OTHING of all that God had yet made was

NOTHIN

alive. But now, after he had prepared light, air, and food, he created living things. He filled the water with fishes, small and great. He made birds of every kind and color to come forth, to fly in the air, perch upon the trees, and sing among the branches.

2. Some birds were formed to swim upon the water, such as the ducks, and geese, and the beautiful swan. God also created insects and beasts. Some of the insects creep like the 'ant; others fly like the bee. Among the beasts, the elephant is noted for size, the lion for strength, the dog for sagacity, the stag for beauty, the lamb for gentleness.

3. When God first clothed the earth with green,
And sprinkled it with flowers,

There were no living creatures seen
Within its pleasant bowers.

4. Soon by his word God filled the earth,
And waters underneath,

With things above the plants in worth,
That feel and move and breathe.

5. The fishes, covered o'er with scales,
In ocean swiftly glide;

With their vast tails the wondrous whales
Scatter the waters wide.

6. The birds among the branches sing,
And chief the nightingale ;

The peacock shines with painted wing;
The dove does softly wail.

7. Insects with humming fill the air,
And sparkle in the sun;
The butterfly by colors fair
Surpasses every one.

8. Pleasure the whole creation fills:
They leap, they swim, they fly;
They skim the plains, they climb the hills,
Or in the valley lie.

LESSON VII.

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THE CREATION.

PART SIXTH.— ADAM AND EVE.

THUS

JS far, all the living creatures which God had made had bodies only, and, of course, had only animal life. They had not souls, as we have. Yet

God, their Creator, kindly cared for them, and provided them with needful food.

2. But at last he determined to make man. First he made his body of the dust of the earth, and breathed upon it to give it life. Then he put within this living body an intelligent and immortal soul, made in his own image.

3. Do you ask what a soul is? It is that part of us which thinks and knows, which reasons and chooses, which hopes and fears, which loves and hates, which is happy or wretched.

4. When God had made man, and given him a soul or spirit like his own, he called the man Adam. To him God brought every kind of fish and bird and beast which he had made, and he let Adam name them all.

5. The kind Creator also made for this first man a beautiful garden, called the Garden of Eden. In it, every thing that was good for food and pleasant to look upon was planted by the divine hand; and Adam had the care of it.

6. But among all the animals which God had made, and given to Adam for his use and pleasure, there was not one suitable for a friend and companion; and he was lonely. The Lord saw that it was not good for him to be alone.

7. So he caused Adam to sleep very soundly; and while he slept God took out a part of his side, and made it into a woman. Then he brought her to the man; and Adam awaked, and saw the companion whom his Maker had given him.

8. The name of this first woman was Eve. Adam received her as his best and dearest friend; and the happy pair lived together in love, as husband and wife, in the beautiful home which their Creator had made and given them,

How did God make man's body? What did he put within it? What is a soul, or spirit? What did God call the first man? Who named the birds and fishes and beasts? Who made a beautiful garden for Adam? What was its name, and what grew in it?

HOW FATHER HENSON LEARNED TO READ.

UNTI

NTIL he was forty-seven years old, Father Henson never had the privilege of hearing any one read the Bible. But at that time, while in the home

that he had found in Canada, a neighbor became responsible for the cost of teaching a little son of Father Henson for a time, that he might be company for his own boy.

2. The schoolmaster became interested in the little colored boy, and taught him to read. And on Sabbath mornings, before Father Henson went to preach or talk to the people, which he was in the habit of doing, his son would read a text for him.

3. In this way he went on for some time. One Sabbath morning, he asked his son to come and read to him. The little fellow came and stood by his father. "Where shall I read?" he asked. "Where you please, my son," said his father; for he was too ignorant of the Bible to be able to tell him what chapter or verse to take. And then the boy began, of his own accord, to read solemnly, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

4. "I shall never forget that morning," said Father Henson, who described the scene in my hearing, "nor how these words affected me. My heart overflowed; the tears were running down my cheeks. My little boy noticed it. Father,' said he, 'can't you read the Bible yourself? '—'No, my son, I can't read.' 'But why not, father?'—' Because, my son, I had nobody to teach me to read when I was young.'

6

5. "Well, then, why don't you learn now?''Oh, I am too old; I can't begin now to learn to read.'Yes, indeed you can,' said the boy; 'you are never too old to learn.' But I could not then make up my mind," continued the father, "to hum