When the day arrived, he took his hatchet to build his fasting-lodge in the woods, and a little bark dish to dip drinkwater, as this is the only article allowed to be taken during the fast. He walked through the forest a long distance, till he found a retired and beautiful spot on elevated grounds, where, by a few turns, he could command an extensive view of woods and waters. Here he erected his lodge of branches, built a small fire of dry sticks, and spread out his mat of rushes for a couch. Before lying down he walked about among the trees, plants and flowers, and resting himself on a high peak, fixed his gaze intensely on the moving canopy of clouds above, tinged by the rays of the setting sun, which is believed to be type of the Great Spirit, and the beautiful blue firmament around. He then returned to his lodge, and as the

shades of evening closed around laid down on his mat, having turned up one end of it in the form of a pillow by putting a few short cedar branches under it. In this way he continued his fast for several days, walking about during the day and reposing at night, till he began to grow weak from exhaustion and want of food. In this state he kept his bed altogether, and while thus reposing passed in review his prior thoughts of the goodness of the Great Spirit in creating and sustaining all things. He thought strongly on the object of his fast, and wished for a dream which might reveal to him the way of accomplishing his desires. He admired the mysterious power of the Great Master of Life in creating all animal and vegetable things; and in seeking a boon from him personally, wished, also, his fellow-foresters might be shewn an easier way of obtaining their food than by the uncertainties

of the chase.

On the third day of his fast, while lying thus exhausted in his lodge gazing at the sky, he saw a handsome young man descending from the blest abodes. He was richly dressed in waving garments of light green and yellow, with nodding plumes of the same colors on his head.

"I am sent to you," he said, "by the Great Spirit, to grant your request. He knows your motives in fasting, and sees that your object is to procure a benefit for your people, and not for strength in war, or the prowess of warriors. I am sent to instruct you how you may succeed. Arise, and wrestle with me."

Onz was weak from fasting, but felt his courage rising at these words and determined to try. He immediately arose and began the proposed trial. After a protracted struggle he was nearly exhausted, when the celestial messenger, with a smiling countenance, said, “It is enough for once. I will come again to try you." So saying he ascended to the sky.

Next day the messenger re-appeared at the same hour and renewed the contest. Onz felt that his strength was even less than before, but his mind derived secret support from the presence of the visitor in proportion as his body became weaker, and he felt sustained when he heard his adversary say, "Faint not, but be strong, for this is the only way in which you can succeed." He then retired again to the blue skies.

Two days had now been given to the contest, and every day the young forester had become weaker and weaker. But on the third day the trial was again renewed. The poor youth was very faint, but as soon as he arose he appeared to be strengthened, and he determined in his mind to prevail or perish. For a long time he exerted his utmost strength. At last the celestial stranger released his hold, and the next moment he declared himself conquered. He then entered the lodge and began to deliver his instructions.

"You have won your desires," he said, "you have wrestled manfully. To-morrow will be the seventh day of your fasting. I will come and wrestle with you for the last time. You will prevail over me and throw me down. When you have done so you must strip off my garments, make the earth clean and soft by removing the roots and weeds, and bury me in it. Leave my body in the ground, go away and do not disturb it, but come occasionally to visit the place, to see whether I have come to life, and be careful never to let the grass or weeds grow on my grave. When you see me arise put fresh earth around me once a month. Teach others what I have taught you, and your people will be benefitted."

He then shook him affectionately by the hand and left him; but the next day he punctually returned at the same hour, renewed the struggle, and was thrown down as it had been predicted. Onz pulled off the garments and plumes and carefully buried the body in fresh earth, being satisfied that his friend would again come to life.

Having thus finished his fast, he returned home to his father's lodge, and partook sparingly of a meal which had been prepared for him, and told his father that he had successfully accomplished his fast. But he never for a moment forgot his friend, nor his injunctions, but carefully visited the place of burial from time

to time.

Joy was depicted in the face of each member of the family after this happy

announcement.

Spring had now passed away and summer was drawing to its close, when he, one day, invited his father to accompany him through the woods to the retired spot where he had undergone his fast. On reaching this place they saw, where the lodge had stood, a tall and graceful plant. Long, green leaves waved on each side of it, and from its top hung a plume of yellow, silken hair. Golden clusters of grain were revealed on the stalk. The whole waved in the gentle, warm breeze with a indescribable grace.

"It is my friend, come to life again," shouted the lad. "It is Mondamin-it is the Spirit's grain,*—the gift of the Great Spirit to mankind.

H. R. S.

Washington, May 24th, 1859.

It is refreshing to vary the monotony of daily life, to go out of the beaten track into which privation and the invigorating necessity of, so-called, manual labor have seduced or forced our faculties and loiter upon a more joyous path. It is the intermission which the mind, like the animal life, requires. This ceaseless toil-this struggle for mere subsistence, so to speak-this diurnal grappling with the objective-form that continuity of daily existence which it is well for him who can, occasionally to break in upon. It is thus that we are enabled to resume with animation the monotonous routine of the battle of life, and, with the reinvigorated spirit which healthful variety induces, to obey with cheerfulness, in a varied form, that law of our being which renders humanity essentially dynamical. Without then ignoring the so-called mental demands of the present let us place them for a brief space in abeyance and occupy ourself with a theme and upon characters whose contemplation we may hope will not be wholly uninteresting or unprofitable.

In proportion to its world-wide renown, Attica, as it appears to us upon the ancient map, is the smallest spot upon the globe. It extends from Mount Parnes on the North to the promontory of Sunium which forms its Southern extremity. The land of Boetia, more favored in its soil, and Magara, are spread out upon its

THORNDALE.

Northern and extreme North-western borders. Its coasts are washed on the East, the West and the South, by the Saronic Gulf, the Ægean Sea, and that portion of the latter called the Myrtoan, to the South of Argolis and Attica, with the group of the Cyclades, Andros, Tenos, Mycoros, Naxos and Amargos, to the Southward and Eastward. The narrow gean separates it from Asia Minor, the Mediterranean from Egypt and Africa, the Peloponnessus and the Adriatic and Ionian Seas from Italy. Its triangular shape, with its southernmost headland, and the little island of Helene on its South-eastern border, present a resemblance in minature of the Eastern and Western coasts of Africa with its bold Southern Cape and the contiguous island of Madagascar. This little territory, not a hundred miles in length, and scarce forty in breadth, was a land meagre in its soil though prolific in intellect. To its physical characteristics, as indeed to those of all Greece, as well as to other causes, may be traced the developement of the character of its people and the manifestation of that active spirit which delighted in surmounting obstacles, encountering difficulties and grappling with physical and mental opposition. It has been supposed that owing to her comparative sterility, Attica, in earlier ages, maintained a more quiet existence than was enjoyed by her more physically attractive neighbors.