438

portion of thy possessions.” So the
father divided all he had between
his two sons. <A few days after, the
younger son gathered all his money
together, and went away from his
father and his home, and took a
journey into a far country ; and
there he wasted his riches in folly
and wickedness. When he had
spent all there arose a great famine
in that land, and he began to be in
want. So he went and joined him-
self to a citizen in that country ;
and this citizen sent him into the
fields, to feed swine. The foolish
ungrateful son had now no kind
father to take care of him; no home
to rest in; no friend to love and
comfort him. He was so hungry
that he was glad to eat the food
which the swine eat, for no man
gave unto him. And then he be-
gan to think how wicked and fool-
ish he had been, and how ungrate-
ful to his kind father. He said to
himself, “ My father’s servants have
plenty of food to eat; there is
enough and to spare at home; and
here I am perishing with hunger.
I will arise and go to my father. I
will confess my wickedness, and ask
him to forgive me. I will say,
Father, I have sinned against Hea-
ven, and before thee, and am not
worthy to be called thy son; make
meas one of thine hired servants.”
So he arose and went to his father.
But was his father willing to re-
ceive him? Yes, that kind father
had long been waiting and looking
for him; for he loved him still; and
when he saw his poor son coming
towards him, humble and full of
sorrow, he did not send him away in
anger; but, while he was yet afar off,
the father ran to meet him, and fell

MERCY FOR THE PENITENT.

on his neck, and kissed him. Then
the son began to confess his wick.
edness. He said, “ Father, I haye
sinned against Heaven, and before
thee ; Iam not worthy to be called
thy son.” But the father hardly
waited to hear his son’s confession ;
he forgave him all directly, and
called the servants, and said, “ Bring
here the best robe, and put it on
him; and put a ring on his hand,
and shoes on his feet; and bring
the fatted calf, and kill it, and let ug
eat and be merry; for this my son
was dead, and is alive again ; he was
lost, and is found.” So they began
to be merry.

Where was the elder son? He
was in the field when his brother
came home; and, as he returned to
the house, he heard the sound of
music and dancing within. So he
called one of the servants, and
asked, “Why is this?” The ser-
vant said, “Thy brother is come;
and thy father has made a great
feast, because he has returned safe
and well” Was not the elder
brother very glad to hear this? No;
this elder son was selfish, and jea-
lous, and unfeeling, and instead of
running to welcome his poor bro-
ther, he turned away, and would
not go into the house. At last his
father came, and begged him to go
in. Then the jealous son said, “I
have lived many years with thee,
and I never disobeyed thy com-
mands; yet thou never gavest me a
kid that I might make merry with
my friends. But as soon as this thy
son was come, who has been so dis-
obedient and rebellious, thou hast
killed for him the fatted calf’
Then the father spoke gently to his
unfeeling son, and tried to make