What a strange thing it would be if we had no houses to live in, and were forced to sleep on the tops of trees, in caves, or among the clefts and crannies of rocks and mountains! Many ages ago, mankind, then in a savage state, were obliged to make use of such wild retreats; they had not learned to _build houses_; and were, in this respect, not so well off as the birds, which, you know, mostly manage to build a nice warm nest, in which they bring up their young. The first houses were, in all probability, cut out of the sides of crags or banks; after this it was found, perhaps, more advantageous to build them of branches of trees, set up on end, and leaning together in a point at the top; movable houses were also made of the skins of beasts, stretched over a pole of a similar form. These were the earliest tents; but how long ago it is since the eastern nations, who were the first inhabitants of this earth, had such kinds of habitations, is not known. We know that, at the present day, all savage nations have rude houses. The Icelanders build them of snow, as seen in pictures; and the Indians of America, as well as the savages of the South Sea islands, of the wilds of Africa and New Holland, form their huts in the rudest manner. We know, also, that the Irish _mud cabins_, and the Scotch _hovels_, and some of the English _cottages_, are not a great deal better than the huts of savages. But, if you look at the buildings in our towns and cities, you will find them to be very different from the rude hut, wigwam, or snowhouse; you will observe that they are much larger, and of far greater beauty. It is of some interest for us to inquire how houses are _built_, and about the materials of which they are _made_; and, lastly, of the different styles of architecture: for houses and temples were built of different forms in different ages, and are now very different in _Asia_ from what they are in _Europe_ and _America_. Houses have _walls_, _roofs_, _doors_, _chimneys_, _rooms_, _passages_, _stairs_, _floors_, _closets_, _sinks_, _cellars_, _pantries_, _kitchens_. The _roof_ of a house is the top of it, and is built aslant, so that when it rains the water may run off. A frame-work of wood is made, which is first covered with boards, and afterwards with shingles or slates. The _walls_ of a house are made either of bricks or stones, laid one on the top of the other, and joined together by cement or mortar, or of wood. The _chimneys_ proceed from the fireplace to the top of the house, and come out through the roof, above which they are carried up several feet; on their top is often an earthen pot, called a chimney-pot. The use of a chimney is to carry off the smoke. Chimneys have not been thought of above a thousand years; before this time the smoke used to go out at a hole in the roof. This is the case now in the worst of Scotch and Irish cabins.