The Prodigals.

We have followed the road of the younger son and the track of the prettier daughter,
But the fatted calf has a proud, set smile and hears not a word of slaughter.
The old mans eye is as hard as steel and the first-borns stern as grave
When the rover asks for a five-pound note at a pause in his course of travel.
The home that we knew may be much the same, or changed for the worse or better,
But it holds no peace for the one who dared to break from its carping fetter.
The place of the husks that the swine did eat had airs that were somewhat brisker,
Though the rolling stone may not gather moss nor run to a length of whisker.
The moss of the home-grown kin is good and the first-born hates to share it.
Yet for rolling oy !twere a poor e"change if we needs must stop to wear it#
$or the song of the world is loud in our ears and for love of its clear lights breaking
% chance ac&uaintance with hogs and mire must surely be worth the taking.
We rioted well when the cash was free and the pigs that we followed after
Were kinder souls than they might have seemed while we seasoned the husks with
laughter.
%nd the homeward track' Well, we passed that way, as many have done before us,
To test and prove how the fatted calf and the household cat would bore us.
The world is wider than half our dreams, and cleaner by far, and kinder
Than those who cling to the homestead fence are likely to know or find her#
%nd some who sigh for the prodigal son should re-read the tale and rather
("tend what sympathy they can spare to his most improbable father.
We shall follow the road of the younger son and the track of the prettier daughter,
%nd put our luck through the round of tricks that her )unday-school lessons taught her,
$or we know full well if the fatted calf were duly slain and basted
That unless the swine were invited to come we should think the dinner wasted.
*at +,aori.
*seudonym of -avid ,c.ee Wright.
/.).W.
The Bulletin, 00 -ecember 0102.