EARLY TIMES.

Ir was the morning of the Sabbath: there was a holy calm resting upon the earth, and the air seemed hushed in solemn silence.

Two beings, members of the first family of earth, were sitting beneath a tree whose pensive. branches shut out the rays of the sun, while they invited the morning breezes that came over meadow and upland, bearing the fragrance of every lovely flower, and imparting health and delight.

The morning hymn died away, though gentle sounds, as if echoes were multiplied in the air, seemed to repeat and protract the notes. There were auditors, not visible, and worshippers, unseen, whose office was to bear upward the prayer and praise of contrite, grateful hearts to the visible presence of Him who was invisibly present every where, or seen only in and by his works, and heard by his providences. When the aerial sounds had ceased, the pair rose from their knees; and as the youngest and most delicate assumed an upright position, her long hair fell gracefully backward, and displayed a face of exquisite loveliness, on which rested a smile of humble devotion, mingled with a consciousness of accepted sacrifice.

"I would gather a bunch of flowers for dear Cain," said the female, "but that I have marked that he never exhibits a love for flowers, though his

life is devoted to the cultivation of the earth. It is strange that he should find no pleasure in what may be considered the most delightful branch of his pursuit, especially when that pursuit is voluntary."

"That is because the end of his labor is that which occupies his thoughts: he has less joy in the pursuit than in the results, and the accumulation of perishable products is the object which excites and rewards his exertions."

"But Cain has a heart susceptible of the finest feelings, of the deepest, purest love. O Abel, could you have heard his impassioned appeal to me when last we met, and when all I could say to him was, that he could never have less from me than a sister's love, and I had nothing more to offer, — could you have heard or seen him then, you would have confessed that Cain possessed all that power of love which you say is necessary to an enjoyment of nature's wonders, as they lie stretched out before us."

"Susceptibility of strong feelings of love, indeed, my dear sister, is not the evidence of that quality which makes lovely- the most sordid selfishness is quite consistent with the most violent passion. True love, pure affection, seeks the good of its object."

"But could Cain have sought only his personal gratification in his efforts to bring me tu his tent? Might he not have sought my happiness as well as his own, and intended to devote himself to the

promotion of that peace which arises only from mutual sacrifice?"

“What, dear Mahala, would supply to you the place of love, when the rash humor of our elder brother should manifest itself, if not in unkindness, at least in restlessness and neglect?"

"How often, Abel, have we seen the sign of grief, almost of anger, pass from our father's brow, and the smile of affection take its place, as he cast his eye upon his group of children upon Cain and you, and little Ada and myself! May not the Creator have placed children in the tent of man, not more to perpetuate the race than to soothe present irritation, and bring back to the heart the affection which disappointment and vexation seem to be expelling thence?"

"But let us hasten, Mahala, for I see our father entering the tent of worship, and I would not be, nor have you, the last to meet him: Cain yet lingers in his garden, and will earn rebuke by his tardiness."

Hand in hand the affianced ones passed onward, and joined the family group that was about to offer prayer to God. to God. And upward to heaven from the family altar ascended the smoke of the sacrifice which the fire was consuming, and upward from the hearts of the worshippers went the incense from the sacrifice of desires and the offerings of affection, which man burns to his Maker's glory and his own good.

Another form was walking in his garden; and the face of Cain, burned as it was by exposure to the wind and sun, was lighted by a smile of recognition, as he welcomed the winged messenger.

"I came with pleasure, Cain, at your bidding, for I have waited long this rarely-occurring invitation."

"Invitation! Joyed as I am to meet you, did I invite your presence?"

"Has sin changed aught in me?"

"Has it not? Where are your daily colloquies with heavenly messengers? Where the fulfilment in you, or through you, of those mighty promises whose prospective fulfilment soothed the anguish of Eve's departure from paradise?"

"Shall not the world be blessed in my seed?" "Neither in thee nor thine."

"'Tis for Abel, then, and Mahala; and with this outrage on my affection is the disappointment of the promise of my birth. And I must toil on amid the profusion of inanimate earth- an outcast from love, disappointed in my ambition; and Abel must triumph in all- beloved of Adam and Eve, of Mahala, of

"God."

"

"Of God-beloved of God; and thus from him shall come the Shiloh."

The fading form of the angel was scarcely seen by Cain, but his voice was heard pronouncing, "Neither in thee nor in Abel shall the promise be

fulfilled; for the unborn has the Maker reserved the honor."

The evening of the second day of the week was drawing on, and the light of the declining sun was resting on the beautiful landscape that lay west of the Hill of Sacrifice.

No cloud that day marked the horizon; and as the sun sank lower and lower in the evening retreat, his expanded form poured new richness upon the heavens, and the whole west was one mass of liquid light.

From a southern point at the base of the hill was seen a movement, and shortly afterwards six human beings were observed emerging from the tent, that occupied a sheltered position below. Mankind, in solemn procession, was going up to the evening sacrifice. It was the hour and the place.

Foremost in the company was Adam. In his towering form was combined all that has since been dreamed of manly perfection; his tread was firm upon the earth, and his eye was elevated towards the altar that stood half way up the mountain; though in that eye was observable a restlessness, which denoted more of a parent's anxiety than a parent's pride. Leaning upon the arm of Adam was the mother of mankind, full of ripened beauty. Disobedience had driven her from paradise, but it had made Adam the companion of her departure. Grief, silent, thought