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i 
EARLY TIMES. 65 
and through the clear, pure atmosphere above and 
around them burst forth a thousand stars, ere yet 
the posthumous light of the sun had passed from 
the west. 
Cain went silently and sullenly down the hill, 
darkening in soul. 
The wedded pair rose from before the altar, and 
hand in hand they sought their home. 
Was it the evening breeze amongst acacia 
springs that poured such sweetness out ? Or was 
it the multitude of angelic visitors invisibly throng¬ 
ing the air that struck the chords of their harps, 
and sent up with the incense from the altar their 
epithalamium for the first marriage of the chil¬ 
dren of men ? If it was, their voices of praise and 
thanksgiving were not more acceptable than the 
incense that went up from the hearts of Abel- and 
his wife 
J. R ClIANULER. 
