Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-28
THE PRODIGAL SON MARE
TWAIN,S ACCOUNT OF HOME.

Down Al the lOOL OF LABOR, anu JUST az
the edge of the storied Plain of Esdraelion,
is the wretched little insignificant village
of Deburich, where Deborah, prophecies Of
Israel lived. Ii is as much like Magdala
as one Chinaman lie like another, and there
fore has its mud-hovels reeking with filth,
populous with cats and heas, and seven
kinds of lice, and hath also its strangely
frescoed walls, and on its roofs the ever
lasting towers and turrets Of ornamental
ordure of beasts. As Deburich is now, 40
has it always been. It's men are lazy, its
women are slovenly, its children have sore
eyes.
The Prodigal Son dwelt in the village of
Deburich ages and ages ago. His parents
were very wealthy. They had three hun
dred goats, twelve camels, some donkeys
and some horned cattle. Their mansion
was like the mansion of prince and from
its roof the fuel lowered high aloft and
filled the soul Of every man with envy
yet, with admiration, likewise, and even
hate, withal. In the mansion was there
nothing lacking; there was bowl and a
spoon, and also a calabash. Yet were not
these people proud. In that great mansion
was room for the asses, and room for the
men, and room for the woman kind. All
these things were before the Prodigal every
day. From the days of his infancy naught
knew he bot luxury. He had two shirts
that were his own-shirts that hung far
down about the calves, and caused him to
be admired among the maidens, and even
by the aged and the prophets. Elsewhere,
in all the coasts of Galilee, was not another
swell like unto him. When he passed by
! all men bowed low, and said, Behold it is a
rich mans son. He wrought not with his
hands, yet every seventh day he ate of the
broth of goats meat and the lucsious milk
Of asses. He lacked not anything that hui
man heart could wish. But yet in elegant
leisure and high living there is bane that
destroyeth happiness and maketh the cheer
ful spirit TO droop. Wherefore, in the full
ness Of time the Prodigal took to himself
his share of his fathers goods, and went
away like many other foolish pilgrims, to
travel and see strange lands that they know
nothing about, and are too stupid to learn.
So he journied to a far country and squan-
dered his substance in riotous living.
Strong drink betrayed his Judgment, and
in the end he fell a prey to the avenging
tiger.
Then he went to the Publican that erst
had welcomed him with joy and gladness,
and said, Behold, thy servant is naked and
hungry, and penniless, and like to die with
thirst; open thy gates, pray thee. But
the Publican laughed him TO scorn, and
said, Get thee to honest labor and put She
kels in thy purse.
So he wrought in the field for a hard
master, and fain would have eaten the
husks wherewith he fed the swine. At
last he said, have seen the great world,
and il is deceitful and fraught with sorrow.
] will arise and 90 TO my father. And
when his father saw him afar off, he ran
and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and
said, Bring forth the fatted calf and kill it,
for my son that was lost is found. And he
put garment about his nakedness, and
shoes upon his feet, and a ring upon his
hand, and said, Let us feast and be merry.
And when the Prodigafs brother heard
these things, he said, have labored for
you faithfully, yet have you never given
me a kid TO make merry with my friends.
And he liked it not.
/ have said before, that a few days So
ioun in Syria and Palestine has given to
Bible language newer and fuller signi6-
canoe for me than it had before. / under
stand the Prodigal, now. They killed the
fatted calf for him on this most momentous
occasion that had ever happened in his
fathers family-showing that to have a fat
ted calf served up, was in all respects az
grand thing as a Champagne blowout is
with US to day. These present citizens of
Palestine would so regard it at the present
time. 1t is precious few of them that have
got a fatled calf among their riches, and
precious few that ever taste so great lux
ury. | never could comprehend before
why the old patty, the ProdigaPs father,
laid 80 much stress on the fatted calf. The
subject hardly seemed TO me TO warrant
such flourish as he gave to it. Itsounded
too much like, Who cares for expenses
and then squandering forty cents. But
truly | perceive now that the old man came
down 20 the most Gorgeous tune that was
possible TO his gamut.
And the brother complained that he had
never been given a kid, so that he could
have a princely reyel with his friends.
The young Palestine gentleman of to-day
fares no better. To give one of them a kid
banquet would he TO make him 10 airy and
stuck up that there would be no such thing
as living with him.
They gave the Prodigal "shoes worth
a dollar and a half thousand, and yet
more INDUCED in by villagers who are in
cined to put on a good deal of style than
any other. And they clothed the Prodigal.
Yet if they gave him more than one suit it
was an event worth recording particularly.
The beaux Of Palestine can seldom afford
much fine raiment. Shirts are triHe
scarce.
When / was in Sunday school / always
regarded that Prodigal Son as the stupidest
youth that ever lived, to 90 away from his
fathers place where he had a dozen courses
for dinner, anG wore handsome clothes, and
had fast horses, and dogs, and plenty Of
money TO spend, and could go TO the circus
whenever he wanted to had an idea this
was a peculiar privilege Of rich men s sons
all the world over, and travel of to some
strange land and get swamped and have to
feed hogs for living. But / always re-
ioiced to think he went back home again,
and l took pleasure in thinking he must
have appreciated its riches and its luxury
SO unspeakaly then. | could not under
stand the fatied calf, but never allowed
him to interfere materially with the unities
Of my romance. But my dream il over,
now. IL was just about an even matter be-
tween the Prodigaps two homes. II he
had had a shirt and something to eat when
he vas feeding swine the difference between
that place and his old home would not
have paid for the trouble Of the journey
back sgain--save that one was home and
the other was not. MARK TWAIN.
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