32 LESSON VI. 



the consequences of their being situated amidst 

 such perils. 



Child. Yes : the shells must frequently he 

 broken, and the poor animals perish. 



Teacher. Your first conclusion is true : the 

 shells are often broken or injured ; but God always 

 makes a suitable provision for the circumstances 

 under which he places his creatures. Recollect 

 that the same Almighty Being who rules the 

 tempests, directs also the movements of the 

 minutest animals ; he knows the effect of the for- 

 mer upon the latter, for he sees all the workings 

 of his mighty plan. I am sure that you must 

 know from scripture that such is the case. 



Child. Yes ; without Him not a sparrow 

 falleth to the ground. 



Teacher. This providential care is very evident 

 in the history of mollusks. We find that the 

 construction of the shell varies according to the 

 situation in which it is placed. Some shells found 

 in the rapid rivers of America,* are fitted by their 

 great hardness and thickness to contend with the 

 most boisterous elements ;f others on the con- 

 trary, by their lightness, are constructed to float 

 on the surface of the sea, and, offering no resis- 

 tance, are carried along gently by its waves. Some 

 of the mollusks, J by adding to the weight of their 

 little bark, are enabled to descend and seek a 

 shelter in the deep of the ocean ; some you 



* The Unio. t Helix lanthina. 



Nautilus. Pinna. 



