It was very long ago at the beginning of all wonders. Sun, moon and
stars were new; they wandered about in the clouds uncertainly, calling
to one another like ships in a fog. It was the same on earth; neither
trees, nor rivers, nor animals were quite sure why they had been created
or what was expected of them. They were terribly afraid of doing wrong
and they had good reason, for the Man and Woman had done wrong and had
been locked out of Eden.
That had happened in April, when the world was three months old. Up to
that time everything had gone very well. No one had known what fear was.
No one had guessed that anything existed outside the walls of Eden or
that there was such a thing as wrong-doing. Animals, trees and rivers
had lived together with the Man and the Woman in the high-walled garden
as a happy family. If they had wanted to know anything, they had asked
the Man; he had always given them answers, even though he had to invent
them. They had never dreamt of doubting him--not even the Woman. The
reason for this had been God.
Every afternoon God had come stepping down from the sky to walk with the
Man through the sun-spangled shadows of the grassy paths. They had heard
the kindly rumble of His voice like distant thunder and the little tones
of the Man as he asked his questions. At six o'clock regularly God had
shaken hands with the Man and climbed leisurely back up the sky-blue
stairs that led to Heaven. Because of this the Man had gained a
reputation among the animals for being wise. They had thought of him as
God's friend. He had given orders to everybody--even to the Woman; and
everyone had been proud to obey him.
It had been in April the great change had occurred. There had been all
kinds of rumours. The first that had been suspected had been when God
had failed to come for His customary walk; the next had been when He had
arrived with His face hidden in anger. The trees of Eden had bent and
clashed as if a strong wind were blowing. Everything living that was not
rooted, had run away to hide. Nevertheless, when God had called to the
Man, they had tiptoed nearer to listen. The trouble had seemed to be
about some fruit. God had told the Man that he must not pluck it; he had
not only plucked it, but had eaten of it. So had the Woman. It had
seemed a small matter to make such a fuss about. They had supposed that
God's anger would soon blow over and that everything would be again as
friendly as before.
[Illustration: God had given the Man and Woman no time to pack. He had
marched them beyond the walls and locked the golden gates of Eden
against them forever.]
And so everything might have been had it not been for the Man. Instead
of saying he was sorry, he had started to argue and blame the Woman. At
that God had refused to speak with him longer. He had ordered the Man
and Woman and all the animals to leave Eden immediately. He had given
them no time to pack. Lining them up like soldiers, He had numbered them
to make certain that none were missing and then, with the Man and Woman
leading, had marched them beyond the walls and locked the golden gates
of Eden against them forever.
Since then all had been privation and confusion. The animals, from
regarding the Man as their lord, had grown to despise him. They had
blamed him for their misfortunes. They had told him that it was his
fault that they had lost their happiness and that God walked the earth
no more. The woman had told him so most particularly. Of all the created
world only the dog and the robin had remained faithful to him. The dog
slept across his feet at night to keep them warm and the robin sang to
him each dawn that he should not lose courage.