and the skins of slain animals for their covering; piling up stones at its entrance at night to keep out the lion or the bear. Let us imagine that entrance to be shaded by broad-leaved fig-trees from the heat of the sun; with creeping vines hanging their clusters of rich grapes on its jagged sides; flowers of primeval beauty adorning the pathway which led to it; and before it, gently descending, a verdant lawn of grass, at the foot of which a silvery stream murmured musically by, through whose pure waters, sparkling in the sun, might be seen, among the variegated pebbles of its bed, gold and bdellium and onyx stone; whilst on its banks verdant trees, drooping their graceful branches, sipped at its gentle bosom, filled with birds of variegated plumage, who made the valley resound with their melodious songs.

Such, we may imagine, was the home of the boy brothers; for such places were then, and are even now, found on earth. The Garden of

Eden, from whence their parents had been excluded, was more beautiful far; and though earth was cursed for man's sake, neither it nor he was doomed to utter ruin. Hope yet shed her cheering beams on both. Clouds there were, but there was sunshine too.

Here on that mossy grass their tiny feet would first essay to walk, and over its gentle slopes we may fancy we see them running and leaping, rolling and tumbling, in childish glee; their only companions the frisking lambs of the flock which fed on its tender herbage.

When the first was

CAIN and ABEL were the names of these first children seen on earth. born, his mother called him "Cain," which means, I have obtained; or, as it is written, "I have gotten a man from the LORD." When the second was born he was called "Abel," which signifies a grass-plot; perhaps to mark the place of his birth such a place as we have just attempted to describe.

How were they dressed? boys in England are now. climate was temperate and

Certainly not as It might be, as the rather warm, that in clothing at all, until

the day-time they wore no they grew up to be young men; and then the skin of some animal, fastened over one shoulder, or girt around the loins, might be their only covering. With their limbs thus free for action they would grow up strong and healthy—the ripe fruits of the trees their food, and the milk of the flock, or the clear waters of the stream, their only drink.

Though alone in the world, without playfellows or companions, what playfellows and companions would they be unto themselves! Locked in each other's arms, how lovely would they look when enjoying their rosy rest. Forth together would they trip, hand in hand, over the grass, and pluck the new-born flowers, or stand and admire some beautiful bird, or listen to its trilling notes, or, on the banks of the stream,

watch the movements of its silver-scaled tenants as they darted to and fro with their brown fins and chisel tails. What a life of sweet simplicity and lamb-like enjoyment would theirs be then!

And though there was no school, with books, and slates, and paper, and pencils, and pens, and ink, all around and above and beneath was a school to them; and though no master taught them, they had a better teacher far in their own beloved mother. Ah! who can tell the lessons she taught them, or who picture that beauteous form bending over her two boys as she told them of the far happier place in which she and their father once dwelt-and of all its wondrous and lovely scenes.

But how would her tender bosom swell with emotion, and the tears trickle down her lovely yet faded cheeks, as she confessed to these first heirs of sin and death that it was herself who first did the wrong to the Great Father, and disinherited her posterity of that glorious in

heritance. O! what lessons would she give them on the evils of disobedience, and how would she warn them against doing any wrong. Then would she wipe her tears with the tresses of her flowing hair, and her fair face would again brighten with hope as she told them all was not lost that ONE should yet come of her who should bruise the head of the wicked adversary, and restore her race to their Father and a better inheritance, far beyond the reach of satan or of sin.

Such were the lessons, we may imagine, which this first mother taught her boys; and how would they stand and listen! Who is a father who has gathered around him, by the fireside of a winter's evening, his own dear lads, and told them tales of his boyish days, who has not observed how intently, nay more, how ardently, they listened to his recitals. But what father or mother could ever tell such things of their early life as the first parents of the world?—