ascertain this Abel took himself rigidly to task; and his self-discipline was strict, impartial, and satisfactory.

One day, which had been more than usually sultry, Abel was seated beneath the umbrage of a spreading tamarisk, that screened him from the heat it was his wonted resting place- with his flocks browsing around him. He dwelt, even in that tranquil solitude, upon the uneasiness that stung his bosom from the unkindness of Cain. Acutely did the register of the heart point it out, and awake painfully the tenderest sensibilities he mourned his own misfortune, and still strove to palliate, if possible, a brother's inhumanity he strove to lull himself into the belief of his apparent scorn being more the result of habit than design. He strove to doubt, indeed, that Cain could have remembered the thousand proofs of attachment he had evinced for him. Now again, stern reality would chase away these visions, and the ungracious truth flashed in his eyes.

"He flies me," Abel disconsolately exclaims, 66 yes, it is too sure, he flies me he shuns my embrace. My society is spurned-my affection is laughed to scorn! Yet I love him—oh, is he not my brother?"

Abel's numerous flocks roved at will over the animated landscape. Behind the knot of tall trees where he reclined, gurgled a mountain rill, whose clear mirror, some way beyond, reflected the silver fleece of a beautiful lamb, that, captivated by its own form, could not remove from the spot. Suddenly Abel is roused from his reverie by the noise of some one approaching. He starts upon his feet. It is Cain. With open arms he flies to meet to welcome him. At the instant, Cain vaults across the streamlet upon his hunter's pole. The lamb impedes him—he strikes it to the ground. Alas! how sadly plaintive is its cry-ah, it is writhing in agony !

Now Abel, indeed, rushes forward; but not at this time to seek a brother's embrace. Abel no longer thinks to greet him; his extended arms are withdrawn; his active step turns from him. Ah, that beautiful lamb was Eve's own favourite! It was Eve herself who had hung its slender neck with a garland of the almond blossom-and every thing dear to Eve was beloved by Abel. In his anxieties to save, to shelter it, all other considerations are lost; even the very presence of its torturer is, for a time, forgotten. There, it is borne away in his arms. He tries to assuage its pain,

to calm its terrors, and restore the fondling with his caresses; as in feeble and feebler moans, it attests the wantonness of the cruelty that laid it low.

A reproachful exclamation of " Cain, Cain!" escaped, at last, from the lips of Abel.

Cain heard. He stood in the dark haughtiness of his soul surveying the scene before him — like the fabled Spirit of the storm, wrapped up in the gloomy grandeur of its own creation!

To Abel's mild rebuke, he turned upon him the wild, ungovernable flash of a fiery eye-a glance of sarcastic and undefinable scorn.

The eye of Abel met Cain's! But in Abel's the transient excitement was gone; no longer was there a lurking reproach. It had endured but for a moment, and then passed away like a summer cloud, over the benevolent sunshine of his countenance.

"Ah, my brother," said Abel, (now again resuming his affectionate deportment,) welcome to me, most welcome; but have some deference to our dear mother's feelings; and O, never forget to spare the unoffending, and to be merciful to the helpless."

"So, it is well!" the other rejoins, "your oc

cupation admirably suits you, you are unfit for manly pursuits: truly, lambs and tears are meet companions for the stripling."

Abel had just before dropped a tear; whether for the lamb, or for Eve, or for Cain!

"Cain, your words are ungenerous — perhaps unkind. Would that your sterner heart might melt at the sufferings of others, and guard against inflicting them. — Would that it might be softened down, but even now, to kindly feeling – and unite in the communion of natural affection with a brother's. Mine, be assured, while it mourns your impetuosity, would rejoice in your happiness."

CAIN. "Indeed!"

ABEL. "Yes, brother; however my attentions be disregarded, or my attachments needlessly chilled, my hearts allow of no indifference, not even of the suspicion of its estrangement."

CAIN. "Yes, yes, your eminence over me hourly becomes manifest-your offerings, too, are accepted your mother also prefers you — you are 'the favoured!' — No matter; Cain is still himself - Cain rests upon his own right arm! And you, you presumptuous! yes, you shall yet bitterly feel that Cain knows-will assert his

birthright — that a puny stripling is not to dare

Cain abruptly turned away— the brothers suddenly parted—one in sorrow, the other in anger. Another legacy of the Fall!- Here was DISCORD,

The selfishness, the continual injustice of Cain, had meritedly displeased his God. Cain, too, well knew he had offended, but was too proud to repent: he was conscious even of his besetting sin, but defied punishment: And yet in plain contradiction to his own convictions, he presumed to require from the Divine Being equal favour with his brother. Envy secured admittance to his breast, and there all its sweltering venom was deposited there jealousy rankled-there natural affection perished—there an assemblage of evil thoughts, wicked desires, and cruel resolves, mingled in debate. And yet, in some brighter moment which occasionally visited him—like the radiance of a comet upon the darkness of a midnight sky-he sometimes set in contrast his own