Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-10-04
The Prodigal Son.
From E. Il. Storrs's Speech at Frseporf'
Illinois.

l From f.. a. StoTTe'S Speech at r'eePo'''
Illinois,
have read the parable Of the Prodi-
gal Son. am willing to accept that
test, and l for one would be willing to
treat the Southern prodisal precisely
as the old nan in story treated his prod
Igal. The prodigal of the parable was
a pretty good sort of boy, as the world
went. He came to mans estate. He
left home when he had perfect right
to leave. Nobody questioned it. No
soul doubted it. His portion was paid
over to him. He didn't take a single
dollar that did not belong to him. If
have read history Alright, that was not
precisely the course which the Southern
prodigaf pursued. tLsughter.) The
old Scripture prodigal wss boy stand
ing just upon the threshold of life, fool
ish as hundreds and thousands OF boys
have been since, with his pocket full OF
rocks. NE went oat to see the world,
fell ar,cng the Democrats, and naiu-
rally enosgh was cleaned out. tLaush-
ter.y BE DID NOT seek the destruction
of the old homestead when he left il.
He went away with no i'll will He
did not st.empt to plunder the old man
or the brother be left behind him. But
he found that playing prodigxl didn't
yay. When his money was gone and
his credi, wa, gone and his Democratic
friends had no further use for him, he
went to feeding swine, and then wen.
to feeding with swine.
He got about as Tow down as he conli,
and, sore, sick, jisheartened, covered
with blisters and scars the poor, foolish
bow, loaded down with his anhappy
experience, but with his heart still in the
right place. got up from among the hogs
where ne was grovelink, and says: "t will
go back to my father" and back he went.
And as he was tottering on the way, the
old man was loking over the gate watching
down the long and dusty highway for the
poor boy to return. as be knew he world
and he saw him coming hobbling along, rag
ged and wretche ed and miserable. But lie was
his boy still. and he went ont aad threw
his arms around him and bid him welcome,
and gave him suit of clothes and ring and
a veai dinner, and that vas all. (l.aughter)
Now, that is all that boy got. (Renewed
Iaughter.) | want you to observe he didn't
come back headed by a band-wagon and a
banner with ssTilden and Reform" on it.
What did he ask fort He did not come
back after the fashion of these large-hearted
gentlemen from the South, 81 will run
This farm" No, sir. He came back say
ing, s'Father, haven't a cent ttke me as
hired servant" and so far aS | have been
able TO discover-if there are any preachers
here they will correct me-he did the
kitchen work forever after. (Laughter-)
And yet the loyal stay -at-home boy was
not quite satisfied with that arrangement.
He looked at that calf when about immola-
ting him in congratulation for the return of
the boy, and he said TO the old man ss Fa-
ther, l never went of 10 be a prodigal. /
never spent my money aud substance in
riotous living, and you never killed any fat
ted calf for me-" And the loyal, patriotic
father turned around to him and said 4"
Son, thou art always with me. All that
have Is thine. Not dollar in money, not
a foot of land, not an office, not a smell OF
an office goes to this returning prcdigal."
(Cheers and uproarious laughter.) But
this loyal. patriotic, Northern ASenator
says that We should let the Southern prodi-
gals take this Government, this farm, and
run il Tor all time in the future.