"O Sin, what hast thou done to this fair earth!"
"Sin hath broken the world's sweet peace—unstrung
The harmonious chords to which the angels sung."
[CHAPTER XVII.]
MAN'S FALLEN STATE; OR, THE DEPOSED MINISTER.
QUESTION XVII. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
ANSWER. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
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IT was a rare event in the family of Mr. Dermott for the children to disagree to such an extent as to use unkind words. They had early been taught the beauty of yielding to each other's wishes, and thus gaining a conquest over themselves. With Isabelle's quiet temperament, this was comparatively easy; but with Walter and Helen it was far more difficult, as they were naturally hasty and impulsive, often reminding their father of his own youth by their striking similarity to himself.
On the very afternoon of the catechising, however, Walter came in from his play somewhat out of temper, and, taking a book from Anna's hands, sat down to read. The tears quickly filled the eyes of the little girl; but Helen loudly remonstrated, "How unkind you are, Walter, when Anna is just in the midst of a story!"
"So am I," replied the boy, petulantly, "and it's my book."
"I lent you my new one before I had read it myself," sobbed Anna.
"Here, take it, then!" exclaimed Walter, angrily. "Such a fuss when a boy sits down to read his own book!" And he threw the volume into the lap of the weeping girl.