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.

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. Just so

little by little, must the minds of men be trained for higher truths.