1. Preparation

Tubal Cain lived in the days before the flood. He was " an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron." That means that he was the first man to work in metals as a smith does. You may read of him in the fourth chapter of Genesis.

2. Reading By Teacher

Tubal Cain

Old Tubal Cain was a man of might

In the days when the earth was young; By the fierce red light of his furnace bright,

The strokes of his hammer rung; And he lifted high his brawny hand

On the iron glowing clear, Till the sparks rushed out in scarlet showers,

As he fashioned the sword and spear. And he sang, "Hurrah for my handiwork!

Hurrah for the spear and sword ! Hurrah for the hand that shall wield them well!

For he shall be king and lord."

To Tubal Cain came many a one,

As he wrought by his roaring fire, And each one prayed for a strong steel blade,

As the crown of his desire;

And he made them weapons, sharp and strong,

Till they shouted loud in glee, And gave him gifts of pearls and gold,

And spoils of forest free. And they sang, "Hurrah for Tubal Cain,

Who hath given us strength anew! Hurrah for the smith ! hurrah for the fire!

And hurrah for the metal true !"

But a sudden change came o'er his heart

Ere the setting of the sun, And Tubal Cain was filled with pain

For the evil he had done. He saw that men, with rage and hate,

Made war upon their kind; That the land was red with the blood they shed

In their lust for carnage, blind. And he said, "Alas, that ever I made,

Or that skill of mine should plan, The spear and the sword for men whose joy

Is to slay their fellow-man!"

And, for many a day, old Tubal Cain

Sat brooding o'er his woe; And his hand forbore to smite the ore,

And his furnace smouldered low; But he rose, at last, with a cheerful face,

And a bright, courageous eye, And bared his strong right arm for work,

While the quick flames mounted high; And he sang, "Hurrah for my handiwork!"

And the red sparks lit the air. - "Not alone for the blade was the bright steel made," -

And he fashioned the first plowshare.

And men, taught wisdom from the past,

In friendship joined their hands, Hung the sword in the hall, the spear on the wall,

And plowed the willing lands; And sang, "Hurrah for Tubal Cain!

Our stanch good friend is he; And, for the plowshare and the plow,

To him our praise shall be. But, while oppression lifts its head,

Or a tyrant would be lord,

Though we may thank him for the plow,

We'll not forget the sword."

- Charles Mack ay.

3. Study

Learn to read this poem for yourself as well as you can.

When did Tubal Cain live? What line of the poem tells you? What did he think of his work? What did he . plan should be done with the weapons he made? Why should the man who uses them be king? What did the men want who came to Tubal Cain? Why? How did they pay him?

What did these men do with the weapons? How did Tubal Cain feel about their actions?

What did he do to show his feeling? What did he make next?

What did men do after Tubal Cain's last invention? What was the wisdom they had learned? What was their new work?

4. Word Studies

1. As you read the poem, write other words that mean about the same as these: brawny wrought.

wield glee.

evil smite.

woe slay.

2. Explain what these expressions mean: a man of might smite the ore.

he fashioned the sword plowed the willing lands.

filled with pain.

3. What words rhyme in the first four lines? Why are the quotation marks in this poem used?

5. Oral Composition

Choose one of these subjects for a talk to your class:

1. The story of Tubal Cain.

2. Some work I have seen a blacksmith do.

3. Which does more good, a sword or a plowshare ?

6. Written Composition

Write the story of Tubal Cain. You may call it "The First Smith" if you like.

Before you write, make an outline of several topics. To do this, think of a few words or a short sentence that will help you remember what each stanza tells. Write these topics down.

Make one paragraph for each topic.