that moved upon the earth, was drowned; "both of fowl and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing which creepeth upon the face of the earth, and every man." And Noah and those who were with him in the ark, were the only creatures which were left alive. The waters remained upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

At length God caused the rain to cease: he made a wind to pass over the earth to dry up the waters; and the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. It was in the second month of the year that the flood began, and in the tenth month, that is, in eight months after Noah first entered the ark, the tops of the mountains were seen again. After waiting forty days longer, ah opened the window of the ark, and sent forth a raven. The raven did not return, but continued to fly to and fro until the waters were dried up, and he could find something to perch upon. Noah sent out a dove too; but the little dove could find "no rest for the sole of her foot," and as she could not remain on the wing so long as the raven, she came back again; and Noah put out his hand and took her into the ark. In seven days more, Noah sent out the dove again, and this time, she

な

came back, bringing in her beak an olive leaf. Then Noah knew that the waters must be abated.

Another seven days passed: Noah sent out the dove a third time, and this time it did not return; and therefore Noah knew that the waters must be

dried up.

Then Noah removed the covering from the ark and looked out, and found that the surface of the ground was dry. This was in the six hundred and first year of his age. And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh morning of the month, the earth was dry again. Noah and his family, therefore, remained in the ark a year and ten days.

Then "God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth out of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee, every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both of fowl and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth: that they may be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.”

Look at that graceful group of the children of Noah, with the venerable old man himself in the midst, resting on a staff; the beasts and creeping things just issuing forth from the ark, pass before them

in pairs, two and two! The birds are flying in the air, spreading and flapping their wings, which are benumbed from want of use: the doves bear an olive branch over the head of this good man, whose first thought is, to offer thanks to God for the wonderful preservation of himself and family, amidst the wreck of all else living!