"A few years since, the father, now a white-haired old man, and his four sons, were confined together in the state prison. In the father's case, as in the second son's, it was an aggravated one; and they were condemned to pass the rest of their lives within the prison walls. The others would be released in a few years, but would probably return to spend their days in confinement." "O Sin, what hast thou done to this fair earth!" "Sin hath broken the world's sweet peace—unstrung The harmonious chords to which the angels sung." CHAPTER XVII. MAN'S FALLEN STATE; OR, THE DEPOSED MINISTER. QUESTION XVII. _Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?_ ANSWER. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. —————— IT was a rare event in the family of Mr. Dermott for the children to disagree to such an extent as to use unkind words. They had early been taught the beauty of yielding to each other's wishes, and thus gaining a conquest over themselves. With Isabelle's quiet temperament, this was comparatively easy; but with Walter and Helen it was far more difficult, as they were naturally hasty and impulsive, often reminding their father of his own youth by their striking similarity to himself. On the very afternoon of the catechising, however, Walter came in from his play somewhat out of temper, and, taking a book from Anna's hands, sat down to read. The tears quickly filled the eyes of the little girl; but Helen loudly remonstrated, "How unkind you are, Walter, when Anna is just in the midst of a story!" "So am I," replied the boy, petulantly, "and it's my book." "I lent you my new one before I had read it myself," sobbed Anna. "Here, take it, then!" exclaimed Walter, angrily. "Such a fuss when a boy sits down to read his own book!" And he threw the volume into the lap of the weeping girl. "You're an ugly boy," cried his sister. "Anna and I were having a real nice time, when you came in—and spoiled it all. Mother says she wishes you would govern your temper." Walter got up, and was walking angrily out of the room, when he met his mother. She saw at once that there had been trouble, and, taking him gently by the hand, requested him to return. With a few judicious words, she soon succeeded in quieting the ruffled waves, and in fifteen minutes the children were sitting lovingly together—the boy with his arm thrown around his cousin's neck, and reading from the same page. In the evening, when they had seated themselves for their favorite exercise, Mrs. Dermott asked, "Helen, can you tell me, my dear, where was the first quarrel?" The little girl arched her eyebrows and shook her head. "It was in the garden of Eden, my child, immediately after the first pair had partaken of the forbidden fruit." Helen's face was crimson, and she quickly replied, "I didn't begin the quarrel, mother." "Well, you called me names," replied Walter, looking very much ashamed.