Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/82

 were set  before  them; at  last  a dish  closely  covered was placed  on  the  table  and  their  host  said: “ You can eat  of  every  dish  except  this  one; that  is  to  be left  until  I return. You must  not  s6  much  as  touch it.” He  then  left  the  dining-hall  and  was  absent  for a long time. The two  guests  began  to  get  impatient, their curiosity  was  awakened;  it  got  stronger  and stronger. At length  the  woman  could  resist  no  longer; she gently  raised  the  cover. But the  harm  was  done; a beautiful little  bird  flew  out,  and  disappeared  out of the  window. Then the  master  of  the  house  came back, and  drove  out  both  the  man  and  his  wife,  bidding them  be  wiser  in  future. Here we  have  an example  of  human  frailty.

''Q. What  evil  befell  us  on  account  of  the  disobedience of  our  first  parents? ''

''A. On  account  of  the  disobedience  of  our  first  parents^ we  all  share  in  their  sin  and  punishment,  as  we should  have  shared  in  their  happiness  if  they  had  remained faithful. ''

We are  all  inheritors  of  Adam’s  sin  and  its  consequences. An emperor  once  gave  a large  estate  to one  of  his  subjects,  a man  of  rank,  on  condition  that he should  always  be  faithful  to  him. But the  nobleman proved  a traitor. Thereupon the  emperor  took his land  and  his  title  from  him  and  banished  him  from his dominions. The man’s  treachery  brought  misfortune on  his  children; they  could  not  inherit  either  the property or  the  title  that  had  been  their  father’s. All