34 LESSON VI. 



such a worm should have the power of remedying 

 so great disasters. But could not God have en- 

 abled them to form their shell at first too strong 

 to be liable to injuries, or else have placed them 

 out of the reach of danger ? 



Teacher. Doubtless God could have done 

 either. But all creation, as it is now constituted, 

 reads us the lesson which we ought never to for- 

 get, that the work which was pronounced f( good," 

 when it first came from the Almighty's hand, has 

 been marred. Every where we trace the con- 

 sequences of the fall all nature in its tendency 

 to decay, shews the sentence of death passed upon 

 it, yet it bears even in its fallen state, the im- 

 press of divine love and mercy. Now examine 

 again the shells before you, and try and discover 

 where any of them have been repaired. 



Child. Several appear patched. 



Teacher. These patches mark where some 

 hole has been covered over. 



Child. But here are some shells which have 

 regular seams. 



Teacher. These seams indicate where the 

 animal in consequence of its growth made an ad- 

 dition to its residence. Observe this shell. (Bu- 

 cinum flammium.) Can you not trace the gradual 

 extension of the shell from a very small size ? 



Child. Yes, it is marked by a rib like that 

 at the opening. 



Teacher. You will find a great many shells 

 which shew that they have been enlarged in the 



