The Prodigal Son

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 32, 1 September 1892, Page 2

The Prodigal Son

A NEW VERSION Correspondents in the Dnnedin Star hare been discussing the question of Socialism, and this is the latest deliver* ance of one of these: — Sib, — Your cor« espondent " Socialist " wants to make out that our blessed Lord was a Socialist. I doubt thin, for if He was He would have solved the problem of povertjr. Instead of this He said : "The poor je have always with you." Again, had He been a Socialist He would never have given the parable of the prodigal ton, but a different version; something like this ;— A certain man had two son*, the younger a n«»eWn-well, who said " Give me my portion and let me go." The father divided his goods between them, and the younger went his way and spent his all in riotous, living. After a while he said " I will arise and go to my father, and say ' Let us divide again, for so it seemeth right and lawful in my sight." And he did, and the . father divided his goods a second time. And 'again the younger went his way rejoicing, and had another real good time of it. Again he said : " I will arise and have the old man divide again," and did. Then the eldest said to his father: "This is getting warm ; let us get into a far count-y, for perad venture he will return a fourth time." And they up sticks and made tracks, The younger having come to himself a fourth time, said : " I will arise and go home ; peradventnre there may be something left to divide." And he did so. but found nothing. So he called together his neighbours and old boyhood friends, who had saved their substance for their children and old age, and he said unto them : " Come let us reason together and divide, seeing that you have so mnoh of this world's goods " But his friends didn't ase it. So he went away sorrowful, and , communed with himself, saying; •• I am too proud o beg, also too frightened to steal, and likewise too lasy to work. I wilP become a secretary to a trades union, and peradventure I may be sent to Parliament. Verily he did this thing, and he waxed &Uer every day.