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Show POOD FOR THOUGHT Parable of the ProtSigal rather Blake W. Gorfrey gives us a parable para-ble of a prodigal father: "A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his rather. 'Father, give me the portion of thy time, and thy attention, amv thy companionship, and thy counsel which falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his living, in that he paid the boy's bills and sent him to a select se-lect preparatory school and to college col-lege and tried to believe that he was doing his full duty by the boy. "And not many days after, the father ga.thered all his interests and aspirations and ambitions and took his journey into a far country, into a land of stocks and bonds .and securities se-curities and other things which do not interest a boy; and 'here he was? ed his precious opportunity of being a chum to his son. And when ho had spent the very best of his life and had gained money, but had fr.iled to find satisfacetion. ithere arose a. mighty famine in his heart, and ho began to be in want of sympathy and joined himsel fto one of the clubs of tha'' country; and the yelected him chairman of the house committee and president of the club and sent him to Congress. And he would fain have satisfied himself with the husks that other men did eat, and no man gave unto him any real companionship. companion-ship. "But when he came to himself he said: 'How many men of my acquaintance ac-quaintance have boys whom they un derstand and who understand them, who talk about their boys and seem perfectly happy in the comradeship of their sons; and I perish here with heart hunger! I will arise and go to my son and will say unto him, 'Son I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight; I am no more worthy to be called thy father; make me as one of thy acquaintances.' And he arose and came to his son. But while he was yet afar off, his son saw him and he was moved with astonishment, and instead of running and fallina on his neck, he drew back and was ill at ease. And the father said unto him, 'Son, I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight; T am m. more worthy to be called they father Forgive me new. and let me be your friend.' But the son said: Not so: 1 wish it were possible, but it is too late. There was a time when I want-led want-led companionship and counsel a" to know things, hut you war" to'. I busy. I got companionship and I no- the information, but I gut the wrorr-kind. wrorr-kind. And now alas! I am wrecked in soul and body, there is no mnT i heart left in me. and there is nothing noth-ing you can do for me. It is teo la1--! - too late! too late! . |