Page 490 - Bible History

CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF MANKIND 463
his fortune and gave to him that portion which he would one day inherit.
''Not many days after, the younger man,. gathering up all his possessions, went abroad into a far country, and there he wasted his substance by living a wild and bad life. After he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his farm to feed the swine. He was so hungry that he would gladly have eaten the husks the swine did eat, but no one would let him have even them.
''At last he came to his senses. He said to himself, 'How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger. I will arise and I will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee.'
"Rising up, he made. his way homeward to his fa­ ther. When he was yet a great way o , his father saw him and was moved with pity. Running to meet him, he fell upon bis neck and kissed him.
"The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee. I am not worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants.' ''
"But the father said to the servants, 'Bring forth quickly the rst robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his nger1 and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, so that we can make merry. Because this, my son, was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry.