en earth, or mud, among ourselves. Dr. Shaw tells us, that some of the Egyptian pyramids are made of brick, the composition whereof is only a mixture of clay, mud, and straw mixed up together, and afterwards baked in the sun. The straw which keeps these bricks together,' he adds, 'and which still preserves its original colour, seems to be a proof that these bricks were never burnt, or made in kilns.'

"Another traveller, speaking of Cairo in Egypt, says, 'that the houses, for the most part are of bricks, which are only hardened by the heat of the sun, and mixed with straw to make them firm.' The Chinese, also, use much straw in making their bricks."

"How much these accounts explain Scripture !" "They do, Harry; but they not only explain it,they also prove the truth of it."

"But did you ever see any of these bricks, yourself?"

"Yes; many have been brought to England by travellers, and are preserved in cabinets as curiosities." "And did the Israelites make bricks to build the pyramids ?"

Of what are the bricks made of which some of the Egyptian pyramids are made? What does Dr. Shaw say of the straw which keeps the bricks together? How are the houses built at Cairo? Do the Chinese use straw? Have any of these bricks been seen at the present time? Did the Israelites make bricks to build the pyramids ?

"It is not unlikely but that such was the case; at least, in reference to some of them."

"What hard work it must have been !"

"It must indeed have been a laborious occupation, especially to the Israelites, who were slaves; and indeed as you see it now is, Harry. Yet, you may observe, that, as the persons are used to it, they do not find it unpleasant; and, as they are not slaves, but are rewarded for their efforts, they do not feel them to be a burden. If Divine Providence has given us an easier task in life than others, we should be thankful; yet, we should never think any thing beneath us, which is our evident duty, and by which we may be useful to our fellow creatures.'

HOSPITALITY.

"In the chapter which you read this morning, my dear father, we are told how readily Abraham received the three men who came to talk with him, and how willingly he made an entertainment for them."

"It is true: let us read the passage again; it is a fine picture of hospitality in the earlier periods of the

Was it a laborious occupation? Were the Israelites slaves? Repeat the Scripture story of Abraham and the three men.

world. The sacred historian tells us, that, as 'he sat in the tent-door in the heat of the day, he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo! three men stood by him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant; let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on. And they said, So do as thou hast said.'

"And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.'

"And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man, and he hastened to dress it. And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.""

"It would be very unpleasant now to have one's feet washed, the first thing, when we go into a friend's house,-would it not, father?"

"Perhaps it would be inconvenient, to say the least, to most of us. But in the East, one of the first kind

nesses to strangers is to wash their feet. That the custom is very ancient, is evident, because several instances of it are mentioned in the Odyssey-Homer says:

"I scarcely think, father, that any one would now do as Abraham did."

"There is not the same occasion now, Harry, as then, for hospitality to travellers, except in some countries, where there are few, if any inns, or houses, appropriated to the accommodation of travellers."

"But we read of it many times in the Bible; so it must then have been common."

"True, Harry; and, 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers,' is a precept of the New Testament. Kindness to strangers seems a part of that universal benevolence which the divinely simple and beautiful religion of the Bible inculcates."

"Was any thing like this hospitality ever practised in our own country?"

What is the first kindness performed to strangers in the East? Is the washing of feet an ancient custom? What does Homer say of it? What precept is there in the New Testament, concerning the treatment of strangers?

"Yes, Harry; the word LORD is a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon word HLAFORD; from HLAF, bread, or loaf; and FORD, to supply or give out; the term Lord, therefore, means, the giver of bread. Hence, English noblemen are called lords, because they all used to keep open houses, into which strangers and vassals might enter and eat as much as they chose; on this account they were called Lords, or Givers of bread. Some of the most ancient families still keep up this custom."

"Well, I never knew what the term Lord meant before. I shall always recollect its meaning; it is so pleasing."

"The narrations of travellers abound in specimens of hospitality, which they have met with in the Eastern part of the world. Tavernier says, 'When we were not above a musket-shot from Anna, a fine old man came up to me, and took my horse by the bridle; 'Friend,' said he, come and wash thy feet, and eat bread at my house. Thou art a stranger; and since I have met thee on the road, do not refuse the favour I desire of thee.' We could not but go along with him to his house, where he feasted us the best manner

'

Of what is the word Lord a contraction? What is the meaning of the Saxon word Hlaford? Why are English noblemen called Lords? What instance does Tavernier give of Eastern hospitality?