The Lost Son

There was a householder's son who went away into a distant

country, and while the father accumulated immeasurable riches,

the son became miserably poor. And the son while searching for

food and clothing happened to come to the country in which his

father lived. And the father saw him in his wretchedness, for he

was ragged and brutalized by poverty, and ordered some of his

servants to call him.



When the son saw the place to which he was conducted, he thought,

"I must have evoked the suspicion of a powerful man, and he will

throw me into prison." Full of apprehension he made his escape

before he had seen his father.



Then the father sent messengers out after his son, who was caught

and brought back in spite of his cries and lamentations.

Thereupon the father ordered his servants to deal tenderly with

his son, and he appointed a laborer of his son's rank and

education to employ the lad as a helpmate on the estate. And the

son was pleased with his new situation.



From the window of his palace the father watched the boy, and

when he saw that he was honest and industrious, he promoted him

higher and higher.



After some time, he summoned his son and called together all his

servants, and made the secret known to them. Then the poor man

was exceedingly glad and he was full of joy at meeting his

father.



Little by little must the minds of men be trained for higher

truths.