"The lines are similar," observed Mrs. M., " to the hymn which Sophia has recently been learning." "Can you repeat it my dear?" said Mr. M.

Sophia. The spacious firmament on high,

With all the blue etherial sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

Th' unwearied sun from day to day
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the list'ning earth,
Repeats the story of her birth;

While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball?
What though nor real voice, nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs are found?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,
The HAND that made us is Divine!

"I have something more to tell you," now continued Mr. M. "about the creation. The universe, as I said, is composed of suns, with their attendant worlds. The fixed stars are suns. Though said to be fixed, they are known to have motion. But around what do they move? It is not certain-it cannot be provedbut it is supposed, that they are divided up into clusters or families—each cluster of fixed stars, moving around some still greater sun-and these greater suns, with all their attendant clusters, with their solar systems, moving around some one central point, or great central world in the universe."

"Oh! what a sublime thought," exclaimed Harriet. "Let me attempt to give you a still clearer idea. Let us begin with the inferior planets, or moons, which belong to the earth, Jupiter, Saturn, &c. These revolve round the planets-the planets revolve round the sun-other moons and other planets do the same, round their suns-our sun, with other suns belonging to the same cluster, revolves round some still greater sun-and these greater suns around some great world, perhaps in the center of the universe."

"Father," said Harriet, "this is a glorious view of the universe if it be only true."

22

"I have told you, my child," said Mr. M. " that, while there is not evidence sufficient to prove that it is so, there is so much evidence, that one need not fear to believe it."

"And," continued Mr. M., "for myself I can go still farther. It is a delightful-sublime thought, and I see no objection to thinking it may be so-that the great central world, around which the whole material creation is moving, in grand and harmonious order, is Heaven itself. Here, may be, is the capital of the universe the holy city of God-the throne of the king of kings-the temple not made with hands. Here, as from a center, God may look abroad upon all his works; and, to this delightful and blessed abode of his glory, may be gathering in, from time to time, from various worlds, sons and daughters, who are prepared for so glorious and holy an abode."

"Father," said Harriet, "the thoughts you have suggested make heaven a more glorious place, than I ever imagined before."

"Ah! my child," said Mr. M. "whether the view I have given be correct or not, heaven is a more glorious place, than you or I shall ever imagine, while here below. The Bible tells us, that, 'eye hath not

seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the

what God hath prepared Oh! that I might indulge

heart of man to conceive, for them that love him.' the hope, that, one day, I may see all my children residents of that city, whose maker and ruler is God."

"Father," said James, "did you not say, that the matter of which the solar system is composed was created at the time the other materials of the universe were created-millions and millions of years ago?" "No, my son, not that it was then created; but might have been-probably was, though we have not full proof of it."

"But, why is it probable?"

"I will tell you. Learned men are of the opinion, that all the worlds in the universe are so connected, as to form one grand system. They compare the creation to a machine, which has many parts, each part dependent upon all the rest. Remove but one part, and the balance would be destroyed, and the regularity of the machine be disturbed. In like manner, take away one system, or one world from the creation, and the balance and movements of the creation would be affected.

"Hence, if the whole creation be united in one system, it is fairly concluded, that it was all made at one, and the same time.

"Do you understand what I have said?"

"I think I do."

"But, father," said Harriet, "I think of an objection, which I do not know how you will answer."

"What is it, my child?" asked Mr. M.

"Why, father, we read, that one day the earth and the works that are therein are to be burned up. Won't this destroy the balance which you were speaking of?" "Let us examine the passage," said Mr. M. "You will find it in II. Peter iii, 10. 'But the day of the Lord will come, as a thief in the night; in the which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up.'

"This doubtless refers," said Mr. M., "to that awful period-the day of judgment, when this world shall be dissolved."

"No other worlds but this, father?"

"The solar system to which we belong," replied Mr. M.