And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.—Luke, ii. 34.

Poor race of men! said the pitying Spirit,

Dearly ye pay for your primal Fall

Some flowerets of Eden ye still inherit,

But the trail of the serpent is over them all!

Thomas Moore.

Alas—the evil that we fain would shun

We do, and leave the wished-for good undone;

Our strength to-day

Is but to-morrow’s weakness, prone to fall;