St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-03-04

some new ministry to perform,
some fresh task to work out. His COM
ing stirs my heart" exclaimed Adam.
Il can but feel that as he fulills his
mission from the heavens, SO we may
fulfill our mission upon the earth. AS
God has given him disappointed sphere
in which to move, SO He has given IFS
ours. Is it not good to feel that Our
good, kind Creator has not left us in
indifference, but waits for us to do His
will?" So saying, Adam gently drew
his companion towards him and they
passed on down the pathway together.
The fruit-laden trees on either hand
held out their tempting viands, and as
they went they gathered and did eat.
The birds fitted hither and thither in
search of seed and berries, the animals
great and small throughout the Garden
were satisfying their hunger, for God
IN His Nature had spread bOuntiful
table for all, and none had reason to
lack.
Without realizing the direction In
which they were going, they came to
the center Of the Garden just as they
had finished their simple but abundant
repast. Before them stood the trees
OF mystery, the ones to which the Lord
had made special reference in His talk
with them. Right at hand the great
spreading branches of the tree Of
knowledge of good and evil, ladened
with fruit cwovod in f%ha hroo1o TIL a
sight gives new direction to their
thoughts, as they recall the Lords SOL
emn admonition and warning.
why should we wish to partake Of
the fruit Of this tree when our Lord
has given us freely Of every other tree
Of the Gardcn?" both exclaimed, almost
in the same breath.
"Yea, before we reached this point
God had satisfied us with His good
thing" Adam continued. 1T were to
take that for which we have no need,
if we did eat Of the fruit of this tree.
We may well be content with the boun-
ties on every hand" So spake Adam.
And Is it not always true that we have
no need of the things which are con-
trary to the will of God for us?
But why, l wonder, did God put
this tree here? Why did He forbid our
eating of It: What did He Eean when
He spoke Of death?" Thus musing,
Eve turned to her husband, but he
shook his head in answer, and said:
q cannot tell. 1t IS enough that God
has spoken. We must wait to under
stand"
Poor Eve, little did she realize that
day the bitter way which lay before
her! And not until years later as she
gazed in anguish upon the face of her
dead boy, her beloved Abel, did she be-
gin to know the penalty of disobe-
dience and sin.
The days came and went in the
Garden home. Peace and purity
reigned supreme. The Lord came to
visit and talk with them. The days
of rest brought their sweet fellowship
with the Heavenly hosts, and the har-
mony of their rich, full voices and
harps. During the days of toll Adam
labored faithfully in dressing the Gar
den and training the vines and
branches. Each day found some new
comfort added to the home, and
brought some new discovery of the
wealth and resources of the Garden.
The creatures of the Garden yielded
ready obedience to Adams wise and
kindly care. No task which he put
upon them was beyond their strength
or unnecessary to be done. All the
activities of the beautiful place were
but the expression of Gods will Man
and beast and bird filled each his own
allotted place, and delighted in the
unity and peace and harmony which
prevailed.
rest. The morning awaking with
the birds, the songs of praise and the
outgoing thoughts toward God, tho
bright greetings of the sun, the walk
in the garden and the simple repast.
Adam had gone forth to the work Of
the day, a1d Eve was busy at home. 1t
seemed like all the other days, and
gladness and peace were all about.
over the Garden, and Adam was heard
rushing and stumbling down the path
way to the home. All in a tremble
Eve threw herself into the arms OF
her husband and cried in terror:
What is it? What can it be-"
With effort Adam steadied his voice,
and then replied: Il know not Al
| worked out in the clearing thought I
heard a sound as of rumbling away
off in the distant heavens, and then
while yet the sun was flooding the
earth with his light this awful black
ness sped between. l know not what
it can mean. but surely God is with
Us. We need not fear" As he ceased |
speaking, and while yet the blackness
continued, there was flash across the
heavens as though some heavenly body
,undered from it's moorings had fallen.
Then the darkness lifted and the day
shone as brightly as before. The Gar
len in all its beauty was displayed and
he birds took up the strain of their
songs where a few moments before |
hey had been rudely interrupted.
The days following this incident |
brought no explanation, and failed to |
lispel the feeling of impending trouble.
As Adam and his wife walked through |
he Garden paths, though their eyes
Jaw naught but the accustomed sights,
hough the birds sang overhead and
he creatures all about them peacefully