the matter of the whole universe. He said, 'Let the universe be, and it arose.'

"The matter, which composes the various worlds in the universe, it is supposed, was thus created. But these worlds were without order-they were not the beautiful worlds, which they now are. They were only masses of matter.

"Afterwards, God began to mold, or fashion them into beautiful worlds. He fashioned them, at different times, as he pleased. Some were molded millions of years ago. Others, at a later period. Our world was fashioned, in its present form, only about six thousand years ago."

"But," said Harriet, "the sun, and moon, and stars, were made at the same time?" (Gen. i, 16.)

"Yes," said Mr. M. "the whole solar system was probably fashioned, at the same time, or within six days. Thomas, do you know what bodies the solar system includes ?"

"The sun, and the planets, which move round it." "What are the names of these planets?"

"Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Herschel."

"Are there not other bodies belonging to this sys

tem ?"

"Yes, sir. There are comets, four asteroids or small planets, and eighteen secondary planets or moons, which revolve round the larger planets."

"Very well. It is about the fashioning of the bodies belonging to this system, which Moses, who wrote the book of Genesis, tells us."

"But," said Sophia, "my Geography says, that of a clear evening, I can see a thousand stars, with the naked eye, and that Dr. Herschel, who owned a telescope, could see many millions with that instrument. Did not God create these stars also?"

"Certainly he did-Moses tells us, that 'in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth'-that is, the matter of all these worlds,-and then goes on to tell us, how he reduced the matter of the solar system to its present beautiful order."

"What are the other stars, father?" enquired Sophia.

"Tell me, first," said Mr. M. "What they are called."

"Fixed stars."

"Why?"

"Because they do not appear to move."

"You are correct. They are at so great a distance, that they do not appear to the naked eye to move. But astronomers tell us, that they do move. In the course of years, some of these stars, with the aid of glasses, appear nearer to one another, and others appear at a greater distance."

"What do they conclude from this?" asked James. "Attend, my children," said Mr. M. "and I will endeavor to explain to you, what astronomers think. I believe I can make the subject so plain, that you can understand.

"The fixed stars are supposed to be suns.'

"May I interrupt you to enquire, why they are supposed to be suns?" asked Thomas.

"Because," said Mr. M. " their distance is so great that the light from our sun could not strike upon them, and then come back to us. The light of our sun does strike upon Venus, and Mars, and the other planets, and upon our moon, and is reflected to us. But, this cannot be true of the fixed stars. Hence, they are supposed to shine just as our sun does, because they

are themselves suns.

Some appear larger than others, either because they are larger, or at a less distance, than others, or on both these accounts.

"Now, we know that our sun has worlds, which revolve around him-we conclude, therefore, that they have worlds, which revolve around them. They may not have as many, or they may have more. But, upon those which do revolve round them, they excite light, imparting comfort to the millions and millions of beings, who inhabit them."

"Oh! what a universe this is," exclaimed Harriet. "A sublime spectacle, truly," said Mr. M.—“But I have not told you all I intended.

"The universe, then, is divided up into solar systems-here is a sun and his worlds-one family-a father, with his dependent children, around him— there is another sun and his worlds, revolving about him-still farther on is a third, a fourth, and so on, till you reach millions and millions-all the work of one God—the father, protector, and friend of all."

"Father," said Harriet, "you make me think of some lines, which I have somewhere read."

"You may repeat them, if you please," said Mr. M.

These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good,

Almighty; thine this universal frame,

Thus wondrous fair! THYSELF how wondrous then!

"They are the words of Milton," said Mr. M., "and quite an appropriate thought. The works of God are truly magnificent. They shew forth a power and wisdom of which we can have but a faint conception. If the works of God are so truly wonderful, how glorious indeed must HE be. I will repeat some lines to you, on this subject, which are very fine; and which, when you have leisure, you will do well to learn.

-See through this vast extended theatre

Of skill divine, what shining marks appear!
Creating power is all around expressed,
The GoD discovered, and his care confessed;
Nature's high birth her heavenly beauties show:
By every feature we the parent know.

Th' expanded spheres, amazing to the sight,
Magnificent with stars and globes of light;

The glorious orbs which heav'n's bright host compose;
Th' imprison'd sea, resistless ebbs and flows;

The fluctuating fields of liquid air,

With all the curious meteors hov' ring there,

And the wide regions of the land proclaim,

The POWER DIVINE that raised the mighty frame.