QUESTION IX. What is the work of creation?
ANSWER. The work of creation is God's making all things out of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
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EARLY in the week following the return of Mr. Dermott, Mrs. Lang, a sister of Mrs. Dermott, arrived at their residence to make a short visit. She was accompanied by her twin daughters, who were near Walter's age. Thursday was the evening appointed for the catechisings, and during Mrs. Lang's visit, she so often heard the children refer to these occasions, as possessing great interest, that she was induced to accept her sister's urgent invitation, and remain to witness, what now seemed to her so incomprehensible, how children could be made to understand the doctrines of the Catechism.
Helen joyfully clapped her hands as Louise and Lucia made known their mother's decision, and exclaimed, "O, I'm so glad! You'll hear such a nice story; and then you'll always understand the answer when you've heard father and mother explain it!"
The little girls thought otherwise, but they wisely said nothing, and looked forward to the evening, with feelings of curiosity, rather than with anticipations of pleasure.
Mr. Dermott was still at home, and, at his wife's earnest request, had consented to act once more in the capacity of teacher. Anna having passed him the Catechism, and promptly repeated the answer to the question, he asked, "Who made the world, Isabelle?"
"God."
"Yes, my dear, God made the world and all things that are therein."
The gentleman arose from his seat, and paced the room two or three times without speaking.
At length he stopped opposite the chair of his sister-in-law, and said, "That was a delightful winter we passed in Washington together."