MOLLUSCA. 3 



nature presents, the hand of an Almighty and 

 beneficent Creator. When you are struck with 

 the organization of a plant, fitting it for some 

 particular purpose, or see the means of defence 

 possessed by one animal, of attack by another, 

 should your admiration rest in these instruments, 

 whilst you forget him who prepared and fitted 

 the instrument for its appointed work ? Suppose 

 that you have yourself made or done anything 

 very nicely and with great pains for a friend, 

 would you feel satisfied, or think it just, if, 

 whilst your performance was admired, you were 

 forgotten ? 



Child. I should consider such conduct very 

 unjust. 



Teacher. And what lesson do you suppose 

 that I wish to teach you by drawing your atten- 

 tion to your own feelings when your industry 

 and ingenuity have been thus overlooked ? 



Child. That when we are struck with the 

 beauty and utility of any of God's works, we 

 not merely admire the thing, but praise God for 

 his wisdom, and thank him for his goodness. 



Teacher. It is with such feelings that I wish 

 you to study Natural History, and it would then 

 prove a very profitable as well as delightful em- 

 ployment.* You must now return to the con- 



* It is most important in giving instruction in Natural 

 History, early to accustom children to recognise the God of 

 nature in his works. If God be robbed of his glory, how 

 can we anticipate a blessing on our labours ? Has not expe- 

 rience proved, that the study of the wonders of creative 

 B 2 



