Love’s First Conquest: A Poem

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LOVE'S FIRST CONQUEST. (For the Improvement Era.)

BY NEPHI ANDERSON, AUTHOR OF "ADDED UPON," "tHE CASTLE BUILDER," ETC.

"And Adam was nbt deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." — Tim. I 2: 14.

The sun had gone from out the cloudless sky Yet 'twas but noon. A chill was in the air Yet summer- warmth lay over all the land. — The Garden's blended beauty tint and shade Became a blur; and nature's music sweet Was changed to dismal notes and saddening cries. And Adam strolled beneath the sighing trees, A strange sensation surging through his soul Which seemed to fill his heart with awful pain. Confusion reigned within his troubled mind, Nor knew he what to think or say or do

For Eve had fallen! Satan had beguiled The woman whom the Lord had brought to him To be his helpmeet. She had been deceived, Had eaten of the fruit which was forbidden. And by that act had brought upon her head The curse which God had said should follow sin.

Dear Eve had fallen from her innocence! Mortality now coursed within her veins. And its attendant ills would soon be seen. An outcast would she be, and driven forth From Eden's sweet abode, to wander through A world of sin, to meet the tempter, and

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To struggle with his wily arts alone! Alone? Ah, yes, alone! He could not go With her; for he was yet immortal; and Mortality and immortality Could not be linked as husband and as wife!

Yet Eve was his — his only helpmate— wife.

And at that thought his heart went out to her In yearning love. And now he saw again That winsome form whom God had brought to him That day. He saw that shy, yet happy smile Which she had given him; remembered how He then had gazed into her eyes, and seen Within their limpid depths a light which shone Into his heart, and made it glow with joy. Her low, sweet voice was music, such as yet He had not heard from Eden's singing birds; And when she placed a timid hand in his, A thrill of joy swept through his 'wakened soul. How he had thanked the Lord for such a gift! And how the Lord had blessed them both, and talked With them, as they had walked among the flowers Of Eden! Life had been one round of joy And praise and love.

But now, but now, it seemed His heart would break! He could not, would not let Her go alone to suffer and to die! For was not Eve his wife? The Lord had made The two as one; and now to separate The bone from bone and flesh from flesh, was more Than Adam in his heart could understand.

And Eden's beauteous flowers stood 'round the man. And sent their sweetest perfume through the air That softly blew 'mong Eden's pleasant groves. In dulcet' notes the birds sang all the while; Yet all the great, new world of teeming life Seemed now but dreary emptiness to him; And Adam in his troubles neither saw Nor heard, for all his senses waited on The one supreme emotion in his heart.

834 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

Then Adam pondered on the words of God; And how in this his hour of trial, be yet Could do the will of God, and yet be true To her whom God had said should with him be. The first great law rang clearly in his ears:

"Be fruitful, multiply, the earth replenish." Yet this could not be done, unless he, too. Partook of that forbidden fruit which had In it the seeds of sin and woe and death. Fair Eden yet was his. He could enjoy Its life of ease, and walk within the smile Of God through all his days.

' And Eve without? 'Twas then that Love's all-conquering forces came From out their dwellings in eternal spheres! And rallied to this newest world in space. Then Love's eternal fountains bursted forth And flooded Adam's heart. To Eve he sped, Partook of the forbidden fruit; and then With her was driven ..out into a world Fallen and cursed through conscious deed of his.