Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-30
competition with the young machinist
who helnad make hia TOW IIMN
|DAY SCHOOL leSSON.)

fools will learn In no other" runs tho
proverb. The prodigal had to feel the
teachers rod before he would learn
the lesson. Absolute hunger came to
be his lot, and the memory Of the
many feasts he had shared and given
did not lessen the pangs Of his crav.
ings. Physical needs reduce all men
to the one level. The hungry swine
herd. once a pampered son Of luxury.
In the face OF starvation was no bet.
ter than the lowest slave or peasant.
He even would contend with the
beasts for the dry carob beans which
were their food.
The Morning After.
The climate of the "far country"
mas one dreadful characteristic. II ID
subject to terrible cold chills In the
gray OF Its early mornings. At night
It's lights are bright and alluring, and
the raiment of It's people 10 gorgeous,
ana their manners gay. But In the
morning to which every visitor and
sojourner inevitably awaksns 49, ah.
that Is tragedy and disillusionment
and horror! q
Lights are out, and thick. chOk.
ing fog Is over all. The gay laughter
has given way to groans. The festive
companionship 10 followed by Q heart
sick loneliness. The flight OF the:
wanderers money from his purse has
been followed by the Disappearance
or everything that made "ths far
country'' seem desirable com
panions. flattery, excitement, fen.
tivity. rare foods and rich wines.
Gone! Gone!! Gone!!! Nothing re-
mains. The prince Of the night before
finds himself the beggar OF the morn.
Ing after. with not even 4 bexgar1
comrades. Forsaken!--this is the bit.
terest drop in the dregs OF every
prodigals cup OF that bleak and
desolate morning after when he
comes to himself.
Hear the cry as It resounds from
the death house at Sing Sing. Four
gunner who were representatives
and types Of the supposed solidarity
OF the gang" types Of the loyalty Of
the far country" ready to commit
murder at the behest of their crowd.
But the t"old fosies" of law and order
and decent society have caught Nm
with them; they are to have the. tout
vi late" morals of old fashioned folk
v1ndicated on themselves in the
electric chair within a few hours.
| Their calloused bravadO has remained
unbroken hitherto. But now whore
are their friends? What Ia the gang"
doing for them? In the blue light
that Kisses and crackles from the
chair Of death they can see things
with new clearness. So what have
they to say. as a dying message?
Only this: and it should be branded
into the brain OF every foolish boy
tempted to play prodigal: Tell the
boys that the synagogue was right.
Everybody has gone back on us OK.
cept the synagogue and our family.
Keep away from the gang and Osd
companions. Mind what the home
folks say. Stay by the synagogue,
Tor 1t Is right" There you have in
summary, the latest attestation OF the
old, old truth, which youth IL 90 ready
to disbelieve, that home and church
are boys best friends. The boon
companions Of "the far country fall
away In the hour Of trial; but family
and religion are loyal to the end. II
| The Portrak OF a Father.
The picture Of this, father, who il
God. patiently waiting, day after day.
| week after week. month after month.
year after year, 10 unspeakably touch.
ing. He knew the son would come
back some day even though It might
not be until his garish world had.
cast him out. All. the homes that
wait and watch; the windows where
the light burns all the night through.
and the doors that are never locked!
They may have the comfort that God
understands all about it, for he, too,
is doing this.
| This father saw his son afar off:
much watching had made his vision
keen. On the instant he was up and
running. with no thought OF stiff
knees or the burden Of years; his
eager heart lent speed to his feet
Then he fell on his sons neck, break
ing down In tumult Of Joy, and
kissed him kissed him again and
again" giving the embarrassed
and overwhelmed young man oppor-
tunity to utter his carefully prepared
speech of penitence. He was forgiven
the hideous past was over; new
day of happiness had dawned for
both.
There is place In heaven for tho
| forgiven; God takes back wanderers
He does not hold old scores, or naS
about long gone and once forgiven Of.
lenses. as some earthly families do.
He rejoices that he has back son.
Transgressions are blotted out, all
things are made new. The whole Cos
pei is summed up in a personal
that is sometimes seen In the daily
papers: Gall forgiven. Come home"
| A Snoh for Z Brother.
Here enters the jealous elder
brother, self satisfied, consciously
virtuous and in q pct because Of al
this ado which was made over the 10.
turned prodigal. His was small.
self-centered soul He represented
that Puritanism which IL willing to
/ let the sinner rot in his sins 30 long
as it is safe and comfortable itself.
| A prig and Pharisee was this
older brother, lacking the vital spark
of true religion, which Is brotherll-
ness. He wanted to know why a fuss
had not been made over bis immacu-
late self, instead Of over this spiled
and SCARED penitent The elder