The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-11-06
A Good Start in Life.

a GOOD Start IN L)fes
No two brothers ever had better
start In life than Cain and Abel. One
was II farmer, the other II shepherd.
Cain must needs have had good farm,
since no young man ever had so much
land lo choose FROM. There could he no
dispute about titles. II was n virgin
soil. II was not, of course, cultivated
like the Garden of Eden, neither was
| the land worn ont, like much of ours.
Cain had to work, to be sure but he
had the satisfaction of seeing his toll re-
warded. Then he had 10 troublesome
neighbors. There were no grog.shops
to invite him in, or saloons where he
could idle time away with unpromising
associates. He was highly favored in
having no temptations dogging at his
heels TO lead him astray; neither was
he in danger of getting cheated or rob-
bed, or having his produce fall in the
market; nor were there taxes to worry
him.
AS his yellow corn waved in the sum
mer wind, and his fruit redeemed and
ripened over his head, he looked round
and felt proud at what had been done.
Then his father and mother must have
been so much pleased with his progress.
Their early days were spent in the ease
and comfort of Eden, and quite likely
they often felt troubled when Cain and
Abel were little boys, thinking how
their sons must be turned Off into the
rough world to shift for themselves.
After all, it proved not so bad. In some
respects, no young man ever had fair
er start in the world or a better chance
of success than Cain, except his brother
Abel.
The brothers were young, strong,
healthy, and the world was young, fresh
and promising. The little family was
the only family on earth. They were
soc iety for one another. Their very
loneliness must have bound them to-
gether by sweetcr aud tenderer love.
All their springs OF enjoyment must
have been within this dear home circle.
They had nobody to envy or be jealous
of. There was nobody TO look down on
them. They had life all to themselves.
How happy could they have becn!-
Poor Adam and Eve might have for
gotten their sorrows in secing their
.onI grow ur wise and good men.
l,ut while one of them improved un-
der all his blessings and advantages and
became better and better man, the
other hardened. Abel opened his heart
to God Cain shut his up. That was the
secret of it. And that Is what young
folks are doing every day now. The
same advantages are received and used
very differently by brothers and sisters
of the same family. The same pious
mothers love, the some fathers love,
the same fathers care the same kind
ness, the same teaching, the same faith
full School instruction, the same sweet
Sabbaths, the same blessed family altar
the same dear home influences do not
act on all the children alike, and make
them grow up good men and women
While some improved under them,a nd
became all that tender parents wish
others harden, disappoint their friends
turn out miserably, and perish for ever
! We don't see the difference at first, he
cause it is an inside work long befo re
it gets outside. But the wayward sor
shows himself too plainly at last.
Cain and Abel attended to the duties
of religion. They both came ant
brought God their offerings. Cain
contrary to Gods command, took TIT
first fruits of his fields; Abel brought ;
lamb, the shedding Of whose blood
fOreshadOwed the death of Christ on tn
cross. God, who looks at the heart
accepted Abcl's offering; Gains dis
plea scd him. This, instead of tillin
Cain with alarm and sorrow for himsel
and brin ging him on his knees befor
God to cry for mercy-instead Of this
| say, it aroused his temper. 1t mad
him angry. What words passed b'
tween the brothers we do not know
But Abel's sweet and forgiving spir
quite likely only enraged him the MOI
and he killed his brother. Cain kille
Abel. lie became II murderer. W
cannot help shuddering at the yer
| name ofthe first murderer. But | cal
f not help shuddering great deal MOI
when ! think how many boys and cir
may be lost from the very midst of III
rich Christian privileges which the
enjoy, because, like Cain they shut u
their hearts against God whose Spir
alone turns our advantages into bles
! ings.-X c. X. IN (hilds Paper.