gilded playthings and jewelled rattle. Here is a picture of equality. Where God alone has power to act, and man has not yet interfered, there we see that perfect equality of happiness, which is ever the will of the Divinely impartial and universal Parent.
Observe, too, in the joy of the mother's heart, a similar proof of the impartiality of the Divine goodness. To the happy young mother, who has brought into the world a little new immortal being, what matters it in what situation in life she may be! Her joy is comparatively unaffected by circumstances, and independent of them. Whether, in the world's estimation, she be ranked among the high or the low, among the rich or the poor, (unless, indeed, it be a state of absolute want), she feels herself high, she feels herself rich:—high, for she has been allowed the privilege and honor of participating, as it were, with the most High in His work of creating,—bringing into existence the noblest of all creatures, a human being; rich, for there before her is a treasure above all valuation:—what would she take in exchange for it? Let the banker bring his bags of gold, and tempt her if he can; let the noble bring his titles, ay, or the king his kingdom, and offer them for the infant,—and see her look of scorn! Is she not then rich? Yes, truly rich, for she possesses that which no outward riches or external circumstances can insure—namely, happiness, delight, deep joy of heart, as she looks proudly on her blooming boy. That joy is the gift of the good Creator, the kind Lord above, who in His love has permitted her to be the instrument, in His hands, of bringing into existence an heir of immortality; and who, both as a reward, as it were, for the great use she has already performed, and
