And so Adam and Eve went out into the world to work and struggle and build homes for themselves.
[Illustration: ADAM AND EVE. (_Raphael._)]
By and by two baby boys were born to them,--Cain and Abel. Pure and kind and good these children should have been. But now they were born into a world of sin, and of the nature of sin they too partook.
When these children were grown men, Cain hated his brother. He grew sullen and revengeful towards him. The serpent that had tempted Adam and Eve now tempted him. He listened; and one day, when they were at work together in the field, Cain slew Abel and hid him in the earth.
Then a great storm gathered across the sky; and a voice said, "Cain, where is thy brother?"
Cain trembled with fear; for he knew it was the voice of God. But he raised his wicked face towards the heavens and cried, "Why should I know? Am I my brother's keeper?"
And the voice said, "Thou art thy brother's keeper."
Then God put a brand upon the brow of Cain, and drove him forth into the wilderness, to be a fugitive and a vagabond.
[Illustration: STATUE OF CAIN. (_Giovanni Dupre._)]
O, the wrath of the Lord is a terrible thing!-- Like the tempest that withers the blossoms of spring, Like the thunder that bursts on the summer's domain, It fell on the head of the homicide Cain.
And, lo! like a deer in the fright of the chase, With a fire in his heart, and a brand on his face, He speeds him afar to the desert of Nod,-- A vagabond, smote by the vengeance of God!
All nature, to him, has been blasted and banned, And the blood of a brother yet reeks on his hand; And no vintage has grown, and no fountain has sprung, For cheering his heart, or for cooling his tongue.
The groans of a father his slumber shall start, And the tears of a mother shall pierce to his heart, And the kiss of his children shall scorch him like flame, When he thinks of the curse that hangs over his name.
[Illustration: THE DOVE SENT FORTH FROM THE ARK.]
Earth shall be ocean! and no breath, Save of the winds be on the unbounded wave! Angels shall tire their wings, but find no spot: Not even a rock from out the liquid grave Shall lift its point to save, Or show the place where strong despair hath died, After long looking o'er the ocean wide For the expected ebb which cometh not; All shall be void, destroyed.