Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-03-03


spoke up the generous Abel. as he
passed out the door with his brother.
Cain made no response TO the offer
and they walked on in silence for some
distance. Then Cain suddenly ex-
claimed
Il shall make an offering to the
Lord Of the fruits of my fields"
But, brother" interrupted Abel,
such is not the manner Of offerings
Coo would have us make. God would
have us remember mans sin and need.
and how He provided for that need in
the slain lamb about which, as you
recall, father told us"
An impatient grunt was all the re-
spouse that Cain offered, and there
the conversation ended Abel was soon
busy rounding up his sheep and lambs,
while Cain wandered through his
fruitful fields.
The brothers did not meet again un-
til they both came 10 the place Of Of
fering. Cain with the discerning care
OF the careful husDandman, had Sc
leoted the best of his fruits and grains
and with self-contident. self-satistied
air he brought them and placed them
upon the altar.
Abel with humble heart and faith
reaching up in obedience towards God,
brought his precious lamb and as its
life blood flowed he bowed in repent
ant grief at the thought of sin which
made such sacrifice necessary.
While thus bowed before the altar
on which the lamb rested the fire OF
Gods presence came down and con-
sumed the sacrifice, and Cain, standing
with proud, unbending head before his
altar, noted the evidence of Gods ac-
ceptance of Abel's offering, while his
own offering remained undisturbed and
unaccepted.
And he was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.
And the voice of God came to Cain
and said:
why art thou wroth? and why is
thy countenance fallen? II thou vert
innocent and sinless, thank Offering
OF thy fruits would have been accepted
as a token of thy dependence as a
creature, butas thou art sinner, a SIM
offering is necessary, by the bringing
OF which thou wouldst have met with
acceptance, even as was the case with
Abel, thy brother
On his return home that night Cain
had made no mention OF the incidents
Of the day and his mother, noting his
sullen demeanor, kent silence and next
morning watched him depart with that
awful frown upon his face. And her
heart was sore troubled All mother.
to-day shalt thou drink the bitter cup
which thy disobedience back in the
garden hath poured for thee
Toward noon, unable TO stand the
pressure Of that vague terror which
filled her heart, she started from the
house. She knew not why she went
She noticed not whittier she went, but
irresstibly her feet were drawn to-
wards the distant fields where Abel's
fiocks peacefully fed. A deathlike still
ness brooded over the spot, save for
the occasional bleating of a little suck
ling lamb as 1t sought it's mothers
side, or the twitter OF some mother
bird as she fed her young in the tree
top No herdsman's CHEEKY call as he
talked to his sheep! no tall form NOV
ing about in loving care among his
sheep!
The mothers heart stood still. She
tried to cry out in the agony OF her
heart: Abel! Abel!!" But the
words would not come. and she half
ran, half stumbled on. What was that
dark form lying on the green sward,
from which the sheep seemed TO draw
with dread away? She had never seen
one lie so cold and still before Those
eyes staring wildly up towards
heavenl The agony of that white
face! The gaping wound in the side!
The ground all crimson with the LIES
blood! With horror unspeakable the
mother drew back, and slowly upon
her dazed senses there broke the one
word God had spoken back in the gar
den-DEATH! And this was death!
This was sins fruitage! Death!
DEATH!
But mother love quickly asserted it.
self. and with one wild, hearth broken
cry OF anguish. Mother Eve threw her.
self upon the form OF her beloved boy.
We may not intrude on the sacred scene.
The hours spent there with her precious
dead no eye but Gods saw, and none
but His tender ear heard. And there.
late in the night, while the stars kept
their silent watch overhead and the
moons gentle beams guided his feet,
Adam found her, and mingled his tears
with hers. and felt the heart throb Of
her anguish.
But what OF Cain? While the bereft
parents keep watch by the side OF their
dead boy. he is we'll on his way to the
land of Nod, whittier he turned his steps
after his interview with God. But how
changed he is. Gods mark upon his
brow has fastened there forever the
hideous and vengeful face which glow
cred over his innocent and defenseless
brother, as he drove the sharp-pointed
flint knife again and again into his
quivering side. His mad rage spent, his
jealous hate satiated, still that face in
all its horrible, misshapen frenzy was
fixed for all time. II was a sign set by
God, lest any finding him should kill