A hill teems with life; it moves, it bursts, and from it stalks the huge and unwieldy elephant. These are thy works, O thou OMNIPOTENT! Each morn thou call'st thy creatures from sleep, the image of non-existence; they awake, surrounded by thy bounties, and join unanimous to chant thy praise. The time will come, when thy praise shall resound from every corner of the peopled earth; when thine altars shall blaze on every hill, and man shall celebrate thy wond'rous works from the rising to the setting day.

Thus sang ABEL, seated by his beloved THIRZA. He ceas'd; yet she, fill'd with a divine transport, seem'd still to hear. At length encircling him in her snowy arms, while her eyes beam'd tenderness, she cried, O my love! the music of thy lips raises my mind to GOD. Thy endearing care not only protects my feeble body; but under thy direction my soul itself takes her flight; thou art her guide amidst the obscurity of doubt and darkness; thy wisdom dissipates the clouds, and turns her astonishment into devout ecstasy. How often have I, inspir'd by gratitude, rendered thanks to GOD MOST HIGH, for having created me for thee, and thee for me. O my love! unanimous in every wish, we were form'd to bless each other.

While she spoke, conjugal tenderness diffus'd inexpressible graces on every word and every gesture. ABEL remained silent, but his soften'd look, while he snatch'd her to his bosom, and the tear just starting from his glist'ning eye, spoke unutterable

love. Thus happy was man, thus pure his delights. The fruitful earth refresh'd and fitted him for action by her bounties. Contented with necessaries, he asks of heaven only virtue and health. Luxury and discontent had not yet fill'd him with insatiable desires, which inventive of numberless wants, bury happiness under a load of splendid miseries. An union of heart then form'd the nuptial tye. No fear of wasting penury, or the frown of a tyrannic parent; no low ambition; no want of lands or gold, then kept the soft maid from the fond bosom of the youth she lov'd. These cares are thy gifts, O luxury!

ABEL and THIRZA were still seated, when ADAM and EVE enter'd the bower. They had listen'd with delight to the song of ABEL, and had heard THIRZA Vent the effusions of her fondness. They now tenderly embrac'd their children, while their hearts expanded with parental affection, and a lively joy glow'd on their cheeks.

MAHALA, CAIN'S spouse, had follow'd the footsteps of her mother, and had been witness of the happiness of her brother and sister. Her pure mind was free from envy; baleful passion! yet dejection sat on her countenance, a mild languor appear'd in her eyes, sorrow had faded the bloom once seen on her now pallid cheek. She had heard THIRZA express her gratitude to heaven for having been created for ABEL, and he for her. Their mutual tenderness forc'd tears from her eyes, and sighs from her pain'd bosom, while sad remembrance drew the

comparison between the two husbands. But soon she wip'd away the pearly drops, and with a graceful smile enter'd the bower, where, with cordial affection, she saluted her brother and sister.

At the same time, CAIN passing by the fragrant shade, had heard ABEL's melodious voice, and had beheld his delighted father tenderly embrace him. At this sight envy fix'd her envenom'd sting in his heart, and he, giving a furious look at the bower, cry'd, What signs of joy are here! What fond caresses! I too might sing, were my days like his, spent in idly reclining in the shade, while the flocks were sporting or cropping the green herbage: but I am not made for singing. Rugged labour is my inheritance. Tho' I turn the glebe: tho' I break the stubborn earth, curst for my father's sin with barrenness, yet my fatigues meet with no such fond rewards: did my soft brother but toil like me, one day beneath the scorching sun, 'twould spoil his music; he'd trill no songs.-What, more embraces! how I hate this effeminate dalliance! but if that fair youth be pleas'd, no matter what I hate.

CAIN then with hasty step walk'd on. He had been overheard, and his discontent had filled the happy family in the bower with deep concern. MAHALA became still more pale, and dissolving in tears, sunk down by the side of THIRZA; while EVE, reclining on her husband, lamented the obduracy of her first born. O my much-lov'd parents! cry'd ABEL, I will follow my unhappy brother, will embrace him, and say whatever fraternal love can dic

tate to engage his affection. I'll try every art of persuasion to make him forget his anger. I will not leave him till he promises to love me. I have search'd into the very bottom of my soul, to know by what means I may regain him, and find a way to his heart. Sometimes I have kindled his extinguish'd love; but, alas! too soon the gloom returns, and sullen fadness damps the sacred flame.

With troubled look ADAM answered; I myself, my beloved ABEL, will go to your brother. Reason and paternal love shall unite their force to combat his obduracy. He will not, surely, resist the authority and tenderness of an afflicted father! O CAIN, CAIN, with what torturing cares dost thou fill my heart! The tumult of tyrannic passions has chased from thy soul every sentiment of benevolence and virtue. O sin! fatal sin! terrible is the desolation thou spreadest in the human breast. What gloomy presages torture my sad bosom, when I look thro' futurity, and behold thy ravages among my unhappy offspring! Thus spoke the father of mankind.Grief sat heavy on his venerable brow. He left the bower, and with hasty steps sought his first-born.

CAIN beheld him coming, and ceasing from his labour, thus began: What means this sternness in my father's look? It was with no such air of severity thou cam❜st to embrace my brother. Why do thine eyes reproach me?

Thou wouldst not, my son, have read reproach in mine eyes, returned ADAM, wert thou not conscious thou deserv'st it. Yes, CAIN, thou deserv'st re

C

proach, and thy offended father is come to thee in all the bitterness of grief.

Without any love, interrupted CAIN, that sensation is reserved for ABEL.

With love also, resum'd ADAM, heaven is my witness, I love thee with a father's fondness. These tears, these inquietudes and anxious cares that agitate me, and no less her who brought thee forth with pain, have their source in the most affectionate love. "Tis this tender love and concern for thy happiness, that casts a gloom over our days. 'Tis this love that causes the silence of the night to be interrupted by our sighs and lamentations. O CAIN, CAIN! didst thou love us, it would be thy most earnest care to dry up our tears, and to dispel that cloud of grief which darkens our days and fills them with horror. Ah! if thou still retainest in thy breast any regard for the omniscient CREATOR, to whom the inmost recesses of thine heart are open: if the least spark of filial love to us, thy parents, still remains in thy obdurate soul, I conjure thee by that regard and that love, to restore to us our lost peace:-Restore, O my son, our extinguish'd joy. Nourish no longer against thy brother, against thy brother who loves thee with a sincere affection, this ruthless hatred. He longs to embrace thee. Gladly would he clear from thy mind the tares of discontent with which it is over-run. O CAIN! thou wert my first-born, the beginning of my strength. When thine infant eyes open'd to the light, I beheld thee with all the father in my