THE STORY OF A PRODIGAL SON
Hall, Bolton
THE STORY OF A PRODIGAL SON A Modern Fable of The Old Man and the Younger Son - - How Both Got the Short End By BOLTON HALLSOME one in the Bowery Mission cut the story of the Prodigal Son out of...
...Now the elder son took his share in land, for behold, the elder son was of the sons of the prophets...
...And lo and behold, before many years, he was on his uppers, ( a thing which grieved him much), and he borrowed even of his friends when it was convenient to them...
...Here is a modern version of the tale that would still do for use there:— "A certain man had two sons...
...Yet he forgetteth not to honor his Father, according to the Commandment—doth he not give me my food and raiment?' Now the Younger Son was not slow of thought, and did catch on exceeding soon...
...the edges whereof were gilt...
...And he sold them to the money changers...
...we both got the Short End.' Then lifted he up his feet, and returned to the Broadway that leadeth to destruction...
...And he was sore straitened, and frequented hash houses and called for pork and beans...
...But his Father knew him, and ran and wept over him...
...Moreover, the streets which the people have laid out (and paid for) have helped the value of thy brother's land...
...and he sent him out to be a Sandwich Man...
...Then went he to the great White Way and the Tenderloin, and spent his substance on Wine, Women and Song...
...Also, he haunted a street called Wall, and the shops of them which had Straight Tips, and he bought of them Sure Things on Margin...
...and, moreover, another reading, 'No Admission Except on Business.' And when his brother saw him afar off, he set the dogs on him (for he did not look like a buyer of lots...
...For the city hath broken its bounds, and our homestead is a Suburb...
...Therefore went he not in to his brother, but spake unto his Father, 'Bye, Bye, Father...
...And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that city...
...And behold, when things had become Too Much for him, he said, 'I will return and levy on Brother.' Now as he came nigh the Old Homestead, behold it was changed, for there was a mighty Sign, 'Grassy Dale,' and 'Lots for Sale...
...It was not always convenient...
...But the younger son took his in stocks and bonds...
...and he lodged at the Mills Hotel...
...THE STORY OF A PRODIGAL SON A Modern Fable of The Old Man and the Younger Son - - How Both Got the Short End By BOLTON HALLSOME one in the Bowery Mission cut the story of the Prodigal Son out of the Bible, because nearly every preacher who came there wanted to read it to them again...
...Behold, the land which 1 gave thy brother, and the value thereof hath grown exceeding great...
...but they wished for a change...
...And the son said, 'Father, is there anything here for me?' And he answered him, 'Not a dollar...
...The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, why wait until you pass over, give us our inheritance now.' And he divided unto them his living...
...Now, therefore, is thy brother rich and increased of goods, and is become a Magnate...
...And it was so that the friends who had lived on him became themselves suddenly Hard Up and So Sorry...
Vol. 1 • July 1909 • No. 30
