red between the two as
a fire-post and told them that he who would find the bottom or the top
of the post first, would show that he is the greatest. Vrishnoo
immediately changed himself into a hog, and began to root up the earth
with the hope of finding the bottom of the post. Brumha changed himself
into a swan, flew up towards the top of the post, and cried out, I have
found it, when he had not. This, you know, my dear children, was a
falsehood. For this falsehood, it is said, no temple is erected for his
worship.

Vrishnoo was a thief and a liar. He was once dwelling in the house of a
dairyman, and he used constantly to be stealing butter and curdled milk
from the dairyman's wife. She did not know, for a long time, what became
of her butter and curdled milk; but at last she found out that Vrishnoo
was the thief. To punish him for his theft, she tied him to a rice
mortar.

Siva's conduct was very bad. I will tell you but one thing about him. On
one occasion he was playing at cards with his wife Parvathe. Vrishnoo
was appointed to determine who was the best player. After playing for a
little season Parvathe won the game. Siva then beckoned to Vrishnoo to
declare that he, instead of Parvathe, had won it. This he did. In
consequence of this falsehood, he was cursed by Parvathe, and changed
into a snake.

And now, my dear children, why do I tell you about these gods? I tell
you for the purpose of making you thankful that you were born in a
Christian land, where you have the Bible to teach you better things. Had
you not the Bible, you would worship just such wretched beings as these
poor Hindoos worship. Perhaps you know that our Saxon fathers, before
they had the Bible, were as great idolaters as are this people. They
worshipped Thor and Woden and other similar idols, and they were even in
the habit of offering up human sacrifices Surely, if there is any thing
which should make you give your hearts to your Saviour and love him
above all things, it is God's gift of the Bible to you.

CHAPTER VII.

THE THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY MILLIONS OF THE GODS OF THE HINDOOS--THE
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE--THE TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS--THE DIFFERENT
HELLS.

My dear children--I told you that in one of those seasons when Brahm was
awake, Brumha, Vrishnoo, and Siva were somehow drawn from Brahm's
essence. The three hundred and thirty millions of the gods of the
Hindoos were also drawn from this essence; as were all the atoms w