Arizona republican., 1915-01-19
|S WISE FATHER .WH0KN0WSS0N
This Will Be Part of the Lesson Brought Home by Father and Son Banquet at Y. M. c. A. Next Fri day Evening

It has been said ''Tis a wise fla ther that knows his own son." The father and son banquet to be held next Friday evening at the Y. M. C.. A., is designed to help fathers real ize the responsibility to their sons and promote a closer companionablc relationship. In this day sons are not likely to go wrong when the fathers so right and take their sons with them.
 Somewhat appropriate to the oc- casion of the holding of this father and son banquet Blake w. Godfrey, prominent boys work secretary, formerly of Texas, but now of Brook lyn, has written the following:
 A Parable of a Prodigal Father
 By Blake w. Godfrey,
 Boys Secretary. Brooklyn
 certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father. Father. give me the portion of thy time, and thy attention, and thy companionship and thy counsel which falleth to me" And he di- Nlocd uhtO lbClil tilS llNiuR III tIld | he paid the boys bills, and sent him to select preparatory school, and to dancing school. and to col lege, and tried to believe that he was doing his full duty by the boy.
 And not many days after the ia : ther gathered all his interests and aspirations and took his journey in to far country into land of stocks and bonds and securities and other things which do not interest a boy; and there he wasted his pre- cious opportunity of being a chum to his own son. And when he had spent the very best of his life and had gained money but had failed to find satisfaction. there arose a nigh ty famine in his heart; and he be- gan to be in want of sympathy and real campanionship. And he went and joined himself to one of the clubs of that country; and they elected him chairman of the House Committee and President of the club and sent him to Congress. And he would fain have satisfied himself with the husks that other men did not eat and no man gave him any real friendship.
 But when he came to himself he said, How many men of my ac- quaintance have boys whom they un- derstand and who understand them. who talk about their boys and as- sociate with their boys and seem perfectly happy in the comradeship Iof their sons. and l perish here with heart hunger. I will arise and go to my son. and will say unto him, Son, I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight: am no more worthy to be called thy father make me as one of thy acquaint- ances." And he arose and came to his son. But while he was yet afar off, his son saw him, and was moved with astonishment. and instead of running and falling on his neck. he drew back and was ill at ease And the father said unto him. Son, l have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy father. Forgive me now and let me be your friend But the son said, Not so, I wish it were possible. but it is too late Thehe was a time when I wanted companionship and counsel and to know things. but you were too busy got companionship and got the information, but I got the wrong kind and now alas, I am wrecked in soul and in body, there is nc , more heart left in me. and there is nothing you can do for me It is too late too late, too late"