Sunbonnet Soliloquy
By Jewell Ellen
Smith
A Famous Short Story
There is a famous short story about a father and his two sons which is
perfect for Fathers’ Day. Because, it
shows the side of a father that is seldom seen.
Even from a literary standpoint, it is a perfect story -- except for
the title. And the flaw in the title is
not the doing of the person who first told the story. He didn’t give it a title.
It has just sort of acquired one, over the years.
The title is: “The Prodigal Son.”
Briefly, the story goes like this:
(Please note how the author uses few characters, less description, no
names, but much feeling and a series of events that come to a grand climax.)
“A certain man had two sons....“ And one day the younger son decided
that he would like to see the property divided. The father agreed, gave him his share; and the son prepared to
make an extensive journey. In fact, he
moved to another country.
Where he went, the author leaves to the imagination of the reader. He just uses the phrase “a far country.”
For a while all went well, and the newly rich young fellow had a
delightful time. But, he spent his
money foolishly until every dollar was
gone. Then, when he had to start
looking for a job, he discovered that his adopted country was experiencing a
serious economic depression. Famine,
even. The only work he could find was
with a man who raised pigs.
His main responsibility was to feed the pigs. This wasn’t too bad until he discovered that the pigs were eating
better than he was. The author uses a
superb line to tell this part. “And he
would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no
man gave unto him.”
The young man shook the dust of the pig sty off his feet and headed
home, rehearsing as he went word for word what he would say to his father. Part of it was “Father, I am no more worthy
to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.”
The grieving father was waiting.
He ran out to meet his son, “and had compassion, ...and fell on his
neck, and kissed him.” Quickly he
ordered one group of his servants to put “the best robe” on the son and to “put
a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.”
Other servants were dispatched to prepare for a big celebration. A feast was made ready. Musicians were called in. Guests were invited to come and dance and
“be merry.”
About that time the older brother came in from the fields. He was so astounded to hear music and
dancing that he called a servant aside and asked him what in the world was
going on!
“Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf,
because he hath received him safe and sound.”
The older brother hit the ceiling!
He was so furious he absolutely refused to join in the festivities. “Therefore came his father out and intreated
him.”
“Father,” he cried, in so many words, “I’ve been right here with you
for years, a dutiful son, and you never so much as gave me a goat to roast for
my friends. But when this sorry,
good-for-nothing son of yours who ‘devoured thy living with harlots’ came home,
you ‘killed for him the fatted calf!’”
The father had a soft answer.
“Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and
be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and
is found.”
Thus ends the Fathers’ Day short story that was first told by the
Master Storyteller, the Man from Nazareth, to illustrate what the Father of us
all is like.
Would you not agree that it should be titled not “The Prodigal Son” but
rather “The Forgiving Father?”
(For the original, and perfect, version, see the Holy Bible, St. Luke,
Chapter l5)
-- J: E. S.