39tf CONCLUSION. 
want of confidence in God. But why do 
you call us tlie first of created beings ? 
Mother. Because mankind, alone, has 
been gifted with reason. 
Lucy. Yet 1 have heard many stories 
of dogs, and also of elephants, which 
show that they are very sensible. 
Mother. There is an essential differ- 
ence between the reason of man, and the 
utmost sagacity of other animals, namely, 
the capability of self-improvement : our 
knowledge is always progressive, where- 
as their instinct never passes the bounds 
prescribed to it by Nature. 
Lucy. And are not we, also, the only 
animals that can speak ? 
Mother. Some can be taught to pro- 
nounce a few words ; but no other ani- 
mal can freely communicate its ideas^ 
The strongest proof, however, of the supe- 
riority of man, is, that he alone, in con- 
templating the power, and in feeling the 
goodness, of God, is privileged to look 
forward to another world, and is en- 
