Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/83

 that he  could  bequeath  to  them  was  a legacy  of  disgrace and  poverty. Our case  is  a similar  one. Our first parents  had  and  lost  their  supernatural  privilege, and  we  also  are  deprived  of  them. They caused injury to  both  the  soul  and  body; this  is  handed  down to us. Only one  thing  is  beyond  our  power  to  comprehend, that  we  inherit  the  sin  of  Adam; this  is  and ever will  be  a mystery  of  faith.

Q. What  other  effects  followed  from  the  sin  of  our first  parents?

''A. Our  nature  was  corrupted  by  the  sin  of  our  first parents,  which  darkened  our  understanding,  weakened our  will,  and  left  in  us  a strong  inclination  to  evil. ''

Disobedience has  evil  effects. A lady had  a handsome dress  of  sky-blue  silk  made  as  a present  to  her grown-up daughter  at  Christmas. On Christmas eve the  tailor  brought  it  home. The young  lady tried it  on  at  once,  to  see  if  it  was  properly  made. To her  satisfaction  and  that  of  every  one  else,  it was  found  to  fit  perfectly. The lady  paid  the  bill, and said  to  her  daughter: Go  into  the  next  room and bring  a glass  of  red  wine  for  the  tailor. But mind you  strike  a light  before  you  pour  it  out.”  The girl went  at  once  to  do  her  mother’s  bidding  and soon returned  with  a glass  of  wine  which  she  handed to the  man. He raised  the  glass  to  his  lips  and took a good  mouthful,  but  quickly  spat  it  all  out again. Lo and  behold! The grand  new  dress  was sprinkled with hideous spots  of  ink! The girl  had