of this book consists in what is contained within it; and I hope, when you are a great girl, and are able to understand its contents, that you will attend to every thing you read in it, and learn to be good and happy.

Ellen. Am I not old enough to understand it now, Mamma?

Mamma.

You may be able to understand some parts of it, Ellen; for it contains a great deal of very plain language, and a great many rules for behaviour so clear, that even children can understand them; and a great many amusing stories and relations calculated to interest the least informed persons. But I do not think you old enough to read this valuable book through from beginning to end now, as I hope you will do frequently as you advance in years. Many parts of it, however, there are which you cannot too early begin to study; and as you are so desirous of information on a subject so interesting to every human creature, if you will bring your little stool near me, I will tell you about some of those things related in this book, which is called the Bible. But you must be very good and very attentive, for what I am going to relate to you it is of the utmost importance that you

should thoroughy understand.

You do not for

get, I hope, who made the world?

Ellen. No, Mamma.

Mamma. Who was it?

Ellen. God, Mamma.

Mamma. You are right, my love; God made the world and every thing it contains. Before the world was made as it now is, there was darkness everywhere, and there was no form nor shape in any thing. But the good God was pleased, from this state of nothing, to make the beautiful world we live in; and first he made the light.

Ellen. Was it always dark, Mamma, before the world was made? How dismal every thing must have seemed!

Mamma. It would have been very dismal, Ellen, had there been at that time any persons living to have been affected by it. But there were none. God did not make man till he had made every thing suitable to his residence on the earth. And then first, as I told you before, he made the light. The light was a very great blessing, for without it the greatest beauties may exist without being perceived. No occupations can be carried on in darkness; and no one would be able to distinguish one person from another.

Ellen. But it is dark at night now, Mamma. Mamma. Yes, Ellen; God did not destroy be neces

the darkness entirely, because it

sary for man to repose part of his in sleep. And therefore God divided the time between light and darkness, that during the light man should walk erect, and enjoy the beauties of the creation; and that during the darkness he might rest quietly in his bed, and calmly refresh himself after the exertion and employment of the day. When we are asleep we have no need of light.

Ellen. What did God make next, Mamma?
Mamma.

God next made what is called in

the Bible, Ellen, the firmament; that great space

in which the birds fly. waters from the waters.

God then divided the

Part of the waters were

gathered into seas, and afterwards the dry land appeared; and then God caused the grass to grow upon the land, and trees and shrubs to spring up, and flowers to blow. And beautiful was the earth when thus adorned and fresh from the hands of the Creator. And God made two great lights; the sun to rule the day, to cheer and enliven the earth, and to strengthen the growth of plants and herbs; the moon to rulę

by night, and by its soft and lovely light to lessen the shade and the gloom of darkness. God also made the stars; those bright and dazzling specks in the heavens which you so often look at and admire, and which, when the moon is absent, and no clouds are in the heavens, give a cheering and twinkling lustre to the surrounding heavens.

Ellen. Did God make all these things, Mamma?

Mamma. Yes, Ellen-God made all these things and a great deal more; for, God is Almighty, or able to do any thing he pleases. And he is very good and kind, so that it pleased him to create all these things for the benefit of man. He then made living creatures to inhabit the world which he had made. He made the birds which fly in the air, the fishes which swim in the sea, the beasts which walk upon the earth, and the insects which crawl or creep over it. And last of all, he made Man, to enjoy the benefits of his other creations; and having looked at every thing that he had made, and found it to be very good, God rested from his work.

Ellen. Was God very tired that he wanted to rest, Mamma?

Mamma. No, Ellen, God was not very tired. It was not possible that he should be so. For as God is a perfect Being, he cannot feel fatigue or any other infirmity. But he rested from his work, after having employed six days in busy occupation, to be an example to all his creatures also to rest on the seventh day. This day is called the Sabbath, that is, the day of rest. And the seventh, or Sabbath day, or, as we call it, Sunday, has been sanctified or made holy ever since. -It is a day of rest for all the world. No one is to do any work on that day, neither man nor beast. And every one throughout the week ought to look forward to that day with pleasure.

Ellen. I like Sunday, Mamma, because Papa is at home all day; and because he takes me for such nice walks, and because I dine with you and Papa on that day. It was very good of God to make Sunday, or we should hardly have seen Papa at all.

Mamma. It was very good indeed of God, Ellen, and therefore on that day we go to church as we are directed to do in the Bible, to thank him for his great goodness, to praise him for all the excellent things he has made for our use and