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Thoughts for November.

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all intercourse ;-ungrateful wretch! how wouldst thou like to be so treated? These cases strike us as deeply criminal:—and yet are we not guilty of the sin of ingratitude, in its worst shape, as respects our feelings towards our heavenly Father? How cold, how languid are our expressions of gratitude! our lips move, but how little, alas! has the heart to do with the service. What an admirable form of thanksgiving is provided in our Liturgy! Well, indeed, may we address our Creator as the "Father of all mercies ;"-" unworthy servants" at best we are; but let us not add to our unfitness by approaching the throne of grace carelessly. It is very proper we should 66 for pray a due sense of God's mercies," for then we must surely be "unfeignedly thankful;" and this genuine gratitude cannot fail to show itself in the whole tenor of our lives, which, under such regulation, will be happy and cheerful, let what will befall; then, be the hour dark November, or smiling June, we shall still feel, that here is not our home; we are on a journey, and must expect many uncomfortable events; but 'tis only a journey, our home is beyond, and there all will be right, provided we have followed the road marked out by our infallible guide. The Bible points out the path, it is open to all, and that we may obey its precious dictates, is the best wish with which I can close my November thoughts. F.

A MEXICAN SOLDIER.

As I have already given some specimens of soldiers in different parts of the world, I shall now present my young readers with a picture of a Mexican soldier. The print is taken from a little book of "Travels in North America:" but whether this picture is very

much like a Mexican soldier of the present day, I shall not pretend to say, as I have never seen one.

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The following description of Mexico is taken from the same book of Travels. Those of our readers who have a map of America, should look for the places as their names occur.

Vera Cruz, though not the capital of Mexico, is its principal sea-port town, and the seat of the commerce of that kingdom. It is also one of the earliest settlements which was made in this part of the world, by the Spaniards, when they conquered the country under Ferdinand Cortez. It was with some interest, that our traveller Philips found himself on this land of gold and silver; and his first object was to visit the mines

Description of Mexico.

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for which the country is so justly celebrated; he was also desirous of seeing the city of Mexico, which is the capital of the country; and he therefore determined to proceed directly thither, a distance from Vera Cruz of about eighty-four leagues. The quantity of silver annually extracted from the mines of Mexico, is computed to be ten times more than what is furnished by all the mines of Europe together, though he could not but think that it was dearly purchased, when he saw the toils which the Indians endure who are employed in these works. In our country this matter would be made very easy by means of our knowledge of machinery, but all the metal dug from the mines of Mexico, is carried up to the mouth of the mine in loads, on men's shoulders. The shafts or pits, are run in a slanting direction down into the earth, and flights of steps are cut in the sides, by which the men pass up and down in their works. Files of fifty or sixty of these poor creatures are constantly to be met with in these mines; and in coming up the steps they are obliged, from the heaviness of their burden, and the steepness of the ascent, to bend their body forward, supporting themselves, as they go along, on a short walking stick, not more than a foot in length. They are observed, likewise, to traverse this flight of steps in a zig-zag direction, crossing the way from side to side, as a horse does in going up a steep hill, as being less fatiguing than if they came straight up the steep ascent at once. The persons, however, employed in these mines, are neither forced labourers, slaves, or criminals, but are free to engage in the works or not, as they please, and their pay is good-they receive about five shillings for a day's work of six hours, though from the dearness of provisions that hire will not go farther than a much smaller sum, in a country where the soil is better cultivated.

Peaches, cherries, apples, and pears, grow there in great abundance; and the natives are remarkable for their fondness for flowers. In the fruit market of

Mexico, their shops are tastefully decorated with them; and, though a grave and melancholy people, having none of the vivacity which usually prevails in the Indian character, they take great delight in those simple pleasures.

A MEXICAN LADY.

Philips, during his travels in North America, resolved to take advantage of the opportunity afforded him of seeing the celebrated cataract of Niagara, the wonder of the natural world. The white foam from the fall had appeared rising like a cloud before him, for at least seven miles before he reached the spot; and the roar of the waters he could plainly hear at the same distance.

The river Niagara is divided by an island into two distinct cataracts, of which the most stupendous is

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that on the north-eastern side, and is called the HorseShoe-Fall, from its resemblance to that shape. The height of this fall is estimated at 150 feet, and is 900 feet broad. The other is denominated Fort Schloper Fall. Down both these cataracts the water dashes with the most tremendous violence, into a gulph beneath, so dark and deep, as almost to make the head reel to look over it. The lofty banks on each side are covered with thick woods, which, together with the tremendous roar of the waters, and the cloud of white foam thrown up by the fall, form, altogether, a scene almost beyond description for sublimity and grandeur.

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