Show i TH THE PRODIGAL PRODIGAL FATHER AT ER I The parable of the prodigal son son is one of the most familiar r F. F and one of the most admired in int t Scripture Everybody knows know it eV everybody understands it it eva everybody everybody ev ev- a 4 approves it most heart heart- ily fly Millions of sermons have hae been preached on the subject and ana often when such a sermon is fa preached some doting father f turns his gaze on a son who by miracle has been brought back backA A to the strait and narrow path and says with a glance if not with words Now my son you youse se see the folly fully of riotous living S Far be it from front us to attempt 4 to excuse excuse the conduct of the prodigal son he deserves all the censure which he receives and he invariably receives es the treatment treatment treatment treat- treat ment which he be deserves He deserves deserves de de- al 1 serves to be made to eat at wheat wheat- 3 I straw when he is away away vay from hO home le and he lie is entitled to veal when he lie returns But not all the wasting of substance is being being being be be- ing done by the heir of the familY family fam fam- faro I ily sometimes s sometimes father i is is guilty I of a little wasting himself I Father also has a patrimony in which the son may be pardoned pardon pardon- ed cd for having some interest He Ff may have a farm that is grow growing ng i good crops or a skill that pays him good wages He also has an interest in the town in in which or orne ne near r which he lives lives' and he may may have contributed much or little littleto to the community Nevertheless nY less his tes residence dence in the community community com com- t entitles him to all the i i bene benefits benefits ts which th the community affords The town and the community community com con are almost as important adjuncts of his Intestate estate as are his house or the tools of his his' trade Money Mon y has but but one one value after all Its only value is to provide us with whit the necessities and comforts corn com forts and pleasures of life and wM to insure us against want ant in old Ir age Without ut the c community T many of these pleasures and com coin comforts forts lorts cannot be secured When a man hurts the town or ity or does nothing to help it I Le Ie Leis e eis is wasting his substance just as much as as the son who wasted it in riotous living When a man arid has attained to wealth in a town and dies or moves away without having done his part to promote l. l the towns town's interests he has be been beena ell a prodigal with reference to the community even even though he may maj k have acquired the reputation of ot be being ilg a miser If father sends his his his' money to order mail houses to the det detri detriment i ment Of the town if he does nothing nothing no no- thing for the town ex except ept to pay t the taxes V which he is compelled compE le 7 to pay if he shows shows- no interest i in ill movements for the the improve improve- r a meat ment ment and up building of the town i t 1 then then father is is a prodigal al who is wasting his substance and the I first duty of the prodigal so ton son rift ai- ai rif- rif i t ter tel he returns retains home is to take the father out in ill the she woodshed and give him u. u a a. heart to heart to heart r i tall talk on on the s' s subject oi of eon community F ty boosting and loyalty to th the home tov n. n K h |